"They Say You're Not the Man For Me."

cliffdweller · #1 02-08-2005, 11:30 AM

...does anyone know who this line is referring to from "How Still My Love?" Or does anyone have any theories? This is one of my favorite Stevie solo songs and I've been wondering about who this could be for the longest time.

Any thoughts?

golddustwoman77 · #2 02-08-2005, 05:13 PM

Here is an interpretation of "How Still My Love." I found it on the Penguin. The person who wrote this interpretation feels that the song is about Lindsey. It was written in 1979. Therefore, it was around the time her and Mick were having an affair, and it seems to match with their relationship better. At least, that is what I think.

The title "How Still My Love" may have been inspired by The Five Satins, a 1950's doo-wop group, and their lovely song "In the Still of the Night".

The still of the night is the most romantic time of the night, but also the loneliest, depending on individual circumstances. In Stevie's scenario, it is a time of cross-currents, crackling with energy and electricity, as two voices call out to each other, sending messages back and forth in a desperate, urgent, means of communication. The song itself (which was written in 1979, and appears on Stevie's Bella Donna album) seems to have many connections to Stevie's other songs "Dreams" and "Outside the Rain". Like these songs, it seems to be a wistful, passionate reflection on her feelings for Lindsey.

"Still the same old story
What price glory"

Lindsey and Stevie broke up in 1977, but in the aftermath, their feelings were never really resolved. Stevie is acknowledging the fact that professional competitiveness played a big part in driving a rift between them. Both Stevie and Lindsey have spoken many times about the fact that, when they were together, they had great passion, but not always the best rapport. They were both deeply involved in music and they had a rivalry there. She felt that he had trouble dealing with her popularity. She, in turn, resented him spending so much time on his music, at times when she wanted him to pay more attention to her.

When Stevie talks about "what price glory" she is partly talking about Fleetwood Mac, and partly talking about her solo career, which was just beginning at that time. She knew that it would cost her in many ways. Fleetwood Mac would resent her, Lindsey would have trouble handling it, and Stevie's own personal happiness would have to be sacrificed.

"You make it easy
In the still of the night
In the still of the night...
How still my love
In the still of the night...
How still my..."

Sometimes at night when she's alone, she remembers Lindsey, and her memories are bittersweet. Tender feelings are mixed with heartache. In the still of the night, she thinks about him. The phrase 'still of the night' is used somewhat ironically, since even in the deepest, quietest part of the night, her feelings are tumultuous, not still.
How does he "make it easy"? She may be referring to him being difficult, which makes it easy for her to be apart from him. Or she might be talking about their past relationship as lovers, and saying that he made it easy for her to be with him at night, [when they were making love], as opposed to during the day, when they were always fighting. She still remembers the loving times between them. When she sings "...in the still of the night" it echoes the line "In the stillness of remembering" from her song "Dreams". Perhaps she is saying to Lindsey, 'Our love will always be there, and I'll know it, and you'll know it, and we can't escape that.' She may also mean that "he makes it easy" by his skillful musical arrangements. She has often spoken about how he put "magic" into her songs. There were many times during the recording of Rumours and Tusk when she and Lindsey were not getting along, but they still had to work together, and sometimes the musical part - singing together, or his arrangements on her songs - were the best part of their communication. That may have made her remember the love between them and to think about what still might be, if only things were different. In the still of the night, her thoughts turn to fancy. Even though they are not a couple anymore, she still loves him, and she feels him loving her too.

"Doing all you can for me
They say you're not the man for me
Don't make it easy
In the still of the night
In the still of the night...
How still my love
In the still of the night...
How still my love"

He arranges her music - this is something that he does for the good of the band, and maybe at this point in their lives it is the most that he can do for her. Considering all of the difficulties that they have been through - breaking up, and yet still having to work together - he is actually making an enormous effort by still being able to help her in this way. However, this does not stop her from feeling wistful.

Some of the people in Stevie's life say that Lindsey is wrong for her. However, she does not share their opinion. She does not want him to make it easy for her to hate him because she knows that she really will always love him. When things are calm, she feels more of that love.

"Standing...in the doorway
Watching out to sea
Calling out to me
You go...your way
Go on...go on"

She feels them both at a standstill right now, not really knowing if they will always have a rift between them. She watches him work in the studio and feels like an entire sea separates them. She contemplates the future, knowing that her solo career represents a new step toward a brave, independent Stevie, but also a lonely one. She feels Lindsey calling out to her. She knows he does not want her to go solo and leave Fleetwood Mac behind. She acknowledges their connection, and then she says "You go...your way", responding to his song "Go Your Own Way". It is also possible that she means Lindsey is calling out to her (he is saying to her "You go..your way...Go on..go on").

"But you don't forget me
Ooo no...you don't forget me
Oooo no...my lonely one
You're doing all you can for me
They say you're not the man for me
Don't I make it easy
In the still of the night
It's...me...talking to you"

She is speaking to him directly. She specifically says "Don't *I* make it easy", meaning that she will make it make it easy for him to remember their love. Again, this echoes "Dreams" ("..in the stillness of remembering...what you lost") and "Outside the Rain" (" ... Look in my eyes, touch my face, there's no one that can take my place.."), and her promise to him that their love will forever haunt him. She will let him go, but he will never forget her, and she will never forget him either.

"How still my love...
In the still of the night...
How still my love...
In the still of the night...
It's me that's talkin' to you
In the still of the night"

During the night, he is filled with loneliness. She is lonely too, and she feels his loneliness acutely, like an ache in her heart.

(The interpretations to these lyrics were compiled through discussions on the message boards of the Penguin, The Ledge. It is entirely possible that the artists had something completely different in mind.)

cliffdweller · #3 02-09-2005, 10:54 AM

That's interesting. I guess I wasn't really aware how many songs Stevie has actually written about Lindsey in her lifetime. Much of her entire catalogue is devoted to that man!(Maybe)

It's kind of crazy if you think about it, but then again, they grew up together so he's been the most constant (not to mention intense!!) presence in her life besides her family so it makes total sense.

I think the "they say you're not the man for me" line sounds like it's written more with Mick in mind than Lindsey. Maybe the song is about both of them?

golddustwoman77 · #4 02-09-2005, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

That's interesting. I guess I wasn't really aware how many songs Stevie has actually written about Lindsey in her lifetime. Much of her entire catalogue is devoted to that man!(Maybe)

It's kind of crazy if you think about it, but then again, they grew up together so he's been the most constant (not to mention intense!!) presence in her life besides her family so it makes total sense.

I think the "they say you're not the man for me" line sounds like it's written more with Mick in mind than Lindsey. Maybe the song is about both of them?

Like I stated in my above post (the part at the beginning I actually typed), due to the timing of the song (1979) and what the song is about, I agree that it is about Mick.

WelshWitchPMD · #5 02-09-2005, 06:08 PM

This is one of all time favorite Stevie songs. Back in 1981 I heard the tail end of an interview with Stevie and she said that she was in a very sexy, romantic mood when she wrote this song. I wish that I knew what interview it was from. She did not say who it was about, however. I think that it might be about a few different men maybe but the lyrics don't seem to fit.
I don't think that it is about Lindsey however these lyrics make me think twice:
You go your way
Go on...go on
I still think that it could be about Mick or even Paul Fishkin. It could also be about Don Henley or maybe some man that we don't even know was with Stevie.

ontheEdgeof17 · #6 02-09-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WelshWitchPMD

This is one of all time favorite Stevie songs. Back in 1981 I heard the tail end of an interview with Stevie and she said that she was in a very sexy, romantic mood when she wrote this song. I wish that I knew what interview it was from. She did not say who it was about, however. I think that it might be about a few different men maybe but the lyrics don't seem to fit.
I don't think that it is about Lindsey however these lyrics make me think twice:
You go your way
Go on...go on
I still think that it could be about Mick or even Paul Fishkin. It could also be about Don Henley or maybe some man that we don't even know was with Stevie.

The "you go your way" line does remind me of Liddy, too.

I think it is partly about Iovine. "Doing all you can for me...they say your not the man for me." He's doing all he can for her solo career....but people think he is not good enough. Oy, I dunno.

WelshWitchPMD · #7 02-09-2005, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ontheEdgeof17

The "you go your way" line does remind me of Liddy, too.

I think it is partly about Iovine. "Doing all you can for me...they say your not the man for me." He's doing all he can for her solo career....but people think he is not good enough. Oy, I dunno.

Geez, see I forgot about Iovine. I can't keep up with her men.

The song was written in 1979 so that leaves him out, however.

cliffdweller · #8 02-10-2005, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WelshWitchPMD

Back in 1981 I heard the tail end of an interview with Stevie and she said that she was in a very sexy, romantic mood when she wrote this song.

Hubba hubba,

I wonder what (or who) brought that on!

I too agree that the song is probably about a host of men. One of whom is most likely Lindsey, the "you go...your way" is totally a tip off.

It's probably about Mick too.

I thought about Jimmy Iovine but the date the song was written doesn't jibe. I wonder if it's about a mystery man. For some strange reason I get this feeling but I don't know why...I think it's the mysterious tone of the song. The line, "they say you're not the man for me" hit me as so strange, I mean who would've said that and why?

gldstwmn · #9 02-10-2005, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

...does anyone know who this line is referring to from "How Still My Love?" Or does anyone have any theories? This is one of my favorite Stevie solo songs and I've been wondering about who this could be for the longest time.

Any thoughts?

Jimmy Iovine.

David · #10 02-10-2005, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

I too agree that the song is probably about a host of men.

Simultaneously, even!

cliffdweller · #11 02-10-2005, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

Jimmy Iovine.

Written in '79? I guess she could have known him then, but they didn't start working together until '80 or '81.

Before I knew that this song was written in '79 I would have agreed with you. But then again, I don't know, maybe she revised it before she released it.

cliffdweller · #12 02-10-2005, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Simultaneously, even!

Oh my god, could you just imagine? Lindsey Buckingham, Jimmy Iovine and Mick Fleetwood? You've just triggered my gag reflex.

Well, all except for Lindsey of course.

David · #13 02-10-2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

Written in '79? I guess she could have known him then, but they didn't start working together until '80 or '81.

Good point. The only thing I ever heard Stevie say about meeting Jimmy was from a long-ago interview (forget which). She said she met Tom (after having been a fan for a few years) at a Heartbreakers show in 1979 (the "Damn the Torpedoes" tour), & Tom later came round to Fleetwood Mac's show at the Forum in December 79, bringing Jimmy with him, to see Stevie & discuss the possibility of Jimmy's producing a solo album for her.

strandinthewind · #14 02-10-2005, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Good point. The only thing I ever heard Stevie say about meeting Jimmy was from a long-ago interview (forget which). She said she met Tom (after having been a fan for a few years) at a Heartbreakers show in 1979 (the "Damn the Torpedoes" tour), & Tom later came round to Fleetwood Mac's show at the Forum in December 79, bringing Jimmy with him, to see Stevie & discuss the possibility of Jimmy's producing a solo album for her.

Could you imagine that meeting:

Stevie: Is there anyone from FM in here - Jimmy check under the stall doors

Jimmy: Nope - all clear - why are you so secretive

Stevie - Well, I need to be - lest LB gets pissed and refuses to produce anything again if this solo thing never pans out

cliffdweller · #15 02-10-2005, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Good point. The only thing I ever heard Stevie say about meeting Jimmy was from a long-ago interview (forget which). She said she met Tom (after having been a fan for a few years) at a Heartbreakers show in 1979 (the "Damn the Torpedoes" tour), & Tom later came round to Fleetwood Mac's show at the Forum in December 79, bringing Jimmy with him, to see Stevie & discuss the possibility of Jimmy's producing a solo album for her.

I didn't know that Tom Petty was the go between between Stevie and Jimmy. I always thought that Stevie approached Jimmy because she liked his work on Patti Smith's Easter album.

Interesting...