"Stay With Me" is a song by DeBarge, issued on their acclaimed album, In a Special Way.
The song was composed in 1982 by siblings El, Marty and Bunny DeBarge. The lyrics describe a young man who wants his lover to stay despite relationship worries.
The original recording featured El DeBarge on lead vocals. The ending refrain, "don't go, don't go/I love you so", would later be resung or sampled in several hip-hop/R&B recordings, while the music's ending keyboard riff (performed by El) would also be sampled.
Issued on the group's third album, In a Special Way, the song wasn't officially released as a single but it would gain leverage as a sampled single in hip-hop and R&B.
By 1995, The Notorious B.I.G. has used the ending instrumental vamp of the song - which featured El's keyboard playing - for his hit song, "One More Chance".
By 1995, Big L has also used the ending instrumental vamp of the song for his hit song, "MVP".
Mary J. Blige and Faith Evans sung parts of the verses and the ending refrain on "One More Chance" and had sung the song's ending refrain for the Mary J. Blige track, "Don't Go", off of Mary's heralded 1994 album My Life.
Tichina Arnold also sampled some parts for her song "Stay with Me" on her 1997 album "Unforgettable".
Nearly a decade later, R&B singer Ashanti sampled the song for her hit "Foolish" on her Self-titled debut album (2002).
R&B and Neo-soul singer Musiq Soulchild sampled the song on the final track on the remix of "Girl Next Door" as "Ifiwouldaknew (Girlnextdoorremix)" which appeared from the 2002 album Juslisen.
R&B singer Mariah Carey sampled the song's chorus for her 2008 single, "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time" on her E=MC² album.
Ne-Yo also re-sung the song's chorus on his song "Stay", from his 2006 debut album In My Own Words.
Gospel singer Deitrick Haddon sampled the song for the track "Don't Go" on his album 7 Days.
Former frontman El DeBarge sampled the original song from his family group on the track "5 Seconds" featuring rapper Fabolous from his 2010 Second Chance album.
Lead vocals by El DeBarge
Background vocals by El DeBarge, Randy DeBarge and Bunny DeBarge
