Stars & Stripes

[APerfectLie]

So with it being Veteran's Day, I've been looking at Stevie's writings about soldiers. Apparently she wrote a letter to the Gulf War troops in 1991 and it was published in "Stars & Stripes" but I cannot seem to find the full letter anywhere! Anyone have it?? This is all I could find:

There is one more thing I can send you [the Gulf War troops], and that is the story of a Welsh mythological goddess, named RHIANNON. I once, a very long time ago, wrote a song about her. It is called 'the legend of the song of the birds of Rhiannon.'

Rhiannon was a queen in a world far above us called the bright world, where all the colors were brighter, and everyone had a special sort of glow around them. It was a beautiful world, and she loved her world, but she fell in love with a mortal king from OUR world...and she left her world to come to ours to be with him. Rhiannon had three birds, one white, one emerald green, and one golden. It is said that in time of war, or strife, or pain, that her song can be heard.

"And down the glorious pathway, came the three singing birds, straight into the middle of the trouble and hardship ..." but that when you heard her song, your eyes would softly close and you would slip away. When you awoke the trouble would be gone, the sky would be the most wondrous blue, and far in the back of your mind you would hear that little song,, like a delicate little music box. If you were lucky, you might even see the three beautiful birds slowly flying away from you, and if you were very very lucky, you might even see Rhiannon .... slowly turning around to you to say, everything is fine,- She is smiling, and you see her disappear into the fine white clouds.

It is said that the legend is true...so I send you the energy from my golden cross and the three singing birds of Rhiannon to comfort you and to keep you safe. .
~Stevie Nicks, in a letter to the Gulf War Troops, Stars & Stripes, 1991

[mikebise]

The Stevie Fanzine named Silver Springs printed the entire contents of the letter in Early 1991. I'm at work right now, or I'd dig it out. I also did an extensive web search, as I'm sure you did, and found just portions of it.

BTW, the letter was printed in the January 16, 1991 edition of Stars and Stripes.

[ricohv]

Ah yes, I have always wanted to see this letter in its entirety and king of forgot about it until I read this thread. I would be very appreciative for a complete reprint if possible. The parts that I have read-like whats printed above-definately encapsule all the magic and mystery that I love about Stevie and seem sweet and comforting in that ""Ill make you beleive in magic" way of hers.
Ricoh

[mikebise]

In the full letter (I still haven't dug out that issue of Silver Springs yet, sorry), Stevie writes about crying as she's writing the letter to the troops.

I'll try and type it up this weekend.

[APerfectLie]

In the full letter (I still haven't dug out that issue of Silver Springs yet, sorry), Stevie writes about crying as she's writing the letter to the troops.

I'll try and type it up this weekend.

Thanks! You are the best!

[mikebise]

Here it is, from the 3rd issue of Silver Springs (Fall 1991), all hand-typed by me this morning! ;)

January 14, 1991

To all those who are a part of Operation Desert Shield:

It is exactly twenty minutes after eleven o'clock, the night of the 14th, Phoenix, Arizona time. I have spent three hours trying to think of what I can say that could possibly be of any help to you in the situation that you have been put in. You see, I have already seen this happen once, though Vietnam was not the same, this is more pre-meditated, more planned, more like World War Two. "I feel so helpless," Tom Petty would say, "I feel so helpless," that is what I would say, and I feel so frustrated. I feel the minutes ticking by and all the words I hear from the radio and from the television seem to be saying that we are, in fact, going to war within the next two days. I am having trouble even just writing this; my eyes keep filling up with tears... and I can't see the page. If I were in fact that strange fairy godmother that everyone thinks I am, and truly had magic at the ends of my fingertips, I should wish you all home... this very minute. But I don't have that kind of magic, all I can do now, is pray.

I have a very large golden cross around my neck that I am holding on to right now between sentences... that energy I can send you. It has truly gotten me through some severe life and death circumstances. Without it... I might not even be here, so that feeling, I CAN send you. There is one more thing I can send you, and that is the story of a Welsh mythological goddess named RHIANNON. I once, a very long time ago, wrote a song about her. It is called "the legend of the song of the birds of Rhiannon." Rhiannon was a queen in a world far above us called the bright world, where all the colors were brighter, and everyone had a special sort of glow around them. It was a beautiful world, and she loved her world, but she fell in love with a mortal king from OUR world... and she left her world to come to ours to be with him. Rhiannon had three birds, one white... one emerald green, and one golden. It is said that in time of war, or strife, or pain, that her song can be heard.

And down the glorious pathway, came the three singing birds, straight into the middle of the trouble and hardship... but that when you heard her song, your eyes would softly close and you would slip away. When you awoke the trouble would be gone, the sky would be the most wondrous blue, and far in the back of your mind you would hear that little song, like a delicate little music box. If you were lucky, you might even see the three beautiful birds slowly flying away from you, and if you were very very lucky, you might even see Rhiannon... slowly turning around to you to say, everything is fine, She is smiling, and you see her disappear into the fine white clouds.

It is said that the legend is true... so I send you the energy from my golden cross and the three singing birds of Rhiannon to comfort you and to keep you safe. Remember, music crosses every language, remember, miracles do happen... and remember, we do all love you so much for being so very very brave... you remain always... "the poets in my heart..." and I am sure I will see you all soon... with all due respect and great love, I remain yours... Stevie Nicks

The engraved inscription on the cross reads as follows... John 3:16 "Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him may not die but may have eternal life." Keep this in your hearts.

It has started to rain here; it is twenty minutes to five, Phoenix time... the fighting has begun...

It is eleven minutes to seven o'clock, (Arizona time.) The president is preparing to address the world of this situation.

These words keep running through my mind... "There for the grace of God, go I..."

Stevie

[Sanne2]

Thanks Mike!
Wow, that was pretty much the Klonopin-fuelled emotional mess I was expecting, if not worse. And ofcourse she had to throw in Rhiannon.
So with "the legend of the song of the birds of Rhiannon" (omg unfortunately long song title) does she mean the original "Rhiannon"? Because I think I've heard that title in reference to a Rhiannon-song she wrote somewhere in the mid 80's?

[vivfox]

Wow, that was pretty much the Klonopin-fuelled emotional mess I was expecting, if not worse. And ofcourse she had to throw in Rhiannon.


I don't see it as a mess. I see it as a truly heartfelt, emotional, well intentioned letter to some people who are about to enter into an internal nightmare. Stevie is sending a message of hope, truly in that magical way, that she knows how to bring comfort to the reader.

[mikebise]

Well, a Stevie insider told me that there is definitely a 1986-written song entitled "The Legend Of The Song Of The Birds Of Rhiannon". He told me that Stevie wrote it right before the Rock A Little tour. Of course, he didn't share it with me. :(

This guy was Stevie's special guest at the tapings for The Dance in May 1997, and he called me up the next day after the 3rd and final concert and told me everything about all 3 concerts, so I know he was on the level with me.

He said the song was fully-recorded with a band, not just a piano demo, and that it was "epic". I can't even imagine a 1986-written Rhiannon song by the 1986 Stevie... I'm sure it's awesome!!!

About the letter: yes, totally Klonopin-fueled! LOL! I forget who first made the observation that 1990 was when Stevie started wearing life-size crosses everywhere! Intoning "God" in her scribblings, interviews and songs ("Ghosts", "Jane")... Hey, it's a slice of history, and I wouldn't change anything... :)

[David]

The engraved inscription on the cross reads as follows... John 3:16 "Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him may not die but may have eternal life." Keep this in your hearts.
I wish Stevie had quoted from Maimonides for her Jewish soldier fans.

thanks, Mike!

[mikebise]

You know, re-reading (after typing) Stevie's beautiful description of the birds of Rhiannon, and the other dimension that Rhiannon left for Pwyll, I'm impressed by Stevie, once again, for her intense imagery and ability to evoke emotion in others.

And, yes, this was the height of Klonopinia, but Stevie was still Stevie, still caring for others and their pain, and wanting to be able to do something, some little thing, to take that pain away.

And I especially love this part:
And down the glorious pathway, came the three singing birds, straight into the middle of the trouble and hardship... but that when you heard her song, your eyes would softly close and you would slip away. When you awoke the trouble would be gone, the sky would be the most wondrous blue, and far in the back of your mind you would hear that little song, like a delicate little music box.

What a wonderful, mystical image...