Christine's songs on Time have a theme

[diamondsnake]

Has anyone else noticed that Christine's songs on Time are all about how she misses the change of seasons and wants to quit the band and leave town? I think it is really cool!

She starts off with Hollywood, saying she doesn't like the city and wants to go back to her roots: the change of seasons in a country in England. Then the last song, Do It All Over Again ends with "So it's time to move onto the rain- and finally break the chain". Rain is what England and London are famous for and breaking the chain is a metaphor for leaving the band.

I just think it is really cool and so truthful that she ends the last song she ever did on a FM studio album saying that she is going to "break the chain".

[Hawkeye]

actually her last song on a Fleetwood Mac album was Temporary One, which by the way says The Bridge will bring us back together. Don't know how true that will be but...

[MacMan]

I agree diamondsnake. It's sad in a way now knowing what was to become, and then going back to listen to it... and that last song seemed like such a swan song too. Too bad no one noticed at the "time", no pun intended.

[diamondsnake]

actually her last song on a Fleetwood Mac album was Temporary One, which by the way says The Bridge will bring us back together. Don't know how true that will be but...
But live albums don't count. I was talking about her last actual album, you know, a studio album.

[diamondsnake]

I agree diamondsnake. It's sad in a way now knowing what was to become, and then going back to listen to it... and that last song seemed like such a swan song too. Too bad no one noticed at the "time", no pun intended.
Exactly, it's very bittersweet. I would be mad about her quitting the band, but with a new solo album coming out, I can't complain!

[HollywoodSteve]

I always thought that "Temporary One" and her "Time" songs sent mixed signals. Very contradictory. Great songs though.

[Mari]

I can go along with the idea she was thinking about leaving the band at the time when Time was recorded, but that was 1994. Fleetwood Mac wasn't the same band, nor in the same position as it was in the Dance-period. I can understand she had different feelings about being in the band back then.

*I'm listening to Time now for the first time since.. oh I don't know, a couple of years?

[macfan 57]

I do think she wanted to leave the band around this time. Dave Mason said that he thought Time would be her last Fleetwood Mac album. She sort of eased out of Fleetwood Mac in a way. She recorded some songs for the Chain box set then the songs for the Time album, then the Dance album & tour. She obviously didn't want to tour again. I remember when I heard that the Rumours line-up would be getting back together again by releasing an album & then tour. I was not surprised that the other 4 had agreed to this, but I was VERY surprised that Christine had agreed to the whole thing since she had said that she was done touring after the BTM tour.

I think her Time songs were more personal than some of her songs on other albums, especially Hollywood, Nights In Estoril & All Over Again. "All Over Again" was her goodbye to Fleetwood Mac. She wrote "Temporary One" about her family in England. By the way, if you listen to her interview on that Best Buy promo CD, you can get a pretty good idea of what she was thinking about at the time.

[jwd]

I think she's always thought about leaving Fleetwood Mac, or at least the touring/being on the road aspect of it. Even back to the Bare Trees album when she wrote "Homeward Bound" she was contemplating it. I think she mustered up the strength or the will to do The Dance Tour for her fellow members and for herself to put closure on it all. To end it in the right fashion, so to speak. When has Chrisitine not been professional? Class act all the way. I also thought it to be very sentimentally provoking when I read(in the link in the "album cover tracklisting" thread) that there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't think about Fleetwood Mac. :( Her heart's still there, she just can't/won't do the major tours that Fleetwod Mac does. I think there's still hope that she will record with FM again.....in the day when they ALL just want to be "Homeward Bound". :)

Christine's "Time" tracks are some of her best imo. And I do agree that they share a central theme of saying goodbye. Bittersweetness at its' best.

[Mari]

So, let's say The Dance was her final tour. (That sounds plausible to me)Then why didn't she "officially" say goodbye? She never did that... There never was a press release or a comment by her in an interview, that she has finally quit the band. Or was there? It's an open ending.

[face of glass]

So, let's say The Dance was her final tour. (That sounds plausible to me)Then why didn't she "officially" say goodbye? She never did that... There never was a press release or a comment by her in an interview, that she has finally quit the band. Or was there? It's an open ending.

I missed it too if there was one. But I'd imagine that she doesn't want to say anything permanent about it. Just think of how many "farewell" tours Frank Sinatra did and he still came back a few years after one. So if she said she was never going to tour with FM again and yet still "felt the pull" and eventually wanted to come back like she did with The Dance then she wouldn't appear any different than those other big names.

She's a class act all the way. Who needs the big, dramatic announcement anyway. ;)

[jwd]

Mari

So, let's say The Dance was her final tour. (That sounds plausible to me)Then why didn't she "officially" say goodbye? She never did that... There never was a press release or a comment by her in an interview, that she has finally quit the band. Or was there? It's an open ending.


It's just not some artists' style to "say goodbye" or do a farewell tour. I think in her heart of hearts she knew it was the last one she was going to do. It was closure more from a personal perspective than a public one.

[macfan 57]

She did make an announcement during the BTM tour about not wanted to tour again but that she would still record with Fleetwood Mac. She did strongly hint during the Dance tour that this was it for her. During every interview I've read that she did around this time, she used the word closure every time. That was her way of ending it. I agree she's just not the type to make a big announcement.

[HomerMcvie]

Why unnecessarily burn any bridges? By not officially quitting, her options were still open to record, or whatever.
I miss her so much...

[diamondsnake]

I think she's always thought about leaving Fleetwood Mac.

I think you are right... Circa 1977 Stevie Nicks wrote Think About It (telling Christine to "think about it before you go") for Christine.

[Johnny Stew]

As I've posted before, Christine did an online chat in 1995, to promote 'Time.'
I think a lot of things she said then, in regards to solo albums, touring, and her feelings towards Lindsey & Stevie, are very revealing.
For me at least, it's easy to see why she eventually decided to do the 'Dance' tour, while remaining essentially retired from the road. And also why she ended up recording a new solo album, when she had opted not to record with Fleetwood Mac for 'Say You Will.'

This isn't the entire chat... just some pertinent comments.:

BearBillN: Hello Christine! First of all you're one of my all time favorite singers and songwriters! I enjoyed your last solo album a lot! Will we see a new one any time soon?

(Christine): Yes!! I do have plans to record a new solo album maybe sometime next year... I have to recharge the batteries, but am keen on doing it. I get a great kick out of doing the solo record. I do enjoy being with a team more than as a solo artist, but I will give it another shot. It was a very rewarding experience

Question : Where is your "home base" these days, in England or in L.A.?

(Christine): Both, we have a house in the south of England and in Los Angeles. I think I would like to start...spending more time in England. After 25 years in L.A., my roots are calling me back home. I am going back for a short stint in a few days, I like the rain, I miss it.

SandG: Would you consider inviting Stevie on your next solo project? Your voices on Straight Back worked excellently with each other.

(Christine): Absolutely, I would like to work with Stevie and Lindsey again. Some point down the line....Don't know where or when, but the possibilities are there. I think they would like to also.THe more you don't hear Stevie's voice, the more you miss it. So unique.

Gre1440: Give us your perspective on this most recent
incarnation of Fleetwood Mac.

(Christine): I find it a bizarre combination of people, but Mick chose Dave Mason... I don't think he is a bad guitar player, but I just don't know how he fits in with Fleetwood Mac... Great guitar player he is, he would not have been my first choice.

MastrPeace: Who would have been your first choice, as opposed to Dave Mason?

(Christine): Lindsey Buckingham, I think he was the most superlative guitar player this band will ever have... A true shining light. After Lindsey, everybody else seems a little palid. I'm not talking talent, just chemistry for Fleetwood Mac.

Mavenman: Is Atlantic City on your schedule soon? I saw you at Taj Mahal about 5 years ago.

(Christine): Well, I've given up the road as it were. Hung up my stageboots about three years ago.

ROBNORT: Why are you not currently touring with Fleetwood Mac?

(Christine): Mainly because I've been with the band for 25 years. Touring was never my favorite thing to do... I get insomnia on the road. I can't sleep in strange beds night after night...Did not want to take sleeping pills, that is the begining of the end. I would lie awake reading all .. night. This made me irritable. I had done it enough. Then I would drink a bottle of wine before bed..wake up with a hangover. It was a no win situation.

[shackin'up]

Lindsey Buckingham, I think he was the most superlative guitar player this band will ever have... A true shining light. After Lindsey, everybody else seems a little palid. I'm not talking talent, just chemistry for Fleetwood Mac.

say no more... ;)

[HomerMcvie]

MastrPeace: Who would have been your first choice, as opposed to Dave Mason?Christine): Lindsey Buckingham, I think he was the most superlative guitar player this band will ever have... A true shining light. After Lindsey, everybody else seems a little palid. I'm not talking talent, just chemistry for Fleetwood Mac.
Wow. I'm just amazed that Christine said it. I mean, I never thought she hated him or anything, I just never expected such high praise for him! :woohoo:

[macfan 57]

I don't think that Christine & Lindsey are really friends, but she's always had great respect for him professionally, so I'm not really surprised that she would say that.

That online chat transcript is terrific. She really doesn't beat around the bush. I wish she'd do another one with her new album coming out.

[Mari]

Thanks a lot for posting that :)

[GypsySorcerer]

I think you are right... Circa 1977 Stevie Nicks wrote Think About It (telling Christine to "think about it before you go") for Christine.


I love the line in that song, "You'll go on forever, cause you're that good." Awwww..... :(

[jwd]

diamondsnake:

Quote:
Originally Posted by jwd
I think she's always thought about leaving Fleetwood Mac.

I think you are right... Circa 1977 Stevie Nicks wrote Think About It (telling Christine to "think about it before you go") for Christine.

I think you're right that you think I'm right! :laugh: Good point. That song was yet another indication of where Christine's heart was. My only question is why did she do it (tour) for so long? :confused:


Thanks for posting that transcript Mr. Stew....you ROCK!

[diamondsnake]

I love the line in that song, "You'll go on forever, cause you're that good." Awwww..... :(
I love that line too, and Stevie's right- Christine is that good... Christine rocks!

[SteveMacD]

So, let's say The Dance was her final tour. (That sounds plausible to me)Then why didn't she "officially" say goodbye? She never did that... There never was a press release or a comment by her in an interview, that she has finally quit the band. Or was there? It's an open ending.

I don't think there was an official statement that she left the band. But, her actions certainly have said as much. I think she basically was saying she wasn't in the band anymore when she didn't show up for the Clinton farewell show in the White House lawn back in 2000. I mean, that was a pretty significant gig. I also seem to recall that was when the band started saying that she has retired from the group.

As for completely closing the chapter on Fleetwood Mac, I just don't ever see that happening. I mean, she was married to John and they shared a house with Mick for years. She went through hell and back with Stevie and Lindsey. She's seen so much during her time with the Mac that she knows to never say never. Which is optimistic for us.

[Gailh]

I heard her say on the Making of Rumours DVD that some of her songs are "intensely personal about herself" some are about "other people into whose shoes she's stepping" and some are "complete fabrications"

I think her songs on Time were personal (Hollywood, Do it All Over Again, Nights in Estoril) and from what I've read of the lyrics the new album seems extremely personal.

She also said on the DVD that if she's got the lyrics that "kick starts her" into the song.

I don't want to pry too much into her personal life but it doesn't take a genius to work out that some of the new lyrics are about her marriage break up.

Hopefully though she's got a new love interest :xoxo: because some of the new songs sound very optimistic.

Gail