Sable On Blonde (Help)

[jbrownsjr]

1. This song has so much meaning for me. I love that she realized that it wasn't her that tainted the relationship, it was this guy's issues that he carried around that and he wouldn't allow himself to love.

What I don't get is the title... What's Sable On Blonde mean...

and What's

Learn to be a stranger
Blond on blond
In silence she says excalibur

Is this some mythology that went over my head? What is this Stevie experts?

[amber]

^^^^

It's one of the great Stevie mysteries, I'm not sure anyone knows about those lyrics. I've heard a few theories, but nothing extremely compelling.

And I was just going to ask why she goes from blonde on blonde to sable on blond, but looking at the lyrics, I think I "figured it out" (as much as you can with Stevie's lyrics). I haven't thought about this song very much because it was one of my two least favorites on the album, but it is starting to grow on me more.

[jbrownsjr]

^^^^

It's one of the great Stevie mysteries, I'm not sure anyone knows about those lyrics. I've heard a few theories, but nothing extremely compelling.

So do you agree that this song is about someone that she keeps breaking up with... and finally she says...

you know.... what's up with throwing down my love all the time... yeah i know i'm difficult to love.. but baby it was allllllll you this time....

i love when she starts going....


WELL I THINK THAT IT WAS YOUUUUUUUUUU BABE!!! WHOAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

If SN CM and LB were super heroes... Stevie's superpower is intensity...

[amber]

So do you agree that this song is about someone that she keeps breaking up with... and finally she says...

you know.... what's up with throwing down my love all the time... yeah i know i'm difficult to love.. but baby it was allllllll you this time....

i love when she starts going....


WELL I THINK THAT IT WAS YOUUUUUUUUUU BABE!!! WHOAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

If SN CM and LB were super heroes... Stevie's superpower is intensity...

Well, I think part of what you said is the meaning. I think I would describe it a little differently, but I'd be hard pressed to figure it out right now. Like I said above, I haven't pondered the lyrics or the song very much.

I like that part a lot, too. (WHOAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!)
Of course Stevie's superpower is Intensitah!!! And I hear it's hard to find someone with that kind.:nod:

[strandinthewind]

She said the song is about protection from the world. She is the one who wants not to be seen - a stranger if you will. When she calls on Excalibur, she is calling for strength or help. She gave an interview about it during the day. Maybe someone can post it.

[amber]

She said the song is about protection from the world. She is the one who wants not to be seen - a stranger if you will. When she calls on Excalibur, she is calling for strength or help. She gave an interview about it during the day. Maybe someone can post it.

Whoa, I've never seen that or heard anyone mention it before. Weird. Sometimes i don't think what she says the song is about is really what the song is about, though. Sometimes. :laugh:

[jbrownsjr]

Sable On Blonde

Learn to be a stranger
Blond on blond
In silence she says excalibur
I beg of you now
What was it that fell
Was it
One fallen leaf
Like the feather that it was
Was freedom by choice
Or baby was it love
Was it a thorn in your side
Something that you hide
Something you don't touch
Because it hurts too much
Ooo
Well have you come to see
That my face is not seen
Ooo outside my frost covered windows
Oh and just how deep
Do you hold that dream
In your hands each night this time
In your hands each night this time
Oh was it you
I heard calling which voice
Well I know that you are going
Which voice
Did I force you to remember
In the sacred name of love
To be brave save the stranger
Sable on blond
Dark upon light
Because it hurts too much
Just how deep
Do you hold that dream
In your hands each night
In your hands each night
In your hands each night
Ooh I beg of you now
What was it that fell
Well this time I think it was you babe
This time
Ooo well I think it was you babe
This time
Ooo well I think that it was you baby
This time

[The Tower]

Whoa, I've never seen that or heard anyone mention it before. Weird. Sometimes i don't think what she says the song is about is really what the song is about, though. Sometimes. :laugh:

Dude.

The Wild Heart press kit tells the whole story.

"Sable On Blond" is about Stevie's ability to survive without anyone else.

"In silence, she says 'Excalibur' " is all about her calling upon her most precious magic to save her- which no one ever does unless they're strained out.

Stevie came back home from the Tusk tour and was "dumped" <--- her words not mine. She moved into her closet in her vast home with her journals and her keyboard and wrote this song and lots of other stuff (some say "Gypsy" came from this songwriting era, as well).

[amber]

Dude.

The Wild Heart press kit tells the whole story.

"Sable On Blond" is about Stevie's ability to survive without anyone else.

"In silence, she says 'Excalibur' " is all about her calling upon her most precious magic to save her- which no one ever does unless they're strained out.

Stevie came back home from the Tusk tour and was "dumped" <--- her words not mine. She moved into her closet in her vast home with her journals and her keyboard and wrote this song and lots of other stuff (some say "Gypsy" came from this songwriting era, as well).

Oh, sweet. I, uh, don't have the WH press kit, and haven't looked for it. There are lyrics in there that this explanation doesn't seem to account for. :p That's weird, I thought we had a big "Excalibur" discussion awhile back, and I don't remember anyone saying that. Lame. That really is a good explanation for "excalibur", it totally makes sense now.

[jbrownsjr]

Dude.

The Wild Heart press kit tells the whole story.

"Sable On Blond" is about Stevie's ability to survive without anyone else.

"In silence, she says 'Excalibur' " is all about her calling upon her most precious magic to save her- which no one ever does unless they're strained out.

Stevie came back home from the Tusk tour and was "dumped" <--- her words not mine. She moved into her closet in her vast home with her journals and her keyboard and wrote this song and lots of other stuff (some say "Gypsy" came from this songwriting era, as well).

this makes sense because i heard it was laying around from the mirage sessions

[ricohv]

Doesn't Bob Dylan have a song caled "Blonde on Blonde"? I always assumed "Sable on Blonde" had to be some sort of homage to him (even if only in the title) but am not a Dylan fan in anyway so have never investigated it any further than that!

[skuncles]

From the "Wild Heart" press kit:

SABLE ON BLONDE
"I wrote this when I came off the Bella Donna tour, one of the most exhilarating and beautiful experiences I've ever had. And I moved into my new dream house, but it was more of a nightmare because it was cold and empty; I only had my piano, there were no phones and I was all alone, freezing with nothing. It was like going from heaven straight to hell without stopping off for a burger on the way. I was devastated. I moved into my closet with my quilt and pillows and my writing stuff; my clothes were hanging in my face and I took my little stereo in there and that's where I lived. But the song is really about learning to live with Stevie, learn to be a stranger, learn to live in silence, learn not to call on everybody else to get you out of everything or make everybody else pay for what you're going through, because you've chosen this life. Like Arthur learned with Excalibur, you do not ever call on your most precious magic unless you are litterally out of other choices."

That pretty much nails the song.

[skcin]

It was like going from heaven straight to hell without stopping off for a burger on the way Yeah, I know exaclty what she means. :laugh:


Thanks for posting that, Skuncles! Great screen name, btw. :D Does it mean anything, or did you think of it just to amuse me? Skuncles. HA.

[amber]

From the "Wild Heart" press kit:

SABLE ON BLONDE
" It was like going from heaven straight to hell without stopping off for a burger on the way. I was devastated..."

This part really brings home the pain in a way I can understand.











Edit: Dammit, Paula!:mad: :laugh: I've got to get up earlier...

Thanks for posting, skuncles. I assume the name means you are the uncle of a skunk.

Why didn't Stevie just get some furniture and turn on the heating? Did she not have enough money? *snicker*.
Weird.

[skcin]

Edit: Dammit, Paula!:mad: :laugh: I've got to get up earlier...



What are you doing up now? I'm surprised to see you this early. :p

[amber]

What are you doing up now? I'm surprised to see you this early. :p

Not finishing writing my speech on note cards like I got up early to do.
Sucks.So.Bad. So.Tired. Went to bed at 3:30. Sucks. Asss. It's all bright out, too, it hurts my eyes and makes me crabby. :p

[strandinthewind]

Also, the vocal in this song is one of her more stunning. Her voice soars. I get chills (and they're multiplyin' :cool: ) when I hear it.

[carrie721]

Why didn't Stevie just get some furniture and turn on the heating? Did she not have enough money? *snicker*.
Weird.

i was thinking the same thing. wtf, stevie? "if i keep my thermostat set to 55, maybe i'll be able to afford coke next month :( "

:shrug:

[amber]

i was thinking the same thing. wtf, stevie? "if i keep my thermostat set to 55, maybe i'll be able to afford coke next month :( "

:shrug:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


"I can't call the electric company because I don't have a phone. I can't get a phone because I can't drive. I'd better move neurotically into my closet."

[carrie721]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:


"I can't call the electric company because I don't have a phone. I can't get a phone because I can't drive. I'd better move neurotically into my closet."

hopefully her backpack can keep her company.

she loved that backpack~*

[amber]

hopefully her backpack can keep her company.

she loved that backpack~*

:lol:

Thank god that multi color bic pen was in it, or we wouldn't have gotten the great songs.


I'd also like to add that I would like Sable on Blond much better if it didn't start with those elevator dentist office sounding "ahahahahahahaahah"s. Yuck.

[carrie721]

:lol:

Thank god that multi color bic pen was in it, or we wouldn't have gotten the great songs.


I'd also like to add that I would like Sable on Blond much better if it didn't start with those elevator dentist office sounding "ahahahahahahaahah"s. Yuck.

and the capo. since she only knows, like, 3 chords.

[gldstwmn]

Doesn't Bob Dylan have a song caled "Blonde on Blonde"? I always assumed "Sable on Blonde" had to be some sort of homage to him (even if only in the title) but am not a Dylan fan in anyway so have never investigated it any further than that!

It's not a song, it's an entire album and yes, I think there is some sort of obvious nod to Dylan there but I can't figure out what it is. Here is the track listing. Damn there are some good songs on here:


Side 1
"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" – 4:36
"Pledging My Time" – 3:45
"Visions of Johanna" – 7:30
"One of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)" – 4:56

Side 2
"I Want You" – 3:09
"Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" – 7:06
"Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" – 3:52
"Just Like a Woman" – 4:42

Side 3
"Most Likely You'll Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)" – 3:24
"Temporary Like Achilles" – 4:51
"Absolutely Sweet Marie" – 4:48
"4th Time Around" – 4:29
"Obviously 5 Believers" – 3:32

Side 4
"Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" – 11:43

[gldstwmn]

From the "Wild Heart" press kit:

SABLE ON BLONDE
"I wrote this when I came off the Bella Donna tour, one of the most exhilarating and beautiful experiences I've ever had. And I moved into my new dream house, but it was more of a nightmare because it was cold and empty; I only had my piano, there were no phones and I was all alone, freezing with nothing.

Is she talking about the Phoenix house?

[gldstwmn]

i was thinking the same thing. wtf, stevie? "if i keep my thermostat set to 55, maybe i'll be able to afford coke next month :( "

:shrug:

Then you'll find yourself moving into your closet after doing the coke. :lol:

[jbrownsjr]

Then you'll find yourself moving into your closet after doing the coke. :lol:

later on... she finally came out of the closet...:D

[skuncles]

No problem about posting the write up about SOB from the press kit. As for my screen name. I got that years ago from my nephew and brother in law. When my nephew was very little my brother in law told him to call me "Uncle Skuncle" and that's what I became. At this point my nephews have dropped the Uncle part.
Been on The Ledge for awhile now, just don't post much. Been on the Enchanted list for years.

[skcin]

No problem about posting the write up about SOB from the press kit. As for my screen name. I got that years ago from my nephew and brother in law. When my nephew was very little my brother in law told him to call me "Uncle Skuncle" and that's what I became. At this point my nephews have dropped the Uncle part.
Been on The Ledge for awhile now, just don't post much. Been on the Enchanted list for years.

Good to meet you finally. My husband used to torture his older nieces with stupid nicknames, so when the younger ones came along, they made them start calling him "Uncle Poopies." It stuck, and now he's just known as "Poopies" to most of the family. :p

[nodmod]

For anyone who is interested the Wild Heart press kit is posted here
- http://www.fleetwoodmac-uk.com/articles/presskits/pk_wildheart.html

[face of glass]

It's not a song, it's an entire album and yes, I think there is some sort of obvious nod to Dylan there but I can't figure out what it is.

The title of Blonde On Blonde is supposedly nothing but an acronym. I don't think it has ever had any specific meaning attached to it.

[SortaSavageLike]

Sable On Blonde. Geedit? Ha Ha! :lol:

http://i9.tinypic.com/4chp1f4.jpg

[TheWILDheart]

Sable means black - the colour. So Sable on Blond, dark upon light. Maybe it was that she felt a certain relationship wouldn't work because the people in it were too different and were in the relationship just for the hell of it. "Dark upon light, because it hurts too much" - It hurts that deep down she really know's it's not meant to be because the 2 are so different. "Was it thorn in your side, something that you hide" - although things may have started out good, she feels like he thinks it is his duty to be in the relationship now and he is hiding it from her. And so she just wishes he would be honest about it instead of sparing her feelings "because it hurts too much"

I dunno, maybe I'm just thinking too much but that's what I think anyway.

[Phoenix]

:lol:

Thank god that multi color bic pen was in it, or we wouldn't have gotten the great songs.


I'd also like to add that I would like Sable on Blond much better if it didn't start with those elevator dentist office sounding "ahahahahahahaahah"s. Yuck.

Sable on Blonde has Allways been one of my favorite Stevie songs ever. Sombody had told me a story about a song where stevie "calls on excalibur" and that was it, I loved the song before i even heard it. I allways thought that "learn to be a stranger...blonde on blonde" went along with the theme of "SISTERS OF THE MOON" Where stevie feels like she is afew diferent people in one. (just like the cover of wild heart, and what she has said about what sisters of the moon is about. HER, and then the OTHER her. She is now very settled in that role, she has learned to be that other person, also, isnt her hair like a brownish blonde naturally, but "STEVIE NICKS" has BLONDE hair, so she has to litterally color blonde on the color blonde to keep up with the image. The press kit explains the excalibur part perfectly and beautifully.
and I do also believe that this song is about her saying to some relationship, "no it is not me it is YOU. (baaaaabay)

NOW, IF SOMEONE COULD EDIT OUT LAME BACKUP SINGER OOOO,OOOH AAAAHH BEGINNING! i WOULD LOVE THE SONG EVEN MORE.
(really, please someone)

[Johnny Stew]

I'd also like to add that I would like Sable on Blond much better if it didn't start with those elevator dentist office sounding "ahahahahahahaahah"s. Yuck.
NOW, IF SOMEONE COULD EDIT OUT LAME BACKUP SINGER OOOO,OOOH AAAAHH BEGINNING! i WOULD LOVE THE SONG EVEN MORE.
(really, please someone)I love that part! It's so pretty and ethereal.

Oh well.

[jbrownsjr]

I love that part! It's so pretty and ethereal.

Oh well.

me too i like the backing vocals.

[petep9000]

Stevie was big into fur coats in those days, I've seen pics of her wearing them and in one interview she bragged about how fabulous it was to walk into a 'fur salon' and come out with three coats. Maybe the title of SOB is a reference to Sable, which is a type of fur bearing critter that they make coats from. And blonde, her hair.

Someone commented that they thought Sable was black, maybe it can be dyed for coats or something because as I recall from my art-school days my sable paintbrushes were an auburn/brown color.

And ditto to everyone here who said the "ahhah hah haaaa huh-haaaa" parts were a little excessive.

[priestofnothing]

A sable is a type of fur yes, but a sable is also a black or dark piece of clothing worn in mourning.... like mourning the death of someone.

I've heard a sable referred to as that black kind of netting that Stevie sometimes wears over her hats, covering her face.....

So Sable on Blonde would be that black netting on top of her blonde hair....


.... i think that is the imagery for the song title ....

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c202/priestofnothing/hasanyone.jpg

[Sorcerer386]

A sable is a type of fur yes, but a sable is also a black or dark piece of clothing worn in mourning.... like mourning the death of someone.

I've heard a sable referred to as that black kind of netting that Stevie sometimes wears over her hats, covering her face.....

So Sable on Blonde would be that black netting on top of her blonde hair....


.... i think that is the imagery for the song title ....

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c202/priestofnothing/hasanyone.jpg

Wow, I never even thought of that. That's really cool. :thumbsup:

[amber]

I love that part! It's so pretty and ethereal.

Oh well.

Indeed it is. Much like elevator/dentist office music. Soooothing....:shocked:

[trackaghost]

I always thought the title of the song was a reference to Bob's Blonde On Blonde.
It seems too similar not to be.
Could it be about him perhaps? Did she know him around that time?
I know it's been said that they had some kind of affair later on...

[MissyWiggy]

Sable means black - the colour. So Sable on Blond, dark upon light. Maybe it was that she felt a certain relationship wouldn't work because the people in it were too different and were in the relationship just for the hell of it. "Dark upon light, because it hurts too much" - It hurts that deep down she really know's it's not meant to be because the 2 are so different. "Was it thorn in your side, something that you hide" - although things may have started out good, she feels like he thinks it is his duty to be in the relationship now and he is hiding it from her. And so she just wishes he would be honest about it instead of sparing her feelings "because it hurts too much"

I dunno, maybe I'm just thinking too much but that's what I think anyway.
You! you.... you... nabber! just cos I told you about the whole sable meaning black thing.... stealer of explanations!
I still don't actually get it though :lol: ah well... ur still a nabber :p

[TheWILDheart]

You! you.... you... nabber! just cos I told you about the whole sable meaning black thing.... stealer of explanations!
I still don't actually get it though :lol: ah well... ur still a nabber :p

Actually I looked it up on dictionary.com after your vague explanation the other day :p.

[MissyWiggy]

Actually I looked it up on dictionary.com after your vague explanation the other day :p.

woah woah woah
"rewind and freeze" while i have a heart attack....
you. dictionary. you. dictionary. my brain is overcome... *screams as head explodes into a puff of blue smoke*

[TheWILDheart]

woah woah woah
"rewind and freeze" while i have a heart attack....
you. dictionary. you. dictionary. my brain is overcome... *screams as head explodes into a puff of blue smoke*

is that ANY way to talk to the person who introduced you to Stevie in the first place AND who has your Tori Amos ticket?

[Nixxxed]

I know it's been said that they had some kind of affair later on...

:shocked:

I've never heard that.

Off to vomit now.

[carrie721]

:shocked:

I've never heard that.

Off to vomit now.

i have that response a lot after reading sharon's posts.

:D

oh, you mean the affair? yeah, that's pretty gross. :laugh:

[Nixxxed]

i have that response a lot after reading sharon's posts.

:D

oh, you mean the affair? yeah, that's pretty gross. :laugh:
You are cracking me up tonight. :nod:

Bought your ticket to Canada yet?



:lol:

[carrie721]

You are cracking me up tonight. :nod:

Bought your ticket to Canada yet?



:lol:

holy hell, i've got my cursor over the "place order" button at expedia. :laugh:

dude, beavers and mounties.

come ON! :laugh: :laugh:

[gldstwmn]

I always thought the title of the song was a reference to Bob's Blonde On Blonde.
It seems too similar not to be.
Could it be about him perhaps? Did she know him around that time?
I know it's been said that they had some kind of affair later on...

I'm not sure when they met. I just wondered if something on Dylan's record inspired her or she related it to something she was going through at the time.

[Ghost_Tracker]

1. This song has so much meaning for me. I love that she realized that it wasn't her that tainted the relationship, it was this guy's issues that he carried around that and he wouldn't allow himself to love.

What I don't get is the title... What's Sable On Blonde mean...

and What's

Learn to be a stranger
Blond on blond
In silence she says excalibur

Is this some mythology that went over my head? What is this Stevie experts?


This is one of those songs that's definitely up for interpretation, of course, but here's my best guess.

That phrase and the following one have to be read together -

"Sable on blonde,
dark upon light
because it hurts too much."

Sable is a dark fur - it contrasts with Stevie's uhhmmm - blonde hair.
Just as dark contrasts with light.

It's like one of those S.A.T. questions. :rolleyes:

Stevie used to wear those types of furs - she was saying that this fake, fancy thing was hiding her true self - blonde, outgoing, fun - just as there was a dark exterior to her (Big Rock Star; cold; egotistical, etc.) which was hiding the bright light - the good person - which she knew was still inside of her. The reason why was that she was in so much pain - sable on blonde, dark upon light; BECAUSE it hurts so much. Putting up a false front - "outside her frost-colored windows" - because she was scared and had been hurt.

"Learn to be a stranger" - She had to learn how not to be close to Lindsey - an "associate," not an intimate. She also described this as herself feeling that she has to learn to be her true self - someone she felt she no longer knew - and to be someone who was more independent - who wouldn't go "crying wolf" over every little problem. She maybe had to grow up a bit and she knew it - she had been sheltered so long.

"Blonde on Blonde" - very puzzling. But maybe dying her hair a slightly different shade than its true color (brownish/amber) - again, a ref. to the Public Stevie vs. her real, true self.

"In silence she says 'excaliber'" - she discussed this in an interview once - It's a reference to the "Sword in the Stone" legend, of course. She said that she needed to learn not to call for help so quickly - not to call out for that Knight in Shining Armor to come rescue her - she needed to rescue herself (and maybe to be left alone a little bit, for a little while). But - as we all know, in the legend, there is only ONE who can pull out the sword - who can stop the hurt, in other words. She had to learn to stop calling that person (WHO could it be? :rolleyes: ) but when alone, she cried out (softly...) "Excaliber" - in other words, her spirit was crying for him to come to her, but she'd never admit it - maybe not even to herself. But you can easily picture her being all alone at home, thinking to herself, promising herself she wouldn't call ANYONE - but just the same, whispering to herself, just once, "Lindsey...."

Anyway I think that maybe overall it's about Stevie's need to take some time to get to know herself. And to take control of her life, and her career. It's certainly one of her vaguist songs! :D