Primarily a British blues band, Fleetwood Mac scored a UK number one with "Albatross", and had other hits such as the singles "Oh Well" and "Man of the World". All three guitarists left in succession during the early 1970s, to be replaced by guitarists Bob Welch and Bob Weston and vocalist Dave Walker. By 1974, all three of them had either departed or been dismissed, leaving the band without a male lead vocalist or guitarist. In late 1974, while Fleetwood was scouting studios in Los Angeles, he was introduced to American folk-rock duo Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks. Fleetwood Mac soon asked Buckingham to be their new lead guitarist, and Buckingham agreed on condition that Nicks would also join the band.
The addition of Buckingham and Nicks gave the band a more pop rock sound, and their 1975 self-titled album, Fleetwood Mac, reached No. 1 in the United States. Rumours (1977), Fleetwood Mac's second album after the arrival of Buckingham and Nicks, produced four U.S. Top 10 singles and remained at number one on the American albums chart for 31 weeks. It also reached the top spot in various countries around the world and won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978. Rumours has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums in history. The band went through personal turmoil while recording the album, as both the romantic partnerships in the band (one being John and Christine McVie, and the other being Buckingham and Nicks) separated while continuing to make music together.
The band's personnel remained stable through three more studio albums, but by the late 1980s began to disintegrate. After Buckingham and Nicks each left the band, they were replaced by a number of other guitarists and vocalists. A 1993 one-off performance for the first inauguration of Bill Clinton featured the lineup of Fleetwood, John McVie, Christine McVie, Nicks, and Buckingham back together for the first time in six years. A full reunion occurred four years later, and the group released their fourth U.S. No. 1 album, The Dance (1997), a live compilation of their hits, also marking the 20th anniversary of Rumours. Christine McVie left the band in 1998, but continued to work with the band in a session capacity. Meanwhile, the group remained together as a four-piece, releasing their most recent studio album, Say You Will, in 2003. Christine McVie rejoined the band full-time in 2014. In 2018, Buckingham was fired from the band and was replaced by Mike Campbell, formerly of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Neil Finn of Split Enz and Crowded House.
Fleetwood Mac has sold more than 120 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling bands. In 1979, the group was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1998 the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
Danny Kirwan, guitarist, songwriter and early member of Fleetwood Mac (1968–1972) died in London, England, on 8 June 2018, aged 68. An obituary in The New York Times said he had died in his sleep after contracting pneumonia earlier in the year. The British music magazine Mojo quoted Christine McVie as saying: "Danny Kirwan was the white English blues guy. Nobody else could play like him. He was a one-off ... Danny and Peter [Green] gelled so well together. Danny had a very precise, piercing vibrato – a unique sound ... He was a perfectionist; a fantastic musician and a fantastic writer." One of Kirwan's songs, "Tell Me All the Things You Do" from the 1970 album Kiln House, was included in the set of the 2018–19 An Evening with Fleetwood Mac tour.
On 28 May 2020 Neil Finn, featuring Nicks and McVie, with Campbell on guitar, released the song “Find Your Way Back Home” for the Auckland, New Zealand homeless shelter Auckland City Mission.
Founding member Peter Green died on 25 July 2020 at the age of 73. In October 2020, Rumours again entered the Billboard top 10. The album received 30.6 million plays on streaming platforms the week of October 15, after a TikTok video of the song "Dreams" went viral.
On 30 November 2022, it was announced that band member Christine McVie died at the age of 79, after a short illness.
Believe Me
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna be with you baby
In everything you've done
Even though you've stopped the sun from shining
Well I tried my best, but it may not be enough
And times have been so tough, that I can't tell you
What can you say to accuse me
You know you're gonna use me
I guess I'll always feel the same
Oh, when will we be together
In this crazy world we're in?
Is it really such a sin to love you?
Well I've tried my best, but it may not be enough
And times have been so tough that I can't tell you
What can you say to accuse me
When you know that I'm not to blame?
You know you're gonna use me
Guess I'll always feel the same
What can you say to accuse me
When you know I'm not to blame?
You know you're gonna use me
I guess I'll always feel the same
Oh, when will we be together
In this crazy world we're in?
Is it really such a sin to love you?
Well I tried my best, but it may not be enough
But times have been so tough that I can't tell you
In "Believe Me," Fleetwood Mac is conveying a message of loyalty and support to their loved ones. The lyrics express a desire to stand by the ones they love and be with them through the challenges of life, even if it means sacrificing personal goals and ambitions. The mention of "stopping the sun from shining" suggests a situation that is beyond their control, but they are willing to try their best to make things right.
Despite their best efforts, the lyrics imply that the situation they're facing may be too difficult to handle alone. They plead with their loved one, asking for understanding and forgiveness, even though they may not be blamed for the situation. The repeated line "guess I'll always feel the same" suggests that even if they are hurt or taken advantage of, their loyalty will not waver.
The overall tone of the song is reflective and contemplative, as if the singer is struggling with a difficult decision. The lyrics imply a sense of vulnerability, as they express uncertainty about whether their love and support will be enough to overcome the challenges they face. In the end, however, they remain committed to their loved ones, regardless of the outcome.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got to believe
You must trust me, have faith in me.
I'm gonna be with you baby
I will always be by your side, no matter what.
In everything you've done
I support you in all your endeavors.
Even though you've stopped the sun from shining
Even in the darkest times or when you feel down, I am there for you.
Well I tried my best, but it may not be enough
I have done all that I can, but it may not be sufficient.
And times have been so tough, that I can't tell you
Times have been challenging, and I cannot express how difficult it is.
What can you say to accuse me
What can you say to blame me?
When you know that I'm not to blame?
You know that I am innocent, so why hold me responsible for something?
You know you're gonna use me
You know that you will take advantage of me.
I guess I'll always feel the same
I will always feel the same way, regardless.
Oh, when will we be together
When will we finally come together?
In this crazy world we're in?
In this chaotic and unpredictable world?
Is it really such a sin to love you?
Is it wrong to love you?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Christine McVie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Henri Hudson
on Tusk
Why don't you ask him if he's going to stay?
Why don't you ask him if he's going away?