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]
New Orleans
Stevie Nicks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Here we go)
There's a beginning, there's a middle and an end
In this city we reach out for the middle ground
We throw a great party, so hearts will start to mend
We forgive, at least we try
In the midst of the sea of dreams lies a perfect storm
And in the sea of tears lies a city ghost
In the spirit of the Mardi Gras
Well, the people hope that their lives will get better
The people hope that their lives will get better
I wanna get a room in New Orleans
I wanna sing in the streets of the French Quarter
I wanna dress up, I wanna wear beads
I wanna wear feathers and lace
I wanna brush by Anne Rice
And go on down Bourbon Street
I see a sea of smiles (ooh ooh)
I see a haunted city reaching out (ooh ooh)
I see hope in all their faces
Behind the mask of Mardi Gras
Where the good and the righteous walk
And the wicked as well (ooh ooh)
I wanna get a room in New Orleans
I wanna sing in the streets of the French Quarter
I wanna dress up, I wanna wear beads
I wanna wear feathers and lace
I wanna brush by the vampires (ooh ooh)
I wanna dress up, ooh yeah
I wanna wear feathers and lace (la, la, la, la)
I wanna brush by Anne Rice
And go down Bourbon Street, mm-mm
Go on down Bourbon Street
Within these rooms, I go up to my balcony
And I hang the paintings on the wall
And I open up my gallery and I open up my doors
I stare at the city (ooh ooh), I stare at my city
I wanna get a room in New Orleans
I wanna sing in the streets of the French Quarter
I wanna dress up, I wanna wear beads
I wanna wear feathers and lace
I wanna brush by the vampires (ooh ooh) (ah)
I wanna get back to New Orleans
I wanna sing out in the streets of the French Quarter
I wanna dress up, I wanna wear beads
I wanna wear feathers and lace
I wanna brush by Anne Rice (ooh ooh)
Go down Bourbon Street (ooh ooh)
Go down Bourbon Street (ooh ooh)
Go on down Bourbon Street (ooh ooh)
Go on down Bourbon Street (ooh ooh)
Go on down, go on down (ooh ooh), go on down
Go on down Bourbon Street (ooh ooh)
In the city of tears, lies the city ghost
The opening lyrics of Stevie Nicks's song "New Orleans" create a mysterious and alluring atmosphere that sets the tone for the rest of the piece. In the city of dreams, lies the city's ghost, and it is with this ghostly presence that Nicks invites her listeners to explore the rich and fascinating history of New Orleans. The song is an ode to this unique city, which has long been a hub for cultural exchange and artistic expression. With references to the sea of dreams, the sea of tears, and the Mardi Gras, Nicks paints a vivid picture of the city's complex spirit and its many moods.
The chorus of the song expresses Nicks's desire to truly immerse herself in the richness of New Orleans culture. She wants to sing in the streets of the French Quarter, wear feathers and lace, and brush by the vampires and the city's other ghosts. The verses, on the other hand, reflect a more nuanced understanding of the city's complexities. Nicks sings of parties thrown with the hope of healing hearts and of the city's many masks. She also highlights the tension between the city's good and righteous and its wicked elements. Throughout the song, Nicks captures the essence of New Orleans as a city of contrasts, where beauty and pain, light and darkness, live side by side.
Line by Line Meaning
In the city of dreams, lies the city's ghost
The city of New Orleans is a city of hopes and dreams but also has a history of tragedy and ghosts.
There's a beginning, there's a middle and an end
Life and the human experience can be broken up into three distinct parts.
In this city we reach out for the middle ground
New Orleans is a city that seeks balance.
We throw a great party, so hearts will start to mend
New Orleans' vibrant culture is an attempt to heal from past traumas and hardships.
We forgive, at least we try
Forgiveness is important in order to move on from the past and strive for a better future.
In the midst of the sea of dreams lies a perfect storm
The city's hopeful and optimistic facade belies the complex and difficult realities it faces.
And in the sea of tears lies a city ghost
New Orleans' struggles and tragedies can still be felt, even in the present day.
In the spirit of the Mardi Gras
The festive and celebratory aspects of New Orleans' culture are central to its identity.
Well, the people hope that their lives will get better
Despite past difficulties, New Orleanians hold onto hope for a brighter future.
I wanna get a room in New Orleans
The artist longs for a connection to the city and its vibrant culture.
I wanna sing in the streets of the French Quarter
The singer wants to fully immerse herself in the joy and energy of New Orleans.
I wanna dress up, I wanna wear beads
The colorful and flamboyant costumes of New Orleans are a source of inspiration and happiness for the artist.
I wanna wear feathers and lace
The singer is drawn to the intricate and beautiful details of New Orleans' fashion and style.
I wanna brush by Anne Rice
The singer feels a strong connection to the literary history and culture of New Orleans.
And go on down Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is a central hub of activity and excitement in New Orleans.
I see a sea of smiles
Amidst the struggles and hardship, New Orleanians find reasons to smile and celebrate.
I see a haunted city reaching out
The ghosts and tragedies of New Orleans' past still shape its present.
I see hope in all their faces
Despite difficulties and hardships, the people of New Orleans hold onto a strong sense of hope and determination.
Behind the mask of Mardi Gras
Masks and costumes serve as a symbol of the hidden depths and complexities of New Orleans' culture.
Where the good and the righteous walk
New Orleans' culture is built on a foundation of morality and goodness, despite its flaws and challenges.
And the wicked as well
The darker, more complex aspects of New Orleans' culture are also an essential part of its identity.
Within these rooms, I go up to my balcony
The artist feels a sense of ownership and belonging within the city and her place within it.
And I hang the paintings on the wall
The singer is invested in the art and culture of the city, and seeks to participate in it fully.
And I open up my gallery and I open up my doors
The artist wants to share her love and passion for New Orleans' rich cultural heritage with others.
I stare at the city
The singer is captivated and entranced by the beauty and mystery of New Orleans.
I wanna get back to New Orleans
The singer's connection to and longing for New Orleans is strong and persistent.
Go down Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is a central symbol and hub of activity within New Orleans' vibrant culture.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Neale Heywood, Stevie Nicks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind