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]
Jane
Stevie Nicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She could look a challenge, right between the eyes
Disappointment, would become her middle name,
Up against the wall, Jane
So her nights became nightmares,
As she fought for their souls
And the days became worse,
For the ones she had lost
The forgotten chimpanzee
In the eyes of the world,
You have done so much for me
There are angels, here on earth, angels
There are angels, here on earth,
Angels, send from God
Come away from the wall, stay with us
Well you can, Jane
So she watched as they put them all into cages
Well they might as well have caged her very own baby
They might as well have put us both into prison
Through a window, all our sorrows,
Would become our only visions,
Nothing more
There are angels here, angels
There are angels here on earth, angles
Angels, send from God
You will never feel, that you have ever done enough
But you have, Jane
Such a little girl, such a hard life
You could look a challenge, straight between the eyes
Disappointment, would become her middle name
Up against the wall, Jane
Nothing more then the shadow of a man
Come away from the wall, Jane
Well they might as well have put us both into prison
Come away, if you can, Jane
Through a window, all our sorrows,
Will become our only visions
Come away, Jane,
Come away, come away if you can
In the eyes of the world, you have done so much
The song "Jane" by Stevie Nicks is a touching tribute to Jane Goodall, a primatologist who devoted her life to studying chimpanzees in the wild. Nicks tells the story of a girl named Jane who, like Goodall, dedicates her life to the care and protection of these intelligent primates. The opening lines describe Jane as "such a little girl" with a "hard life," who faces challenges head-on. Despite disappointments, she remains resilient, standing up for what she believes in and fighting to protect the lives of the creatures she holds dear.
As the chorus suggests, Jane is not alone in her mission to save these animals. There are angels on earth, sent from God, who join her in her fight. Together, they work tirelessly to care for the forgotten chimpanzees, who are often mistreated and left behind by society. The verses describe Jane's struggles, both at night and during the day, as she fights for the souls of these creatures. The song's poignant lyrics depict the deep bond between Jane and the chimpanzees, as she watches them being caged and longs to free them.
The song's final lines remind Jane that, despite her doubts, she has already done so much for these animals. She has helped to bring attention to their plight and has worked tirelessly to give them a voice. While the challenges she faces may seem insurmountable, Jane is encouraged to keep fighting and never give up.
Line by Line Meaning
Such a little girl, such a hard life
Despite being young, Jane has faced many struggles and difficulties.
She could look a challenge, right between the eyes
Jane has the courage to face any obstacle that comes her way.
Disappointment, would become her middle name,
Jane has faced so many letdowns that disappointment has become a part of her identity.
Up against the wall, Jane
Jane is facing a difficult situation without any clear way out.
So her nights became nightmares,
Jane's struggles and challenges are causing her to lose sleep and suffer from anxiety.
As she fought for their souls
Jane is trying to help others who are facing their own struggles and hardships.
And the days became worse,
Jane's problems are compounding and becoming more difficult to handle as time goes on.
For the ones she had lost
Jane is mourning the loss of loved ones who she was unable to save or help.
Children of the world,
Jane is fighting for children who are struggling and facing difficult situations all over the world.
The forgotten chimpanzee
Jane is also advocating for animals who are being mistreated and neglected by humans.
In the eyes of the world,
Despite feeling overwhelmed and discouraged at times, Jane has made a significant impact and been recognized by many people.
You have done so much for me
The artist of the song is expressing gratitude for Jane's efforts and impact on their life.
There are angels, here on earth, angels
Some people are selfless and compassionate enough to be considered 'angels' who are making the world a better place for others.
Angels, send from God
These 'angels' are believed to be sent by a higher power to do good in the world.
Come away from the wall, stay with us
The singer is urging Jane to step away from her struggles and take a break, reminding her that she has a supportive community who cares for her.
Well you can, Jane
The artist wants Jane to know that it's okay to take a break and she's capable of doing so.
So she watched as they put them all into cages
Jane has witnessed the mistreatment and suffering of both humans and animals.
Well they might as well have caged her very own baby
The singer compares the treatment of those mistreated to the pain of losing a child, as though the suffering is just as personal and intense.
They might as well have put us both into prison
The mistreatment and mistreatment of living beings is the same as being locked up and kept captive unlawfully.
Through a window, all our sorrows,
Even though their struggles are on the other side of a barrier, the pain and suffering is still very real and visible.
Would become our only visions,
Their pain would become the only thing they're able to see and focus on.
Nothing more
Their pain is all-consuming and almost impossible to see past or live beyond.
You will never feel, that you have ever done enough
Jane will always feel like she has more to do and hasn't done enough to help those suffering in the world.
But you have, Jane
Despite feeling inadequate at times, Jane has made a significant impact and helped many people and animals through her advocacy and work.
Nothing more then the shadow of a man
This line is unclear but may be describing the feeling of being small and insignificant in comparison to the vast struggles and problems of the world.
Come away from the wall, Jane
The singer is urging Jane to step away from her struggles and take a break, reminding her that she has a supportive community who cares for her.
Well they might as well have put us both into prison
The mistreatment and mistreatment of living beings is the same as being locked up and kept captive unlawfully.
Come away, if you can, Jane
The artist is reminding Jane that it's okay to step back from her struggles and take a break if she's able to.
Through a window, all our sorrows,
Even though their struggles are on the other side of a barrier, the pain and suffering is still very real and visible.
Will become our only visions
Their pain would become the only thing they're able to see and focus on.
Come away, Jane,
The singer continues to urge Jane to step away from her struggles and take time for herself.
Come away, come away if you can
The artist wants Jane to know that it's okay to prioritize her own well-being and take a break if she's able to.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DEROUIN, NICKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind