Stevie Nicks is one of the most iconic and influential singers and songwriters of all time. She rose to fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac, but also had a successful solo career that spanned decades. One of her most popular and enduring songs is Edge of Seventeen, a rock anthem that showcases her powerful vocals and poetic lyrics.
But what is the meaning behind the Edge of Seventeen lyrics? What inspired Nicks to write it? And how did it become a hit?
In this article, we will explore the story behind Edge of Seventeen, from its origins to its legacy.
The Origins of Edge of Seventeen
The title of the song came from a misunderstanding between Nicks and Jane Petty, the first wife of Tom Petty. Nicks and Petty were friends and collaborators, and Nicks was fascinated by their love story. She asked Jane how they met, and Jane replied that they met “at the age of seventeen“. However, due to Jane’s strong Southern accent, Nicks misheard it as “edge of seventeen”. She liked the sound of the phrase so much that she decided to use it for a song.
However, the song was not about Tom and Jane Petty. It was about two tragic events that happened in Nicks’ life in December 1980: the death of her uncle Jonathan and the murder of John Lennon. Nicks was very close to her uncle, who was dying of cancer. She flew to Phoenix, Arizona, to be with him and his family until he passed away. Around the same time, John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City. Nicks’ producer and lover Jimmy Iovine was a close friend of Lennon, and Nicks felt helpless to comfort him.
These two losses inspired Nicks to write “Edge of Seventeen”, a song about grief, love, and resilience. She said in an interview, “It was really about Tom’s wife Jane, my uncle Jonathan who died of cancer when he was 49 years old, and John Lennon who was shot that same week. It was just a really hard time for me. It was about all these people who meant so much to me leaving too soon.”
The Lyrics of Edge of Seventeen
The lyrics of Edge of Seventeen are rich with imagery and symbolism. The song opens with a chorus that compares Nicks’ voice to a white winged dove, a bird that represents peace, purity, and freedom. The chorus also features the famous “whoo-whoo-whoo” sound that mimics the dove’s call. Nicks said that she got the idea for this sound from a menu she read at a Phoenix restaurant that described how the dove sings:
“The white winged dove sings a song that sounds like she’s singing ooh, ooh, ooh. She makes her home here in the great Saguaro cactus that provides shelter and protection for her…“
The verses describe Nicks’ experience of losing her uncle and Lennon, and how she coped with the pain. She sings about how the days go by like a strand in the wind, how she went searching for an answer but only heard the call of a nightbird (another symbol of death and mourning), and how she felt alone on the edge of seventeen.
The bridge reveals that the song is also a love letter to Iovine, who was younger than Nicks. She sings about how she hears him in the morning and at nightfall, but sometimes she feels unable to be near him or hear him. She also confesses that she is a few years older than him, implying that their age difference might be an obstacle to their relationship.
The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, followed by an outro that features Nicks’ signature vocal improvisations over Waddy Wachtel’s guitar riff.
The Music of Edge of Seventeen
The music of Edge of Seventeen is driven by Wachtel’s distinctive 16th-note guitar riff, which progresses through C, D, and E-minor chords. Wachtel claimed that he was inspired by The Police’s song Bring On the Night for the riff. The riff creates a sense of urgency and tension that matches Nicks’ emotions and energy. The song also features a drum beat by Russ Kunkel, a bass line by Bob Glaub, a piano part by Roy Bittan, and backing vocals by Lori Perry-Nicks and Sharon Celani.
The song was produced by Jimmy Iovine, who also worked with Nicks on her other solo albums and with Fleetwood Mac. Iovine helped Nicks achieve a more polished and radio-friendly sound than her previous work with the band. He also encouraged her to sing in a higher register than usual, which added to the intensity and drama of the song.
The Legacy of Edge of Seventeen
Edge of Seventeen was released as the third single from Bella Donna in February 1982. It reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Nicks’ second solo top 20 hit after Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around (a duet with Tom Petty). It also reached No. 4 on the Mainstream Rock chart and No. 11 on the Canadian Singles chart.
The song received critical acclaim for its powerful lyrics, vocals, and music. Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at No. 217 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” in 2021, calling it “a rock & roll requiem that doubles as a love letter to life itself”. The song also earned Nicks a Grammy nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 1983.
Edge of Seventeen has been covered by many artists over the years, including Destiny’s Child, Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, One Direction, and The Killers. The song also inspired the title of a 2016 comedy-drama film starring Hailee Steinfeld and Woody Harrelson.
The song remains one of Nicks’ most popular and recognisable songs and a staple of her live performances. She often dedicates it to her uncle Jonathan, John Lennon, or other people who have passed away. She also interacts with the audience during the song, shaking hands, signing autographs, and giving hugs to her fans.
Edge of Seventeen is a song that celebrates life in the face of death, love in the face of loss, and hope in the face of despair. It is a song that showcases Nicks’ unique talent and spirit as an artist and a person. It is a song that has touched millions of people around the world with its message and music.
Conclusion
In this article, we have learned about the meaning behind Stevie Nicks’ classic song Edge of Seventeen lyrics, from its origins to its legacy.
Here are some key points to remember:
The title of the song came from a misunderstanding between Nicks and Jane Petty, who said they met “at the age of seventeen”. The song was inspired by two tragic events that happened in Nicks’ life in December 1980: the death of her uncle Jonathan and the murder of John Lennon.
The lyrics of the song are rich with imagery and symbolism, such as the white winged dove, the nightbird, and the edge of seventeen.
The music of the song is driven by Waddy Wachtel’s distinctive guitar riff, which creates a sense of urgency and tension.
The song was produced by Jimmy Iovine, who encouraged Nicks to sing in a higher register than usual.
The song was a hit in 1982, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The song received critical acclaim and was ranked at No. 217 on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
The song has been covered by many artists and inspired a film title.
The song remains one of Nicks’ most popular and recognizable songs and a staple of her live performances.
The song celebrates life in the face of death, love in the face of loss, and hope in the face of despair.
If you enjoyed this article, please share it with your friends. And if you want to learn more about Stevie Nicks and her amazing songs, check out her official website.
Stevie Nicks Edge of Seventeen Lyrics
Chorus
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo-whoo-whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo
Verse 1
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 (Everything stops)
Nothin’ else mattered
He was no more
(He was no more)
Than a baby then
Well, he seemed broken hearted
Somethin’ within him
But the moment
That I first laid
Eyes on him
All alone on the edge of seventeen
Chorus
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Said, whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo
Verse 2
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 doin’
What I try to do for me
With their words of a poet
And a voice from a choir
And a melody
Nothin’ else mattered
Chorus
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Said, whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo
Verse 3
The clouds never expect it
When it rains
But the sea changes color
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
Chorus
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Said, whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo
Verse 4
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
When 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 singin’, come away
(Come away)
(Come away)
Chorus
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Said, whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo
Bridge
Well, I hear you (Well, I hear you)
In the morning (In the morning)
And I hear you (And I hear you)
At nightfall (At nightfall)
Sometimes to be near you
Is to be unable to hear you
My love
I’m a few years older than you, my love
(I’m a few years older than you)
Chorus
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
(Just like the white winged dove)
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo
