Seven Wonders...Sara????

[Lala]

Is she saying Sara between the chorus and the second verse and again between the chorus and the third verse(?...i think that's where it is)???

She says something and from the first time I heard it I thought it might be Sara. After all it is my name. Anyways...thanks for any answers. I'm preparing myself to feel dumb when someone replies..."Well, actually she's saying ______"

[The Chain]

Don't get people started on this:laugh: :laugh:

Some think she says "pharoh", which I have to go with, considering, it's about the "Seven Wonders", ...but that's just my oppinion:D

[Nixxxed]

I've always thought she was saying "Tara", as in Scarlett O'Hara's mansion in Gone With The Wind -- especially since she references Scarlett in "Welcome to the Room ... Sara."

If I'm remembering correctly, there was some mention of this connection in one of the reviews of TITN at the time (maybe Rolling Stone???). It was fairly negative as I recall -- something to the likes of making fun of Stevie's GWTW fantasies. Let's not forget the original/unreleased "Stand Back" video...

[xdreamsunwindx]

I always thought she was saying Sara... On my karaoke machine it says "Seven" (the graphics say seven), but those aren't always accurate.

[strandinthewind]

I always thought it was "Ever - Ever." I do not think it is Pharoh because I do not hear that shound(s). It could be Tara, but again, I just hear "Ever." One more ? to pin her down on in my interview :laugh:

[dissention]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
I do not hear that shound(s).

I don't hear shounds, either. The H must be silent, eh?

:laugh: :wavey:

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by dissention
I don't hear shounds, either. The H must be silent, eh?

:laugh: :wavey: Oops - :eek: :laugh: :wavey:

[The Catdancer]

She sings Erin who was/is a friend of Sandy Stewart (she wrote Seven Wonders)

Debbie

[strandinthewind]

Originally posted by The Catdancer
She sings Erin who was/is a friend of Sandy Stewart (she wrote Seven Wonders)

Debbie

Wow - I never heard about that reference. Did Stevie or someone else say that? Otherwise how did you figure that out - I certainly never would have :laugh:

[ryan8472]

I'm listening to Seven Wonders right now. It sounds like"Tara" to me (which is what I always assumed it was).

[gldstwmn]

I always thought she was saying Sara.

[Nicks Fan]

I too thought she was saying Sara but lately it has sounded more like Pharoh to me. If I ever meet her I will ask her that.

Matt :)

[ShamHy89]

OK, you know you're a Stevie fan when...you're debating a lyric in one of her songs and the possiblilities range from "Erin" to "Pharoh!" :laugh:

Shamus:)

[sodascouts]

Originally posted by Nixxxed
I've always thought she was saying "Tara", as in Scarlett O'Hara's mansion in Gone With The Wind -- especially since she references Scarlett in "Welcome to the Room ... Sara."


I agree - I've always heard "Tara."

[DownOnRodeo]

I twisted my brain into knots over this one (hmm lovely imagery there) but think I ended up deciding that she sings different things. Sometimes its 'Never' and sometimes its 'Tara' or 'Sara' or what sounds like 'Pharoah'.

[blinker12]

I vote "Tara."
Given the fact that she sings that word earlier in the lyrics ("It's not home, and it's not Tara"), it makes the most logical sense to me ... Not that Stevie's ever been accused of being logical! :laugh:

[SmthngOfADreamr]

I used to think Tara, but I think it's a classic case of Stevie mumbling, and the lyric was meant to be "never." She's repeating the word from the previous line, as in "I'll NEVER live to match the beauty again." But this is just one of those things that we'll "never" know.

[jmn3]

Originally posted by blinker12
I vote "Tara."
Given the fact that she sings that word earlier in the lyrics ("It's not home, and it's not Tara"), it makes the most logical sense to me ... Not that Stevie's ever been accused of being logical! :laugh:

Now you're just trying to confuse me altogether!! :laugh:
That's a different song....Welcome to the Room, Sara...not Seven Wonders..

I always heard Never...but who knows with Stevie...esp. in those days, her voice wasn't exactly in tip top shape

[diamondsnake]

We could debate this for days, but I have always heard Tara...

Speaking of which, did we ever come to an agreement on if it was nag champa or nag champra?

[paleshadow]

Originally posted by jmn3
Now you're just trying to confuse me altogether!! :laugh:
That's a different song....Welcome to the Room, Sara...not Seven Wonders..

I always heard Never...but who knows with Stevie...esp. in those days, her voice wasn't exactly in tip top shape

"never" seems to be the logical way to go. The previous line is "I'll NEVER live to match the beauty again... The rainbows end" So I think it's "never" or a combo of "never" and "ever" like someone mentioned earlier. It sounds like she's singing it "nevahhhh.... evahhhhhh" to me. I don't hear the word "Pharoh" at all, and even though the song is called "Seven Wonders" she never mentions any of them specifically, so why would she sing "Pharoh"? Just because Pharoh's were laid to rest in Pyramids, and a Pyramid is one of the seven wonders? That's kinda stretching it. Plus it just sounds goofy when you sing it that way. True, it is Stevie, so anything is possible. (Though I will go on record as saying if it's "Erin" I'll eat a bug).

:laugh:

[DeadliestPoison]

Originally posted by diamondsnake
Speaking of which, did we ever come to an agreement on if it was nag champa or nag champra?

The insence is called Nag Champa, but for whatever reason Stevie says Nag Champra. Which irks me.

As for Seven Wonders, I always figured it was Sara.

[Mad4stevie]

Originally posted by paleshadow
"never" seems to be the logical way to go. The previous line is "I'll NEVER live to match the beauty again... The rainbows end" So I think it's "never" or a combo of "never" and "ever" like someone mentioned earlier. It sounds like she's singing it "nevahhhh.... evahhhhhh" to me.

I agree. Sounds like nevahhh to me. I don't hear pharaoh at all.

I have even listened to all my alternate versions/outtakes to see if any of them are clearer. The answer? :distress:

[Mad4stevie]

I think I like the vocals for the alt. version better, anyway.

[Siri Ruane]

Once I thought it was "hello" but then corrected myself that that made no sense, and since my name is Sara, I kinda stuck with that. But now that you mention it, it does sound like Tara. It kinda makes sense too... same album as Welcome To The Room Sara (another Sara song! This band loves me) which definetly has a lot of Gone With The Wind references in it. :laugh:

[jmn3]

Originally posted by DeadliestPoison
The insence is called Nag Champa, but for whatever reason Stevie says Nag Champra. Which irks me.

Yes but we must remember, this is the same person who brought to us the word "drownding..."

[Sorcerer386]

I believe it was resolved that there is Nag ChampRa also...

[coldplay]

I've always thought it was Tara as well.

Since we're on the subject - does anyone know what the reference to Emmiline is?

[diamondsnake]

Originally posted by jmn3
Yes but we must remember, this is the same person who brought to us the word "drownding..."
What song is that from? Sara?

[ricohv]

Emmiline is the name of a town in a Taylor Caldwell book. Many years ago I read about Stevie saying Caldwelll was one of her favorite authors. Stevie mistakenly heard the lyrics from Sandy's demo as "Emmiline" when it was actually "tow the line" or something like that. I can't remember where I read that but I know I did-somewhere! I think Emmilie is in Ceremony of the Innocent,which is quoted at the beginning of an old Rolling Stone interview w/ Stevie around Bella Donna time. The interview starts out w/ the quote that says something like:"she would rock on the wide open porches...."

ALso, Stevie is saying "Tara"...this thread has came up a few times before . One time I dug and dug until I found the interview where Stevie says it is Tara-I think I found it under articles at The Nicksfix...maybe!...sorry, I don't have time to do it right now but she is quoted somewhere saying that. Of course that doesn't mean she couldn't be quoted somewhere else saying it was something else-you know Stevie!
Ricoh

[Johnny Stew]

I've always been well and truly convinced that she's singing, "Tara." :nod:

[blinker12]

Now you're just trying to confuse me altogether!! That's a different song....Welcome to the Room, Sara...not Seven Wonders..

Yikes, you're right! Sorry about that...
*hangs head in shame* :)

[David]

Originally posted by The Chain
Some think she says "pharoh", which I have to go with, considering, it's about the "Seven Wonders", ...but that's just my oppinion:D I dunno. "Pharaoh" seems a bit of a stretch. Why would Stevie utter such a word in the middle of her song? especially since only one of the ancient seven wonders was directly related to a pharaoh (the Great Pyramid of Giza) & one was only marginally related to a pharaoh (the Alexandria Lighthouse). The other five wonders had nothing to do with Egypt or Egyptian rulers. Stevie might just as well have uttered "Greco" or "Persian" or even "Nebuchadnezzar."

In fact, I think she should have said "Nebuchadnezzar"!

[SaraRhiannon]

Originally posted by David
The other five wonders had nothing to do with Egypt or Egyptian rulers. Stevie might just as well have uttered "Greco" or "Persian" or even "Nebuchadnezzar."



:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[EveryHour]

Originally posted by jmn3
Yes but we must remember, this is the same person who brought to us the word "drownding..."

I do not believe this is an uncommon mispronunciation...I've definitely heard other people do it. Everyone has some weird speech thing or another. And Stevie doesn't even do it every time she says it. It might be something she has to concentrate on to say "properly", so if she's caught up in song or whatever, it just comes out that way. (My dad, for instance, says "chimley" instead of "chimney" if he doesn't stop and think first.)
As far as the "Nag Champ'r'a" debate goes, I know it's been discussed it was perhaps a copyright issue. I really have to agree with that. I don't know there to be a seperate product with the 'r' in, and the fact that the lyrics are actually printed with with the 'r' in really brings up the question of copyright. As opposed to "drown'd'ing", which was (obviously) printed without the 'd' but just came out that way when she sang it. This to me proves that she intentionally sang "Nag Champ'r'a". Not to say it didn't take some getting used to, especially when I'm a long-time fan of the stuff.:)

[EveryHour]

...As for what she sings in Seven Wonders, I go back and forth between many of the words mentioned here every time I listen to it! Just when I think I'm convinced I know for sure, I change my mind! I seem to remember Stevie mentioning feeling suddenly and inexplicably compelled to sing "Sara" in the song in the book Rock Lives by Timothy White. Perhaps I'm hallucinating...I read it years ago. I'll investigate over the next couple days (if someone doesn't beat me to it;) ) and report back.:)

[blackdove]

For me it's 'Tara', always has been !!

Love Sarah

[golden braid]

I think she says Tara too.

[wondergirl9847]

My dad pronounces La Quinta...La Qwinta. :rolleyes:

:lol:

Has anyone ever asked Stevie over at NicksFix what she's saying? Or perhaps, I could ask her at the Fan Club, but that's a long shot at getting answered.

[shackin'up]

Well,
I've listened to this and I am convinced.
She's singing ARWAH.
Why?:

1. Why not?
2. Because she knows we are out there.
3. She likes to puzzle her public.
4. Because she was on Klonopkin, Coke or hasj or a combination of it.

On klonopkin I hear Tara, on coke sara on hasj Pharao.

but I still want to know what's the story behind " Erin"

Come on Debbie!

gerald

[David R]

I really think she is saying "hello"... it sure sounds like it. I always thought it was hello.

[Siri Ruane]

Originally posted by David R
I really think she is saying "hello"... it sure sounds like it. I always thought it was hello.

Cool. I thought I was crazy. :D

[The Catdancer]

Originally posted by strandinthewind
Wow - I never heard about that reference. Did Stevie or someone else say that? Otherwise how did you figure that out - I certainly never would have :laugh:

Sandy told me so herself.

Debbie

[cliffdweller]

I vote for Sara, that's what I've always thought anyway.

[Ghosty]

I've always thought it was "Tara" and I could have swore I saw it in lyrics printed too. But my Tango album is packed away at the moment so can't go check. I think it looks like she is saying "Tara" too.... and on the album it says lyrics by Sandy Stewart and additional vocals by Stevie. That's kind of funny. I always wondered if she just added the Tara thing...but now I hear here about the Emmiline thing, so that makes sense.... Thanks for that info. I had not heard that before.

[EveryHour]

Originally posted by EveryHour
...As for what she sings in Seven Wonders, I go back and forth between many of the words mentioned here every time I listen to it! Just when I think I'm convinced I know for sure, I change my mind! I seem to remember Stevie mentioning feeling suddenly and inexplicably compelled to sing "Sara" in the song in the book Rock Lives by Timothy White. Perhaps I'm hallucinating...I read it years ago. I'll investigate over the next couple days (if someone doesn't beat me to it;) ) and report back.:)

Reporting back:
Well, I have NO IDEA where I dreamed up this account by Stevie regarding this song. Perhaps I literally DID dream it!:laugh: If not, I really want to know where the heck I read it now! I was not TOTALLY crazy, though, in that she does discuss Seven Wonders in this book. (It's worth picking up at the library to read the FM segement of the book. It paints a good picture of Tango and Lindsey's departure from the band with lots of direct quotes.)

Stevie:
"But these kinds (referring to Prince's brief studio appearance to make his amazing synth contributions to Stand Back) of mystical accidents just happen to me all the time. The first song I gave to Tango was a demo my good songwriter friend Sandy Stewart had played for me called Seven Wonders. I gave the tape to Fleetwood Mac at a Halloween party in LA, to plant a seed, and when it came time for me to sing it live in the studio, I was somehow inspired to sing very different words that instantly transformed the song for all of us. In 300 subsequent takes, I could never sing those unwritten words of mine again, and the original live version we luckily preserved became the second hit from Tango!"

Doesn't solve the "Sara / Tara / never / hello", etc mystery, but I thought it was interesting.:)

[HejiraNYC]

Mystery solved: She is singing "Emmiline." I know this sounds like a stretch, but if you play that passage enough times it will eventually stand out- clear as day. A joint will also help in this endeavor. ;-)

[melacine]

Thank you! I thought I was the only one who heard that! I agree, it's Emmiline.

"You touched my hand
All the way
All the way down to Emmiline"

It makes sense to me :nod:

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by melacine
Thank you! I thought I was the only one who heard that! I agree, it's Emmiline.

"You touched my hand
All the way
All the way down to Emmiline"Actually, that's not the part everyone's questioning. :)

If you listen directly after the 1st and 2nd chorus, right after the lines "I'll never live to match the beauty again/The rainbow's end," Stevie is singing something... unfortunately, no one can quite decide on what that something is.

From the first time I ever heard the song, I've always thought she was singing/chanting "Tara," and that's still what I hear in every one of the various versions and remixes, and whether I have my headphones on or off.

Another mystery we may never solve!

[melacine]

Yep, that's the part I'm talking about. I hear Emmiline. Emma...line like in two parts. I just know she used the word "Emmiline" in the song earlier so that's why I quoted the lyrics :D

[joe]

Originally posted by David R
I really think she is saying "hello"... it sure sounds like it. I always thought it was hello.


i respect your opinion. and i don't mean to sound like a jerk but that sounds corny to me. I highly doubt she's singing that....i'm more compelled to think it's "tara" over "hello." sorry. i could be wrong though....

however......

Originally posted by melacine
Yep, that's the part I'm talking about. I hear Emmiline. Emma...line like in two parts. I just know she used the word "Emmiline" in the song earlier so that's why I quoted the lyrics :D

that's VERY interesting....i never thought about that. It would make sense within the context of the song....I can hear "emma" but not the "line." gonna go have a listen....gee, i just thought of something melacine....maybe she's singing "melacine...." :laugh:


Originally posted by EveryHour
Stevie:"...when it came time for me to sing it live in the studio, I was somehow inspired to sing very different words that instantly transformed the song for all of us. In 300 subsequent takes, I could never sing those unwritten words of mine again, and the original live version we luckily preserved became the second hit from Tango!"

what words did she sing that were so different? what are the original lyrics? is Stevie's contribution this "tara", "sara", "hello", "seven", "emmiline" thing we can't quite figure out? And if so, was it such a big transformation?

[blackdove]

Originally posted by joe
was it such a big transformation?

from sararhiannon.com Stories behind the lyrics:-

"Sandy Stewart, a very good friend of mine, came through Phoenix about... whenever it was... about a year ago, and spent two days. She played all her new demos for me. Amongst these songs was a song called "Seven Wonders." I instantly, the first time I heard it said to Sandy, 'are you gonna do this on your next album?' She said, 'when I wrote it I thought about you.' I said, 'what do you think about Fleetwood Mac?' She said as any wise songwriter would say, 'absolutely. Go ahead.' A couple months later, somebody said, 'you know that 'Seven Wonders' song, is it still available? And I said 'yeah, absolutely.'
[Now you also contributed lyrics to it as well.]
Yeah, but the only reason for that was because we thought we had written down exactly as I sing them, the exact words to Seven Wonders. They [Fleetwood Mac] cut the song without me there. Then I went in a couple nights later and sang it one time. Then I sang it three hundred more times but we went back to the original, very first vocal. I sang the words that I had written down and Sandy didn't unfortunately get me the real words before that. She knew about it so I sang those words. Then, I saw the real words and I tried to sing the real words, which are in fact very different. I couldn't do a vocal again like that very first time I walked up to the microphone and sang Seven Wonders. At that point, there's no choice in Fleetwood Mac's eyes-- 'the poetry is cut and your poetry is in or we don't do the song.'
[So that's funny, your embellishments were sort of accidental in the positive sense.]
Yeah, completely and in a very positive sense. I mean, there is something in that vocal that's real special. It's because I hadn't really thought about the song much so when I walked in and they had cut the track and I walked out there it was my first experience with singing Seven Wonders. So when you hear it, you know that was really the first time I heard it too."
~Stevie Nicks, "Rock Stars" with Timothy White, 1988

Hope this helps Joe!!

Love Sarah

[diamondsnake]

Originally posted by blackdove
from sararhiannon.com Stories behind the lyrics:-

"Sandy Stewart, a very good friend of mine, came through Phoenix about... whenever it was... about a year ago, and spent two days. She played all her new demos for me. Amongst these songs was a song called "Seven Wonders." I instantly, the first time I heard it said to Sandy, 'are you gonna do this on your next album?' She said, 'when I wrote it I thought about you.' I said, 'what do you think about Fleetwood Mac?' She said as any wise songwriter would say, 'absolutely. Go ahead.' A couple months later, somebody said, 'you know that 'Seven Wonders' song, is it still available? And I said 'yeah, absolutely.'
[Now you also contributed lyrics to it as well.]
Yeah, but the only reason for that was because we thought we had written down exactly as I sing them, the exact words to Seven Wonders. They [Fleetwood Mac] cut the song without me there. Then I went in a couple nights later and sang it one time. Then I sang it three hundred more times but we went back to the original, very first vocal. I sang the words that I had written down and Sandy didn't unfortunately get me the real words before that. She knew about it so I sang those words. Then, I saw the real words and I tried to sing the real words, which are in fact very different. I couldn't do a vocal again like that very first time I walked up to the microphone and sang Seven Wonders. At that point, there's no choice in Fleetwood Mac's eyes-- 'the poetry is cut and your poetry is in or we don't do the song.'
[So that's funny, your embellishments were sort of accidental in the positive sense.]
Yeah, completely and in a very positive sense. I mean, there is something in that vocal that's real special. It's because I hadn't really thought about the song much so when I walked in and they had cut the track and I walked out there it was my first experience with singing Seven Wonders. So when you hear it, you know that was really the first time I heard it too."
~Stevie Nicks, "Rock Stars" with Timothy White, 1988

Hope this helps Joe!!

Love Sarah

That is very interesting and it sounds like she sort of just went with the flow when she recorded it... maybe that is why there are some mumbled words, maybe it was just a flub.

[Lala]

Originally posted by diamondsnake
That is very interesting and it sounds like she sort of just went with the flow when she recorded it... maybe that is why there are some mumbled words, maybe it was just a flub.

THAT'S IT! She's not saying anything! She's just mumbling, trying to make up the words!

Haha!

[joe]

Originally posted by blackdove
from sararhiannon.com Stories behind the lyrics:-

"Sandy Stewart, a very good friend of mine, came through Phoenix about... whenever it was... about a year ago, and spent two days. She played all her new demos for me. Amongst these songs was a song called "Seven Wonders." I instantly, the first time I heard it said to Sandy, 'are you gonna do this on your next album?' She said, 'when I wrote it I thought about you.' I said, 'what do you think about Fleetwood Mac?' She said as any wise songwriter would say, 'absolutely. Go ahead.' A couple months later, somebody said, 'you know that 'Seven Wonders' song, is it still available? And I said 'yeah, absolutely.'
[Now you also contributed lyrics to it as well.]
Yeah, but the only reason for that was because we thought we had written down exactly as I sing them, the exact words to Seven Wonders. They [Fleetwood Mac] cut the song without me there. Then I went in a couple nights later and sang it one time. Then I sang it three hundred more times but we went back to the original, very first vocal. I sang the words that I had written down and Sandy didn't unfortunately get me the real words before that. She knew about it so I sang those words. Then, I saw the real words and I tried to sing the real words, which are in fact very different. I couldn't do a vocal again like that very first time I walked up to the microphone and sang Seven Wonders. At that point, there's no choice in Fleetwood Mac's eyes-- 'the poetry is cut and your poetry is in or we don't do the song.'
[So that's funny, your embellishments were sort of accidental in the positive sense.]
Yeah, completely and in a very positive sense. I mean, there is something in that vocal that's real special. It's because I hadn't really thought about the song much so when I walked in and they had cut the track and I walked out there it was my first experience with singing Seven Wonders. So when you hear it, you know that was really the first time I heard it too."
~Stevie Nicks, "Rock Stars" with Timothy White, 1988

Hope this helps Joe!!

Love Sarah

Thanks! Yeah, i have this interview on tape. I taped it off the radio when it was aired back then. I just wanted to know which lyrics were the original lyrics and which were Stevie's.