“I Sing for the Things” is Track 4 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks‘ third solo album. It follows “Sister Honey” and precedes “Some Become Strangers” in the album track order.

About ‘I Sing for the Things’

Stevie first rehearsed “I Sing for the Things” for The Wild Heart (1983). In 2016, Rhino Records issued a previously-unreleased version of “I Sing for the Things” on the deluxe edition of The Wild Heart. Stevie recorded “I Sing for the Things” for Rock a Little version with a slightly different musical arrangement.

Stevie performed “I Sing for the Things” live for the first time, debuting the song at a concert in Seattle, Washington on March 15, 2023.

‘I Sing for the Things’ Lyrics

You say I have everything
Well, I’m living on dreams and chains
But I sing for the things money can’t buy

You say you don’t believe
Well, could you just look at me
Well, look deep into my eyes, my love

Ooh…

Well, have you ever been in love
Have you touched the soul of someone
Did the fear inside you make you turn and run

I’ll take off my cape for you
I’ll take down my hair for you
Anything you want me to do, my love

Well, I’ll sit home and wait for you
Ooh darling, there’s nothing that I’d rather do
Anything you want me to do, my love

Ooh, ooh…

Have you ever been in love
Have you touched the soul of someone, baby
Well, did the fear inside you make you turn and run, yeah

You say I have everything
Well, I’ve been living on some dreams and chains
But I sing for the things that money can’t buy me

Have you ever been in love
Have you touched the soul of someone
Did the fear inside you make you turn and run

Ooh…

Have you ever been in love
Have you touched the soul of someone, oh
Well, did the fear inside you make you turn and run, baby

Ooh, did the fear inside you make you turn and run
Make you turn and run
Make you turn and run from me, no

(Stevie Nicks) © 1985 Welsh Witch Music (BMI)/Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Musicians

• George Black: Synth bass, guitar, and background vocals
• Sharon Celani: Background vocals
• Bobbye Hall: Percussion
• Bob Glaub: Bass
• Charlie Judge: Synthesizer
• Danny Kortchmar: Guitar
• Russ Kunkel: Drums
• Lori Nicks: Background vocals
• Stevie Nicks: Lead vocals
• Rick Nowels: Synthesizer
• Benmont Tench: Piano

Production Credits

• Jimmy Iovine: Producer
• Shelly Yakus: Mixer, Recording Engineer, Record Planet
• Studio 55: Overdubs

Release History

• Rock a Little (1985)
• The Wild Heart – Deluxe Edition (2016) – Unreleased Version
• Complete Studio Albums & Rarities (2023)

References

Nicks, S. (1985). [Liner notes]. In Rock a Little [CD]. Los Angeles: Modern Records.

“Imperial Hotel” is Track 5 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks‘ third solo album. It follows “I Sing for the Things” and precedes “Some Become Strangers” in the tracking order.

About ‘Imperial Hotel’

Stevie Nicks has never publicly talked about “Imperial Hotel.” In the Rock a Little album credits, Stevie dedicated the song to Benmont Tench, the keyboardist for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.

In travel, there are several hotels called The Imperial Hotel or The Hotel Imperial, including The Imperial, a five-star luxury hotel in Vienna, Austria. It’s unclear which hotel is the subject of Stevie’s “Imperial Hotel.”

‘Imperial Hotel’ Lyrics

He says to her, “Why do you do it?”
She says to him, “Why do you stay?”
Then they say unspoken words to explain it
He says, “Baby, I hate to see you this way
I hate to see you, I hate to see you cry”

Well, you can get her
But you can’t keep her
And you can’t catch her fall

She will call you
When she needs you
You know where she lives
The Imperial

She sits across the table the same glass table
Cries to her friend, “Why am I so alone?”
He says, “Wo baby, baby, baby, baby
This is the path you have chosen”
She probably goes under another name
Well, that’s a good idea

So, you can get her
But you can’t keep her
And you can’t catch her fall

Well, she will call you
When she needs you
You know where she lives
The Imperial Hotel

Who’s there?
Where has she gone?
But, I think she just went home

Sits across the table same glass table
And she cries to her friend, “Why am I so alone?”
He says, “Wo, wo, baby oh, my baby
You have to know you have to know”

She knows in her heart
That he will stand by her
Anywhere don’t cry, baby

I can save you
Don’t cry baby, I can save you
She’s at the Imperial Hotel
Don’t cry baby, I can save you

(Stevie Nicks/Michael Campbell) 1985 © Welsh Witch Music (BMI)/Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Wild Gator Music (ASCAP)/Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Musicians

• Michael Campbell: Guitar
• Sharon Celani: Background vocals
• Steve Jordan: Drums
• Marilyn Martin: Background vocals
• Lori Nicks: Background vocals
• Stevie Nicks: Lead vocals
• Benmont Tench: Organ

Production Credits

• Gabe Veltri: Recording Engineer, Village Recorder
• Shelly Yakus: Mixer
• Jimmy Iovine: Producer
• Record One: Overdubs

Chart Performance

“Imperial Hotel” was a vinyl single in Australia, where it reached No. 99 on the Kent Music Report in October 1986. “I Can’t Wait” (Dub Mix) was the b-side.

Release History

• Rock a Little (1985)
• “Imperial Hotel”/”I Can’t Mix” (Dub Mix) (1986) – 7″ vinyl single, Australia

References

Nicks, S. (1985). [Liner notes]. In Rock a Little [CD]. Los Angeles: Modern Records.

“Talk to Me” is Track 7 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks‘ third solo album. It follows “Imperial Hotel” and precedes “The Nightmare” in the album track order.

Released as the album’s lead single, “Talk to Me” reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Billboard Album Tracks. An official music video accompanied the release of “Talk to Me.” Two versions of the video, each edited differently, aired on MTV.

About ‘Talk to Me’

Songwriter Chas Sandford, who had co-written John Waite’s No. 1 single “Missing You,” wrote “Talk to Me.”

“[‘Talk to Me’] was a hard song to sing, but I had loved ‘Missing You’ (co-written by Chas with John Waite), and I loved the words to ‘Talk to Me.” It took a long time to finish it though because I couldn’t quite get the right feeling on it…until one night. Jim Keltner came in to do some drum overdubs, and then he stayed to be an audience to push me a little, to make me get a great vocal. So I had someone to sing to, and I got the vocal. I put some tambourine on it, and it was finished, forevermore. That was one of my unforgettable moments.” (Stevie Nicks, 1991)

Three Versions

There are three official versions of “Talk to Me”:

1. Album Version 1 (4:08/4:10). This version is the most familiar and appears on the most pressings of Rock a Little (1985).
2. Album Version 2 (4:13). This version is similar to Album Version 1 but is mixed differently. The vocals and timpani drums in the chorus are emphasized. Album Version 2 appears on Stand Back: 1981-2014 (R1 587604/603497852468).
3. Alternate Version (4:15) This version has a different vocal and musical arrangement. It appears on the Time/Life Music compilation Sounds of the Eighties: 1986 (R988-04, Warner Special Products ‎– OPCD-2730).

Use of Timpani

The album version of “Talk to Me” is distinctive for the use of timpani, or kettledrums, which are usually found in classical orchestras. The thunderous sound of timpani introduces the song and plays throughout the chorus.

‘Talk to Me’ Lyrics

I can see we’re thinkin’ ’bout the same things
Yes, I see your expression when the phone rings
We both know there’s something happenin’ here

There’s no sense in dancing ’round the subject
A wound gets worse when it’s treated with neglect
Well, don’t turn now
There’s nothing here to fear

You can talk to me
Talk to me
You can talk to me
You can set your secrets free, baby

Dusty words lying under carpets
Seldom heard, well, must you keep your secrets
Locked inside, hidden deep from view

Was it all that hard, is it all that tough?
Now, I’ve shown you all my cards
Well, isn’t that enough
You can hide your hurt, but there’s something you can do

You can talk to me
You can talk to me
When you’re down now
You can talk to me
T-t-talk to me

Though we lay face to face and cheek to cheek
Our voices stray from the common ground where they could meet
The walls run high to veil a swelling tear

Oh, let the walls burn down
Set your secrets free
You can break their bounds
‘Cause you’re safe with me
You can lose your doubt
‘Cause you’ll find no danger here

You can talk to me
Talk to me
When you’re down now
You can talk to me
You can set your secrets free, baby

Well, I can see that expression when the phone rings
And I can see that we’re thinkin’ ’bout the same things
Is it all that hard
Ss it all that tough
Well, I know you’ve taken all that there is
Isn’t that enough?

Well, I can see you baby
I can see you runnin’
Well, I can see you baby
Well I can see you runnin’
Talk to me

(Chas Sandford) 1985 Fallwater Music

About Songwriter Chas Sandford

Chas Sandford has received 12 ASCAP “Most Performed Songs” awards, including the multi-platinum hit “Missing You,” recorded by John Waite, “What Kind of Man Would I Be” by Chicago, and “Talk To Me” by Stevie Nicks. In addition to his writing, he is an acclaimed artist and guitarist, as well as a producer, engineer, and recording studio owner. (Originally retrieved from: brentwoodhomepage.com/hit-songwriters-perform-on-apr-7-in-fundraiser-for-gildas-club)

Musicians

• Sharon Celani: Background vocals
• Jim Keltner: Drum overdubs
• Lori (Perry) Nicks: Background vocals
• Stevie Nicks: Lead vocals
• Greg Phillinganes: Timpani (kettledrums)
• Chas Sandford: Drum machine, mirage synthesizer, bass, and electric 6 & 12 string guitars
• Barney Wilens: Saxophone

Production Credits

• Chas Sandford and Gabe Veltri: Recording Engineers
• Chas Sandford, Don Smith, and Shelly Yakus: Mixers
• Chas Sandford and Jimmy Iovine: Producers
• Chas Sanford and George Black: Arrangers
• Gabe Veltri: Vocal overdubs

Release History

• Rock a Little (1985)
• “Talk to Me” (7″/12″ vinyl singles) (1985)
• Timespace: The Best of Stevie Nicks (1991)
• Sounds of the Eighties: 1986 (Alternate Version) (1994)
• The Enchanted Works of Stevie Nicks (1998)
• Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks (2007)
• Stand Back: 1981-2014 (2019)

Chart Performance

Chart	Peak
Billboard Hot 100	4
Billboard Album Rock Tracks	1
Billboard Adult Contemporary	14
Billboard Pop Singles (Year-end)	57
Australian Kent Music Report	22
Canadian RPM Top Singles	6
German Singles	28
UK Singles	68

 

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References

Nicks, S. (1985). [Liner notes]. In Rock a Little [CD]. Los Angeles: Modern Records.

Nicks, S. (1991). [Liner notes]. In Timespace [CD]. Los Angeles: Modern Records.

Whitburn, J. (2008). Joel Whitburn presents rock tracks 1981-2008. Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research, Inc.

“If I Were You” is Track 9 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks’ third solo album. It follows “The Nightmare” and precedes “No Spoken Word” in the album track order.

‘If I Were You’ Lyrics

Baby how much closer could we be
I swear you’ve become a part of me
You are with me everywhere I go
If you feel it I already know
Everything I say to you is true
I don’t want to tell you what to do

But if I were you
I would take the love I’m giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you

I would trust in me like I trusted in you
Oh, if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

I know what you’re dreaming when you sleep
You have secrets I will always keep
And in every morning when we arise
I see my reflection in your eyes

Every boy must learn to be a man
Maybe I can help you, yes I can

But if I were you
I would take the love I’m giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you

I would trust in me like I trusted in you
Oh, if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Well, I believe that love is a living thing
Born into our destinies
From a single moment of inspiration
And as it grows it changes your life forever!

But if I were you
I would take the love I’m giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you

I would trust in me like I trusted in you
Oh, if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

(Stevie Nicks/Rick Nowels) 1985 © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP

Musicians

• Sharon Celani: Background vocals
• Charles Judge: Synthesizer
• David Kemper: Tambourine
• Michael Landau: Guitar
• Marilyn Martin: Background vocals
• Andy Newmark: Drums
• Lori Perry: Background vocals
• Stevie Nicks: Lead vocals, synthesizer
• Rick Nowels: Guitar and background vocals
• Maria Vidal: Background vocals

Production Credits

• John Kovarek, Gary Skardina, and Gabe Veltri: Recording Engineers, Conway Studios, Hit Factory, Music Grinder
• Rick Nowels: Producer
• Csaba Petocz: Mixer

Release History

• Rock a Little (1985)

References

Nicks, S. (1985). [Liner notes]. In Rock a Little [CD]. Los Angeles: Modern Records.

“No Spoken Word” is Track 10 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks‘ third solo album. It follows “If I Were You” and precedes “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You” in the album track order.

About ‘No Spoken Word’

Stevie Nicks hasn’t publicly revealed the story behind “No Spoken Word,” but she performed the song in concert on the Rock a Little and Street Angel tours.

‘No Spoken Word’ Lyrics

I was just that old
That August dark, dark day
Swear that you never saw her face
Swear that you never heard her say

No spoken word
No small command
What was it she wanted
They say she had everything

No spoken word
No small command
What was it she wanted
They say she had everything

What shall I do
What shall I say
Should I say
Whoa, all the things
That I’d like to say to you

No spoken word
No small command
What was it she wanted
They say she had everything
Let’s make a deal here

Ooh, for one night
Well baby, you fill the night with the
Wind and the rain and the water

Oh, for one night
Well, just for one night
You know that well that
Disastrous sound

Now it will make me wiser
He says, and it will make you look
She says, look out
I don’t know how to learn
From the pages of a book

Well, I either say too much, or I
I don’t say enough
Well, I play too hard
Still I’m not tough enough
What was it she wanted
They say she had everything

No spoken word
No small command
What was it she wanted
They said she had everything

Oh, come around tonight indecent
Well
Ah, ha come around
Tonight, indecent baby well,
You fill the room
With the rain and the wind and the water

If you tell me,
One more time
Oh baby, take it easy
Well, you won’t see me ever again

Some people walk down that darkened street
With the faith of a child
And so go the faithless
But after a while, she says

No spoken word
Let’s make a deal here
No small command
What was it she wanted
They said she had everything
Oh, I don’t want to know about it

(Stevie Nicks) ©1985 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Musicians

• Denny Carmassi: Drums
• Bill Cuomo: Keyboards
• Sharon Celani: Background vocals
• Marilyn Martin: Background vocals
• Rick Nowels: Background vocals
• Lori Perry: Background vocals
• Stevie Nicks: Lead vocals, synthesizer
• Michael Porcaro: Bass
• Waddy Watchel: Guitar

Production Credits

• Brian Foraker and Dennis Sager: Recording Engineers, Goodnight LA
• Keith Olsen: Producer and Mixer

Release History

• Rock a Little (1985)
• Long Way to Go/Real Tears/No Spoken Word (Live)/Long Way to Go (Remix) – European singles (1987)

“Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You” is Track 11 on Rock a Little (1985), Stevie Nicks third’s solo album. Released as the third and final single from the album, the song reached No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100. Stevie often closes her concerts with the moving ballad.

About ‘Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You’

Stevie Nicks wrote “Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You” for Eagles member Joe Walsh. Joe had taken Stevie on a drive to a North Boulder Park in Boulder, Colorado, where his daughter Emma Kristen used to play. Joe revealed to Stevie that Emma had been killed in an automobile accident. In her memory, Joe had a water fountain and memorial plaque installed in the park. The visit to the park profoundly moved Stevie to write the song.

“So [Joe] wrote a song for her, and I wrote a song for him. Thank you, Joe, for the most committed song I ever wrote. But more than that, thank you for inspiring me in so many ways. Nothing in my life ever seems as dark anymore since we took that drive.” (Stevie Nicks, 1991)

Buckingham Nicks producer Keith Olsen created the song’s musical bridge.

Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You Lyrics

Has anyone ever written anything for you
In all your darkest hours
Have you ever heard me sing
Listen to me now
You know I’d rather be alone
Than be without you
Don’t you know

Has anyone ever given anything to you
In your darkest hours
Did you ever give it back
Well, I have
I have given that to you
If it’s all I ever do
This is your song

And the rain comes down
There’s no pain and there’s no doubt
It was easy to say
I believed in you every day
If not for me
Then do it for the world

Has anyone ever written anything for you
In your darkest sorrow
Did you ever hear me sing
Listen to me now
You know I’d rather be alone
Than be without you
Don’t you know

So if not for me then
Do it for yourself
If not for me then
Do it for the world

Poet…priest of nothing…legend
Poet…priest of nothing…legend

(Stevie Nicks/Keith Olsen) © 1985 Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, FAMA MUSIC

Musicians

• Carolyn Brooks: Background vocals
• Charles Judge: Synthesizer
• David Kemper: Percussion
• Mike Landau: Guitar
• Lori Nicks: Background vocals
• Stevie Nicks: Lead vocals
• Jamie Sheriff: EMU programmer

Production Credits

• John Kovarek: Engineer/Mixer, Record Plant, Los Angeles
  Rick Nowels: Producer, Westlake Studios, West Hollywood

References

Nicks, S. (1991). [Liner notes]. In Timespace [CD]. Los Angeles: Modern Records.