Invisible input - inspiration

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Penguins lyric interpretation

In the recently produced "Classic Albums" showcase revolving around the making of the album Rumours, Lindsey Buckingham states that "'Second Hand News' was considered to be the front-runner for the opening track on Rumours, and in doing so, keeping with the pop element since it was a pop album."

Aside from being a classic pop song, it is no accident that "Second Hand News" found its place as the first song on Rumours. It is this song that sets the stage for the mood that surrounds Rumours, an album that was created around feelings of hope and heartbreak, resignation and love. Although the uplifting music of "Second Hand News" traps the listener into a world of make-believe happiness, by the end of the song, Lindsey's painful lyrics and emotional guitar solo transcend the song to the silent emptiness that precedes the next chapter of dreams lost to a world of loneliness.

Lindsey says that the uplifting dance music of "Second Hand News" consists of "Scottish-Irish-Folk" influences and to get this effect, he opted for more of a dance beat. While creating this song, he had heard "Jive Talking" by the Bee Gees and "pulled a couple of textures from that." Where initially, there was going to be a guitar solo, Lindsey felt that the "presence would be better served with the use of a vocal," thus creating the "bam's," as the vocal part, reinforced by the guitar to give it that classic pop element. According to Lindsey, musically, that is the "essence of the song."

Although the music to "Second Hand News" is quite optimistic, the lyrics paint quite a different picture - one of sadness, bitterness and resignation. This is not the first time that Lindsey creates optimism around the music of his songs to clearly disguise his feelings, specifically those that revolved around his relationship with Stevie Nicks. We see the hope-filled confusion that surrounds "Monday Morning," the bittersweet angst in "Go Your Own Way," and the relinquishment and eventual surrender in "Second Hand News."

At first listen, "Second Hand News" seems to be about Lindsey lashing out at Stevie with such words as "I ain't gonna miss you when you're gone," however, by looking more deeply at the lyrics, the song, although somewhat simplistic in its verses, tells the tale of Lindsey's feelings of unrequited love.

I know there's nothing to say
Someone has taken my place
When times go bad
When times go rough
Won't you lay me down in tall grass
And let me do my stuff

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