I knew which song I wanted to use the moment I saw the prompts for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday. Our friend, Paula from Light Motifs II, provided the prompts of Money, Gold, Silver or Rich. My choice is a classic Fleetwood Mac song, Silver Spring. I hope you enjoy it.
The Song
Stevie Nicks wrote this after her breakup with Lindsey Buckingham, the band’s guitarist and her long time boyfriend. She wanted to make sure he would never forget about her: “I’ll follow you down till the sound of my voice will haunt you.” In 2009, she told Rolling Stone: “It was me realizing that Lindsey was going to haunt me for the rest of my life, and he has.”
Nicks got the idea for the title when she saw a sign for Silver Spring, Maryland while driving with Lindsey. The name was, to her, so beautiful that she wrote it into the song.
This was supposed to appear on Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album, but it was cut due to space limitations of vinyl. In 2002, it appeared where it was supposed to on the DVD-A release of Rumours.
This was used as the B-side of the singles “Go Your Own Way” and “Don’t Stop.” It didn’t appear on an album until their 1992 The Chain box set. It was also released on their 2002 greatest hits album.
Nicks used to check into hotels on the road under the alias “Miss Silver Spring.”
It was bumped off the Rumors album by another song Nicks wrote called “I Don’t Want To Know,” which the rest of the band liked better and fit better on the album because it was shorter. Stevie was very upset with the decision and considered refusing to sing “I Don’t Want To Know” in protest.
This was finally included in it’s rightful place on the Rumours re-issue, released in 2004. This is a 2-disc set which also includes a longer bonus version of the song.
During this song’s performance on Fleetwood Mac’s 1994 DVD The Dance, halfway through the song while singing, Stevie turns towards Lindsay and appears to be singing directly to him. It was as if she was reminding him who the song was about. Once they locked eyes, you could see and feel the emotions they must have felt many years ago when they dated and eventually broke up. A very intense moment.
Stevie Nicks appeared on two episodes of the TV series American Horror Story: Coven, including the finale, where she performed “Seven Wonders” to open the show. Later in the episode, this song was used to underscore a scene where a witch was sent to burn at the stake.
The Lyrics
You could be my silver spring Blue-green colors flashin' I would be your only dream Your shinin' autumn ocean crashin' Don't say that she's pretty And did you say that she loves you? Baby, I don't want to know So I'll begin not to love you Turn around, you'll see me runnin' I'll say I loved you years ago And tell myself you never loved me no Don't say that she's pretty And did you say that she loves you? Baby, I don't want to know Oh no And can you tell me was it worth it? Baby, I don't want to know Time cast a spell on you but you won't forget me I know I could've loved you But you would not let me Time cast a spell on you but you won't forget me I know I could've loved you but you would not let me I'll follow you down 'til the sound of my voice will haunt you Give me just a chance, you'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you Was I such a fool? I'll follow you down til' the sound of my voice will haunt you Give me just a chance, you'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you? Time cast a spell on you but you won't forget me I know I could've loved you, but you would not let me I'll follow you down 'til the sound of my voice will haunt you Writer/s: Stevie Nicks Publisher: Wixen Music Publishing Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind Courtesy of Songfacts
