striaght back questions

[bluecrystal]

does anyone know what this song is about? who she wrote it about? and does anyone have alternate takes or demos of the song?

[David]

does anyone know what this song is about? who she wrote it about? and does anyone have alternate takes or demos of the song?
Stevie didn't know what to say, & wasn't sure which card to play, because her dream hadn't ended, but it had gone away. But Stevie's fingers alit upon the ivory keys (of the piano, presumably) & began to begin to write a song, which for some reason or other reminded her of a running timber wolf (canis lupus) -- or one beginning to begin to run. I guess either one would be just as good. At one point, Stevie was in the wind -- possibly on her balcony with her arms outstretched & her chiffon blowing wildly, or maybe just sitting down so the dirt wouldn't get in her eyes -- & it was during that time that Stevie found something she had lost. What was this lost thing? A dream.

This occurred during or immediately after Stevie (or the Stevielike girl in the song) spent several hours waiting for someone -- or something (like a dream). This person -- or thing, or dream, or running wolf -- was very strong but fleeting.

Later, Stevie remembered just how good it was! (which can only mean sex)

So maybe she remembered a sexual encounter (in the shadow of my shadow is an especially sexual image, akin to Dame Edna's reference to her dead husband's member -- "Norm's needle," she calls it -- & how others visiting the cemetery where Norm is buried met "under Norm's needle").

It's also possible that Stevie did NOT have a sexual encounter (I know, I know) ... & remembered only her having had a memory of such & such, perhaps not sure whether the sex was real or whether the memory of the sex was even real -- or even whether the dream about the sex (or the dream about the memory of the sex) was real.

But, then, what is real?

And, that, my friend, is "Straight Back."

[michelej1]

The first part reminds me of Icarus.

Michele

[bluecrystal]

i have no idea where i read this, possibly it was posted a while ago, but someone said stevie wrote straight back about john mcvie and christine mcvie...before i get yelled at, i just want to say i did not come up with that notion. but it is a intrigueing idea....hmmmm

[Richard B]

Stevie didn't know what to say, & wasn't sure which card to play, because her dream hadn't ended, but it had gone away. But Stevie's fingers alit upon the ivory keys (of the piano, presumably) & began to begin to write a song, which for some reason or other reminded her of a running timber wolf (canis lupus) -- or one beginning to begin to run. I guess either one would be just as good. At one point, Stevie was in the wind -- possibly on her balcony with her arms outstretched & her chiffon blowing wildly, or maybe just sitting down so the dirt wouldn't get in her eyes -- & it was during that time that Stevie found something she had lost. What was this lost thing? A dream.

This occurred during or immediately after Stevie (or the Stevielike girl in the song) spent several hours waiting for someone -- or something (like a dream). This person -- or thing, or dream, or running wolf -- was very strong but fleeting.

Later, Stevie remembered just how good it was! (which can only mean sex)

So maybe she remembered a sexual encounter (in the shadow of my shadow is an especially sexual image, akin to Dame Edna's reference to her dead husband's member -- "Norm's needle," she calls it -- & how others visiting the cemetery where Norm is buried met "under Norm's needle").

It's also possible that Stevie did NOT have a sexual encounter (I know, I know) ... & remembered only her having had a memory of such & such, perhaps not sure whether the sex was real or whether the memory of the sex was even real -- or even whether the dream about the sex (or the dream about the memory of the sex) was real.

But, then, what is real?

And, that, my friend, is "Straight Back."

LOL (lafinus outloudis)

[MariaA37]

LOL (lafinus outloudis)

Me too :)

I've always loved Straight Back and wish they'd done it more.

Here's one of my fave versions:
https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y2o4clVPK3hRWUkwTVE9PQ MP3

Straight Back Early Take:
https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y2ovRE90dENvQUkwTVE9PQ Mp3

Straight Back Demo # 1 (I like Christine on this, I wish the sound were better .)
https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y2ovRE9nT00wZ2xjR0E9PQ MP3

Straight Back Demo # 2
https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y2o5ckhhZy9LVlUwTVE9PQ MP3

Straight Back Mirage Rehearsal (I wish the sound were better on this one too.)
https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y2o5ckhkWkIzS3J2Wmc9PQ MP3


~Maria

[GypsySorcerer]

Stevie didn't know what to say, & wasn't sure which card to play, because her dream hadn't ended, but it had gone away. But Stevie's fingers alit upon the ivory keys (of the piano, presumably) & began to begin to write a song, which for some reason or other reminded her of a running timber wolf (canis lupus) -- or one beginning to begin to run. I guess either one would be just as good. At one point, Stevie was in the wind -- possibly on her balcony with her arms outstretched & her chiffon blowing wildly, or maybe just sitting down so the dirt wouldn't get in her eyes -- & it was during that time that Stevie found something she had lost. What was this lost thing? A dream.

This occurred during or immediately after Stevie (or the Stevielike girl in the song) spent several hours waiting for someone -- or something (like a dream). This person -- or thing, or dream, or running wolf -- was very strong but fleeting.

Later, Stevie remembered just how good it was! (which can only mean sex)

So maybe she remembered a sexual encounter (in the shadow of my shadow is an especially sexual image, akin to Dame Edna's reference to her dead husband's member -- "Norm's needle," she calls it -- & how others visiting the cemetery where Norm is buried met "under Norm's needle").

It's also possible that Stevie did NOT have a sexual encounter (I know, I know) ... & remembered only her having had a memory of such & such, perhaps not sure whether the sex was real or whether the memory of the sex was even real -- or even whether the dream about the sex (or the dream about the memory of the sex) was real.

But, then, what is real?

And, that, my friend, is "Straight Back."

I want to tape this to my refrigerator.

[Steviefan49]

LOL (lafinus outloudis)

And lest we forget "Rolling Onthefloorus":laugh:

[mylittledemon]

Stevie didn't know what to say, & wasn't sure which card to play, because her dream hadn't ended, but it had gone away. But Stevie's fingers alit upon the ivory keys (of the piano, presumably) & began to begin to write a song, which for some reason or other reminded her of a running timber wolf (canis lupus) -- or one beginning to begin to run. I guess either one would be just as good. At one point, Stevie was in the wind -- possibly on her balcony with her arms outstretched & her chiffon blowing wildly, or maybe just sitting down so the dirt wouldn't get in her eyes -- & it was during that time that Stevie found something she had lost. What was this lost thing? A dream.

This occurred during or immediately after Stevie (or the Stevielike girl in the song) spent several hours waiting for someone -- or something (like a dream). This person -- or thing, or dream, or running wolf -- was very strong but fleeting.

Later, Stevie remembered just how good it was! (which can only mean sex)

So maybe she remembered a sexual encounter (in the shadow of my shadow is an especially sexual image, akin to Dame Edna's reference to her dead husband's member -- "Norm's needle," she calls it -- & how others visiting the cemetery where Norm is buried met "under Norm's needle").

It's also possible that Stevie did NOT have a sexual encounter (I know, I know) ... & remembered only her having had a memory of such & such, perhaps not sure whether the sex was real or whether the memory of the sex was even real -- or even whether the dream about the sex (or the dream about the memory of the sex) was real.

But, then, what is real?

And, that, my friend, is "Straight Back."


Haha...bizarre...

I always thought the song was about Fleetwood Mac not breaking up...or almost breaking up after the TUSK tour. Then, they got back together for the Mirage thing..."she remembers how good it can be...she remembers a melody"..?

[Richard B]

Me too :)

I've always loved Straight Back and wish they'd done it more.

Here's one of my fave versions:

https://www.yousendit.com/download/Y2o4clVPK3hRWUkwTVE9PQ MP3

I'll be back later with another one.

~Maria

Thanks, Maria!
Me likes...never heard this before.

[skuncles]

Originally the three songs Stevie was supposed to have on "Mirage" were "That's Alright", "Gypsy" and "Smile At You". But Lindsey said that wasn't the direction they were taking the album so "Smile At You" was dropped (too bad too because that version is vastly superior to the "Say You Will" version). Anyhow, I believe Stevie then came up with "Straight Back" which musically sounds somewhat like the original "Smile At You". I think "Straight Back" falls into the same category as "I Don't Want To Know" in that it was a replacement song and may have been written very quickly to replace something else.

[wolfontherun]

Haha...bizarre...

I always thought the song was about Fleetwood Mac not breaking up...or almost breaking up after the TUSK tour. Then, they got back together for the Mirage thing..."she remembers how good it can be...she remembers a melody"..?

I too had heard this or read it somewhere around the time Mirage came out.

[LukeA]

Remember how Lindsey has said that there were times where he had the urge not to help Stevie with her songs?

"Straight Back" is the prototypical example.

[wheart]

I adore this song and is possibly my favorite Stevie penned FM song. I always thought it centered around Stevie's solo career and her ever present ties to Fleetwood Mac...she was going "straight back" to them after she was done with Bella Donna. I think it has to do with her loyalty to the band.

[michelej1]

For me, the best part of the song is the "hours and hours of waiting this way . . ."

Michele

[petep9000]

This occurred during or immediately after Stevie (or the Stevielike girl in the song) spent several hours waiting for someone -- or something (like a dream). This person -- or thing, or dream, or running wolf -- was very strong but fleeting.

This must have been when she realized that you can sit outside his door and wait, and dedicate your pain to him.

[MariaA37]

Thanks, Maria!
Me likes...never heard this before.

You're welcome :)

~Maria

[bluecrystal]

and i thought i had all the straight back demos and outtakes! those were great, if anyone has anymore feel free