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Lay Me Down (Sam Smith song)

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"Lay Me Down"
Single by Sam Smith
from the album In the Lonely Hour
Released15 February 2013
Recorded2012
Genre
Length4:13
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Sam Smith singles chronology
"Latch"
(2012) 		"Lay Me Down"
(2013) 		"La La La"
(2013)
Music video
"Lay Me Down" on YouTube

"Lay Me Down" is a song by English singer Sam Smith, released on 15 February 2013 as the lead single from their debut studio album In the Lonely Hour (2014).[1] It originally peaked at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 25 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart in 2014.

The song was re-released in February 2015 as the sixth single from the album, this time reaching number 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 15 on the UK Singles Chart. A third version featuring John Legend recorded for the British charity telethon Comic Relief reached number one in the UK in March 2015.

Composition

[edit]

The song was written by Smith, Jimmy Napes and Elviin and produced by Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice. In a statemend for the 2015 re-release of the song, Smith sayd about the writing and meaning of the song:[2]

"This was the first song I wrote for this record and the first song I ever wrote with my writing partner Jimmy Napes. This song changed my life and sent me in the direction where it was all about the voice. I'm not looking a certain way, or singing a certain sound it's about the soul, the voice, and the passion, and the truth. "Lay Me Down" continues to teach me lessons every day"

Reception

[edit]

Britt Julious of Pitchfork wrote that, although "the song's vibe isn't as upbeat as "Latch"", praised the production's "light and highlights, rather than overshadows, Smith's powerful voice", which turn in "soulful and sweet", finding the song "as equally spiritual as it does romantic".[3]

Music video

[edit]

The original music video showed Smith and their friends at a casino. Following the announcement of the re-release, it was removed from YouTube and Vevo.

Track listing

[edit]
Digital download[4]
No.TitleLength
1."Lay Me Down"3:49
2."Lay Me Down" (acoustic version)4:01
3."Lay Me Down" (music video)4:07

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2014) Peak
position
Scotland (OCC)[5] 60
UK Singles (OCC)[6] 46
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[7] 25

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[4] 15 February 2013 Digital download

2015 re-release

[edit]
"Lay Me Down"
Single by Sam Smith
from the album In the Lonely Hour
Released22 February 2015
Recorded2014
Genre
Length3:39
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Sam Smith singles chronology
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
(2014) 		"Lay Me Down"
(2015) 		"Lay Me Down (Red Nose Day 2015)"
(2015)

It was announced on 30 January 2015 that Smith would re-release "Lay Me Down" as the sixth single from their album In the Lonely Hour following commercial success with its previous singles. Smith recorded a new version of the song for its re-release with the track's original producers.[8]

Music video

[edit]

The music video for the re-release, which replaced the original, was recorded in St Margaret's Church, Lee, South East London, with the permission of the Rector the Revd. Dr. Alan Race. It was shot in one sequence. It depicts Smith at a funeral in the church standing in front of the deceased's coffin, then a flashback reveals that Smith actually married the man in question in the same church. The video then returns to the present day, some time after the funeral, with Smith mourning the loss of their husband in the empty church.[9][10][11]

Track listing

[edit]
Digital download – single
No.TitleLength
1."Lay Me Down"3:39
Digital download – EP
No.TitleLength
1."Lay Me Down" (Pomo Remix)3:45
2."Lay Me Down" (Paul Woolford Remix)6:45
3."Lay Me Down" (Maya Jane Coles Remix)5:18
4."Lay Me Down" (Todd Edwards Dub)6:29
5."Lay Me Down" (Tiësto Remix)4:18
6."Lay Me Down" (Flume Remix - Single)4:30

Charts and certifications

[edit]

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label Ref.
United States 3 February 2015 Mainstream radio
[56]
23 February 2015 Adult album alternative radio [57]
Australia 20 February 2015 Digital download [58]
Ireland [59]
New Zealand [60]
United Kingdom 22 February 2015 [61]

Red Nose Day 2015 release

[edit]
"Lay Me Down (Red Nose Day 2015)"
Single by Sam Smith featuring John Legend
from the album In the Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition)
Released9 March 2015
Recorded2015
Genre
Length3:39
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)
  • Sam Smith
  • James Napier
  • Elvin Smith
Producer(s)
  • Steve Fitzmaurice
  • James Napier
Sam Smith singles chronology
"Lay Me Down"
(2015) 		"Lay Me Down (Red Nose Day 2015)"
(2015) 		"Moments"
(2015)
John Legend singles chronology
"Glory"
(2014) 		"Lay Me Down (Red Nose Day 2015)"
(2015) 		"One Man Can Change the World"
(2015)

On 9 March 2015, it was announced that Smith and John Legend had joined forces for a third version of "Lay Me Down" to be used as the official Red Nose Day charity single. This version was released the same day and all proceeds from the track's sales benefit the charity.[62] Smith sings the opening verse and first chorus with Legend on the piano, then Legend joins in with the second verse. Some later parts are a duet by the two artists.[63]

Music video

[edit]

Smith and Legend also appear in a new video for the charity. It was posted by Smith on their official Vevo account. The music video is also broadcast nationally on BBC One. The video features Smith and Legend recording the song in a recording studio.[64]

Live performances

[edit]

On 13 March 2015, Smith and Legend performed "Lay Me Down" together for the first and only time together during Comic Relief – Face the Funny, a major event broadcast live on BBC One from the London Palladium.[65]

Charts

[edit]

Weekly charts

[edit]
Chart (2015) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[66] 8
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[67] 8
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[18] 1
Iceland (RÚV)[68] 9
Ireland (IRMA)[69] 4
Netherlands (Tipparade)[70] 18
Scotland (OCC)[71] 1
UK Singles (OCC)[72] 1

Year-end charts

[edit]
Chart (2015) Position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 96

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[73] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[75] Platinum 421,000[74]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom[76] 9 March 2015 Digital download Capitol

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Sam Smith Reveals 'Lay Me Down' As His New Song... And The Video's Arrived!". Radio Capital. 5 February 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Sam Smith: Lay Me Down changed my life". The Washington Post. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  3. ^ Julious, Britt (15 February 2013). "Sam Smith: "Lay Me Down" review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Lay Me Down - Single by Sam Smith". iTunes Store (GB). Archived from the original on 11 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  8. ^ Corner, Lewis (30 January 2015). "Sam Smith re-records 'Lay Me Down' for single release". Digital Spy. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  9. ^ Kreps, Daniel (5 February 2015). "Sam Smith Talks Controversial Church Gay Marriage Music Vid". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  10. ^ Bayley, Leanne (6 February 2015). "Sam Smith talks gay marriage to Rolling Stone magazine". Glamour UK. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  11. ^ Denham, Jess (5 February 2015). "Sam Smith new music video for 'Lay Me Down' makes moving pro-gay marriage statement". The Independent. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  13. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  14. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
  17. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 10. týden 2015 in the date selector. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  19. ^ "Sam Smith – Lay Me Down" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  20. ^ "Chart Track: Week 11, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  21. ^ "Sam Smith". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  23. ^ "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  24. ^ "Sam Smith – Lay Me Down" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  25. ^ "Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  26. ^ "Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
  27. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  28. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201510 into search. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  29. ^ "Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  30. ^ "Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  31. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  32. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
  33. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  34. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  35. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  36. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  37. ^ "Sam Smith Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  38. ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
  39. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 Year End 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  40. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 2015". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  41. ^ a b "End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2015". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  42. ^ "Hot 100: Year End 2015". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  43. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs Year End 2015". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  44. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  45. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  46. ^ "Danish single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  47. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Sam Smith; 'Lay Me Down')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  48. ^ "Italian single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  49. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 10 April 2015.[dead link‍]
  50. ^ "Norwegian single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  51. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  52. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Sam Smith" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  53. ^ Homeswood, Ben (4 October 2024). "Sam Smith & Jo Charrington celebrate three million sales for In The Lonely Hour". Music Week. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  54. ^ "British single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  55. ^ "American single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  56. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and His Release Dates ..." All Access.
  57. ^ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases - ..." All Access.
  58. ^ "Lay Me Down - Zdigital AU". Zdigital Australia. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  59. ^ "Lay Me Down - 7digital IE". 7digital Ireland. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  60. ^ "Lay Me Down - 7digital NZ". 7digital New Zealand. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  61. ^ "Lay Me Down - Single by Sam Smith". iTunes. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  62. ^ Copsey, Rob (9 March 2015). "Sam Smith, John Legend team up for Official Red Nose Day single". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  63. ^ McIntyre, Hugh (9 March 2015). "Sam Smith And John Legend Team Up For Charity Single "Lay Me Down"". Forbes. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  64. ^ Sam Smith - Lay Me Down (Red Nose Day 2015) ft. John Legend. YouTube. 9 March 2015.
  65. ^ Corner, Natalie (13 March 2015). "Sam Smith and John Legend sound a bit croaky as they perform new Comic Relief single". mirror.
  66. ^ "Sam Smith feat. John Legend – Lay Me Down" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  67. ^ "Sam Smith feat. John Legend – Lay Me Down" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  68. ^ "Sam Smith Feat John Legend Chart History". RÚV. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  69. ^ "Chart Track: Week 12, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  70. ^ "Top 40 NL: Sam Smith feat. John Legend - Lay Me Down" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  71. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  72. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  73. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Sam Smith / John Legend – Lay Me Down". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  74. ^ Myers, Justin (7 September 2017). "Sam Smith: the story so far". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
  75. ^ "British single certifications – Sam Smith ft John Legend – Lay Me Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  76. ^ "Lay Me Down (feat. John Legend) - Single by Sam Smith". iTunes. Archived from the original on 7 July 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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