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 World Keep On Turning
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics
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Yes, I don't look for no worries, people, worries and troubles come around
The world keep on turning, I got to keep my feet on the ground
Nobody saw me cryin' - nobody knows the way I feel
Nobody saw me cryin' - nobody knows the way I feel
Yeah, the way I love the woman, it's bound to get me killed
I loved the little girl so good, she made my low down butter come
Loved the little girl so good, she made my low down butter come
In Fleetwood Mac's song "The World Keep On Turning," the singer admits that, despite his desire for a worry-free life, he knows that "worries and troubles" are an inevitable part of existence. He acknowledges that the world will continue to turn, and he must keep his "feet on the ground" to cope with life's challenges. The singer also reveals the heartbreak he has experienced in a relationship, admitting that he has cried in secret and loves the woman so intensely that it could potentially lead to his demise. Despite the pain, he cannot help longing for her and needing her as much as the sky needs the sun.
The song's lyrics are a reminder of the inevitability of life's challenges and heartaches, and the importance of staying grounded and resilient in the face of adversity. The singer's vulnerable confession of deep love and potential downfall highlights the power of love and the potential risks that come with it. Overall, the song is a melancholic yet realistic reflection on the ups and downs of life and the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't look for no worries, worries and troubles come around
I don't actively seek out problems, but I know that setbacks and difficulties are inevitable in life.
Yes, I don't look for no worries, people, worries and troubles come around
I want to emphasize that I am not actively seeking out obstacles or negativity in my life, but rather acknowledging that they are an inevitable part of the human experience.
The world keep on turning, I got to keep my feet on the ground
Life continues to move forward, whether we are ready for it or not. To stay grounded and stable in the face of this constant change is essential for personal growth and success.
Nobody saw me cryin' - nobody knows the way I feel
I may be experiencing emotional pain and turmoil, but I am not opening up to anyone about it. I feel alone in my struggles.
Yeah, the way I love the woman, it's bound to get me killed
I love this woman so intensely that it is dangerous for me. My love for her consumes me to the point where I am willing to take risks and put myself in harm's way.
Loved the little girl so good, she made my low down butter come
This woman I loved had a profound impact on me physically and emotionally. She gave me pleasure and satisfaction in ways that no one else ever had before.
I need the woman so bad, I need her like the sky needs the sun
My dependency on this woman is intense and all-encompassing. Without her, it feels like a vital part of me is missing.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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?