“Gold and Braid” is an unreleased track from the Bella Donna sessions. A remixed live version of the song appears on Enchanted (1998) and an unreleased version appears on the deluxe version of Bella Donna (2016).
About the Song
“Gold and Braid” is about Stevie’s relationship with guitarist Lindsey Buckingham. “‘Gold And Braid,’ another song on Enchanted, is an unreleased track from my Bella Donna solo debut sessions, and it’s about Lindsey wanting more from me in our relationship. But wanting to know everything about someone, which goes hand in hand with being in love, was never something I’ve ever wanted to share with anybody. Professionally, everybody always wanted me to be their idea of what I should be. I’d flat-out look at people and say, ‘You know I’m not gonna do what you want, so why do you bother?” (White, 1998).
Lyrics
(demo version)
Though deep set, somewhat shadowed
Her life, her mystery
Was no different than the way that he said
“Don’t hide behind your hair that way”
In his heart, he wishes for her stardom
His eyes wish for her, for more
It’s not so different than the way that he said
“There are so very few stars left”, ooh-ooh
But don’t hide behind your hair
It’s a bit of gold and braid
Easy come the tears
You see a pathway ending with a doorway
As she slips towards the doorway
He’s been waiting there all day
All these years
Though deep set, somewhat shadowed
Her life, her wisdom of old
It’s not so different than the way that he said
“Well, don’t hide your eyes from me that way, baby”
Oh, don’t hide eyes from me
Here’s a bit of gold and braid
Easy come the tears
She sees a pathway ending with a doorway
As she slips towards the doorway
He’s been waiting there all these
All these years
Don’t hide it…
Ooh, in his heart he wishes to forget her
Like to make her better
Hold her like a child
Though deep set, somewhat shadowed
Is her life, her mystery
It was no different than the way that he said
“But don’t hide behind your hair that way, baby”
But don’t hide behind your hair
It’s a bit of gold and braid
But easy come the tears
She sees a pathway ending with a doorway
As she slips towards the doorway
It’s been waiting there all day
All these years
Don’t hide your eyes that way
Don’t hide anything not anymore
Oh, in the eye of a storm
When all the pride is gone
When all the light is gone
There is lightning
In a dream he whispers, but this time
You cannot run away, run away from me
Well, and in a dream he whispered
That I never did not love you
(Stevie Nicks/Tom Moncrieff) 1981 © Welsh Witch Music/Mclooney Tunes.
Reference
White, T. (1998, April 20). Nicks goes the distance. Billboard.
