“That Made Me Stronger” is Track 7 on Trouble in Shangri-La, Stevie Nicks‘ sixth solo album. It follows “Too Far from Texas” and precedes “It’s Only Love” in the track order.
About the Song
In 1994, Stevie Nicks had dinner with Tom Petty to discuss the possibility of him writing songs for her. “I remember asking my dear friend Tom Petty to work with me on some songs. I wasn’t feeling my best; I was unsure about a lot of things. He said, ‘No, you’re a premier songwriter. You don’t need anyone to help you with your songs. Do it yourself.’ It was the jolt I needed. It was a pivotal moment for me. The clouds cleared, and things started to naturally flow again.”
Stevie thanked Tom in the Trouble in Shangri-La CD booklet: “Special Thanks to Tom Petty for his inspirational lecture over dinner at the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, April 24th, 1994. I returned home and began writing these songs.”
Stevie also recorded the related “Hard Advice” for 24 Karat Gold: Songs from the Vault in 2014.
Lyrics
Dreams reoccur in my solitude
Breaking my heart
Injuring my mood
With all of the things that I thought I knew
It was you
Well the conversation rings in my head
Well you know me better than I know myself
Will you write this for me
He says no, you write your songs yourself
That made me stronger
It made me hold on to me
Well, I remember
You caught my eye
It was late September
It was no surprise
He made me better
His songs were soft and tender sometimes
Well the conversations ring in my head
I remember everything that we said
All those tears that we shed
Well the conversation rings in my head
Well you know me better than I know myself
Will you write this for me
He says no, you write your songs yourself
That made me stronger
It made me hold on to me
The conversations ring in my head
I remember everything that we said
All those tears that we shed
Don’t call me when you’re lonely
Well the conversation rings in my head
Well you know me better than I know myself
Will you write this for me
He says no, you write your songs yourself
That made me stronger
It made me hold on to me
Well once more I tell the shadows of my soul
To stay back
Everything has changed now
And I don’t want to go back 0000
And nothing you can say can change my mind
Well once more I tell the shadows of my soul
To stay back
Everything has changed now
And I don’t want to go back
And nothing you can say can change my mind
(Stevie Nicks/Scott F. Crago/Timothy Drury) © 1999 ℗ Welsh Witch Music (BMI)/Third Lug Music (ASCAP)/Viramore Music (BMI). All rights reserved.
Produced by Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, and Jeff Trott
References
Nicks, S. (2001). Trouble in shangri-la [CD booklet].
WEA Records (2001, June-3). Stevie Nicks biography [Press release].
TROUBLE IN SHANGRI-LA: Trouble in Shangri-La | Candlebright | Sorcerer | Planets of the Universe | Every Day | Too Far From Texas | That Made Me Stronger | It’s Only Love | Love Changes | I Miss You | Bombay Sapphires | Fall From Grace | Love Is
