Observations placeholder
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
Identifier
021516
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
Penguin lyric interpretation
"Like a heartbeat drives you mad...." That heartbeat is the essence of the song "Dreams." It is a heartbeat that is reminiscent of a hopeful love that has been lost to a world of loneliness. It begins as a harmonious pounding, in turn followed by the haunting cry of a guitar. This heartbeat is not only a part of Stevie's beautifully written lyrics that surround the loneliness of lost love and the hope that envelops these feelings, but also in the music and arrangement of the song.
Stevie's poetic lyrics are beautifully arranged to make this song a true gem in Fleetwood Mac's song writing history and is forever a memory of the reality of our own dreams.
"Dreams" is the painful story of love gone astray and is probably one of most poignant love songs ever written. It was created during the tumultuous recording sessions of the album, Rumours. There was a time during these sessions when there wasn't much for Stevie to do in the studio, so she found her way to a room in the back corners of the studio and wrote the lyrics to "Dreams."
Now here you go again you say you want your freedom.
Having to let go of something you care for dearly is not always easy. Setting someone you love free is even harder. For reasons best known to Stevie, it is believed she broke off her romantic relations with Lindsey Buckingham during the recording sessions of Rumours. Stevie and Lindsey had been living together for almost six years prior to their joining Fleetwood Mac and had not only committed to each other in love, but in their music too. After joining Fleetwood Mac, their musical world changed from that as a duo to becoming part of a group. The compromises and the strains of their new success must have caused inner turmoil within them both as their love started to unravel. Much of this turmoil can be seen in most of the songs they wrote on the album Rumours. Stevie has said in several interviews that she cooked for Lindsey and took care of him when they were a couple. In her mind, she was meeting his needs and it is likely that she felt he was not responding to hers at the time this song was written. Stevie senses Lindsey's need to be free, although we are not sure what this freedom suggests. Her use of the word "again" displays her anger towards the time he devoted to his music and the time she devoted to him.
Well who am I to keep you down.
A description of the experience
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
"Dreams"
Now here you go again
You say you want your freedom
Well, who am I to keep you down?
It's only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your loneliness
Like a heartbeat.. drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost...
And what you had...
And what you lost
[Chorus:]
Thunder only happens when it's raining
Players only love you when they're playing
Say... Women... they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean... you'll know, you'll know
Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
It's only me
Who wants to wrap around your dreams and...
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness...
Like a heartbeat... drives you mad...
In the stillness of remembering what you had...
And what you lost...
And what you had...
And what you lost