After starting her career as a duo with her then-boyfriend Lindsey Buckingham, releasing the album Buckingham Nicks to little success, Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac in 1975, helping the band to become one of the best-selling music acts of all time with over 120 million records sold worldwide. Rumours, the band's second album with Nicks, became one of the best-selling albums worldwide, being certified 20× platinum in the US.[2]
In 1981, while remaining a member of Fleetwood Mac, Nicks began her solo career, releasing the studio album Bella Donna, which topped the Billboard 200 and has reached multiplatinum status.[3] She has released eight studio solo albums and seven studio albums with Fleetwood Mac, selling a certified total of 65 million copies in the US alone.[2]
After the release of her first solo album, Rolling Stone named her the "Reigning Queen of Rock and Roll".[4] Nicks was named one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time[5] and one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time[6] by Rolling Stone. Her Fleetwood Mac songs "Landslide", "Rhiannon", and "Dreams", with the last being the band's only number one hit in the US, together with her solo hit "Edge of Seventeen", have all been included in Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[7] She is the first woman to have been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: first as a member of Fleetwood Mac in 1998 and then as a solo artist in 2019.[8]
Nicks has garnered eight Grammy Award[9] nominations and two American Music Award nominations as a solo artist. She has won numerous awards with Fleetwood Mac, including a Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978 for Rumours.
The albums Fleetwood Mac, Rumours, and Bella Donna have been included in the "Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums" chart by Billboard.[10] Furthermore, Rumours was rated the seventh-greatest album of all time in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time",[11] as well as the fourth-greatest album by female acts.[12]
Edge of Seventeen
Stevie Nicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh ooh ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
And the days go by
Like a strand in the wind
In the web that is my own
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby
Nothin' else mattered
He was no more than a baby then
Well he seemed broken hearted
Something within him
But the moment that I first laid
Eyes on him all alone
On the edge of seventeen
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Said ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well, I went today maybe I will go again
Tomorrow
Yeah, yeah
Well the music there, well it was hauntingly
Familiar
When I see you doing
What I tried to do for me
With the words from a poet
And a voice from a choir
And a melody nothing else mattered
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Said ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
The clouds never expect it
When it rains
But the sea changes colors
But the sea
Does not change
So with the slow, graceful flow
Of age
I went forth with an age old
Desire to please
On the edge of seventeen
Ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well then suddenly
There was no one left standing
In the hall yeah, yeah
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
Well, I went searchin' for an answer
Up the stairs and down the hall
Not to find an answer
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird singing
Come away, come away
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Well I hear you in the morning
And I hear you
At nightfall
Sometimes to be near you
Is to be unable to feel you
My love
I'm a few years older than you, my love
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
"Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks is a song about grief, loss, and moving on. The white winged dove is used as a metaphor for the singer's inner voice trying to guide her through the pain. In the first verse, the dove's song is juxtaposed against the passing of time, likened to a strand in the wind. Later, the dove's song is compared to the haunting music that the singer encounters when she is looking for an answer to her grief, accompanying her as she wanders through the halls.
The climax of the song takes place when the singer is confronted with the true extent of her loss. The tears fall without anyone noticing, and she is left with a sense of desolation. However, the nightbird's call gives her hope, and she is reminded that life goes on, even after the worst of sorrows.
Nicks has said that the song was inspired by the death of her uncle and the assassination of John Lennon. The line "just like the white winged dove sings a song" was inspired by a dove repeatedly tapping against the windowpane of Nicks' hotel room while she was mourning Lennon's death. The song's production is influenced by new wave and rock music, with driving guitar riffs and a pulsing rhythm. "Edge of Seventeen" has become one of Nicks' signature tunes and continues to be a staple of classic rock radio stations.
Line by Line Meaning
Just like the white winged dove
The singer identifies with the white winged dove, who sings a song with an emotional tone.
Sings a song
The dove's melody is the primary focus.
Sounds like she's singing
The dove's song moves the singer emotionally.
Ooh ooh ooh
The artist expresses their emotional response to the dove's song.
Just like the white winged dove
The artist repeats their identification with the dove's song.
Sings a song
The dove's melody is still the primary focus.
Sounds like she's singing
The dove's song still moves the singer emotionally.
Ooh baby, ooh, said ooh
The artist again emotively responds to the dove's song.
And the days go by
Time moves forward.
Like a strand in the wind
Time is delicate and vulnerable, easily affected by external forces.
In the web that is my own
The singer's life story is woven together.
I begin again
The artist restarts their life.
Said to my friend, baby
The singer tells their story to a friend, perhaps seeking support.
Nothin' else mattered
The singer's focus is solely on their own life story.
He was no more than a baby then
The singer remembers a past relationship with someone younger.
Well he seemed broken hearted
The person the artist remembers had emotional struggles.
Something within him
The emotional struggles were not externally caused.
But the moment that I first laid
The singer experienced an intense moment with this person.
Eyes on him all alone
The singer saw the person in a vulnerable state.
On the edge of seventeen
This intense moment happened when both people were very young.
Well, I went today maybe I will go again
The artist engages in a repetitive activity.
Tomorrow
This activity may continue in the future.
Well the music there, well it was hauntingly
The music evokes strong emotions in the singer.
Familiar
The music is familiar to the artist.
When I see you doing
The singer compares themselves to someone else.
What I tried to do for me
The singer has struggled to achieve something in their life.
With the words from a poet
The singer has been inspired by poetic writing.
And a voice from a choir
The artist has been inspired by choral music.
And a melody nothing else mattered
The artist finds solace in music.
The clouds never expect it
Clouds do not anticipate change.
When it rains
External forces can still affect the natural world.
But the sea changes colors
The artist is reminded of the sea's constant transformation.
But the sea
Nature is a powerful force that is indifferent to individuals.
Does not change
Nature changes while seeming to remain constant.
So with the slow, graceful flow
Time moves like a natural force with its own rhythm.
Of age
The artist is aware of the passage of time.
I went forth with an age old
The singer moves forward with the knowledge of their own aging.
Desire to please
The singer still desires to be accepted and appreciated by others.
On the edge of seventeen
Despite their age, the singer still feels young and uncertain.
Well then suddenly
The artist experiences a sudden change.
There was no one left standing
The artist's surroundings became empty and barren.
In the hall yeah, yeah
The emptiness echoes through the hall.
In a flood of tears
The singer is overwhelmed with emotion.
That no one really ever heard fall at all
Despite their intense emotions, the artist feels isolated.
Well, I went searchin' for an answer
The artist is seeking a solution to their emotional struggle.
Up the stairs and down the hall
The artist searches their surroundings for an answer.
Not to find an answer
The singer's search is unsuccessful.
Just to hear the call
Despite their unsuccessful search, the artist seeks inspiration.
Of a nightbird singing
The singer is moved by the natural world.
Come away, come away
The singer is comforted by thoughts of escape.
Well I hear you in the morning
The singer thinks of someone they care for first thing in the morning.
And I hear you
The thought of this person stays with the artist throughout the day.
At nightfall
The thought of this person is still with the artist at the end of the day.
Sometimes to be near you
The singer desires physical closeness to this person.
Is to be unable to feel you
Despite the desire for closeness, the singer still feels emotionally distant.
My love
The artist speaks affectionately to this person.
I'm a few years older than you, my love
The artist acknowledges the age difference between themselves and this person.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stevie Nicks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doug Alex
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Who who who
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
And the days go by
Like a strand in the wind
In the web that is my own
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby
Nothin' else mattered
He was no more than a baby then
Well he seemed broken hearted
Something within him
But the moment that I first laid
Eyes on him all alone
On the edge of seventeen
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
I went today maybe I will go again
Tomorrow
And the music there it was hauntingly
Familiar
And I see you doing
What I try to do for me
With the words from a poet
And the voice from a choir
And a melody nothing else mattered
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
The clouds never expect it
When it rains
But the sea changes colors
But the sea
Does not change
And so with the slow graceful flow
Of age
I went forth with an age old
Desire to please
On the edge of seventeen
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Well then suddenly
There was no one left standing
In the hall yeah yeah
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
Oh I went searchin' for an answer,
Up the stairs and down the hall
Not to find an answer
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird singing
Come away come away
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Well I hear you in the morning
And I hear you
At nightfall
Sometime to be near you
Is to be unable to hear you
My love
I'm a few years older than you
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
GIGRoundNPound
Her voice is a force of nature. Just WOW!
Robin Lodge
I was lucky enough to get a hug from Stevie at Red Rocks during this song. Best night of my life. Stevie your music gets me through all my medical stuff.
The M.A.
You got a hug from Stevie? Lucky!
C Holesterol
@Nick Lemon real crassy, bro.
Garden Gypsy 🌿
Healing
Marco Antônio Rodrigues Faria
Aqui o usuário e bloqueado.
JMA K
This could never get old. Her voice and style is one of a kind. Love Stevie Nicks.
Doug Alex
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Who who who
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
And the days go by
Like a strand in the wind
In the web that is my own
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby
Nothin' else mattered
He was no more than a baby then
Well he seemed broken hearted
Something within him
But the moment that I first laid
Eyes on him all alone
On the edge of seventeen
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
I went today maybe I will go again
Tomorrow
And the music there it was hauntingly
Familiar
And I see you doing
What I try to do for me
With the words from a poet
And the voice from a choir
And a melody nothing else mattered
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
The clouds never expect it
When it rains
But the sea changes colors
But the sea
Does not change
And so with the slow graceful flow
Of age
I went forth with an age old
Desire to please
On the edge of seventeen
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Well then suddenly
There was no one left standing
In the hall yeah yeah
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
Oh I went searchin' for an answer,
Up the stairs and down the hall
Not to find an answer
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird singing
Come away come away
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Well I hear you in the morning
And I hear you
At nightfall
Sometime to be near you
Is to be unable to hear you
My love
I'm a few years older than you
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she's singing
Oh baby oh said oh
Albino Ginger Black Man
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The hero we all need
oedalis
I was hoping to find your comment Lyric Posting Guy. Thank you! 🙏🏽