What is Sable on Blond about?

[twinmatrix]

Here are the lyrics. (http://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858686223/)

But I seriously have no idea what it's about.

Isn't a sable some kind of animal? An animal on blond? There's literally an animal sitting on her blonde hair? Is that it?

And the lyrics make NO sense to me. Blond on blond? Excalibur? Frost covered windows? Something fell? What is going on???

Yet I see for a lot of you this is your favorite song from Wild Heart. So someone please tell me. xD Thank you.

[Feather Blade]

Well, I couldn't vouch for what the song is actually about, but I do know that sable can also be a reference to the color. Kind of a dark brownish hue. I think of it as meaning someone's hair. Sable on blond like two people lying close together so their hair is tousled up together. Kind of a pillow talk sort of thing. Just my opinion though.

[twinmatrix]

Oh, interesting. I thought the song had something sexual about it, kinda like Blue Water.

And I don't need to know what the song is REALLY about, just what you guys interpret it as. :) Considering it's a fan favorite.

[sorcerer999]

"Sable on Blond is my serious statement on The Wild Heart. It fits into a particular group of my songs; 'Rhiannon,' 'Beautiful Child' and 'Sara'. It reflects the mood I was in when I moved into my new house last year. It was a time when I was learning how to live with myself.
Sable on Blond meant to learn how to be a stranger, to learn to be with yourself, to learn to be one color. In the legend of Excalibur, the sword is there for protection, but you don't call upon it unless it's absolutely necessary. During that period in my life, I was learning how not to call on the sword."


~Stevie Nicks - Rock Magazine 1983

[twinmatrix]

"Sable on Blond is my serious statement on The Wild Heart. It fits into a particular group of my songs; 'Rhiannon,' 'Beautiful Child' and 'Sara'. It reflects the mood I was in when I moved into my new house last year. It was a time when I was learning how to live with myself.
Sable on Blond meant to learn how to be a stranger, to learn to be with yourself, to learn to be one color. In the legend of Excalibur, the sword is there for protection, but you don't call upon it unless it's absolutely necessary. During that period in my life, I was learning how not to call on the sword."


~Stevie Nicks - Rock Magazine 1983

Well that's just confusing, but thank you very much for the quote.

So she's referring to her true self as Excalibur..? Or am I misreading that?

[michelej1]

Some more of Stevie's comments:

It fits into a particular group of my songs; Rhiannon, Beautiful Child
and Sara. It reflects the mood I was in when I moved into my new house last
year. It was a time when I was learning how to live with myself. Sable on Blond
meant to learn how to be a stranger, to learn to be with yourself, to learn to
be one color. In the legend of Excalibur, the sword is there for protection, but
you don't call upon it unless it's absolutely necessary. During that period in
my life, I was learning how not to call on the sword."

<P><FONT face="Arial Narrow">" 'Learn to be a stranger/blonde on blonde/' is
learn to live with yourself; in other words, one color: blonde on blonde. Um,
you know, you can't live with anybody else until you learn to live with
yourself. 'In silence she says Excalibur' is in the story, when Arthur says
don't call on the sword unless it's your last chance, and you have no other
choice, you have to call on the sword. But if you call on it and it's too soon,
then it breaks, and you're left. So, this says learn to depend on yourself
before you ever ask for that kind of special extra help."

Have you come to see/that my face is not seen/outside my frost covered window] "Have you come to check up on me, to see that I don't leave my house."

[StreetAngel86]

this song is SMUT
and i love it :D

"In silence she says, "Excalibur"."

eeeeeeeeew :lol:

[singertobe]

this song is SMUT
and i love it :D

"In silence she says, "Excalibur"."

eeeeeeeeew :lol:

Huh? What does Excalibur mean? (I know absolutely nothing about the reproduction process)
http://www.quickmeme.com/img/58/580a548115b3267c9b137a58de376bbf4b80cf894ba34b11c8d3eac28f0ba428.jpg

[PenguinHead]

More often than not, there is no definitive meaning to many of her songs. They are montages of images, situations and feelings - some are obvious, some are abstract personal manifestations.

When I listen to a song like Sable on Blonde, I'm not yearning for a literal narrative.
It's like having a dream where you recall various disjointed scenarios.
You're incapable of putting them together to define it, but it leaves you with a feeling or mood that you've experienced something, or been somewhere.

Often, when Stevie is asked a question regarding what a particular song is about, she will address the circumstance that inspired the song. The meanings are usually non-linear, and subject to personal interpretation, sort of like a Rorschach ink blot test.

[twinmatrix]

More often than not, there is no definitive meaning to many of her songs. They are montages of images, situations and feelings - some are obvious, some are abstract personal manifestations.

When I listen to a song like Sable on Blonde, I'm not yearning for a literal narrative.
It's like having a dream where you recall various disjointed scenarios.
You're incapable of putting them together to define it, but it leaves you with a feeling or mood that you've experienced something, or been somewhere.

Often, when Stevie is asked a question regarding what a particular song is about, she will address the circumstance that inspired the song. The meanings are usually non-linear, and subject to personal interpretation, sort of like a Rorschach ink blot test.

That's true, and I'm fine not knowing the literal meaning of a song.

But for example, I didn't even know sable was a color, or the point of mentioning Excalibur, so that was helpful.

With 99% of her music, I can "feel" what it's about, even though the lyrics are very abstract.

Sable on Blond and Sisters of the Moon are 2 songs I really don't get or feel at all.

But this topic helped, so thank you. <3

[Danigirl]

One of my favorite songs of Stevie's. The words "learn to be a stranger" just resonate with me. I always come across Bob Dylans' "Blonde on Blonde" and seem to question if Stevie, in her seclusion, played that album?

[twinmatrix]

One of my favorite songs of Stevie's. The words "learn to be a stranger" just resonate with me. I always come across Bob Dylans' "Blonde on Blonde" and seem to question if Stevie, in her seclusion, played that album?

May I ask what it means for you? Those words.

[Maxd9]

May I ask what it means for you? Those words.

I always assumed it was written about a relationship that had broken down. Learning to be a stranger, to me, was about learning how not to be reliant on a person you've been so close to, how to adapt to not seeing them or talking to them.

I had never read Stevie's quotes on the song, so thanks for posting them. Definitely one of my favourites songs on TWH.

[reebokandlace]

Huh? What does Excalibur mean? (I know absolutely nothing about the reproduction process)



I always thought her reference to Excalibur was a pet name for her lovers penis (or what she named her strap on).

Sable on blonde were the colors of the bushes laying on top of each other. Yep, that is my interpretation.

[bombaysaffires]

The quote Michele posted is the interview I recall about that song and still have on tape. Excalibur is from the legend of King Arthur and like Stevie says, it is the symbol of supernatural help. So when King Arthur is in deep trouble Excalibur will save him, but only if he has used up all his other options. If he calls on the sword to save him when there was something he could do for himself (he's just being lazy) the sword "knows" this and breaks, and then, when he realllllly needs some divine intervention to get out of a bad situation, he won't have it because he wasted it earlier. So I always took her line "in silence she says Excalibur" to be about her being in a dire situation (relationship, the band, whatever) where she's run out of options and nothing but divine intervention will get her out of it or make it bearable.

[singertobe]

I always thought her reference to Excalibur was a pet name for her lovers penis (or what she named her strap on).

Sable on blonde were the colors of the bushes laying on top of each other. Yep, that is my interpretation.

http://i3.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/004/077/Raisins_Face.jpg

[StreetAngel86]

I always thought her reference to Excalibur was a pet name for her lovers penis (or what she named her strap on).

Sable on blonde were the colors of the bushes laying on top of each other. Yep, that is my interpretation.


thank you.
how hard is it to google Excalibur if you've never heard of it :wavey:

i always thought the blonde-on-blonde was just laying together in each others HEAD hair...tangled. but now ... omg :laugh::laugh::laugh:

maybe blonde on blonde is HEAD hair
maybe sable on blonde is DOWNSTAIRS hair

[MoonSister75]

I absolutely LOVE Sable on Blonde. I've never really thought too much about what it means, but some of the interpretations above are very interesting:nod::laugh:

It's probably in my top ten of Stevie's songs. It has gorgeous production, vocal, lyrics and harmonies, and it all works so well together. My very favourite part is the build up to the 2nd time she sings "just how deep do you hold that dream in your hands each night" - goosebumps and shivers :). I know it's an 80's song but I always feel transported back to the 70's when I hear it.

I'd agree with the below:


When I listen to a song like Sable on Blonde, I'm not yearning for a literal narrative.
It's like having a dream where you recall various disjointed scenarios.
You're incapable of putting them together to define it, but it leaves you with a feeling or mood that you've experienced something, or been somewhere.

[twinmatrix]

I always thought her reference to Excalibur was a pet name for her lovers penis (or what she named her strap on).

Sable on blonde were the colors of the bushes laying on top of each other. Yep, that is my interpretation.

My God.

o_o

what happened to you in your childhood

[johnnystorms]

I'm puzzled by the RAMPANT sexual speculation over this song!! I am either prudish or clueless! neither of which are words anyone who knows me has described me

[Keith]

Linus says.. " over there I see Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper, and over there I see a representation of the Stoning of Stephen. What do you see, Charlie Brown?"

Charlie says, "I was going to say a ducky and a horsey, but I changed my mind!"

"..or baby, was it love?" one of my favorite Stevie songs, ever. :nod:

[reebokandlace]

My God.

o_o

what happened to you in your childhood


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


I know. I am twisted. That's just where my mind goes. These other interpretation have ruined it for me.

Mental note to self, take this song off my love making playlist, because now everytime I hear the excalibur reference I am going to think of Arthur's sword and that just doesn't do it for me anymore. Thanks everyone.

..

[sorcerer999]

I always thought "Just how deep do you hold that dream IN YOUR HANDS each night" was just a sophisticated metaphor for masturbation. :laugh:

[Danigirl]

May I ask what it means for you? Those words.

For me it has nothing to do with learning to be alone, rather learning to be a completely different "entity" to the other person. Being a stranger to him, rather than a friend, lover, etc. There are times when one's identity changes in another person threfore, altering who one is forever. This song and those lyrics helped me see that more clearly. So simple, yet poignant. It's almost as if it's an oxymoron. You learn to know someone so intimately which takes time and well "learning," then it's as if one has to undo all that, and learn to unlearn, to become no one to that person.

[David]

I always thought her reference to Excalibur was a pet name for her lovers penis (or what she named her strap on).

Sable on blonde were the colors of the bushes laying on top of each other. Yep, that is my interpretation.

Well, er, I'm all for it.

We're in Citizen Kane "Rosebud" territory ... why not?

[twinmatrix]

For me it has nothing to do with learning to be alone, rather learning to be a completely different "entity" to the other person. Being a stranger to him, rather than a friend, lover, etc. There are times when one's identity changes in another person threfore, altering who one is forever. This song and those lyrics helped me see that more clearly. So simple, yet poignant. It's almost as if it's an oxymoron. You learn to know someone so intimately which takes time and well "learning," then it's as if one has to undo all that, and learn to unlearn, to become no one to that person.

Wow. You win. Beautiful interpretation of the lyric. I totally see that.

"learning to be a stranger" = "learning to be a stranger to someone else"

Quite sad.

[Keith]

I always thought "Just how deep do you hold that dream IN YOUR HANDS each night" was just a sophisticated metaphor for masturbation. :laugh:

why does masturbation have to be sophisticated? I don't know about women, since I'm gay, but guys do it because it, simply, feels good.. that's all.

[sue]

why does masturbation have to be sophisticated? I don't know about women, since I'm gay, but guys do it because it, simply, feels good.. that's all.

I don't think Sorcerer999 is saying masturbation is sophisticated.....they are saying the lyric is a sophisticated metaphor, which it is.
Maybe.....

[twinmatrix]

why does masturbation have to be sophisticated? I don't know about women, since I'm gay, but guys do it because it, simply, feels good.. that's all.

What?? Another gay Stevie Nicks fan? *high five!*

Although I admit, I honestly have no idea what kind of people her fanbase are. I'd like to think we/they are intelligent people with good taste lol

[sorcerer999]

I don't think Sorcerer999 is saying masturbation is sophisticated.....they are saying the lyric is a sophisticated metaphor, which it is.
Maybe.....

Thank you Sue. That's it, EXACTLY.

It amazes me how many people get on here and misread/misinterpret statements that are CLEARLY outlined to NOT be misinterpreted. WTF?

[sorcerer999]

P.S. I also think this thread is getting WAYYYYYYY off topic, and if that's my fault, I apologize.

I didn't think making a joke about a lyric was going to get people talking about masturbation.

Back to the SONG "Sable On Blonde" please...

[SisterNightroad]

http://cs621217.vk.me/v621217905/a141/UyLXd5kHOjk.jpg

[DauphineMarie]

To me, this song just screams Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It's a story within the realm of Arthurian legend, as has more to do with this song than the actual story of King Arthur, in my opinion. Though the Excalibur reference is there, I think Sir Gawain goes more in-depth. Look up the book online, I'm sure you can read it, and it's very short.

"Learn to be a stranger" through "what was it that fell" is personal to Stevie, and has to do with her quote from that interview about learning to not rely on others.

"One fallen leaf like the feather that it was. Was it freedom by choice or baby, was it love?"

This a reference to the story when he decided to take Arthur's place in a challenge against the Green Knight, so this is like a parallel between Stevie's life of doing things because she loves someone and she feels obligated (Fleetwood Mac), not because she really wants to.

"Well, have you come to see that my face is not seen
Ooh, outside my frost covered windows
Oh, and just how deep do you hold that dream
In your hands each night this time"

This is a reference to an affair. On his way to the duel at the Green Chapel, he stops at a manor house and is taken care of by the master, a lord or something, whose wife tries to seduce him, and every morning she secretly tempts him after the lord leaves, to which Sir Gawain refuses. Finally on the last morning, she tempts him with this green girdle which he eventually accepts, for protection. "How deep do you hold that dream" references the girdle, and how he holds on to it in fear of his life, same as Stevie would to anything that resembled her life before she moved into that new house that she hated. The whole reference to the affair/temptation might be talking about Stevie and anyone else she might have loved during this time, or before, which in the liner notes says 1982, I think.

The next parts are about Stevie, of which I can't really relate anything, except for that "To be brave, save the stranger" which loosely talks about Sir Gawain sacrificing himself for King Arthur, who is far above him in rank, and almost inaccessible. Stevie, on the other hand, has to give up part of her life, probably a person, so that she can move on with her life and literally save herself. Sable is a dark fur, and blonde is light, so "dark upon light, because it hurts too much" could be about her different careers and how they each change so often and often contrast with each other. Besides this, when she says she went into her closet with her blankets,her radio, and her writings, I like to imagine she lay down and one of her beautiful fur coats fell on top of her glorious blonde perm and she was struck with inspiration. ;)

In the end of the story, the Green Knight is actually the lord of the manor, and the entire quest was the doing of Morgan le Fay, King Arthur's sorceress sister, who wanted to test the Knights of the Round table, and also scare Queen Guinevere. This is my favourite song from the Wild Heart, and definitely in my top 10 Stevie songs ever. It speaks of such strong imagery, and like someone mentioned earlier, reads like a dreamy, medieval fairy-tale. Anyways, sorry this is so long, but I have theorized about this for years, and I'm glad someone asked about it, because I feel as if I need to share. :D

[FuzzyPlum]

Interesting people have lots of medieval references/interpretations. Though sable fur is very dark brown in Ye Olde English times sable represented black on coats of arms.

[singertobe]

http://cs621217.vk.me/v621217905/a141/UyLXd5kHOjk.jpg

My thoughts exactly :lol:

[SisterNightroad]

Now that I've recovered from the shock caused by some of the post of this thread, I'd like to share that this song always made me think about the famous da Vinci's painting "Lady with an ermine":

https://img1.etsystatic.com/041/0/8192889/il_570xN.530364905_lh5j.jpg

The ermine is a symbol of purity and incorruption because, he explained: " The ermine out of moderation never eats but once a day, and it would rather let itself be captured by hunters than take refuge in a dirty lair, in order not to stain its purity."

[The Juggler]

It seems like some people here put more thought in than Stevie :lol:

[PenguinHead]

It seems like some people here put more thought in than Stevie :lol:

For sure! :lol: Interpreting her mishmash musings into literal cohesion. Stevie would be very amused by this. It's a entertaining creative outlet unto itself.

[KarmaContestant]

I've always thought Excalibur was a reference to some guy's wang that she missed at the time. :lol:

[SpyNote]

At the time, there were comparisons to "Dreams." Mick also played drums on it.

Here's a little more on "Sable on Blond," from The Wild Heart press release:

“I wrote this when I came off the Bella Donna tour, one of the most exhilarating and beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. And I moved into my new dream house, but it was more of a nightmare because it was cold and empty. I only had my piano. There were no phones, and I was alone, freezing, with nothing. It was like going from heaven straight to hell without stopping off for a burger on the way. I was devastated. I moved into my closet with my quilt and pillows and my writing stuff. My clothes were hanging in my face, and I took my little stereo in there, and that’s where I lived. But the song really is about learning to live with Stevie; learn to be a stranger, learn to live in silence, learn not to call on everybody else to get you out of everything or make everybody else pay for what you’re going through because you’ve chosen this life. Like Arthur learned from Excalibur, you do not ever call on your most precious magic unless you are literally out of other choices.”

[PenguinHead]

“I wrote this when I came off the Bella Donna tour, one of the most exhilarating and beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. And I moved into my new dream house, but it was more of a nightmare because it was cold and empty. I only had my piano. There were no phones, and I was alone, freezing, with nothing. It was like going from heaven straight to hell without stopping off for a burger on the way. I was devastated. I moved into my closet with my quilt and pillows and my writing stuff. My clothes were hanging in my face, and I took my little stereo in there, and that’s where I lived.


This is a classic example of the over-the-top, constructed dramas Stevie tends to perpetuate -- casting herself as a suffering artist, dealing with hardships more akin to a poverty-stricken person struggling just to survive. Her idea of a hellish nightmare is vastly different from the suffering of people living in the barest of margins.

Alone, freezing, nothing? She was a successful,wealthy, indulgent rock star who had the world in her hands. What was her problem? Trouble getting to a furniture store? Issues with the phone and heating companies? Lacking the ability to plan ahead, or going to a grocery store or restaurant?

It's very hard find empathy or make any sense of her perceived predicament. She was a spoiled girl who has never had to face dire hardship. Even when she and Lindsey were the hippie youths, trying to establish themselves in the music industry, she had a corporate daddy there to save her ass.

[michelej1]

And I'm sure her "closet" was as big as most bedrooms, but I do have to laugh at the part of going to hell without even stopping for a burger on the way. She is priceless.

Michele

[BombaySapphire3]

I always thought her reference to Excalibur was a pet name for her lovers penis (or what she named her strap on).

Sable on blonde were the colors of the bushes laying on top of each other. Yep, that is my interpretation.
:lol: but I thought you had turned in your fan card forever when you were so appalled by the video for "Lady":shrug:

[teedeerocks]

[/I]

This is a classic example of the over-the-top, constructed dramas Stevie tends to perpetuate -- casting herself as a suffering artist, dealing with hardships more akin to a poverty-stricken person struggling just to survive. Her idea of a hellish nightmare is vastly different from the suffering of people living in the barest of margins.

Alone, freezing, nothing? She was a successful,wealthy, indulgent rock star who had the world in her hands. What was her problem? Trouble getting to a furniture store? Issues with the phone and heating companies? Lacking the ability to plan ahead, or going to a grocery store or restaurant?

It's very hard find empathy or make any sense of her perceived predicament. She was a spoiled girl who has never had to face dire hardship. Even when she and Lindsey were the hippie youths, trying to establish themselves in the music industry, she had a corporate daddy there to save her ass.
My thoughts exactly-she doesn't have a clue as to what hardship is.I guess she thinks everything is hellish if she doesn't have her assistant or somebody else there to kiss her butt and actually has to lift a finger or rely on herself without calling on "Excalibur".Poor little rich girl......I say this as a huge fan and not a Stevie hater BTW, but sometimes she is ridiculous and too often plays the victim:nod:

[twinmatrix]

Now that I've recovered from the shock caused by some of the post of this thread, I'd like to share that this song always made me think about the famous da Vinci's painting "Lady with an ermine":

https://img1.etsystatic.com/041/0/8192889/il_570xN.530364905_lh5j.jpg

The ermine is a symbol of purity and incorruption because, he explained: " The ermine out of moderation never eats but once a day, and it would rather let itself be captured by hunters than take refuge in a dirty lair, in order not to stain its purity."

Off-topic, but I despise ermines.

"It's nature" and all that crap,
but I think it's disgusting on so many levels that the male ermines have sex with the female ermines WHILE THE FEMALES ARE STILL BABIES.
They literally have sex WITH BABIES. Deaf, blind and without hair. Yuck. Imagine if we did that.

My thoughts exactly-she doesn't have a clue as to what hardship is.I guess she thinks everything is hellish if she doesn't have her assistant or somebody else there to kiss her butt and actually has to lift a finger or rely on herself without calling on "Excalibur".Poor little rich girl......I say this as a huge fan and not a Stevie hater BTW, but sometimes she is ridiculous and too often plays the victim:nod:

Omg you guys. You realize emotional hell is relative, right? She could have had just as much emotional pain as a poor African child or some Chinese beggar.
Even depression makes you feel like hell without any reason. You can be rich, successful and partnered; depression will still make you feel like you want to die.
Heck, even WITHOUT depression you can feel horrible for no reason.
You simply can't compare mental pain between people.

Don't hate on Stevie for being able to put her emotions into words so beautifully. x

[sue]

you can be waited on hand and foot, left right and centre.
Have all the riches possible, have someone sorting out your food, your clothes, your everything.
But still be very lonely, and very afraid, just because she's Stevie Nicks doesn't mean she doesn't suffer.......
And good for us that she does, because without those feelings she couldn't write the most fabulous poetry... that becomes lyrics.