Green Manalishi
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now, when the day goes to sleep
And the full moon looks
The night is so black that the darkness cooks

Don't you come creepin' around
Makin' me do things I don't wanna do

Can't believe that you need my love so bad
Come sneakin' around tryin' to drive me mad
Bustin' in on my dreams
Makin' me see things I don't wanna see

'Cause you're da Green Manalishi with the two prong crown
All my tryin' is up, all your bringin' is down





Just takin' my love then slippin' away
Leavin' me here just tryin' to keep from followin' you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Fleetwood Mac's song "The Green Manalishi" seem to be about a person or entity that is causing the singer distress and torment. The imagery used in the first few lines suggests that this being emerges at night, during the full moon, when darkness is most potent. The repetition of the word 'creeping' suggests malice or stealth, and the singer seems to know that this figure is going to cause them to perform actions that they don't want to.


The second verse continues this theme of the singer feeling tormented and burdened by the Green Manalishi. It's interesting that the singer notes that they 'can't believe' that this entity needs their love so badly. This seems to suggest that the Green Manalishi is a former lover, or that they may have been involved with the singer in some way. However, the feelings are not reciprocated and instead, the Green Manalishi is pushing the singer towards madness. The central metaphor of the Green Manalishi with the two-pronged crown is somewhat enigmatic, but it's possible that it refers to a pagan or mythical creature, given the references to full moons, darkness, and creeping. All the singer can do is try to resist, but it appears that the Green Manalishi is winning the battle.


Line by Line Meaning

Now, when the day goes to sleep
As the daytime comes to an end


And the full moon looks
As the bright moon shines its light


The night is so black that the darkness cooks
The darkness is so intense, it feels like it's boiling hot


Don't you come creepin' around
Don't try to sneak up on me


Makin' me do things I don't wanna do
Forcing me to act in a way I don't wish to


Can't believe that you need my love so bad
I can't wrap my head around the fact that you crave my love so desperately


Come sneakin' around tryin' to drive me mad
Coming around stealthily just to incite madness within me


Bustin' in on my dreams
Invading my thoughts while I am asleep


Makin' me see things I don't wanna see
Making me experience things I want to avoid


'Cause you're da Green Manalishi with the two prong crown
The person tormenting me is like the Green Manalishi with a two-pronged crown (a mythical creature associated with chaos and corruption)


All my tryin' is up, all your bringin' is down
Despite my efforts, your presence brings me down


Just takin' my love then slippin' away
You just take my love and then disappear


Leavin' me here just tryin' to keep from followin' you
Leaving me behind, desperately attempting to not follow you




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Peter Green

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

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?

More Versions