Stay Or Leave

by Dave Matthews

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Lyrics

May be dif fer ent but re mem ber

win ter’s (D5)warm where you and I

kiss ing whis key by the (D)fire

with the (D)snow out side.

When the sum (A)laugh mer comes, (G)der the riv er (D5)swims at (D5)mid night,

shiv er (D)cold.

The Touch the (A)bot tom, laugh (G)you and I,

with mud dy toes.

Stay or (G)leave,

I (D)want you

not to (A)go, but you (Em)should.

It was good

as (D)good

goes.

Stay or (G)leave,

I (D)want you

not to (A)go, but you

did.

Wake up na fer ked drink ing cof fee,

mak ing (D5)plans to change the world

while the world is chang ing (D)us,

with was (D)good, good love.

You used to (A)laugh mer un (G)der the cov ers, (D5)may be (D5)not so

of ten (D)now.

The way I (A)used to laugh (G)with you I,

was loud and hard.

Stay or (G)leave,

I (D)want you

not to (A)go, but you (Em)should.

It was good

as (D)good

goes.

Stay or (G)leave,

I (D)want you

not to (A)go, but you

did.

(A)go, but you (A5)did.

So what to (A5)do

(A5)with the rest of to day’s af ter noon?

Hey.

(A5)Is n’t it strange how we change

(A)ev ’ry thing we did?

Did I do all

that I should,

that I could have (Bm)done?

Re mem ber we used to dance and ev ’ry one (Em)want ed to be

you and me?

I want to be, too.

What (G)day is this

be sides the (A5)day you left me?

What (G)day is this

be sides the (A5)day you went?

So what to do with the rest of the day’s af ter noon?

Hey.

(A5)Is n’t it strange how we change ev ’ry thing we did.

Did I do all that I could?

Stay Or Leave by Dave Matthews — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “Stay Or Leave by Dave Matthews in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of B at 68 BPM, a medium-difficulty arrangement — try slowing the tempo down using the BPM control.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "Stay Or Leave" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "Stay Or Leave"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "Stay Or Leave" use?
Just 8 chords: A, Aped, Bm, D, Dmaj7, Dped, Em, G. Take it one section at a time.
What other Dave Matthews songs work for kids?
Try "GRAVEDIGGER". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.