“After the Glitter Fades” is Track 5 on Bella Donna, Stevie Nicks‘ first solo album, which happens to turn 40 this month.

Stevie wrote the song about the highs and lows of stardom, a premonition of things to come in her life and career. “‘After the Glitter Fades’ was written in 1972; it was copyrighted in 1975. Which is a strange sort of premonition to have in 1972 because that was two years before Fleetwood Mac. And I mean that was when the Buckingham Nicks album had been dropped, so we were going nowhere fast. And I seemed to have some idea what was going to happen, that I was really gonna face some really serious glitter and see some serious glitter fade.”

Stevie actually had country singer Dolly Parton in mind when she wrote the song. “I wanted [Dolly Parton] to do ‘After the Glitter Fades’ ’cause I really thought it would be perfect for her. And it got sent to her and I don’t think Dolly ever really got it. I think if she’d ever got the song, she would have wanted to do it.”

Lyrics

Well I never thought I’d make it
Here in Hollywood
I never thought I’d ever
Want to stay
What I seem to touch these days
Has turned to gold
What I seem to want
Well you know I’ll find a way

For me it’s the only life
That I’ve ever known
And love is only one
Fine star away
Even though the living
Is sometimes laced with lies
It’s alright
The feeling remains
Even after the glitter fades

The loneliness of a one night stand
Is hard to take
We all chase something
And maybe this is a dream
The timeless face of a rock and roll
Woman while her heart breaks
Oh you know the dream keeps coming
Even when you forget to feel

For me it’s the only life
That I’ve ever known
And love is only one fine star away
Even though the living
Is sometimes laced with lies
It’s alright
The feeling remains
Even after the glitter fades

For me it’s the only life
That I’ve ever known
And love is only one fine star away
Even though the living
Is sometimes laced with lies
It’s alright
The feeling remains
Even after the glitter fades
Oh you know the feeling remains
Even after the glitter fades
Oh the feeling remains
Even after the glitter fades

(Stevie Nicks) © 1975 Welsh Witch Music (BMI) admin by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Release

“After the Glitter Fades” was the fourth and final single from Bella Donna. Coupled with “Think About It,” the single reached No. 32 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart.

Reference

Nicks, S. (1981). Interview with Stevie Nicks.  Denis McNamara, interviewer, WLIR 92.7 FM.

Nicks, S. (1981). Interview with Stevie Nicks. WMMR 93.3 FM.

Nicks, S. (1981). Interview with Stevie Nicks. WIOQ 102.1 FM.