Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks Reveals Deep Meaning Behind Iconic Song ‘Landslide’

Jun 30, 2023

Some of the older generations consider Stevie Nicks one of the most influential and legendary singer/songwriters of all time, as she was able to exude her feelings in the form of lyrics, harmony, and rhythm.

It only proved that the musician is indeed iconic, and it reflected on her list of accomplishments as she was able to bag two Grammy Awards during her time with Fleetwood Mac as well as being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, which made her the first woman to do so.

Nicks has written countless songs during her time as a solo artist and a band member, but from what many could recall, the track "Landslide" is her most memorable one.

Before diving into the meaning behind its deep lyrics and inspiration, let's take a look at how the musician started her career and how she managed to break through in the industry.

Born Stephanie Lynn Nicks on May 26, 1948, the singer delved into the world of music upon receiving a guitar on her 16th birthday. From that day onward, she was able to learn how to play the instrument and wrote her first song ever called "I've Loved and I've Lost, and I'm Sad but Not Blue."

She later met her then-future lover and musical collaborator, Lindsey Buckingham, when she was a senior at Menlo-Atherton High School.

In 1974, Fleetwood Mac was left without a male vocalist and a guitarist after Bob Welch, Bob Weston, and Dave Walker departed from the group.

Fortunately for Mick Fleetwood, he found out about the Nicks and Buckingham's musical tandem, but he was only interested in the latter. 

Buckingham agreed to be a part of the band as long as Nicks would join as a guitarist, and the rest was history.

According to American Songwriter, Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" revolves around the topic of changes and challenges of life.

Stevie Nicks wrote the song in 1974 while she was staying in Aspen. At the time, her then-partner, Lindsey Buckingham, was on the road for a series of concerts with Don Everly.

As noted by the outlet, the song was inspired by her love for her former partner as well as the problems surrounding their massive career. In addition, she also got a few inspirations from her relationship with her dad.

The song, which was said to be written in only five minutes, was iconic on its own as it became a part of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list; it also dominated the charts decades after its release in 2021.

In an interview with The New York Times published in 2014, the singer expressed her true feelings when she wrote the song as she told the publication that she felt "old in a lot of ways."

"I'd been working as a waitress and a cleaning lady for years. I was tired," she added. 

Some of the lines from the track may be deemed simple by other people, but it made a big impact on some as it resonated with a lot of listeners.

"And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills," the lyrics read, which was inspired by the view from the place she was staying at in Colorado.

"'Til the landslide brought me down," the chorus continued, which reflected the struggles she was facing at the time.

Nicks indeed became a waitress and a house cleaner at one point in her life when she and Buckingham were living together in the 70s.

According to the Washington Post, the musician worked hard to earn money for both of them while her former lover practiced the guitar.

Her job didn't stop her from loving music, as she kept a journal and wrote songs in it from time to time.

Like any other couple, the pair also experienced hardships in their relationship, but there was a point in their romance when Buckingham belittled and even physically abused his partner. 

In a biography about Nicks titled "Gold Dust Woman" written by Stephen Davis, the author detailed the alleged abuse.

As detailed in the book, reported by Fox 13, the author alleged that the male singer "manhandled Stevie, slapped her face and bent her backward over the hood of his car. He put his fingers around her neck and started to choke her."

Nicks reacted in the biography as she said, "I thought he was going to kill me."

It was not the only time they had an altercation, as it also happened when they were posing for the album cover of "Buckingham Nicks."

At the time, the former couple's record label reportedly asked them to look "sexy," but Nicks disagreed with the photographer's request for her to remove her blouse.

Buckingham was not having it as he told his then-25-year-old girlfriend, "Don't be a f****** child, this is art!"

Despite their tumultuous relationship back in the day, the musician said she and her ex-partner made amends in 2013 as he agreed to respect her.

Do you like the song "Landslide" written by Stevie Nicks? Did you resonate with the track's lyrics? Let us know your thoughts, and make sure to pass this on to your friends and family.