View Full Version : Go Your Own Way: Anatomy of a Song WSJ
michelej1
09-16-2021, 01:41 AM
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soul_drifter333
09-16-2021, 03:16 AM
Great article and scan. Thanks for sharing!
tango87
09-16-2021, 03:54 AM
Thanks for scanning and posting this Michele, it's a great read. I can easily imagine him writing a memoir...
bwboy
09-16-2021, 04:41 AM
Yes, thank you for posting this. Such a great read! I had no idea FM always recorded the bass and guitar parts first and then the drums. GYOW is truly a masterpiece, for me it’s pure perfection and Fleetwood Mac personified, right there with the Chain. The drums and guitar are dueling in the best way here. I also like how he juxtaposed his lyrics with Stevie’s lyrics in Dreams and pointed out that both songs had lines that weren’t necessarily accurate, but reflected how they felt (“packin’ up, shackin’ up is all you want to do” versus “you say you want your freedom.”)
Storms123
09-16-2021, 04:54 AM
Yes, thank you for posting this. Such a great read! I had no idea FM always recorded the bass and guitar parts first and then the drums. GYOW is truly a masterpiece, for me it’s pure perfection and Fleetwood Mac personified, right there with the Chain. The drums and guitar are dueling in the best way here. I also like how he juxtaposed his lyrics with Stevie’s lyrics in Dreams and pointed out that both songs had lines that weren’t necessarily accurate, but reflected how they felt (“packin’ up, shackin’ up is all you want to do” versus “you say you want your freedom.”)
Such a great read, such a great song. I love finding out more about the process of writing and recording. Thank you for posting.
Macfan4life
09-16-2021, 08:55 AM
In Mick's first book he describes Stevie's reaction to the "shackin up" line. She threatened to leave the band if Lindsey kept those lyrics in the song. She felt violated by the line.
Years later Stevie also threatened to leave the band (again) over the name Tusk for the album. It has some sexual meaning.
Villavic
03-20-2026, 12:30 PM
I also like how he juxtaposed his lyrics with Stevie’s lyrics in Dreams and pointed out that both songs had lines that weren’t necessarily accurate, but reflected how they felt (“packin’ up, shackin’ up is all you want to do” versus “you say you want your freedom.”)
It would be interesting to know the timeline of these songs. The early take included in the Deluxe Package - Rumours: More From The Recording Sessions [Disc 3] does not have the packing up shacking up lyric. Did he added those words after listening to Dreams? Or what was the reason for doing it? Looks it wasn't the original idea.
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Penguin Emeritus
03-20-2026, 02:30 PM
Thanks for scanning and posting this Michele, it's a great read. I can easily imagine him writing a memoir...
yes i was thinking that too! wouldn't it have been cool to have a book where each member gives their memories of specific songs/how they were created? i guess that ship maybe sailed, but a book from lindsey would be nice.
--Lis
Macfan4life
03-20-2026, 03:07 PM
yes i was thinking that too! wouldn't it have been cool to have a book where each member gives their memories of specific songs/how they were created? i guess that ship maybe sailed, but a book from lindsey would be nice.
--Lis
Oh gosh the book that is inside him. I know he probably would never do it but the stories he could tell about Stevie and the making of Tango would require one to have their own popcorn machine :)
Villavic
03-21-2026, 10:15 AM
It would be interesting to know the timeline of these songs. The early take included in the Deluxe Package - Rumours: More From The Recording Sessions [Disc 3] does not have the packing up shacking up lyric. Did he added those words after listening to Dreams? Or what was the reason for doing it? Looks it wasn't the original idea.
And not only the timeline of those two songs. Beyond the “packin’ up, shackin’ up is all you want to do” versus “you say you want your freedom", I wonder how it fits into the timeline of the recordings the "You'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you". Was it before of after she heard the packing-shacking line?
Macfan4life
03-21-2026, 11:02 AM
And not only the timeline of those two songs. Beyond the “packin’ up, shackin’ up is all you want to do” versus “you say you want your freedom", I wonder how it fits into the timeline of the recordings the "You'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you". Was it before of after she heard the packing-shacking line?
Only guessing but I imagine Silver Springs was written right before or maybe around the same time as GYOW. I don't think she heard the shakin up line until the studio where she objected.
Fun fact: During Lindsey's departure in 1987 Stevie started singing the shacking up line with Billy. This continued even when Lindsey came back to the band.
soul_drifter333
03-21-2026, 12:06 PM
She knows it plays off the drama which brings in the dough which allows her to live a lavish lifestyle and also brings in much desired attention.
Only guessing but I imagine Silver Springs was written right before or maybe around the same time as GYOW. I don't think she heard the shakin up line until the studio where she objected.
Fun fact: During Lindsey's departure in 1987 Stevie started singing the shacking up line with Billy. This continued even when Lindsey came back to the band.
Villavic
03-21-2026, 02:56 PM
She knows it plays off the drama which brings in the dough which allows her to live a lavish lifestyle and also brings in much desired attention.
Oh yes and it has worked for her for years, although more so during Rumours because the media always reminds us of what was happening that year. On the other hand, I don't recall anyone ever asking which song Christine wrote first: YMLF for Curry or Don't Stop for John.
Villavic
03-25-2026, 08:34 AM
Fun fact: During Lindsey's departure in 1987 Stevie started singing the shacking up line with Billy. This continued even when Lindsey came back to the band.
And in a 2013 interview these laughs are because they talked about that line, and Lindsey said he just was kidding, he did it as a joke, or something like that. And she "seriously" says "yeah, very funny", which made Lindsey and Mick laugh. It seemed she already got over it.
I've found segments of that interview in YouTube but no the one including the GYOW comment. But I remember I prt scr that moment.
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