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.
The King Speaks
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thank you very much, indeed
You know it's been a long, long time
It's been a long, long time since
Myself and my house band
I've been playing, been playing in these parts
I must say it's really beautiful to be back
Thank you, as Colonel Tom
As Colonel Tom always used to say to me
You see Elvis, that whatever you do
He said even if you hated every minute of it
He said just tell them it was beautiful, they're gonna really love ya
And he say to me, he say to me, uh
It may be a drag but, this sure pays you labret
It's been a long time since our song to bunch of young kids
I'm really serious, it's been about fifteen years
I've been, been bumming around started making a lot of hick films
And singing a lot of uh, hack ballads
But I guess, I guess it's the only time I'm gonna get to sing
One of my really old favorites, it's about twelve years old
I guess some, I guess somebody
What's the matter? Ain't you seen mister
Ain't you see Mister President laugh before?
You know it's been a long time
We're gonna do this song now
Goes something like this
What's the matter with the band over here?
"The King Speaks" by Fleetwood Mac is a song with meta references and humorous undertones. The lyrics depict a fictional scenario where Elvis Presley, referred to as "The King," is addressing the audience after a long break from performing. He reminisces about his previous experiences with his house band, expressing gratitude for their reunion. The song starts with Elvis acknowledging the passage of time and his absence from the music scene. He then mentions Colonel Tom, who advised him to always speak positively about his performances, even if he didn't enjoy them. Elvis jokingly remarks that this approach pays well but can sometimes be a drag.
Elvis mentions that it has been a long time since he last sang to a group of young kids, highlighting that it has been about fifteen years since he was in his prime. He humorously remarks that during his time away, he has been involved in making mediocre movies and singing mediocre ballads that he dubs "hack ballads." However, he notes that this performance is an opportunity for him to sing one of his older favorites, a song that is roughly twelve years old. As he prepares to perform, he addresses someone in the audience, questioning whether they have never seen a president laugh before, adding a playful touch to the lyrics.
The overall tone of the song is light-hearted and self-aware, with Fleetwood Mac paying homage to Elvis Presley and his career. It is a tongue-in-cheek portrayal of Elvis's return to the stage and the humor that surrounds his larger-than-life persona.
Line by Line Meaning
Thank you
Expressing gratitude
Thank you very much, indeed
Expressing sincere gratitude
You know it's been a long, long time
Acknowledging the passage of a significant amount of time
It's been a long, long time since
A considerable amount of time has passed since
Myself and my house band
Referring to the performer and their accompanying musicians
I've been playing, been playing in these parts
Engaging in performances in this specific location
I must say it's really beautiful to be back
Expressing delight in returning to a familiar place
Thank you, as Colonel Tom
Showing gratitude, addressing someone as Colonel Tom
As Colonel Tom always used to say to me
Referring to the advice given by Colonel Tom in the past
You see Elvis, that whatever you do
Explaining a message received from Colonel Tom to Elvis
He said even if you hated every minute of it
Indicating that even if one dislikes the experience
He said just tell them it was beautiful, they're gonna really love ya
Encouraging Elvis to portray a positive image and the audience will appreciate it
And he say to me, he say to me, uh
Recounting a conversation with Colonel Tom
It may be a drag but, this sure pays you labret
Implying that despite being tiresome, this activity is financially rewarding
It's been a long time since our song to bunch of young kids
Referring to a past performance dedicated to a young audience
I'm really serious, it's been about fifteen years
Stressing the seriousness and the duration of the time that has elapsed
I've been, been bumming around started making a lot of hick films
Describing a period in which the artist made low-quality films
And singing a lot of uh, hack ballads
Engaging in the singing of shallow and unoriginal songs
But I guess, I guess it's the only time I'm gonna get to sing
Speculating that the current opportunity might be the last to perform
One of my really old favorites, it's about twelve years old
Introducing a song that is a personal favorite, composed around twelve years ago
I guess some, I guess somebody
Expressing uncertainty about someone or something
What's the matter? Ain't you seen mister
Questioning someone's reaction or behavior
Ain't you see Mister President laugh before?
Pointing out the familiarity of witnessing the President laugh
You know it's been a long time
Reiterating that a substantial amount of time has passed
We're gonna do this song now
Announcing the intention to perform a specific song
Goes something like this
Preparing the audience for the upcoming performance
What's the matter with the band over here?
Questioning the issues faced by the band in their current situation
Lyrics © TuneCore
Written by: Jeremy Spencer
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?