I Wanna Stay (Official Music Video)
“I wanna stay, but I’m drifting away…”
The official music video for I Wanna Stay is an unflinching portrayal of one of the most difficult and human battles: the struggle between the will to live and the pull of despair. Through haunting imagery, stark symbolism, and raw lyricism, the video brings to life the experience of living on the edge of survival — the conflict between holding on and letting go.
The video opens in silence, a dimly lit room where the protagonist sits alone, eyes fixed on the ground. The lyrics begin with painful questions — “If I chose to end my life, would it be with a knife? Would I put a gun right under my chin?” — and the visuals echo this torment without ever glorifying it. Sharp objects are shown only in blurred silhouettes, never as instruments of action. Instead, the focus remains on the internal conflict: the trembling hands, the sleepless eyes, the flickering candle burning dangerously low.
As the verse continues, the theme of absence emerges. “See the void I would leave behind, only my echoes left to remind.” In these moments, the camera lingers on empty rooms, photographs left behind on a desk, a rocking chair still moving as if someone just walked away. These images create a chilling reminder that suicide doesn’t only erase the self — it leaves behind echoes, shadows, and wounds that ripple outward.
The chorus arrives like a cry: “I wanna stay but I’m drifting away. Don’t wanna leave but I don’t have a say.” Here the video expands from its claustrophobic beginnings into wide, cinematic shots. A lone figure walks down a deserted road at night, their body clear but their shadow missing beneath the streetlights. Hands reach out toward the light only to recoil back again. Slow-motion close-ups of tear-filled eyes emphasise the exhaustion of a battle waged day after day.
In the second verse, the imagery grows darker, more abstract. “Oblivion pulls like an itch on my wrist, it’s a fight I fight from morning to night.” The visuals respond with symbolic metaphors: black ink spreading in water, smoke curling upward and swallowing the frame, reflections in a mirror that fracture and blur. These are not depictions of action, but of feeling — the overwhelming pull of depression, the constant itch of thoughts that won’t let go.
But threaded through the darkness are glimmers of resistance. When the lyrics turn to “I need to stay here, still so much to do and say,” the tone shifts. A curtain is pulled back, letting in daylight for the first time. A notebook is opened, words scrawled as if reclaiming purpose. A friend’s hand rests gently on the protagonist’s shoulder. These quiet moments of connection and defiance become the heartbeat of the video: fragile, but vital.
The final choruses bring both intensity and resolution. “I wanna stay but I’m drifting away…” is accompanied by quick cuts between isolation and resilience — sleepless nights, empty streets, but also sunlight breaking through clouds, footsteps moving forward, and eyes that carry exhaustion yet still hold determination. The imagery makes it clear: the battle is not over, but the act of staying is itself an act of courage.
The video closes with a sunrise. The protagonist, silhouetted against the horizon, walks into the light. They are still shadowless, still incomplete, but they are moving forward. The screen fades to black on the final lyric: “I wanna stay…” A whisper of defiance against the void.
I Wanna Stay is more than a song. It is a cry for help, a confession of pain, and a declaration of survival. The lyrics capture the intrusive thoughts, the endless tug-of-war, and the aching desire to remain alive despite the heaviness pressing down. The video honours that struggle by bringing it into the open — raw, vulnerable, and real — while always framing it as a battle worth fighting.
About the Song
This song speaks to the reality of living with suicidal thoughts and depression. It does not glamorise self-harm, nor offer easy solutions, but it acknowledges the truth: for many, every day is a fight. By putting these feelings into words and visuals, I Wanna Stay aims to break the silence, reduce the stigma, and remind listeners that they are not alone.
A Note to Viewers
If you connect with this song because you too have felt “drifted away,” please know this: your life matters. There is help, there is hope, and there are people who want to listen. Reach out to a friend, a loved one, or a professional. If you are in immediate crisis, please contact your local crisis hotline. In the U.S., you can dial or text 988 for the Suicide Crisis Lifeline. In the U.K. Ireland, call Samaritans at 116 123. Elsewhere, look for local hotlines or visit https://findahelpline.com
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You are not your shadows. You are not your silence. You are here, and you are worthy of staying.
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