Fall From Grace - Meaning?

[highwaywomen]

I've always wondered what Stevie wrote 'Fall From Grace' about. Does anyone ever remember her talking about it? I know the story of John wanting to cut verses out and Sheryl having I think Laura Dern and Meg Ryan in the studio and they convinced him to keep all the verses, or it wouldn't make sense. Anyways...just wondering if anyone had any ideas. Or...what do you think it's about? What does it mean to you? Any favorite verses/lines from the song?

[danax6]

She said in a 2005 Jim Ladd interview the song is about Lindsey (shocking, right?) but before that she has gone on record to say it's also about Fleetwood Mac in general.

[BlackWidow]

It was written during The Dance Tour.
It is about her relationships within FM.

[BlackWidow]

I've always wondered what Stevie wrote 'Fall From Grace' about. Does anyone ever remember her talking about it? I know the story of John wanting to cut verses out and Sheryl having I think Laura Dern and Meg Ryan in the studio and they convinced him to keep all the verses, or it wouldn't make sense. Anyways...just wondering if anyone had any ideas. Or...what do you think it's about? What does it mean to you? Any favorite verses/lines from the song?

It was Laura Dern & Roseanne Arquette.

[highwaywomen]

That's interesting. I sort of figured it had something to do with Lindsey, but wasn't aware it was also about Fleetwood Mac. It makes a lot more sense now. I was just watching the Destiny Rules documentary today and she was talking about writing "Thrown Down" on the Dance tour. It just kills me when Lindsey is trying to get her to change the lyrics in the song and he asks her who she is talking to in a certain verse and she says "I'm talking to you!" LOL!!!

[highwaywomen]

It was Laura Dern & Roseanne Arquette.

Rosanna! Thank you...I forgot about her. She thanks Meg in the liner notes too...I wonder if maybe she was there also...

[Sugar]

Specifically, I always thought it was about her thinking Lindsey could offer her more than he was able to, and her feeling a little fooled by it.

[BlackWidow]

Rosanna! Thank you...I forgot about her. She thanks Meg in the liner notes too...I wonder if maybe she was there also...

maybe....:shrug:

[Kelly]

Specifically, I always thought it was about her thinking Lindsey could offer her more than he was able to, and her feeling a little fooled by it.

So, you think it is Linds who "fell from grace"? I think it is the other way around.


She said on Jim Ladd it was about Lindsey and personally I do not think it is about any other Mac members. Just she and Linds. She said it was about FM when she was being more general but on Jim Ladd she said "Oh who cares anymore, its about Lindsey". SHe did say she wrote part of it during the Dance tour but that does not necessarily mean it is written about things that occurred on the Dance tour. (I do think the 'applause' verse is about the Dance, though)

[carrie721]

if it's about lindsey, i think that's kind of depressing :shrug:

[Sugar]

So, you think it is Linds who "fell from grace"? I think it is the other way around.

You know, I just can't decide. Maybe him for "lying" to her; maybe her for losing her cool about it and "allowing herself to be fooled." Total dramarama either way.


She said on Jim Ladd it was about Lindsey and personally I do not think it is about any other Mac members. Just she and Linds. She said it was about FM when she was being more general but on Jim Ladd she said "Oh who cares anymore, its about Lindsey". SHe did say she wrote part of it during the Dance tour but that does not necessarily mean it is written about things that occurred on the Dance tour. (I do think the 'applause' verse is about the Dance, though)

I always thought she justified the "it's about FM" thing because it was the FM dynamic that caused the...whatever...between her and Linds.

I actually found this interp that I saved from years ago so I'll throw it out there. I think I still feel this way...:lol: :

I'm thinking that Stevie felt a bit duped by all the emotion Lindsey was showing on The Dance.

"There is so much going on/You could easily/Wake up with a stranger"
...She thought something was going on between them, but Lindsey basically said it wasn't what she thought...leading nicely into...

You say you wouldn't do this for very long
The applause from it all is so defining
Well it bounces off the wall at you
When the miracle is happening
High priestess...she's the keeper of the peace in this
Twice as much, intensified
What people will do
To get...this...high

Sounds like he was playing up the whole "Silver Springs" thing
while on stage for the crowd, that the moment was too much for him to resist, and she believed it, but to him it was a show.

And now alone in my room
As it all begins again
Was I so wrong
Why am I always so intense?
In this same place I sit
The same place as before
Well I came all the way here
Just to watch you walk out that door

She can't believe it was all nothing; she took the effort to reinvest herself in him and she ended up "in the same place as before" watching him "walk out that door".

I didn't ask when you shook your head
I always accepted what you said
As the truth and the truth only

Again, he was acting the part, and she bought it...

Well, it's not enough that you depend on me
And it's not enough that you say you love me
It's not enough to just save face

...somebody wasn't following through on his words...

Maybe I am calmer now
Maybe things are fine
Maybe I made the whole thing up
Maybe it isn't a lie

...after she got the "Look, Stevie, things are never gonna be the same" speech. Maybe it was all in her head, but she doesn't really think so...

[highwaywomen]

Thanks you guys! I am going to go listen to this song on my ipod now. I can really see a whole new meaning to it. I have often wondered if it weren't for Lindsey being married if they ever would have gotten back together. Judging by the way Stevie writes...she has wanted to. I don't think it would have worked though. Anyways, I love *love* doing this with Stevie's songs. I was just talking with a friend today and she knows a lot about me and I was telling her some of my favorite lines of Stevie's and she said "They fit you so well." It's always interesting to hear what Stevie actually wrote the song about, but at the same time, it's so open to filling it with things going on in your life. Sometimes I think she knows me personally! LOL!

[BlackWidow]

You know, I just can't decide. Maybe him for "lying" to her; maybe her for losing her cool about it and "allowing herself to be fooled." Total dramarama either way.



I always thought she justified the "it's about FM" thing because it was the FM dynamic that caused the...whatever...between her and Linds.

I actually found this interp that I saved from years ago so I'll throw it out there. I think I still feel this way...:lol: :

I'm thinking that Stevie felt a bit duped by all the emotion Lindsey was showing on The Dance.

"There is so much going on/You could easily/Wake up with a stranger"
...She thought something was going on between them, but Lindsey basically said it wasn't what she thought...leading nicely into...

You say you wouldn't do this for very long
The applause from it all is so defining
Well it bounces off the wall at you
When the miracle is happening
High priestess...she's the keeper of the peace in this
Twice as much, intensified
What people will do
To get...this...high

Sounds like he was playing up the whole "Silver Springs" thing
while on stage for the crowd, that the moment was too much for him to resist, and she believed it, but to him it was a show.

And now alone in my room
As it all begins again
Was I so wrong
Why am I always so intense?
In this same place I sit
The same place as before
Well I came all the way here
Just to watch you walk out that door

She can't believe it was all nothing; she took the effort to reinvest herself in him and she ended up "in the same place as before" watching him "walk out that door".

I didn't ask when you shook your head
I always accepted what you said
As the truth and the truth only

Again, he was acting the part, and she bought it...

Well, it's not enough that you depend on me
And it's not enough that you say you love me
It's not enough to just save face

...somebody wasn't following through on his words...

Maybe I am calmer now
Maybe things are fine
Maybe I made the whole thing up
Maybe it isn't a lie

...after she got the "Look, Stevie, things are never gonna be the same" speech. Maybe it was all in her head, but she doesn't really think so...

Wow.
You are so committed to this version. That's cool I guess.
I just don't believe they ever had any possible romantic anything in 97.
Drama? Yes. A real shot at coming together again? No way in hell. :lol:

[strandinthewind]

I think it is mostly about LB, but the experience of FM and the rebirth in The Dance and the huge response it received after the lost days is in there as well. I think the "do this for very long" refers to her early 80's interviews in which she said that she did not want to perform forever.

I also think CM's departure is a big part of this song.

[Sorcerer_NL]

Speaking of Fall from Grace, I had an quicktime or other videofile of this song from the Blockbuster Awards together with Sheryl Crow. Have lost it due to a crash from my computer. Have searched for it, but I cannot seem to found it...does anyone has this file? I would love to have it once again!

[danax6]

if it's about lindsey, i think that's kind of depressing :shrug:What about them is not depressing? :shrug: She did say in the interview that it stemmed from a -paraphrasing here- 'very intense poem'.

[AliceLover]

I always thought this was about Christine partially.

"You said you wouldn't do this for very long"
"High Priestess shes the keeper of the peace in this, twice as much intensified"

[Sugar]

Wow.
You are so committed to this version. That's cool I guess.:

Committed? Not really. I typed this up years ago when I used to do more interps. For whatever reason this is the only one I saved.


I just don't believe they ever had any possible romantic anything in 97.
Drama? Yes. A real shot at coming together again? No way in hell. :lol:

Well, that's kinda the point. If you read the song this way, she thought more was happening than really was. She hadn't seen him in years at this point, they were both in better places then they had been in a long time...it's not so inconcievable to me that the idea of working things out didn't even cross her mind. And why not?

But I'm guessing Lindsey had already worked things through for himself by '97 and was willing to play the part on stage, but not offstage.

So you and I agree! No real romance and no real shot at coming together, but lots o' drama!

[BlackWidow]

Committed? Not really. I typed this up years ago when I used to do more interps. For whatever reason this is the only one I saved.



Well, that's kinda the point. If you read the song this way, she thought more was happening than really was. She hadn't seen him in years at this point, they were both in better places then they had been in a long time...it's not so inconcievable to me that the idea of working things out didn't even cross her mind. And why not?

But I'm guessing Lindsey had already worked things through for himself by '97 and was willing to play the part on stage, but not offstage.

So you and I agree! No real romance and no real shot at coming together, but lots o' drama!

Ok..I'll second that emotion.:laugh:

[Sahara]

The first verse in particular seem to me to be completely about Lindsey -- about their early days together maybe, trying so hard to make it work, her working to try and make him happy and give what he needed to work musically.

Here's the Blockbuster Awards version:
http://www.yousendit.com/download/WUJZTkZtRSs3N0EwTVE9PQ
I hope this link works...

[Serrart]

I also have always thought it was about Lindsey. I don't find it particularly depressing, but just a very realistic portrait of their relationship, without meaning there's still any kind of romantic involvement. But I think that in their situation (being two very sensitive people with strong personalities and huge egos, who shared an intense love story and a very long, difficult and conflictual period in the same band) even only working together again or discussing about the most innocent issue could become a quite impossible task, at times.

Romy

[Lauren]

hey!
I was just listening to this song today and this post caught my attention. You know, as much as a lot of her songs are written "for Lindsey" or so she says and we think, one thing that I can't figure out for the life of me...she seems to be sad she doesn't have him in her songs or sad they didn't work out but if I recall didn't SHE end things not him? That's the part that doesn't make sense. If you let someone go, why want them all those years? Regret? Sure but of course he's going to move on and I bet she had a chance or many to get him back in between all this? Then again only they know for sure. Anyway, wanted to throw that out! Unless I missed something!

Love this song too!
Lauren

[Johnny Stew]

You know, as much as a lot of her songs are written "for Lindsey" or so she says and we think, one thing that I can't figure out for the life of me...she seems to be sad she doesn't have him in her songs or sad they didn't work out but if I recall didn't SHE end things not him? That's the part that doesn't make sense. If you let someone go, why want them all those years? Regret?I've often speculated that Stevie really didn't want to leave Lindsey, but felt like she was low on his priority list and thought that "breaking up" with him would "open his eyes" and cause him to make a big play to win her back.

You know how people will sometimes go out with someone just to make someone else jealous, in the hopes that they'll "see what they're missing out on"?
I kind of think that's what Stevie was doing -- and when Lindsey, I'm assuming, didn't make that big, romantic bid to win her back, she was heartbroken. You know, that whole twisted "well, maybe you didn't really love me all that much then to begin with, if I was so easy to let go of" line of thinking.

Just my speculation. :shrug:

[Sugar]

You know, that whole twisted "well, maybe you didn't really love me all that much then to begin with, if I was so easy to let go of" line of thinking.



Tell myself...you never loved me :nod:

Certainly would explain a lot of the (alleged) back and forth over the years.

[highwaywomen]

I've often speculated that Stevie really didn't want to leave Lindsey, but felt like she was low on his priority list and thought that "breaking up" with him would "open his eyes" and cause him to make a big play to win her back.

You know how people will sometimes go out with someone just to make someone else jealous, in the hopes that they'll "see what they're missing out on"?
I kind of think that's what Stevie was doing -- and when Lindsey, I'm assuming, didn't make that big, romantic bid to win her back, she was heartbroken. You know, that whole twisted "well, maybe you didn't really love me all that much then to begin with, if I was so easy to let go of" line of thinking.

Just my speculation. :shrug:

I was watching 'The Break Up' yesterday on HBO and that is what Jennifer's character in that movie did....

[xxxmx]

hey!
I was just listening to this song today and this post caught my attention. You know, as much as a lot of her songs are written "for Lindsey" or so she says and we think, one thing that I can't figure out for the life of me...she seems to be sad she doesn't have him in her songs or sad they didn't work out but if I recall didn't SHE end things not him? That's the part that doesn't make sense. If you let someone go, why want them all those years? Regret? Sure but of course he's going to move on and I bet she had a chance or many to get him back in between all this? Then again only they know for sure. Anyway, wanted to throw that out! Unless I missed something!

Love this song too!
Lauren

speaking from experience :wavey:

break up with him because it's too intense or it's not intense enough or whatever. everytime she is alone, she wonders what he's doing. he has secret powers that let him know when she is vulnerable and lonely. even though he seems like the bitter one, the broken one, the one who "lost," he is the one that moves on. at least in some ways. that's terrible to watch.

this, by the way, is the story of my highschoolsweetheart and me. ten years of cyclical reconcilliation, arguing, and dancing around the issues, he just emailed me to tell me he was on his way to the hospital with his fiancee (whom i didn't know existed) because the baby was on the way. i was stunned by my lack of reaction. i think it's confusing; three months ago, he's pestering me about things long ago, and now he's engaged and fathering a child. how duplicitous!

for me, for us, i think it was the allure of possibility. he was always there, always an option. when that baby came, the door finally closed. he's off-limit now. i guess i'll just be happy that our saga only lasted a dozen years instead of forty.

wow, only check the ledge once every few months and you suddenly have a lot to say! did i even respond to a question or did i ramble? bleh. :wavey: