“Lady” is a track from 24 Karat Gold — Songs from the Vault (2014), Stevie Nicks’ eighth solo album.
“Lady” dates back to the early 1970s when she and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham were living in producer Keith Olsen’s house. According to Stevie, it was the first song she had ever written on a piano. At the time, she and Lindsey were recording as the duo Buckingham Nicks, struggling to succeed as recording artists in Los Angeles. In the song, Stevie reveals her fears, restlessness, and uncertainty about this time in her life, pondering, “What is to become of me?”
“I think ‘Lady’ was written at the end of 1971 or beginning of 1972,” Stevie recalls, “when Lindsey and I got our first piano. I think it was the first song I ever wrote on a piano.”
Lyrics
Come lately
I just keep on waitin’
I see nothin’ out there
The sun keeps throwin’ out
The light from the clouds
But there’s no light in here
I know that things have gotta change
But how to change them isn’t unclear
I’m tired of knockin’ on doors
When there’s nobody there
You know I’m tired of knockin’ on doors
When there’s nobody there
And the time keeps goin’ on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I’m unsure
I can’t see my way
And he says Lady you don’t have to see
And the time keeps goin’ on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I’m unsure
I can’t see my way
And he says Lady you don’t need to see
And he says Lady you don’t need to see
Come lately
I just keep on waitin’
I see nothin’ out there
The sun keeps throwin’ out
Its light from the clouds
But there’s no light in here
I know that things have gotta change
But how to change them isn’t unclear
I’m tired of knockin’ on doors
When there’s nobody there
You know I’m tired of knockin’ on doors
When there’s nobody there
And the time keeps going on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I’m unsure
I can’t see my way
And see says Lady you don’t need to see
And the time keeps goin’ on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I’m unsure
I can’t see my way
And he says Lady you don’t need to see
And the time keeps goin’ on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I’m unsure
I can’t see my way
And he says Lady you don’t need to see
And he says Lady you don’t need to see
And he says maybe you don’t need to see
Oh, no…
(Stevie Nicks) © 2014 Welsh Witch Music (BMI). Administered by Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing (BMI)