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.
Without You
Fleetwood Mac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just lay down beside me and let your love hide me, oh baby
Seems that things don't mean a thing
When I, I mean nothing without you
And if you're ever feelin' down
I'll come down and hang around you, baby
'Cause I hold the winning hand
See 'cause things don't mean a thing
When I, I mean nothing without you, oh yeah
Oh I'm just gonna do whatever
Keeps us together, oh baby
'Cause I love you more than love
And I put nothing above you, oh baby
And things, they ain't gonna mean a thing
And I mean, I mean nothing
No nothing without you
Oh I mean nothing without you (oh oh oh, nothing without you)
Oh I mean nothing without you (oh oh oh, nothing without you)
Oh I mean nothing without you (oh oh oh, nothing without you)
Oh I mean nothing without you (oh oh oh, nothing without you)
Oh, oh yeah, oh I mean nothing no no no (oh oh oh, nothing without you)
Nothing without you, I mean nothing, I mean nothing (oh oh oh, nothing without you)
Ooh, I mean nothing (oh oh oh, nothing without you)
The lyrics of "Without You" by Fleetwood Mac speak of a deep pledge to love and support someone unconditionally through thick and thin. The singer promises to always be there for their partner and takes comfort in the fact that their love makes everything better. They believe that their life would be meaningless without their significant other by their side. The chorus reiterates this point, emphasizing that nothing in life is as important as being with the one they love.
The verse "Just lay down beside me and let your love hide me" expresses the desire for emotional and physical closeness, where their partner's love shields them from the struggles and hardships of life. The promise to "do whatever keeps us together" shows the singer's commitment to making their relationship work, regardless of any challenges that may arise along the way.
Overall, "Without You" portrays the idea that love can transcend any obstacle and that life without love is meaningless. It is a testament to the power of love and commitment to one another.
Line by Line Meaning
No matter what goes wrong, you'll never be alone, baby
I promise to always be here for you. You can count on me through thick and thin.
Just lay down beside me and let your love hide me, oh baby
Cuddle up with me and let your love surround me. I find so much comfort in your affection.
Seems that things don't mean a thing
Material possessions and worldly success are not valuable unless I have you.
When I, I mean nothing without you
My happiness and sense of purpose are directly tied to you. I cannot imagine life without you.
And if you're ever feelin' down
If you're ever feeling sad or low, I will be there to lift you up and cheer you on.
I'll come down and hang around you, baby
I will be there physically and emotionally to support you, no matter what.
'Cause I hold the winning hand
I feel lucky and blessed to have you in my life. You make everything better.
Just to get to stand beside you baby
Simply being near you brings me joy and makes life worth living. I treasure every moment we are together.
See 'cause things don't mean a thing
Once again, I emphasize that possessions and achievements are meaningless without you.
When I, I mean nothing without you, oh yeah
I cannot stress enough how much you mean to me. You are my everything.
Oh I'm just gonna do whatever
I am committed to making this relationship work no matter what. I will do whatever it takes.
Keeps us together, oh baby
My main goal is to maintain our strong bond and keep our love alive.
'Cause I love you more than love
My love for you exceeds any explanation or definition. It is a feeling beyond words.
And I put nothing above you, oh baby
You are my top priority and the most important thing in my life. Nothing else even comes close.
And things, they ain't gonna mean a thing
Once again, I emphasize the valuelessness of worldly possessions and external achievements.
And I mean, I mean nothing
I am nothing without you. You complete me and make me feel whole.
No nothing without you
I cannot exist without you. You are my reason for living and my source of happiness.
Oh I mean nothing without you (oh oh oh, nothing without you)
This repeated line drives home the importance of the song's central message: that the singer's life is empty and meaningless without their beloved.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Delaney Bramlett, Doug Gilmore
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?