Let's talk about...LOVE IS

[Lala]

Well...nobody's doing it...so I will. What the heck...I haven't started a thread in years!

Love Is...

A song that manages to take my breath away every time I hear it. What a great way to end the TISL album. Pierre Marchand's production is wonderful, as are Sarah McLachlan's vocals at the end. I love the demo with alternate lyrics and a clear version of "Love is what you believe it is" (you can hear it on the final version, but it's at the very end and you have to crank the stereo).

I always assumed the song was about Lindsey from the perspective of the Dance. Basically, it's the whole "if you love someone, set them free" sort of deal. I did read somewhere that Stevie said it WASN'T about Lindsey, as well as some speculation that it's actually about Robin. Definitely can't find the links now, so let's discuss...

Personally this song means so much to me. As I've mentioned in previous threads, I went through some kind of dramatic events in teens. The first time I heard Love Is, I was just beginning to see the other side of things. I was moving away for school and really getting my freedom for the first time in my life. And in a way, the song released me to do the things I needed to do without feeling guilty about who and what I was leaving behind.

Do I know you cannot stay...I know...all about the love

The line "Love is what you believe it is" reminds me of my adoptive family...ie. blood isn't necessarily thicker than water, it takes a village to raise a child, etc. I plan to have it tattoo'd on my arm at some point when it's meaningful to do so.

May the group therapy session begin. Sorry in advance to LikeAWillow

[FMlex]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing with us.

It took me awhile to warm up to this song. But I've grown to love it (just like any other Stevie song, of course).

From the first time I heard this, I assumed it was about Lindsey. I can see now how it would be about Robin.
Regardless of who it's about, it's a lovely song.

This part always moves me to tears:
"So she stood there in the hallway frozen
In the dark
And her heart broke down
She cried
She fell to the floor

One tear slid across her lips
To the corner of her mouth
Love is...
And dropped to the floor"

I've also notices that she uses the lines "Will you miss those arms that used to go around you" which is also pretty much word for word like that in No Questions Asked.

[daniellaaarisen]

Personally this song means so much to me. As I've mentioned in previous threads, I went through some kind of dramatic events in teens. The first time I heard Love Is, I was just beginning to see the other side of things.

I feel the exact same way about it. I have a very specific memory of this song that only Ledgies would appreciate.

To make a very, very long story very short... the years of 2004 and 2005 were absolute hell for me. In early January of 2005, I was twelve years old. I lived in a foster home from mid-January 2005 to August 2005. My plane from SFO to Oregon (my new home) took off at 5AM, just before the sun rose. I remember being totally and uncontrollably numb to the situation-- driving with a social worker to the airport while staring out the window blankly, handing an older woman my boarding pass blankly. Then, we finally got on the plane and I sat down with my iPod. I scrolled through it with absolutely no idea what I wanted to listen to-- I didn't want to listen to anything. I hadn't listened to Trouble in Shangri-La for quite some time, but "Love Is" popped out to my eye and I started playing it while the plane took off.

I completely lost it-- I probably hadn't cried in two or three years and once I started, I could not stop. The sun rose as our plane left the ground and I played "Love Is" on repeat for the duration of the trip. Although I played the song to have something mellow to listen to and therefore n0t shake me from my stoic state, I ended up listening to the words-- actually listening-- for the first time in my life.

The timing was perfect. In that plane ride, I realized that it was never that my parents didn't love me or that I didn't love them-- it was quite the opposite. Everything that happened in 2004 tore us apart day in and day out because of the resounding love that we did feel at the end of the day. No one left the situation unscathed, and I just happened to get the brunt of it. I never really realized the mutuality of the pain until that moment-- I had just been the person with enough pain to walk away. It was the most overwhelming and phenomenal realization I think I have ever had in my life. Certain parts of "Love Is" have been my mantra regarding my parents since that:

Love is knowing you won't let go
Love is letting go.

Am I happy?
Yes I am
Do I know you love me now?
Yes I do
Do I know I cannot stay
I know...
all about love.

I'm not one to usually run around with my life story stamped on my forehead, but this story just kinda goes to show how powerfully Stevie has influenced my life-- both in the more technical ways (my writing) and the purely emotional. Only Ledgies would ever get it :)

[FMlex]

^ Danielle, that was beautiful. Really.

I cried.

I love how Stevie's music and words can do stuff like that.

[daniellaaarisen]

I love how Stevie's music and words can do stuff like that.

This is one example of many... and its yet another reason that she serves as such a literary inspiration for me. I can only futilely pray to be as monumental to my reader's souls as Stevie is to many of her listeners. She captivated me at five years old with "Silver Springs"-- I was bawling the first time my mom played it for me off The Dance album and I had absolutely no idea why. She just picked me up, shook me harder than I had ever been shaken before, and gently dropped me to the floor again, making sure I'd land on my feet---

All within five minutes of music. I've been hooked ever since.



I'm glad that my little story helped make this idea more tangible. :)

[hippilil86]

Do you know what this is?
No, I don't
But whatever it is
It's very powerful
Have you felt this way before?
Oh, I thought I knew
Do you know that I love you now?
Oh, yes, I do
Love is...
You've got the softest lips

You know that I cannot stay
Yes, I know
It has nothing to do
With you or with love
Oh, yes it does
Do not call or come around here
Do not tell
You know that I loved you then
Oh, well

Love is...
You've got the softest lips
Love is...
The touch of your fingertips
Love is...
Knowing you won't let go

She awakens things
That he said he thought were dead
He says, "Are you happy now?"
Oh yes, I am
But when it's over
How then will you feel?
Will you miss those arms that used to go
Around you

I feel that these 4 stanzas are about the beginning of the phase of the Lindsey and Stevie relationship where they began to get along again. When Stevie became not such a "thorn" in Lindsey's side for all eternity. They both realized that still they had those intense feelings of love, even after all of the years they had been apart. They had both changed enough so that they could finally talk, and those feelings came rushing back between them. It would be hard to be "just friends". From this song, I feel like it was Lindsey who wanted to begin again romantically, but Stevie resisted. She says "you know that I loved you then". It sounds like one of those "did you ever love me?" conversations was held. With the fourth stanza, it sounds like she somehow knew, in her heart, that this wouldn't last, that they were meant to do this one more time, but it wouldn't be forever.

So she stood there in the hallway frozen
In the dark
And her heart broke down
She cried
She fell to the floor

One tear
Slid across her lips
To the corner of her mouth
Love is...
And it dropped to the floor

These two stanzas seem like they're about Robin. It may be about when she found out that Robin had died. I'm thinking that when Stevie found out, all she wanted to do was talk to Lindsey, for him to be with her at that moment.

Love is...
You've got the softest lips
Love is...
The touch of your fingertips
Ooh, she says "Love is...
Knowing you won't let go"
Love is...
Watching you go

You're so very powerful
Love is...

Am I happy?
Yes I am
Do I know you love me now?
Yes I do
Do I know you cannot stay?
I know
All about love
All about love
You're so very powerful

After Stevie and Lindsey began to get along and talk again, she may have realized how strong their connection was, and that she would be unable to resist another go at it. She was happy, but brought herself into the situation again because she couldn't keep resisting. The love was too powerful.

[petep9000]

This was my $0.02 regarding 'Love Is', a few months back...


http://planet-john.blogspot.com/2008/11/stevie-nicks-reflection-of-day-vol-5.html

[Revolution]

Can I participate in the therapy session?

I haven't listened to Love Is in a while, and now I love/hate you for bringing it into my life again. It's a little too appropriate right now. The songs stops my heart and brings me to tears. Ah, so perfect.

When I listen to it, I find myself switching perspectives throughout the song, depending on the stanza. It's quite a way to experience it.

[galestreet]

Thanks for sharing. When I lived on my own, small apt, I would listen to that song and smoke a cigar(when I used to smoke them) and the song was a nice backdrop
to the evening.

[BellaDonna]

This is such a beautiful, touching song. It made me cry when I first heard it and sometimes I still do depending on my mood. I can listen to it and think about certian situations in my life where is seems like she is actually singing it about me and there is times where I just think about her and Lindsey through the whole song and feel how hard it must have been on her because it seems so much of it is about him. It's a wonderful song, it will always have a place in my heart. :xoxo:

[LiamMcConville]

The piano demo is perfect.

[FMlex]

The piano demo is perfect.

Could you point me in the right direction for that, please?

[Lala]

I feel the exact same way about it. I have a very specific memory of this song that only Ledgies would appreciate.

To make a very, very long story very short... the years of 2004 and 2005 were absolute hell for me. In early January of 2005, I was twelve years old. I lived in a foster home from mid-January 2005 to August 2005. My plane from SFO to Oregon (my new home) took off at 5AM, just before the sun rose. I remember being totally and uncontrollably numb to the situation-- driving with a social worker to the airport while staring out the window blankly, handing an older woman my boarding pass blankly. Then, we finally got on the plane and I sat down with my iPod. I scrolled through it with absolutely no idea what I wanted to listen to-- I didn't want to listen to anything. I hadn't listened to Trouble in Shangri-La for quite some time, but "Love Is" popped out to my eye and I started playing it while the plane took off.

I completely lost it-- I probably hadn't cried in two or three years and once I started, I could not stop. The sun rose as our plane left the ground and I played "Love Is" on repeat for the duration of the trip. Although I played the song to have something mellow to listen to and therefore n0t shake me from my stoic state, I ended up listening to the words-- actually listening-- for the first time in my life.

The timing was perfect. In that plane ride, I realized that it was never that my parents didn't love me or that I didn't love them-- it was quite the opposite. Everything that happened in 2004 tore us apart day in and day out because of the resounding love that we did feel at the end of the day. No one left the situation unscathed, and I just happened to get the brunt of it. I never really realized the mutuality of the pain until that moment-- I had just been the person with enough pain to walk away. It was the most overwhelming and phenomenal realization I think I have ever had in my life. Certain parts of "Love Is" have been my mantra regarding my parents since that:

Love is knowing you won't let go
Love is letting go.

Am I happy?
Yes I am
Do I know you love me now?
Yes I do
Do I know I cannot stay
I know...
all about love.

I'm not one to usually run around with my life story stamped on my forehead, but this story just kinda goes to show how powerfully Stevie has influenced my life-- both in the more technical ways (my writing) and the purely emotional. Only Ledgies would ever get it :)

I've been at work all day and that's why I haven't responded to this yet...but WOW. danielle...all I can tell you is that I understand. My situation was extremely similar, not to say I have any idea what you personally went through, but in 2005, minus the plane ride, I also had to leave my mother...for my own sanity...and because I realized that nothing was ever going to change. Like I said, Love Is itself didn't come into my life until about a year later, and really made sense in that context. Anyway, just wanted to thank you for sharing

"I had just been the person with enough pain to walk away."

I've never thought of it with those words, but it is very true.

[LiamMcConville]

Love is [Piano Demo]
Stevie Nicks
Trouble In Shangri-La Sessions
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ka5sxn

[Musicman408]

I feel the exact same way about it. I have a very specific memory of this song that only Ledgies would appreciate.

To make a very, very long story very short... the years of 2004 and 2005 were absolute hell for me. In early January of 2005, I was twelve years old. I lived in a foster home from mid-January 2005 to August 2005. My plane from SFO to Oregon (my new home) took off at 5AM, just before the sun rose. I remember being totally and uncontrollably numb to the situation-- driving with a social worker to the airport while staring out the window blankly, handing an older woman my boarding pass blankly. Then, we finally got on the plane and I sat down with my iPod. I scrolled through it with absolutely no idea what I wanted to listen to-- I didn't want to listen to anything. I hadn't listened to Trouble in Shangri-La for quite some time, but "Love Is" popped out to my eye and I started playing it while the plane took off.

I completely lost it-- I probably hadn't cried in two or three years and once I started, I could not stop. The sun rose as our plane left the ground and I played "Love Is" on repeat for the duration of the trip. Although I played the song to have something mellow to listen to and therefore n0t shake me from my stoic state, I ended up listening to the words-- actually listening-- for the first time in my life.

The timing was perfect. In that plane ride, I realized that it was never that my parents didn't love me or that I didn't love them-- it was quite the opposite. Everything that happened in 2004 tore us apart day in and day out because of the resounding love that we did feel at the end of the day. No one left the situation unscathed, and I just happened to get the brunt of it. I never really realized the mutuality of the pain until that moment-- I had just been the person with enough pain to walk away. It was the most overwhelming and phenomenal realization I think I have ever had in my life. Certain parts of "Love Is" have been my mantra regarding my parents since that:

Love is knowing you won't let go
Love is letting go.

Am I happy?
Yes I am
Do I know you love me now?
Yes I do
Do I know I cannot stay
I know...
all about love.

I'm not one to usually run around with my life story stamped on my forehead, but this story just kinda goes to show how powerfully Stevie has influenced my life-- both in the more technical ways (my writing) and the purely emotional. Only Ledgies would ever get it :)

I really love you for sharing that.

Love Is has always ALWAYS been one of my faves.... Haven't listened to it in quite some time actually.

And I'm thinking now's the time again.

more to come.......

[PenguinHead]

I feel that these 4 stanzas are about the beginning of the phase of the Lindsey and Stevie relationship where they began to get along again. When Stevie became not such a "thorn" in Lindsey's side for all eternity. They both realized that still they had those intense feelings of love, even after all of the years they had been apart. They had both changed enough so that they could finally talk, and those feelings came rushing back between them. It would be hard to be "just friends". From this song, I feel like it was Lindsey who wanted to begin again romantically, but Stevie resisted. She says "you know that I loved you then". It sounds like one of those "did you ever love me?" conversations was held. With the fourth stanza, it sounds like she somehow knew, in her heart, that this wouldn't last, that they were meant to do this one more time, but it wouldn't be forever.

[I]So she stood there in the hallway frozen
In the dark
And her heart broke down
She cried
She fell to the floor

One tear
Slid across her lips
To the corner of her mouth
Love is...
And it dropped to the floor

These two stanzas seem like they're about Robin. It may be about when she found out that Robin had died. I'm thinking that when Stevie found out, all she wanted to do was talk to Lindsey, for him to be with her at that moment.

After Stevie and Lindsey began to get along and talk again, she may have realized how strong their connection was, and that she would be unable to resist another go at it. She was happy, but brought herself into the situation again because she couldn't keep resisting. The love was too powerful.

It's an interesting theory. It's well known that Lindsey has been the muse for many (maybe too many) of Stevie's songs. Yet, when I listen to her songs, I never think "Is this about Lindsey?" I hear the songs in more universal/abstract terms. I would like to believe that most of her songs are not inspired/about/related to Lindsey...especially the more current songs.

Remember this: Stevie is a master of revision! Her own references/comments to her songs change throughout the years, as do her memories of her career. She's very fuzzy with facts and figures; fans know her history more accurately than she does. She tends to pander to the Rumours era and remains fixated on the past -- which has, in my mind, has completely stalled her creativity and prevented her from moving forward and progressing. She was in her mid twenties when she joined Fleetwood Mac. She's 61 now! "Get over it and get on with it!"

I guess what I'm trying to surmise...I'm either in disbelief or find it very sad for a woman who has such a rich fabric of life experience and history: achieved world-wide independent artistic success, has travelled the world, met thousands of people, has had many relationships and experiences, etc...despite all this, she can't write a song that somehow doesn't relate to Lindsey? Is there no other muse? If that's the case, then it is quite pathetic. If that's not the case, perhaps there is consideration in not pandering to the myth. But there is no easy or definative answer!

[michelej1]

I guess what I'm trying to surmise...I'm either in disbelief or find it very sad for a woman who has such a rich fabric of life experience and history: achieved world-wide independent artistic success, has travelled the world, met thousands of people, has had many relationships and experiences, etc...despite all this, she can't write a song that somehow doesn't relate to Lindsey? Is there no other muse? If that's the case, then it is quite pathetic. If that's not the case, perhaps there is consideration in not pandering to the myth. But there is no easy or definative answer!

But it doesn't really matter what her muse is. The result is the only thing that matters. If she continues to be creative and doesn't constantly repeat herself, then the fact that the sparks of her creativity all originate from the same source is of no importance. If her songs were all based on different things but still sounded just alike, that is what I'd call pathetic.

It's like an actor who might think of a painful car accident he suffered in his own life, when he needs tears for a dramatic scene, even if he uses the same memory to invoke the emotion in all his movies, I don't think that makes him less of an actor, if his characters are different.

The songs probably aren't about Lindsey so much as they tap into a feeling she may have had with him. The very fact that she hasn't had as long a relationship with other people, probably means she's run the gamut of emotions with him, so it's a spring you can always go to, because there's 40 years of innocence, aging, rage, friction, love. Probably there wasn't such a range in her shorter relationships. With him being around for so much of her life, I'm sure it's hard for her to even reflect on a moment in her own life where he's not on the periphery somewhere. So, it's not so much that everything is about Lindsey. It's more that Lindsey is always about.

I don't think the muse stifles her or puts her in a rut. I know our interpretations of her music may sound repetitive and static:laugh:, but as long as the output isn't . . .

Michele

[FMlex]

Love is [Piano Demo]
Stevie Nicks
Trouble In Shangri-La Sessions
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ka5sxn

Liam-

Thank you so much!! :xoxo:
I had never heard this before. I didn't even know that there were TISL sessions out there!

[LiamMcConville]

Liam-

Thank you so much!! :xoxo:
I had never heard this before. I didn't even know that there were TISL sessions out there!

Enjoy it! :) And yes, there are quite a few demos and alternates from that time period!

[hippilil86]

But it doesn't really matter what her muse is. The result is the only thing that matters. If she continues to be creative and doesn't constantly repeat herself, then the fact that the sparks of her creativity all originate from the same source is of no importance. If her songs were all based on different things but still sounded just alike, that is what I'd call pathetic.

It's like an actor who might think of a painful car accident he suffered in his own life, when he needs tears for a dramatic scene, even if he uses the same memory to invoke the emotion in all his movies, I don't think that makes him less of an actor, if his characters are different.

The songs probably aren't about Lindsey so much as they tap into a feeling she may have had with him. The very fact that she hasn't had as long a relationship with other people, probably means she's run the gamut of emotions with him, so it's a spring you can always go to, because there's 40 years of innocence, aging, rage, friction, love. Probably there wasn't such a range in her shorter relationships. With him being around for so much of her life, I'm sure it's hard for her to even reflect on a moment in her own life where he's not on the periphery somewhere. So, it's not so much that everything is about Lindsey. It's more that Lindsey is always about.

I don't think the muse stifles her or puts her in a rut. I know our interpretations of her music may sound repetitive and static:laugh:, but as long as the output isn't . . .

Michele

This is great, Michele, it is exactly the way that I feel about the fact that "every song can't/isn't about Lindsey" It really is the fact that Lindsey is always about. He's always been there, in some form, for 40 years. 40 years is a long time to know someone.

[daniellaaarisen]

But it doesn't really matter what her muse is. The result is the only thing that matters. If she continues to be creative and doesn't constantly repeat herself, then the fact that the sparks of her creativity all originate from the same source is of no importance. If her songs were all based on different things but still sounded just alike, that is what I'd call pathetic.

It's like an actor who might think of a painful car accident he suffered in his own life, when he needs tears for a dramatic scene, even if he uses the same memory to invoke the emotion in all his movies, I don't think that makes him less of an actor, if his characters are different.

The songs probably aren't about Lindsey so much as they tap into a feeling she may have had with him. The very fact that she hasn't had as long a relationship with other people, probably means she's run the gamut of emotions with him, so it's a spring you can always go to, because there's 40 years of innocence, aging, rage, friction, love. Probably there wasn't such a range in her shorter relationships. With him being around for so much of her life, I'm sure it's hard for her to even reflect on a moment in her own life where he's not on the periphery somewhere. So, it's not so much that everything is about Lindsey. It's more that Lindsey is always about.

I don't think the muse stifles her or puts her in a rut. I know our interpretations of her music may sound repetitive and static:laugh:, but as long as the output isn't . . .

Michele

Agreed-- completely agreed.

And thanks to the people who commented on my post-- glad there are similar stories on here. :)

[njova]

Wasn't this written in 1995? I thought this might be about Joe or maybe she's remembering the few relationships when she was actually in love Lindsey, Mick, Joe, Rupert. You never really know but I don't think everything is about Lindsey although this may very well be.

[wheart]

A fantastic little song and a perfect closer to TISL. I enjoy Trouble so much that by the time I get to Love Is, I kinda forgot about it and it's like the wonderful little surprise at the end. I love the rhythm and the way it builds in the second half. Great production by Pierre Marchand but I gotta say the demo version of this song is stunning and probably should have been on the album, but the album version is exceptional as well!

[BrokenHearted]

First off, I don't really post around here much, but when I saw this thread I thought I had to jump in and say how much I truly love this song. Especially seeing how it's affected just as many people's lives.

I had a friend of mine who I feel for really hard, who of course was straight, but still remained very close friends with me even after I told him I was gay. And when I hear this song it brings back every feeling I ever had for him, and still have to this day.

Oh, and here's my "covers" of Love Is that I did a couple months ago that I thought I'd share. (Please forgive me for not being a singer :sorry: )

http://www.mediafire.com/?mejmmwj2zbt
http://www.mediafire.com/?zehlkylozj0

And since I'm sharing silly things, might as well post this poem I wrote inspired by Love Is:


Knowing

There are times
When I wanted you to go
Or when I wished I left myself
But you knew me
As well I as I know
I don't love anyone else

And I wished that you could know
Just what you mean to me
Love is what you believe it to be
And love is what you mean to me...
But I finally I let go
And now I know
That I'm not alone

I saw you there,
Saw that you cared
I see you as a friend
At least I can see you again
When I was blind,
You were kind
When I was lower than low
You never let go

How can I thank you
And if you only knew
What you truly mean to me
You just might see
How I tried to let go
But we both know
I'm not so well with those things
Enough well wishing

I wish I will find...
Some kind of love
But much, much more
I wish you the same
And so much more...

And you will...
And you will...
But how then will you feel...
When you find what you search for
Will it mean all that more
Than what I saw in you
Oh, if only you knew...



Thanks to all you Ledgies who keep me (somewhat) sane. :angel:

[PenguinHead]

But it doesn't really matter what her muse is. The result is the only thing that matters. If she continues to be creative and doesn't constantly repeat herself, then the fact that the sparks of her creativity all originate from the same source is of no importance. If her songs were all based on different things but still sounded just alike, that is what I'd call pathetic.

It's like an actor who might think of a painful car accident he suffered in his own life, when he needs tears for a dramatic scene, even if he uses the same memory to invoke the emotion in all his movies, I don't think that makes him less of an actor, if his characters are different.

The songs probably aren't about Lindsey so much as they tap into a feeling she may have had with him. The very fact that she hasn't had as long a relationship with other people, probably means she's run the gamut of emotions with him, so it's a spring you can always go to, because there's 40 years of innocence, aging, rage, friction, love. Probably there wasn't such a range in her shorter relationships. With him being around for so much of her life, I'm sure it's hard for her to even reflect on a moment in her own life where he's not on the periphery somewhere. So, it's not so much that everything is about Lindsey. It's more that Lindsey is always about.

I don't think the muse stifles her or puts her in a rut. I know our interpretations of her music may sound repetitive and static:laugh:, but as long as the output isn't . . .

Michele

I appreciate your perspective...and your points are well taken!:thumbsup:

[StreetAngel86]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing with us.

It took me awhile to warm up to this song. But I've grown to love it (just like any other Stevie song, of course).

From the first time I heard this, I assumed it was about Lindsey. I can see now how it would be about Robin.
Regardless of who it's about, it's a lovely song.

This part always moves me to tears:
"So she stood there in the hallway frozen
In the dark
And her heart broke down
She cried
She fell to the floor

One tear slid across her lips
To the corner of her mouth
Love is...
And dropped to the floor"

I've also notices that she uses the lines "Will you miss those arms that used to go around you" which is also pretty much word for word like that in No Questions Asked.

that above line...hell, this whole song is about Lindsey
not the Dance tho, if it was written in 95
maybe stevie told a lie :eek: :lol:

that hallway frozen bit...it's so sad
it's my fave bit
i love morbid stevie imagery :D

[daniellaaarisen]

Ugh I'm listening to it right now. Giving my chills.

We should do "Sleeping Angel" next-- I have a totally intense story about that song.

[Lala]

Ugh I'm listening to it right now. Giving my chills.

We should do "Sleeping Angel" next-- I have a totally intense story about that song.

Go for it! Start the thread