Don't Stay
Linkin Park · Meteora
Need to remember just to breathe
Sometimes I
Need you to stay away from me
Sometimes I'm
In disbelief I didn't know
Somehow I
Need you to go
Don't stay
Forget our memories
Forget our possibilities
What you were changing me into
[Just give me myself back and]
Don't stay
Forget our memories
Forget our possibilities
Take all your faithlessness with you
[Just give me myself back and]
Don't stay
Sometimes I
Feel like I trusted you too well
Sometimes I
Just feel like screaming at myself
Sometimes IÂ’m
In disbelief I didn't know
Somehow I
Need to be alone
Don't stay
Forget our memories
Forget our possibilities
What you were changing me into
[Just give me myself back and]
Don't stay
Forget our memories
Forget our possibilities
Take all your faithlessness with you
[Just give me myself back and]
Don't stay
I don't need you anymore
I don't want to be ignored
I don't need one more day
Of you wasting me away
I don't need you anymore
I don't want to be ignored
I don't need one more day
of you wasting me away
With no apologies
Don't stay
Forget our memories
Forget our possibilities
What you were changing me into
[Just give me myself back and]
Don't stay
Forget our memories
Forget our possibilities
Take all your faithlessness with you
[Just give me myself back and]
Don't stay
DonÂ’t stay
DonÂ’t stay
About Don't Stay
"Don't Stay" by Linkin Park serves as a pivotal track on the band's 2003 album *Meteora*, marking a significant evolution in their sound. Released during the height of the nu-metal era, the song blends the group's signature rock instrumentation with electronic elements and melodic vocal harmonies, reflecting the collaborative efforts of Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda. The track exemplifies the band's ability to shift from aggressive riffs to atmospheric, emotional ballads, showcasing a versatility that would define their later success. As a staple of their discography, it remains a defining piece of mid-2000s alternative metal, capturing the tension between raw energy and melodic sensitivity that characterized *Meteora*. Its enduring popularity underscores its role in the band's catalog as a bridge between their early hybrid theory roots and their more polished, radio-friendly direction in subsequent years.