Undoing the Laces
 

Okay, I feel like the world's biggest schmuck. Sara is one of my all time favorite Fleetwood Mac/Stevie songs. I even took my nick here from it. And after years and years of listening to it did I finally understand what she is saying when she says "undoing the laces". I always pictured a man undoing the delicate laces of a ballet slipper, which I always found totally romantic. Of course it is also a metaphor of someone undoing the laces of your life, shaking things up, changing things. But it didn't hit me until the other day that it could also mean undoing the laces of a corset, or a blouse.

And I'm so loving that in the Soundstage performance she brought back "And the wind became crazy". That just thrilled me to no end.

Sara is an amazing song and I've always thought it to be one ,if not the most romantic song Stevie's ever written. I, too, always associated the "laces" as being footwear related. A few years back it occured to me that given Stevie's fascination with antique garments, she might be referring to the laces of a corset. I have not seen the Soundstage performance yet but am greatly looking forward to it. I just wish she had worn red...

Oh, ballet slipper laces is something I never thought of. When you think of Stevie in the video with Brad, it is a nice fit.

I always thought "undoing the laces" meant the laces from a garment and, consequently, for me the line always possessed a delicate, sexual tone that I found alluring. But I imagined it more the laces of an extravagant lingerie set, like untying the chords of a silk gown or something like that.

Michele

sara
 

hi guys...i am soooo glad that the producer of soundstage ask stevie, no guilt tripped her, into singing my fav fm song...love sara and altho she didn't sing in it in the summer 2008 mini tour she did sing it in indio cal...i also think it's one of her most romantic songs and i know some ppl thought it lacked something on soundstage part 1 but i loved it...i thought she slowed it down a little and i loved this rendition...pat

Funny, I always thought she was singing about a corset...

Since this song is at least partially about Mick Fleetwood, I always assumed 'undoing the laces' was in reference to him taking off one of those english poet shirts he used to wear (or those lace up vests he wears, like on the cover of Rumours)... or generally undressing out of his stage costume after a show. Because Stevie began her affair with him within the contexts of Fleetwood Mac. I can just visualize her watching him and gradually falling for him as time progresses.

Or is Don Henley right about Sara... that it was about their love affair, and their aborted child that Stevie named Sara? It's a truly a fascinating proposition, and can turn the song on it's head for you. Lines like "Sara, you're the poet in my heart, never change, never stop" could be referencing how the thought of Sara and what could have been drives Stevie to this day. Sara in Stevie's mind will never change, never grow old... but will always remain in her heart. Perhaps "but now it's gone, it doesn't matter what for, if you build your house, call me home" is in reference to the belief that those who have passed build homes in heaven for the day when they can be reunited with their loved ones in the next life. All this could by why the song was too heavy for Stevie to sing for the next 25 years. Watching Soundstage it seems like it's the first time I can say I've ever seen her smile and truly enjoy singing this one... like she's found her peace, and moved on.

And I think that's why I simply adore this version of Sara so much. Stevie is loving singing it for the first time... and you can see it in her face. She sings it more beautifully than I think she ever has too. To me, this is the definitive performance on Soundstage, thus far because of the above. It seemed to me that Stevie sang it with a gun to her head during the Say You Will tour. But then again, all her performances seemed that way... she truly wasn't having fun.

I always thought "undoing the laces" meant letting go. Maybe.....Mick was letting go and moving on with Sara?