“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 chart. 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.
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