Rhiannon Defined

lagringader&r · #1 07-12-2005, 12:05 AM

I bought a book called "Behind The Lines of Rock & Roll's Most Baffling Songs, Blinded By The Lyrics" and there was a section on Rhiannon. You've probably heard all this, but I'll type it out anyway. I thought it was interesting.

Word for word:

She rings like a bell in the night
And wouldn't you love to love her?
Written by Stevie Nicks

He and I were about as compatible as a boa constrictor and a rat.
-Stevie Nicks on her relationship with Lindsey Buckingham

In Welsh mythology, Rhiannon is a goddess of great beauty and strength, who is said to represent the spirit of change, movement and magic. Her name comes from the Welsh word rhiain, meaning maiden. When Rhiannon manifests herself onto this earthly plane, she is usually seen riding a white horse, accompanied by three birds. The goddess is considered by many to be the inspiration for the classic English nursery rhyme:

Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cross
To see a fine lady upon a fine horse
With bells on her fingers and rings on her toes
She shall have music wherever she goes

Inasmuch as Stevie Nicks always projected an ethereal, New Agey persona straight out of The Mists of Avalon, it's no surprise that she penned a tune such as "Rhiannon," which told of an enchanting, mercurial woman with goddesslike qualities. It proved the perfect artist-song fit, and the smash single from the spring of 1976 has, along with Landslide, become Nicks' musical signature.

amber · #2 07-12-2005, 12:12 AM

Thanks. The part about Rhiannon representing the spirit of change, movement, and magic was really interesting. Heh, I got tears in my eyes thinking of Stevie, then.

Course, I am kinda lame.

I think that song is so ubiquitous that people forget how brilliant it is, sometimes. I always love it, everytime I hear it on the radio I get all...something, and fuggedabout the old live versions. It's very dark and sensual to me. Der.

KarmaContestant · #3 07-12-2005, 12:14 AM

That was neat, thanks for posting it!

On another note, I always found it...uh, ironic....that the woman depicted in Rhiannon is such a typical Gemini as well.

amber · #4 07-12-2005, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaContestant

That was neat, thanks for posting it!

On another note, I always found it...uh, ironic....that the woman depicted in Rhiannon is such a typical Gemini as well.

Me, too! I was going to say that, but then I didn't. Boy, ol' Stevie really hit the nail on the head with that one, didn't she? It's true, perfect blend of artist and song. *sigh, gush*

amber · #5 07-12-2005, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReFleetwoodMac

She's never mentioned anything about the white horse. She's a sellout!

No, but she had footage of white unicorns "playing" in the background of this song in Vegas. Does that count?

amber · #6 07-12-2005, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReFleetwoodMac

No! Only horses! She and Waddy should come out in one of those life-sized horse costumes. I suppose she could be the front.

She already has the "clomp, clomp" down, what with the Reblecks.

sparky · #7 07-12-2005, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

She already has the "clomp, clomp" down, what with the Reblecks.

I don't think Waddy's skinny ass would sell the back of a horse too well.

amber · #8 07-12-2005, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky

I don't think Waddy's skinny ass would sell the back of a horse too well.

maybe not. Oh, and you forgot to laugh at what I said. Actually, I assume the horse suit already has a giant ass built into it's design.

pattymarkle · #9 07-12-2005, 01:51 AM

(My point here is related to the Henley Songs About Stevie thread)

This brings up the whole prophecy or premonitions question again. Stevie said she wrote that after reading that book, "Triad". I haven't read it but those of you who have, said that Rhiannon in that book wasn't a very nice person and Stevie said she just liked the name.

So how did all those points about the Welsh myth get in the song?

Is that prophecy or premonitions?

Peace & Passion,
Patty

sparky · #10 07-12-2005, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

Oh, and you forgot to laugh at what I said.

You can rest assured I laughed, Frank. You generally get at least a snort or a snicker outta me.

paperflowers · #11 07-12-2005, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amber

No, but she had footage of white unicorns "playing" in the background of this song in Vegas. Does that count?

Interesting that U mention this my friend named her daughter Rhiannon after doing a fare amount of research on the myth. When I made fun of the Vegas unicorns she told me that Rhiannon is the Goddess of Unicorns among all the other stuff. I never checked her facts, but maybe Stevie wasn't totally over the top just going along with the myth.

lagringader&r · #12 07-12-2005, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pattymarkle

(My point here is related to the Henley Songs About Stevie thread)

This brings up the whole prophecy or premonitions question again. Stevie said she wrote that after reading that book, "Triad". I haven't read it but those of you who have, said that Rhiannon in that book wasn't a very nice person and Stevie said she just liked the name.

So how did all those points about the Welsh myth get in the song?

Is that prophecy or premonitions?

Peace & Passion,
Patty

That's an interesting point. I kind of got chills when I read the passage in the book, even the English nursery rhyme "she shall have music wherever she goes". I assumed though that Stevie knew all about the goddess, the myth, the horse, the birds and even the nursery rhyme when she wrote it. If she didn't, that's eerie and even a little creepy. The myth so suits her.

ELIUD · #13 07-12-2005, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lagringader&r

... she is usually seen riding a white horse, accompanied by three birds...

And didn't Stevie "ride the white horse" during much of her career? Wow, she really ran with this one.

lbelle1214 · #14 07-12-2005, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lagringader&r

That's an interesting point. I kind of got chills when I read the passage in the book, even the English nursery rhyme "she shall have music wherever she goes". I assumed though that Stevie knew all about the goddess, the myth, the horse, the birds and even the nursery rhyme when she wrote it. If she didn't, that's eerie and even a little creepy. The myth so suits her.

She said in the Soundstage footage that the song was written about the character in "Triad", not the goddess Rhiannon from the Mabinogion series. If you have not read "Triad", you should. Rhiannon is a horrible person. For those of you who have read the book, do you think that the title is referring to Branwyn, Rhiannon and Branwyn's "split personality", or what?

Livia · #15 07-12-2005, 09:29 PM

A local radio station here interviewed the author of that book the other day - they mentioned Rhiannon was in it, but didn't read that part on the air - thanks for posting!