Sam Smith is reflecting on their regrets over how they responded to a thoughtful message from Tom Petty during the copyright dispute involving “Stay With Me.”
In a new interview with CBC, Smith recalled receiving a letter from Petty at their hotel the night before the 2015 Grammy Awards. At the time, Petty and his collaborator Jeff Lynne were given songwriting credits and a combined 12.5% royalty share on “Stay With Me” due to similarities between the song’s melody and their 1989 track “I Won’t Back Down.”
“I was so pissed off when I read it. That’s the truth,” Smith admitted. They described their younger self as “a little sassy” and “a 22-year-old queer kid” who “just didn’t listen to men.”
Smith explained that the dispute was even more overwhelming because it happened during a major turning point in their career.
“It was my first album, my first chance of success, of changing my life, of being able to finally achieve my dreams and do what I wanted to do,” Smith said. “And then when I heard what was happening, I was like, that’s crazy. That’s awful that that can happen.”
Petty’s letter reportedly included a reminder that there are only a limited number of notes on a piano, a point Smith initially struggled to accept.
“When he said that, I was like, you get it. So why is this happening?” Smith recalled.
However, more than a decade later, Smith now views Petty’s message differently, believing the legendary musician was simply trying to show compassion and offer support during a stressful moment.
“I see you and I understand what you’re going through right now. And I’m just sorry this is all happening,” Smith said, explaining how they now interpret Petty’s intentions.
Smith described the letter as “actually very, very sweet and kind of him” and admitted they are “so deeply regretful” that they never replied.
Petty had also publicly shown understanding toward Smith during the dispute in 2015.
“Let me say I have never had any hard feelings toward Sam,” Petty said. “All my years of songwriting have shown me these things can happen.”
He also clarified that there was no lawsuit involved and said, “Sam did the right thing.”
Smith had previously explained that they had never heard “I Won’t Back Down” before creating “Stay With Me,” saying the song was inspired by their own experiences with casual relationships.
Despite the controversy, “Stay With Me” went on to become a major hit. The day after Petty’s letter was delivered, the song won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2015 Grammys.
