About the song
“Let’s Stay Together” is a remarkable entry in Tina Turner’s extensive catalog, a song that not only showcased her versatility but also marked a critical turning point in her career. Released in 1983 as a single from her Private Dancer album, this was Turner’s take on the Al Green classic—a song deeply embedded in the fabric of soul music. What made her version so compelling was the way she transformed the silky smooth original into something uniquely her own, infusing it with her signature grit, power, and emotional intensity.
By the early 1980s, Turner was in the midst of a career resurgence after a tumultuous period following her split from Ike Turner. With “Let’s Stay Together,” she demonstrated not only her vocal prowess but also her ability to reinvent and reinterpret a beloved classic without losing its essence. The production, handled by Martyn Ware and Greg Walsh of Heaven 17, gave the song a modern, polished sound, blending synth-driven instrumentation with a rhythmic groove that leaned into the burgeoning ’80s pop and R&B aesthetic.
Turner’s vocal performance is the song’s undeniable highlight. Where Al Green’s version is gentle and soothing, Turner’s rendition is fiery, urgent, and emotionally raw. She takes the song’s message of devotion and commitment and injects it with real-life pain and passion, making it feel lived-in and deeply personal. It’s not just a love song—it’s a plea, a declaration, and a statement of resilience.
“Let’s Stay Together” became a major success, reaching No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. More importantly, it proved that Tina Turner was back in the spotlight, paving the way for the monumental success of Private Dancer and her reinvention as a global rock and pop icon.
Decades later, Turner’s version of “Let’s Stay Together” remains one of the most compelling cover songs in music history, a masterclass in how an artist can honor a classic while making it entirely their own.
Video
Lyrics
[Intro]
Let me say
Since, since we’ve been together
Uh, loving you forever is all I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue[Chorus]
Oh, baby, let’s, let’s stay together
Loving you whether
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad[Verse 1]
I, I’m so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
It’s alright with me
‘Cause you make me feel so brand new
I want to spend my whole life with you
Let me say
Since, baby, since we’ve been together
Ooh, loving you forever is all I need
Let me be the one you come running to
I’ll never be untrue[Chorus]
Oh, baby, let’s, let’s stay together
Loving you whether
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad(Good or bad, happy or sad)
[Verse 2]
Why, oh, tell me, why do people break up
And turn around and make up?
I just came to see
You’d never do that to me, would you, baby?
Being around you is all I see[Chorus]
So, baby, let’s, we oughta stay together
Loving you whether
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad
Let’s (Let’s stay together) stay together
Loving you whether
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad(Let’s stay together) stay together
Loving you whether
Whether (Times are good or bad, happy or sad)
Oh, baby, let’s
Let’s
Loving you whether
Whether (Times are good or bad, happy or sad)