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.
Never Make Me Cry
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know that you have the need
But you know that I'll wait
As long as it takes
And you'll never make me
You'll never make me
You'll never make me cry
But I'm happy to have your love
And don't worry baby
I'll be alright
And I'll never make you
I'll never make you
I'll never make you cry
So go and do what you want
I know that you have the need
And don't worry baby
I'll be alright
You'll never make me
You'll never make me
You'll never make me cry
In Fleetwood Mac's song "Never Make Me Cry," the singer acknowledges and accepts that their partner has a desire to pursue their own wants and needs. Despite this, the singer assures their partner that they are willing to wait for them for as long as it takes, and that they will never make them cry. The singer also acknowledges that they may not be everything to their partner, but that they are grateful for their love nonetheless.
The lyrics of this song express a willingness to compromise and prioritize the happiness of one's partner over their own desires. The phrase "you'll never make me cry" suggests that the singer is willing to withstand potential pain or heartache in order to maintain their relationship. This lyric is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's steadfast commitment to their partner's happiness.
Overall, "Never Make Me Cry" is a touching song about the sacrifices and compromises that are necessary for a successful and enduring relationship. The lyrics express a sense of unwavering devotion, despite the challenges and difficulties that may arise.
Line by Line Meaning
Go and do what you want
I give you my blessing to pursue what you desire, even if it doesn't involve me.
I know that you have the need
I understand that you have an urge to explore or experience something new.
But you know that I'll wait
Despite your quest, I will remain devoted and patient, trusting in your eventual return.
As long as it takes
I am willing to endure any length of time or distance required for you to fulfill your desires.
And you'll never make me
No matter what you do or how far you go, I will not allow you to cause me emotional pain.
You'll never make me
I am confident in my own strength and resilience, and your actions will not break me.
You'll never make me cry
Although your choices and actions may affect me, I am in control of my emotions and will not shed tears over them.
Now I may not mean everything
I am aware that I am not the center of your world, and that other things are also important to you.
But I'm happy to have your love
I value the fact that you care for me, even if it is not the only thing driving you.
And don't worry baby
You do not need to feel guilty or concerned about your other needs or passions, as I understand and support them.
I'll be alright
I am confident in my own strength and ability to weather any challenges that come my way.
And I'll never make you
Just as I will not let you cause me pain, I will not intentionally hurt you in return.
I'll never make you
I recognize that you are your own person, with your own desires and drives, and I will never try to force you to match my priorities.
I'll never make you cry
No matter what happens, I will never intentionally cause you emotional pain or distress.
So go and do what you want
Once again, I give you my full permission to follow your heart and explore whatever you feel pulled towards.
And don't worry baby
I want you to experience joy and fulfillment, and am not threatened by your other passions or goals.
I'll be alright
No matter what happens, I am strong enough to handle it and remain intact.
You'll never make me
I have control over my own emotional state, and refuse to allow others to determine my feelings.
You'll never make me
I am not weak or helpless, and no one can make me do something against my will or best interests.
You'll never make me cry
I am a resilient, capable individual, and will not allow others to bring me to tears.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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?