Taylor Alison Swift (* 13. Dezember 1989 in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania) ist eine US-amerikanische Country-Pop-Sängerin und Songschreiberin, Musikproduzentin, Schauspielerin und mehrfache Grammy-Preisträgerin.
Sie wurde als Tochter von Hausfrau Andrea und Aktienhändler Scott Swift geboren. Sie hat einen jüngeren Bruder namens Austin. Ihre Großmutter war eine professionelle Opern-Sängerin; Swift interessierte sich mehr für Country-Musik von Künstlern wie LeAnn Rimes, Patsy Cline, Dolly Parton, Dixie Chicks und Shania Twain.
“All You Had To Do Was Stay” discusses a crumbling relationship that falls apart due to a lover’s indecision. It’s part of Swift’s famous “track five” pattern — through the years, her fans have pointed out her tendency to make the most emotional song on the album the fifth track.
A big theme in Swift’s romantic songs is the prospect of a lover staying with her — see 2012’s “Stay Stay Stay,” 2017’s “New Year’s Day,” and 2019’s “The Archer,” another track five.
Swift gave fans a preview into the lyrics on October 18th, 2014, when she posted this picture on her Instagram.
In an interview with Ryan Adams, Swift explained that she came up with the high-pitched chorus of the song in a dream.
"I had a dream that my ex showed up at my door, knocked on the door, and I opened it up and I was about ready to launch into, like, the perfect thing to say, and instead, all that would come out of my mouth was that high-pitched chorus of people singing “stay!”"
