Fleetwood Mac is known by pretty much everyone — from your sister to your grandma — and for good reason. As my life has gone on, I find myself throwing the band on more and more. I think this might be because they seem to have just the song for every mood I could possibly have. Something I love about Fleetwood Mac is the pure, raw emotion felt not only through the lyrics, but even in the instrumental nature of their works. They simply play their hearts out. However, if we’re talking about emotion, there is only one song in their vast catalog that takes the cake. “Silver Springs” is the one — Stevie Nicks’ ultimate masterpiece.
Released in 1976, this song is purely Stevie’s. In fact, she was so sure of it that she actually gave the song rights to her mom in anticipation of its success. Bandmate Mick Fleetwood did not exactly agree; first making the song the b-side to “Go Your Own Way,” and having it later appear on the deluxe version of Rumours. In a 1991 interview on BBC radio, Nicks said she “started to scream bloody murder and probably said every horribly mean thing that you could possibly say to another human being and walked back in the studio completely flipped out.” Hey, I agree with you, Stevie! The song features strong, emotional lyrics, with an almost haunting nature that are paired with incredible harmonies, instrumentation and dynamics. With all that said, there was a reason for this, and it wasn’t musical success.
“Silver Springs” was written by Nicks as a tribute to a very personal slice of her own life. It is actually a breakup song about her falling out with guitarist Lindsay Buckingham. The two had a difficult and turmoil-filled relationship spanning back to the formation of the band. Stevie had the song’s name come to her as she was passing through Silver Spring, Maryland, and felt that it was the perfect fit for the song. Nicks wrote the song with a dagger in her hand, though. She knew exactly what she was feeling and what she was going to make clear to Buckingham. It’s kind of epic, actually. Some of my favorite lyrics are:
“Time cast a spell on you, but you won’t forget me /
I know I could have loved you, but you would not let me /
I’ll follow you down til’ the sound of my voice can haunt you”
Man, I’d hate to be Buckingham. Having Stevie Nicks, the singer and face of your own band, write a song about how you broke her heart and left it unresolved must… really suck. Especially because everyone knows exactly what’s up.
This song contributed, in part, to the band’s breakup. It was only a small puzzle piece, as the band had experienced internal conflict from the start. In the famous 1997 reunion concert, The Dance, the song was performed, and Nicks’ powerful performance actually brought the song back into the spotlight. She could be seen staring straight into the eyes of Buckingham during the performance; again highlighting the impact of the song. In a world of heartbreak and melancholy, the ability to capture it perfectly in such a beautiful piece of art like “Silver Springs” is something that should be recognized. I think this song should be heard and recognized on the same caliber as “Go Your Own Way” or “Dreams,” just purely for the emotional impact it can truly have. Give it a listen, and don’t be an idiot like Lindsay Buckingham.
