Lay Me Down (Sam Smith song)

"Lay Me Down"
Single by Sam Smith
from the album Nirvana and In the Lonely Hour
Released	15 February 2013
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2012
Genre	Soul Rock
Length	4:13
Label	Capitol Method
Writer(s)	Sam Smith James Napier Elvin Smith
Producer(s)	Jimmy Napes Steve Fitzmaurice
Sam Smith singles chronology
"Latch" (2012) "Lay Me Down" (2013) "La La La" (2013)

"Lay Me Down" is the debut single by English singer and songwriter Sam Smith and the lead single from his debut studio album In the Lonely Hour (2014). The song was released in the United Kingdom on 15 February 2013. It originally peaked at number 46 on the UK Singles Chart and at number 25 on the US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles in 2014. The song was written by Smith, Jimmy Napes and Elviin and produced by Napes and Steve Fitzmaurice.

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.

Musically, according to the sheet music published at musicnotes.com, the song is written in E major, with a tempo of 118 bpm.^[1]

Music video

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

Track listing

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

Charts

Chart (2014)	Peak position
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[3]	60
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[4]	46
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[5]	25

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom[2]	15 February 2013	Digital download	Capitol Method

2015 re-release

"Lay Me Down"
Single by Sam Smith
from the album In the Lonely Hour
Released	22 February 2015
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2014
Genre	Soul R&B
Length	3:39
Label	Capitol Method
Writer(s)	Sam Smith James Napier Elvin Smith
Producer(s)	Jimmy Napes Steve Fitzmaurice
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 his album In the Lonely Hour following commercial success with his previous singles. Smith recorded a new version of the song for its re-release with the track's original producers.^[6]

Track listing

Digital download – single
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Lay Me Down"	3:39

Digital download – EP
No.	Title	Length
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

Music video

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 his husband in the empty church.^[7] Critics have pointed out the similarities between this and Guns N' Roses's music video to "November Rain".

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2015) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[8] 3 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] 10 Canada AC (Billboard)[10] 30 Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 44 Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[12] 33 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13] 47 Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[14] 16 France (SNEP)[15] 107 Ireland (IRMA)[16] 14 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[17] 80 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[18] 23 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 52 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 2 Portugal (AFP)[21] 91 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[22] 11 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[23] 44 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 68 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 44 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 15 US Billboard Hot 100[27] 8 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] 11 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[29] 12 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[30] 19 US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[31] 41 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[32] 40

Year-end charts Chart (2015) Position Australia (ARIA)[33] 34 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[34] 98 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[35] 21 US Billboard Hot 100[36] 81 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/Sales Australia (ARIA)[37] Platinum 70,000^^ New Zealand (RMNZ)[38] Platinum 0^* United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Gold 400,000 United States (RIAA)[40] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United States	3 February 2015[41]	Mainstream radio	Capitol Method
	23 February 2015[42]	Adult album alternative radio
Australia	20 February 2015[43][44][45]	Digital download
Ireland
New Zealand
United Kingdom	22 February 2015[46]

Red Nose Day 2015 release

"Lay Me Down (Red Nose Day 2015)"
Single by Sam Smith featuring John Legend
from the album In the Lonely Hour (Drowning Shadows Edition)
Released	9 March 2015
Format	Digital download
Recorded	2015
Genre	Soul R&B
Length	3:55
Label	Capitol
Writer(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.^[47]

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.

Music video

Smith and Legend also appear in a new video for the charity. It was posted by Smith on his 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.^[48]

Live performances

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.^[49]

Charts

Chart (2015)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[50]	8
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[51]	8
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[52]	1
Ireland (IRMA)[53]	4
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[54]	18
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[55]	1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[56]	1

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/Sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[57]	Silver	200,000
^*sales figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom[58]	9 March 2015	Digital download	Capitol

Cover versions

Connie Talbot released a single of her cover version of "Lay Me Down" in 2014.

References

1. Sam Smith "Lay Me Down" Sheet Music musicnotes.com
2. "Lay Me Down - Single by Sam Smith". iTunes Store (GB). Archived from the original on 24 February 2015.
3. "Archive Chart: 2014-03-01". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
4. "Archive Chart: 2014-03-01" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
5. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 for Sam Smith. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
6. Corner, Lewis (30 January 2015). "Sam Smith re-records 'Lay Me Down' for single release". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
7. Sam Smith - Lay Me Down. YouTube. 5 February 2015.
8. "Australian-charts.com – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
9. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Sam Smith. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
10. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for Sam Smith. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
11. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Sam Smith. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
12. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Sam Smith. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
13. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201510 into search. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
14. "Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. (subscription required)
15. "Lescharts.com – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
16. "Chart Track: Week 11, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
17. "Sam Smith – Chart Results: Japan Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
18. "Mexico Ingles Airplay". Billboard. (subscription required)
19. "Dutchcharts.nl – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
20. "Charts.org.nz – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
21. "Portuguesecharts.com - Singles - 01/2016". Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
22. "Archive Chart: 2015-03-07". Scottish Singles Top 40.
23. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201510 into search. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
24. "Swedishcharts.com – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
25. "Swisscharts.com – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
26. "Archive Chart: 2015-03-07" UK Singles Chart.
27. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Sam Smith. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
28. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Sam Smith. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
29. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Sam Smith. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
30. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Sam Smith. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
31. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay for Sam Smith. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
32. "Sam Smith – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Sam Smith. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
33. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
34. "Canadian Hot 100 Year End 2015". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
35. "Top Selling Singles of 2015". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
36. "Hot 100: Year End 2015". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
37. Ryan, Gavin (4 April 2015). "ARIA Singles: Major Lazer Has No 1 Song". Noise11. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
38. "New Zealand single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
39. "British single certifications – Sam Smith – Lay Me Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 20 March 2015. Enter Lay Me Down in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
40. "American single certifications – stay". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
41. "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ...". All Access.
42. "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases - ...". All Access.
43. "Lay Me Down - Zdigital AU". Zdigital Australia. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
44. "Lay Me Down - 7digital IE". 7digital Ireland. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
45. "Lay Me Down - 7digital NZ". 7digital New Zealand. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
46. "Lay Me Down - Single by Sam Smith". iTunes. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
47. Copsey, Rob (9 March 2015). "Sam Smith, John Legend team up for Official Red Nose Day single". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
48. Sam Smith - Lay Me Down (Red Nose Day 2015) ft. John Legend. YouTube. 9 March 2015.
49. Natalie Corner (13 March 2015). "Sam Smith and John Legend sound a bit croaky as they perform new Comic Relief single". mirror.
50. "Ultratop.be – Sam Smith feat. John Legend – Lay Me Down" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
51. "Ultratop.be – Sam Smith feat. John Legend – Lay Me Down" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
52. "Euro Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
53. "Chart Track: Week 12, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
54. "Top 40 NL: Sam Smith feat. John Legend - Lay Me Down". Dutch Top 40 Tipparade (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. April 25, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
55. "Archive Chart: 2015-03-21". Scottish Singles Top 40.
56. "Archive Chart: 2015-03-21" UK Singles Chart.
57. "British single certifications – Sam Smith featuring John Legend – Lay Me Down". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 27 March 2015. Enter Lay Me Down in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
58. "Lay Me Down (feat. John Legend) - Single by Sam Smith". iTunes. Retrieved 9 March 2015.