“Fireflies” is Track 10 on Fleetwood Mac Live (1980), a compilation of Fleetwood Mac‘s live performances.
About the Song
Stevie Nicks wrote “Fireflies” about Fleetwood Mac and the struggles of being in a high-profile rock band.
In the song, Stevie refers to the band members as the “five fireflies” and describes how “everyone fights.” But despite their fighting, “no one ever leaves” and the members persevere “like a sailing ship.” Stevie alludes to the band’s resilience and strength in solidarity. “To survive do it right / You believe in the five / To survive the distance / Everyone fights.”
Fleetwood Mac recorded “Fireflies” for crew and friends at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in California.
“Fireflies” was released as a single from Fleetwood Mac Live (1980), a compilation of performances from Fleetwood Mac’s 1979-1980 Tusk tour. Stevie remixed the single for radio play with producers Richard Dashut and Ken Caillat. On February 28, 1981, the remixed single peaked at No. 60 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Lyrics
To be the last to leave…
The last to be gone
Stolen from the ones
Who hung onto it
To be the last in the line
Oh, the ones that live on
Silhouette of a dream
Treasured by the ones
Who hung onto it
Almost a breakdown
Of our love affair
The stiletto cuts quick
Like a whip through the air
Long distance winners
Where we survive the flight
No one of us runs
From the fire light
I would love to believe (ooh ooh)
I believe what you say (ooh ooh)
In the drama of the moment (ooh ooh)
Oh no, there is no easy way (ooh ooh)
No one ever leaves
Everyone stays close ’til the fire fades
I would love to believe (ooh ooh)
I believe what you say (ooh ooh)
In the drama of the moment (ooh ooh)
Of course, there is no easy way (ooh ooh)
No one ever leaves
Everyone stays close ’til the fire fades
The last to leave… (to be gone)
What caused the fearsome
Divorce in the night
And there was no competition
Well to survive, do it right
Oh, you believe in the five
To survive the distance
Everyone fights
Everyone fights
And the fire flies
Ooh, at the risk of my feelings
We are dreamers in the night
Some call it my nightmare
My five fireflies
Oh, like a sailing ship
Not one of us runs
Oh…
Oh…
Of our love affair
Like a whip through the air
I would love to believe
I believe what you say
It’s ok
(Stevie Nicks) © 1980 Welsh Witch Music admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
