Billy Stay Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Billy, won't you stay? You've been up all night
Talkin' 'bout flowers from '65
That print on that dress that you always liked
When we were young enough to go out and dance at night
[Verse 2]
We'd cross the street and you'd hold my hand
Same man now that you were back then
Young kids, good for nothing but high hopin'
Broke and starvin', plastic ring perfect for elopin'
[Verse 3]
The years went by fast, you were so good to me
Our children have children, Billy, how could it be?
But ninety years is nothing to some kids like us
So, baby stick around and tell a story just because
[Chorus]
Billy, stay a while
Lately you've been slippin' in and out
Billy, stay a child
And tell me 'bout that girl you dreamed about
Billy stay a while
Tell me of the lovers who once were
And Billy, stay a child
Tell me 'bout that girl and how you loved her
Billy, won't you stay? You've been up all night
Talkin' 'bout flowers from '65
That print on that dress that you always liked
When we were young enough to go out and dance at night
[Verse 2]
We'd cross the street and you'd hold my hand
Same man now that you were back then
Young kids, good for nothing but high hopin'
Broke and starvin', plastic ring perfect for elopin'
[Verse 3]
The years went by fast, you were so good to me
Our children have children, Billy, how could it be?
But ninety years is nothing to some kids like us
So, baby stick around and tell a story just because
[Chorus]
Billy, stay a while
Lately you've been slippin' in and out
Billy, stay a child
And tell me 'bout that girl you dreamed about
Billy stay a while
Tell me of the lovers who once were
And Billy, stay a child
Tell me 'bout that girl and how you loved her
[Verse 4]
Billy, don't forget, won't you keep on tryin'
I'll keep my ears open to keep from cryin'
You're more handsome now than you were back then
And I'm the same girl you fell for when we were kids
[Verse 5]
If love was enough, then you'd stay forever
But I guess sometimes that the end is better
'Cause love turns to loss as the time goes by
You don't know your own name, but you know mine
[Chorus]
Billy, stay a while
Lately you've been slippin' in and out
Billy, stay a child
Tell me 'bout that girl you dreamed about
Billy, stay a while
Tell me of the lovers who once were
Billy, stay a child
Tell me 'bout that girl and how you loved her
[Instrumental Break]
[Outro]
You went back home in your sleep last night
And I heard you whisper, "I love you, goodbye"
But maybe your heaven's 1965
With my hair in your face on a long summer drive
To me, you'll never be the times you forgot
But all of our good times and the flowers you bought
Billy, don't forget, won't you keep on tryin'
I'll keep my ears open to keep from cryin'
You're more handsome now than you were back then
And I'm the same girl you fell for when we were kids
[Verse 5]
If love was enough, then you'd stay forever
But I guess sometimes that the end is better
'Cause love turns to loss as the time goes by
You don't know your own name, but you know mine
[Chorus]
Billy, stay a while
Lately you've been slippin' in and out
Billy, stay a child
Tell me 'bout that girl you dreamed about
Billy, stay a while
Tell me of the lovers who once were
Billy, stay a child
Tell me 'bout that girl and how you loved her
[Instrumental Break]
[Outro]
You went back home in your sleep last night
And I heard you whisper, "I love you, goodbye"
But maybe your heaven's 1965
With my hair in your face on a long summer drive
To me, you'll never be the times you forgot
But all of our good times and the flowers you bought
About
Genius Annotation
In this song, Zach Bryan takes the perspective of an elderly woman who’s spouse, “Billy,” is losing his memory and slowly dying. The song ends with Billy’s death and a realization that Billy’s ‘heaven’ was their time together.
The name “Billy” specifically comes from Zach’s fiddle player.
My fiddle player’s name was Billy, he was leaving New York the same night my producer told me the story of his grandmother and grandpa.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Late July
- 3.Heavy Eyes
- 4.Mine Again
- 10.Tishomingo
- 11.She’s Alright
- 13.Darling
- 14.Ninth Cloud
- 15.Oklahoma City
- 16.Sun to Me
- 17.Highway Boys
- 18.Whiskey Fever
- 19.Billy Stay
- 21.High Beams
- 22.The Good I’ll Do
- 25.From Austin
- 28.Open the Gate
- 29.Half Grown
- 30.No Cure
- 31.’68 Fastback
- 32.Blue
- 33.Morning Time
- 34.This Road I Know
Credits
Producer
Writer
A&R Administrator
Mastering Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Engineer
Percussion
Drums
Synthesizer
Bass
Piano
Vocals
Guitar
Release Date
May 20, 2022
Billy Stay Live Performances
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