The "Truth" Behind the Song
 

So, as we all know Stevie writes all her songs based on real-life situations she's experienced and/or people/places/things/ideas that have inspired her. She's been pretty straight forward about why she writes, her journals, etc. On the other hand she has been very inconsistent over the years explaining who and what certain songs are about, telling a hundred different versions, or saying she simply doesn't remember. Obviously this is totally hypothetical but if Stevie were to tell you the "truth" behind a song, what song would it be and why?

Sable On Blond. It's one of my absolute favourite Stevie songs, and yet, there's so little speculation out there about it. I'd love to know who inspired it, who/what it's actually really about, and so on, simply because I have a feeling it would be a really interesting story :laugh:

You read my mind as usual darling ;).

In a 1983 interview, Stevie said that 'Sable on Blond' was about moving into her new house.

She said that she had to learn to depend on her own self (being 'blond on blond', as opposed to 'sable on blond'), and not call upon the magic sword 'Excalibur' for help.

So obvious! :rolleyes: :laugh:

Obviously there is waaaay more to it than just that...

I've always wanted to know about Sable on Blond as well.

It also seems in recent years she's been more honest about the fact that although a song may start from a place of truth, she does in fact embellish. I mean I thought 'Italian Summer' was about some great love affair she had in Italy until she flat out said it wasn't. LOL!

I still want to know about the new songs, especially "For What It's Worth".

Great question!
It would be incredible to finally have definite answers about Destiny Rules, Sara or the Tower, of course. But the song I'd most love to have her sit me down and explain every word of is Wide Sargasso Sea.

I know she's spoken about it some and we've all speculated that it's about her time with Rupert Hines, but I would love to know more. I first read the book 7 years ago, and can't think of another that's so impacted me, so I was blown away that Stevie connected to it too. I'd love to know not only who it's about, but how the story spoke to her, how she connected to the main character and certain themes. It's also probably the sexiest song in her catalogue, and I'd love to hear about her choice to be more graphic (Not that "kiss" and "make love" are terribly graphic, but this is Stevie...).

Yes! The first verse of this song immediately made me think of someone from my past. It's an incredibly sensual song, lyrically and musically.

Trouble in Shangri-la (She says each verse is about a different person)
Watchdevil (Who's the watch chain??)
Sister Honey (Do I need to explain? ;) :lol: )

- Jake

Yes, please. I have no idea what you could be referring to. ;)

So far i'm agreeing with everyone's choices.

I want to hear from her what/who Everybody Finds Out is about. I can speculate like the best of us, but I want the truth!

She has said a couple times that EFO is about Lindsey. The Dance, maybe? So many great songs came out of The Dance tour. LOL! :laugh:

I don't even know why because I don't like this song one bit but this just popped into my head for some reason: I Miss You.

I would love to know the truth.

Jeez, just wait for the booklet of Timespace II, she'll spill the beans then.

But she's a liar!! :p:nod:.

LOL! She'll only admit the songs that are about Lindsey...always the ones about Lindsey. If they're about anyone but him she'll remain coy. Dammit.

Straight Back:nod:

I've only heard fans speculate that EFO was about Clinton and Lewinsky possibly, based on the passing reference to "Monica" in the video. Never heard her say anything else about the song really. It's one of my favorites on the album.

Michele

This reminds me of a book I read called the Thirteenth Tale where a young man comes up to a famous writer whose life is shrouded in mystery and says, "Tell me the truth."

I'd probably want to know about Beautiful Child.

Michele

I know I've heard a radio interview where she flat out said it was about Lindsey. Now for the life of me I can't remember which one. Anyone else remember that?

Also, someone at the Hyde Park concert tweeted that she told the crowd it was about him.

Are you thinking of Everybody Loves You? That I agree she's paid lots of lip service to that being about Lindsey in many recent interviews.

I've never heard Stevie or anyone in FM mention EFO in any interview or press from the SYW era, minus the possibly Monica reference in the Destiny Rules DVD nor do I know that it has ever been played live at any FM show. So if anyone can cite anything, I'm very anxious to hear.

For the record, I don't buy that it's about Monica and Bill. Inspired by....maybe I can admit that a little bit.

WAIT! Nevermind. I'm totally thinking of Fall From Grace. LOLDUH. I don't know why, but I always get those two songs mixed up.

Sorry for the confusion.

Ah yes....that was a great interview two years ago where she finally admitted free and clear that song was about him.

Well, now you can wonder about EFO along with us.

I have an interview on cassette somewhere where she talks about this song... she talks about how in the legend of Arthur when Merlin gives him the sword he tells Arthur that he can only call on the sword when he truly has tried everything else to get out of a situation. If Arthur calls on the sword too soon, the sword will break and then he won't have it when he needs it. So to her it's symbolic of how you don't ask for that "extra special, supernatural kind of help" unless you really need it... "In silence she says...'excalibur'..."

I'm sure Mr. "extra special, supernatural" really appreciates Stevie not crying wolf too often. :lol:

Hmm...
 

That Sable on Blond explaination reminds me of what "That Made Me Stronger" is about...her asking Tom Petty (?) to help her and write songs and he told her to write her own damn songs.

LOL Well, I paraphrased. ;)

Michele mentioned one that I'd love to know more about, Beautiful Child. Also Battle of the Dragon..would love to hear more about that one.

Also, she sure does keep mum about Rhiannon. We just don't know jack squat about that one! :cool:

[QUOTE=Also, she sure does keep mum about Rhiannon. We just don't know jack squat about that one! :cool:[/QUOTE]

I've wondered too about Rhiannon. As a young girl of 18 when that song first came out I just loved the rock sound of it, but under the surface there was something more. I honestly believe one could write a dissertation about Rhiannon, the song and the books. Stevie interpreted the books into song and then later into her song series. I really think Stevie's interpretations of both books say a lot about her underlying psyche at the time and how she connected to the Mare Goddess, Rhiannon. I am ordering the rest of the Mabinogion series to read (I got Rhiannon's) to figure it all out. How does the Forest of the Black Roses connect? I hope the rest of the books will shed light on that.

I digressed but alas......I think that Rhiannon changes as she ages and how she feels at the time, like a wandering Bard or Druid, she changes the song. Obviously Rhiannon symbolizes the struggles and darkness shrouding a young Stevie. It's haunting and one has to wonder what haunted her at the time? I know....I know....Lindsey! :rolleyes:

I agree with those who said Beautiful Child. I would love to hear a deeper explanation of it, such as, who it's actually about haha. Also, Angel. Goodbye Baby, too.

So I was thinking about something...a lot of the information we have from Stevie are what "inspired" the song as opposed to who or what it's actually about. For example, the song Rock a Little. She says this is about a house she moved into that was literally rocking and she got inspired to write the song. On the other hand the whole song is obviously not about a shaking house. I want to know exactly what she is referring to in the "that is how songs are written, stories are told, rumours are started" line if indeed it is something specific. Another example is BATB. Obviously it was inspired by the original Cocteau movie but she's actually talking about Mick. There are numerous other examples including Rhiannon, Joan of Arc, Alice, etc. but I want to know the truth, her stories! lol. I know I'm starting to ramble but this is so fascinating to me, always has been. As I write this I'm realizing that in many instances there probably is no "truth" since that word can be very subjective. I mean this is art we are talking about so maybe it's not as cut and dry as we'd like to think. Who knows what really goes on in that crazy lady's head anyway!

Oh another one I'd love to know, The Nightmare! Also, I always assumed OMBTRARS was Don Henley but who knows for sure. Has she said it was about him?

Are there any tunes about Sharon? They have been so close, so long, I would think she would be an inspiration to Stevie.

Secret Love...j/k

Sister Honey :lol:

It's about Mick (the keeper of the time). In an early interview she remarked that the first thing she noticed about Mick was this glorious old watch that he kept on a gold chain in his pocket, or perhaps the same toilet chain that he attaches his balls to? :eek:

That being said, I do wonder what she meant by "The keeper of the time is blind" and "Be careful of the danger as you cross the great water... strangers who are new to your eyes..." In that light, "watchdevil" is probably a poetic contraction for "watch out for the devil!" I suspect it must have been something to do with a business deal gone bad- perhaps recalling the whole "Fakewood Mac" fiasco in the early 70s. Or perhaps Mick, being the manager of the band as well as its drummer, must have screwed up something fierce.

Who doesn't want to know?
What don't they want to know?
What are these 'reasons'?
Where is 'the line', what is 'love' and why does it walk down and not up it?
Between whom and love does she not wish to stand?

I do want to know!

Beautiful Child
Angel

Say You Will.

You May Be The One

I think that one has Lindsey written all over it.

Me too. I'd just like to hear her explanation of it :lol:

I almost picked this one since it's one of my favorites. I've always heard that the song is about Joe and/or drugs, and if so, the explanation is perhaps far simpler/duller than the song itself. (Yeah, guess that's true of most art.)

- Jake