FWIW question...

[jellyman10]

^^^ I think Johnny Stew's right. It has to be the Street Angel tour, surely?

[David]

Originally Posted by mezzoforte

I don't see it as a love song to him, so much as a celebration of her life featuring him. If that distinction makes any sense at all...

I got to sing, I got to dance
I go to be a part of a great romance
Still forbidden, still outrageous

I think she's remembering all of the incredible experiences she's had, including this epic love and the early days in SanFran. But I think she's addressing herself and her fans more than LB, and the vibe is less pleading and romantic than, "Whoo--what a ride!"

I agree. The "great romance" is the life she's had at the top of the rock & roll world. That would include relationships, but it means so much more.

This was a song that, when I first heard it, I enjoyed the casualness of it. It seemed genuine, too. But it never made me think of Lindsey--it made me think of the recent life of a close friend of mine, so I sent the song to her because I knew she'd know exactly what I was thinking.

To me, it gets really boring & constraining to think of everything Stevie writes in terms of Lindsey's effect on her. If that were all true, that would be a really boring--and yet still psychotically obsessed--life. I think Stevie's life--even the parts she remembers--was a lot more exciting than that.

Look at Stevie in my sig. It's September 24, 1983, at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre. See the smile on her face? That's her great romance. It's Joe & Mick & Don & Lindsey & Sharon & the Wild Heart tour & Europe & Australia & concerts & audiences & fans & songs on the radio & People magazine covers & rock bands & all of life wrapped up in a moment of adrenaline.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Just a small correction: Stevie's stay in rehab for the Klonopin addiction happened in late '93, not 1995, and the first tour afterward was for 'Street Angel.' Carlos Rios was on that tour. As was the married Rick Vito.

Aha! Rick is a very good candidate. That's excellent. Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by CADreaming

Oh, yeah - I totally hear you. It's also a great speculative point that she says it's "STILL forbidden" and "STILL outrageous"!

Yes, you're right about the "still." That's why I was thinking of Tom Petty, because they still don't talk about what happened, if anything.

When she says she got to dance, got to sing, I think about her going on the road with Petty and Bob, although I know that that doesn't fit the nineties time frame AT ALL.

Michele

[CADreaming]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Yes, you're right about the "still." That's why I was thinking of Tom Petty, because they still don't talk about what happened, if anything.

When she says she got to dance, got to sing, I think about her going on the road with Petty and Bob, although I know that that doesn't fit the nineties time frame AT ALL.

Michele

Yeah, to me the line about "got to sing, got to dance, be a part of a great romance" is why the song is autobiographical overall, while at the same time giving a shout out to the person she's talking to.

[michelej1]

So, what do you think the chorus means?

Usually, when you say "even if" there's an event that follows, like cause and non-effect.

For instance you would say, "Even if I skip the dance, my feet will still hurt."

Here, the guy says even if I left my house, packed my car and drove to get you with good intentions . . . WHAT, what won't happen even if he does do all that? They don't finish the sentence.

When she ends with "for what it's worth," that's a nonsequitur. Is it, "I started with good intentions, for what it's worth . . . " something is not panning out, even if he tries.

I don't understand it, but I like the unfinished story. The way she's telling us and not telling us.

Originally Posted by David

To me, it gets really boring & constraining to think of everything Stevie writes in terms of Lindsey's effect on her.

No, I like to think that everything everyone does is in terms of Lindsey's effect on them. Indeed, I found Lindsey's effect on Gotta Band quite profound. Lola Thomas? Bah!

I just don't think these FWIW lyrics fit Lindsey in the slightest. I mean we know he and Stevie drove in a car together, but that's about the only vague similarity between them and the people in this song that I can see.

Michele

[David]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Aha! Rick is a very good candidate. That's excellent. Michele

The story hasn't been told, but there's a reason beyond just friendship that Rick toured with Stevie in 1994 & didn't rejoin Fleetwood Mac for Time. I think it has to do with the Silver Springs fight in 1991, among other things. It involves Mick.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

Just a small correction: Stevie's stay in rehab for the Klonopin addiction happened in late '93, not 1995, and the first tour afterward was for 'Street Angel.' Carlos Rios was on that tour. As was the married Rick Vito.

He gets my vote.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

He gets my vote.

Stevie does introduce him in concert sometimes by saying he helped her at a very difficult time, held her up, is always there for her. Michele

[WildHearted]

I've been thinking about the chorus ever since I first heard the song. Even if, what?

I've just started interpreting it as like 'it wouldn't work' even if I did all of those things with the best of intentions...

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by WildHearted

I've been thinking about the chorus ever since I first heard the song. Even if, what?

I've just started interpreting it as like 'it wouldn't work' even if I did all of those things with the best of intentions...

Yes, I think the same.

"For what it's worth, I'd love to try, but even if I left my girlfriend, packed my car and drove to your house with good intentions, we couldn't make it last."

Something along those lines. The lyric chops up the sentence and thought process in an interesting way.

Michele

[CADreaming]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Aha! Rick is a very good candidate. That's excellent. Michele

If it's Tom, Mike or Rick wouldn't the lyric have been "You said, 'even if I left my wife...'"?

Originally Posted by michelej1

So, what do you think the chorus means?

Usually, when you say "even if" there's an event that follows, like cause and non-effect.

For instance you would say, "Even if I skip the dance, my feet will still hurt."

Here, the guy says even if I left my house, packed my car and drove to get you with good intentions . . . WHAT, what won't happen even if he does do all that? They don't finish the sentence.

When she ends with "for what it's worth," that's a nonsequitur. Is it, "I started with good intentions, for what it's worth . . . " something is not panning out, even if he tries.

I don't understand it, but I like the unfinished story. The way she's telling us and not telling us...

I just don't think these FWIW lyrics fit Lindsey in the slightest. I mean we know he and Stevie drove in a car together, but that's about the only vague similarity between them and the people in this song that I can see.

Michele

I like the unfinished aspect to it too.

As far as the car thing - that's the only similarity we know of, but that's like saying they didn't have sex because I didn't see them. But, I'm figuring they did.

Seriously, though along the same lines as one of your recent posts about relationships and the fascination of couples - that's my thought here. Their relationship is so complex and complicated we don't know what might have transpired. We know they fight/fought. But, we also know they were in love and still have a lot of love for one another. It's strange, yes. But, can we say oh this doesn't sound like Lindsey because he's not a comfort to her. Well, I don't think it's fair to say he's never been a comfort to her. I know that when they are working together they have huge differences of opinion. I don't know that on a personal level they don't exhibit genuine care for one another. They seem to talk a lot and still get each other's opinions on stuff so there must be a reason for that. For instance, didn't you say you thought of him for In Your Dreams? In that song the guy is really comforting her and calming her nerves and her fears...

Anyway, I don't know who it's about - Lindsey just fit in with the stories I heard.

[mezzoforte]

Originally Posted by CADreaming

If it's Tom, Mike or Rick wouldn't the lyric have been "You said, 'even if I left my wife...'"?




I like the unfinished aspect to it too.

As far as the car thing - that's the only similarity we know of, but that's like saying they didn't have sex because I didn't see them. But, I'm figuring they did.

Seriously, though along the same lines as one of your recent posts about relationships and the fascination of couples - that's my thought here. Their relationship is so complex and complicated we don't know what might have transpired. We know they fight/fought. But, we also know they were in love and still have a lot of love for one another. It's strange, yes. But, can we say oh this doesn't sound like Lindsey because he's not a comfort to her. Well, I don't think it's fair to say he's never been a comfort to her. I know that when they are working together they have huge differences of opinion. I don't know that on a personal level they don't exhibit genuine care for one another. They seem to talk a lot and still get each other's opinions on stuff so there must be a reason for that. For instance, didn't you say you thought of him for In Your Dreams? In that song the guy is really comforting her and calming her nerves and her fears...

Anyway, I don't know who it's about - Lindsey just fit in with the stories I heard.

I believe it's been well established that Stevie will abandon truth and grammar for the sake of poetry

But really, I'm inclined to agree that it's (mostly) about Lindsey. The line about being part of a great romance seems like it must be him, no? She's recalling the amazing experiences she's had--singing for millions and being part of a legendary romance. It didn't have a fairytale ending, but how many people have been in that kind of couple? I have to think that's what she's referring to.

As for the rest of it, I'm really not sure. Lindsey has commented that Stevie seems to change her subject without any notice--it wouldn't shock me if there are several completely different moments, different people all wrapped up into this song. One line might be about LB, the next about Tom Petty (or whoever).

[tabruns]

Originally Posted by mezzoforte

As for the rest of it, I'm really not sure. Lindsey has commented that Stevie seems to change her subject without any notice--it wouldn't shock me if there are several completely different moments, different people all wrapped up into this song. One line might be about LB, the next about Tom Petty (or whoever).

Yes, hasn't she actually said that sometimes she'll take a line from one poem and then a line from another?

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by CADreaming

Seriously, though along the same lines as one of your recent posts about relationships and the fascination of couples - that's my thought here. Their relationship is so complex and complicated we don't know what might have transpired. We know they fight/fought. But, we also know they were in love and still have a lot of love for one another. It's strange, yes. But, can we say oh this doesn't sound like Lindsey because he's not a comfort to her. Well, I don't think it's fair to say he's never been a comfort to her. I know that when they are working together they have huge differences of opinion. I don't know that on a personal level they don't exhibit genuine care for one another. They seem to talk a lot and still get each other's opinions on stuff so there must be a reason for that. For instance, didn't you say you thought of him for In Your Dreams? In that song the guy is really comforting her and calming her nerves and her fears...

I'm not saying that Lindsey has never been a comfort to Stevie. It's not at all like saying they never had sex because I didn't see it, because I'm not even coming close to saying that he never comforted her. She has said that she's known him for so long that he's one of those people that you pick up the phone and you hear their voice and crumble, all the emotions spring forth. Like when you're young and you call your Mom and Dad and you just pour your heart out. When Jess died, I'm sure she reached out to LB and he was comforting.

However, based on everything she has said and sung about their relationship and the feelings it invokes, the song does not fit him at all to me. I especially don't think Lindsey and Stevie were friendly at any time before she got off Klonopin. I think she wishes she had been, but I don't think they were. Of course, I don't necessarily buy that the song is just about an early nineties relationship anyway, so that's not a definitive factor for me. The fact is, she talks about this person using terms and emotions that she's never expressed about Lindsey throughout 4 decades of writing songs about him.

I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. And I'm not even disagreeing with your posts. Mainly, I'm just agreeing with the posts that say it's not him and setting forth my reasons for that. I'm not trying to persuade anyone who thinks it is him to the other side.


The song could be an amalgamation of several different people anyway.

Michele