“Silver Springs” is the b-side track of the “Go Your Own Way” single from Rumours, Fleetwood Mac’s eleventh album. It was recorded for the famous album, but controversially removed from it due its length. The song was replaced with another Stevie Nicks-penned song, the shorter “I Don’t Want to Know.”
About the Song
Stevie wrote “Silver Springs” about her breakup with fellow bandmate guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, a symbolic look at what their relationship could have been had it continued to progress. The title was inspired by a sign, bearing the name of the city Silver Spring. Stevie saw the sign while passing through Silver Spring, Maryland.
Stevie gave the “Silver Springs” song royalties to her mom Barbara, who affectionately called it her “rainy day song.”
In 1990, Stevie and Mick Fleetwood fought over whether “Silver Springs” could be included on Stevie’s first retrospective Timespace: The Best of Stevie Nicks. The track ultimately appeared on Fleetwood Mac’s 1992 retrospective 25 Years: The Chain instead, which caused friction between the two band members for many years. The “Silver Springs” dispute led to Stevie leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1990.
In 1997, Fleetwood Mac reunited and recorded “Silver Springs” for the live album The Dance. The band was nominated for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for this performance of the song at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.
In 2007, “Silver Springs” was included on Stevie’s third retrospective Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks — officially putting to the rest Stevie and Mick’s “Silver Springs” feud.
Lyrics
You could be my silver spring
Blue-green colors flashing
I would be your only dream
Your shinin’ autumn
Ocean crashing
And don’t say that she’s pretty
And did you say that she loves you
Baby, I don’t want to know
So I’ll begin not to love you
Turn around and see me runnin’
I’ll say I loved you years ago
Tell myself you never loved me, no
And don’t say that she’s pretty
And did you say that she loves you
Baby I don’t want to know
Oh no
And can you tell me was it worth it
Baby, I don’t want to know
Time cast a spell on you
But you won’t forget me
I know I could’ve loved you
But you would not let me
Time cast a spell on you
But you won’t forget me
I know I could’ve loved you
But you would not let me
I’ll follow you down
‘Til the sound of my voice will haunt you
(Well, give me just a chance)
You’ll never get away from the sound
Of the woman that loves you
(Was I just a fool)
I’ll follow you down
‘Til the sound of my voice will haunt you
(Give me just a chance)
Time cast a spell on you
But you won’t forget me
(Stevie Nicks) © 1977 Gentoo Music, Inc./Welsh Witch Music/Barbara Nicks Music (BMI)
Different Mixes
Five slightly varying mixes of “Silver Springs” are commercially available:
- “Go Your Own Way” b-side version (4:33) (1977)
- Fleetwood Mac – 25 Years: The Chain version (4:29) (1992)
- Rumours DVD Audio version (4:29) (2001)
- The Very of Best of Fleetwood Mac version (4:31) (2002)
- Rumours reissue version (2004) (4:49). This extended version also appears on Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks (2007) and the Rumours 36th anniversary reissue (2013).
Billboard Charts
| Chart | Position |
| Adult Contemporary | 5 |
| Adult Alternative Songs | 16 |
| Adult Top 40 | 22 |
| Mainstream Top 40 | 39 |
| Radio Songs | 41 |
Accoldade
Nomination: Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal -“Silver Springs” (40th Annual Grammy Awards)
Reference
‘Silver Springs’: Inside Fleetwood Mac’s Great Lost Breakup Anthem (Rolling Stone, 2017)
