As Side 1 of the The Wild Heart starts to wind down, the tempo starts to pick up with “Enchanted.” Showcasing tight vocals and a strong hook, “Enchanted” is similar to other spry, uptempo songs that Stevie has recorded, such as “I Don’t Want to Know” (with Fleetwood Mac, 1977), “Imperial Hotel” (1985), and “In Your Dreams” (2011). Though it was never released as a single, “Enchanted” received moderate US radio airplay, reaching No. 12 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart. It later became a staple in her concert set lists.
‘Constructive travelling’
Stevie recalls writing the lyrics to “Enchanted” quickly during a car ride to Long Island. “We wrote it last summer (1982) on the way from New York City to Quogue, on Long Island. We wrote it in a car, in the limousine. We heard the instrumental part out of the speakers, and we hooked up our KD-5, which is the savior of our singing lives. So we sang and recorded, and by the time we got there, the song was written. Constructive travelling, I call it.”
Stevie first performed “Enchanted” live on The Wild Heart tour. The song title went on to bear the name of Stevie’s 1998 box set release The Enchanted Works of Stevie Nicks, a three-disc retrospective representing her entire solo work.
Enchanted vs. Destiny
“Enchanted” is closely related to “Destiny,” another song recorded during The Wild Heart sessions. Both tracks share similar verses but use different choruses. Despite its compelling, power-ballad vocal, “Destiny” was shelved for the time being. Stevie finally recorded the song 10 years later for her fifth solo album Street Angel (1994).
Musicians
Roy Bittan: Piano
Bob Glaub: Bass
Bobbye Hall: Percussion
Russ Kunkel: Drums
Benmont Tench: Organ
Waddy Wachtel: Guitar
Sharon Celani & Lori Perry: Background vocals
Produced by Jimmy Iovine. Recorded at Record Plant, New York
Billboard charts
Mainstream Rock: 12 (July 16, 1983)
Lyrics
(1-2-3-4)
Cryin’ in the morning trying to be strong
Waitin’ for the spring to turn into the fall
Love don’t mean what it says at all
And destiny says that I’m destined to fall
Enchanted
You thought you saw something in my eyes
Enchanted
It’s a shame that you wanted me
You didn’t try
Why the sad face
Oh, darling
Was it my darkness
Shadow light
I mean to cause no trouble for you
That is the story of my life
Enchanted
You thought you saw something in my eyes
Enchanted
It’s a shame that you wanted me
You didn’t try
Enchanted
Wo, it’s just a voice through the night
Enchanted
Well, I hope you make it
You were gone
You were gone from me
When I remember someone
I remember their dreams
In those dreams that no one knows of
My destiny says that I’m destined to run
(Enchanted)
Ooh, you saw something in my eyes
Enchanted
It’s a shame that you wanted me
You didn’t try
Enchanted
Well, it’s just a voice through the night
Enchanted
Well, I hope you make it
Ooh, enchanted
Well, I hope you make it
Wo…
Wo-wo-ho
I hope you make it
Wo…
Wo-wo-wo
I hope you make it
Yay…
Yay-yay-yay
I hope you make it
Yay..
Yay-yay-yay
I hope you make it
(Stevie Nicks)
© 1982 Welsh Witch Music (BMI) / Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI)
NEXT: Nightbird ~ When I call will you walk gently through my shadow… >
References
Modern Records. (1983). Stevie Nicks: The Wild Heart [Press release].
Whitburn, J. (2008). Joel Whitburn presents rock tracks 1981-2008. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc.
