“Secret Love” is Track 1 and the lead single from In Your Dreams (2011), Stevie Nicks‘ seventh solo album. It precedes “For What It’s Worth” in the running order.
About the Song
In preparing to record “Secret Love” for In Your Dreams, Stevie’s assistant found a better quality demo of the song on YouTube. “That demo got slipped out somehow a long, long time ago. Karen, my assistant, called all of us in and said, ‘Check this out!’ and we go on YouTube and there it is, a better quality demo of ‘Secret Love’ than the one we have found. I said, I don’t know how I feel about that because I would have been happier had nobody ever heard ‘Secret Love,’ so you know I’m trying to look at it from the other way and go, ‘Well, everybody that’s had it for 30 years is really happy that it’s now actually gonna come out as a real song.'” (Stewart & Nicks, 2013).
Release
On April 26, 2011, Reprise Records released a promotional CD and video for “Secret Love.” The video featured Stevie Nicks, Dave Stewart, and Mick Fleetwood performing in Stevie’s Los Angeles house and backyard. Stevie’s oddaughter Kelly also appeared in the video, wearing a vintage dress that Stevie wore in 1976. Stevie herself wore at least three different dresses in the video, including her signature “Rhiannon” black chiffon dress with long sleeves and a white dress with a cream-colored buttoned jacket. She also twirled a baton, a skill that dates back to her early years.
On July 28, 2023, Reprise Records released Stevie Nicks: The Complete Studio Albums & Rarities. The vinyl edition of In Your Dreams included an alternate version of “Secret Love” without overdubs.
Lyrics
Come on it’s time to go upstairs
But I don’t want to be leavin’ you here
I can’t go be in that room alone
When I know that you’re down here in tears
I am not asking forever from you
I’m just asking to be held for awhile
In a timeless search for a love that might work
We’re already payin’ the price
But you need some rest
My darlin’, it’s best
But we already passed it, I cried
Oooh wee
Listen to me
Must secret love secretly
Die
Come on it’s time to go outside
‘Cause I don’t want to be leavin’ you here
I can’t go be in that world alone
When I know that you’re down here in tears
I am not asking salvation from you
I’m just asking to be saved for awhile
In a timeless search for a love that might work
Still we’re already payin’ the price
But you need some rest
Darlin’, it’s best
But we already passed it, I cried
Oooh wee
Listen to me
Must secret love secretly
Die
Oh, you need some rest
Oh, you need some rest
My darling it’s best
Must secret love secretly
Secretly die
(Stevie Nicks) © 2011 Welsh Witch Music (BMI) Admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI)
Billboard Charts
#20 (Adult Contemporary)
#25 (Adult Alternative – Triple A)
References
Doherty, M. (2011). Stevie Nicks revisits beautiful and crazy ’70s for “Secret Love” — video premiere. Retrieved from www.spinner.com
Stewart, D. & Nicks, S. (2013). Stevie Nicks: In your dreams [documentary film]. Weapons of Mass Entertainment.
