"I turned the radio on, I turned the radio up, and this woman was singing my song"

25 years ago today, Lisa Loeb charmed America with the unpretentious simplicity and emotional directness of her debut song, "Stay (I Missed You)." The single (by Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories) was released on May 17, 1994, from the soundtrack to Reality Bites.

American Songwriter magazine says:

Loeb rants and rails through much of the song with barely contained emotion only to pull back for some tenderness in the refrain. It’s an outstanding performance of an enduring song.

The lyrics have the feel of a rambling, stream-of-consciousness letter to a former lover, but they're cleverly crafted. Notice how she heightens the poignancy near the end by saying the title word — "stay" — for only the second time in the song. You might have missed it the first time, but you can't miss it at the end, with her emphatic hesitance. Then, to bring the song full circle, she closes with the first line.




Lisa Loeb recently played the song solo at a Reality Bites reunion:

(If you want to explore more of her work, try her song "I Do" or check out The Very Best of Lisa Loeb.)