“Kick It” is a sleeper track from Street Angel (1994), Stevie Nicks‘ fifth solo album. Partly inspired by Oscar Wilde’s 1888 story “The Happy Prince.” Stevie had adapted lines from Wilde’s public-domain work for the song. It’s not surprising that Stevie’s has derived inspiration from classic literary works. In addition to Wilde, Stevie has paid homage to Charles Dickens, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe, among others, in her songs.

In “Kick It,” Stevie sings about “A strange kind of love affair / A symphony of sorts / A strange kind of love affair / A declaration of war,” which could be Fleewood Mac, drugs, fame, or all of the above. At the time, Stevie was at a crossroads in her life, having estranged herself from Fleetwood Mac and beaten a powerful addiction to Klonopin. Stevie was ready to kick both habits, so to speak, and focus again on making creating great music.

Lyrics

I’ll stay with you one more night
I’ll bid you no goodbyes
Not until tomorrow’s light
Then I’ll say goodnight
Well, I would really rather die
Than make you stop
I think that is the meaning of love

I think that is the meaning of love
And I prefer to kick it
Yes, I think that is the meaning of love
And I prefer to kick it
Kick the habit

Well I’m waited for in Egypt
It’s just something I must do
Yes, I can see you’re waited for all over you
All day and all night
All over the world
It’s your world It’s your world

I think that is the meaning of love
And I’m prepared to kick it
Yes, I think that is the meaning of love
And I prefer to kick it

So what is this (what is this)
When you can (when you can)
What is this
What about me
What is this (What is this)
I understand (I understand)
What is this I’m lonely I’m lonely (I’m lonely)

It’s a strange kind of love affair
A symphony of sorts
Strange kind of love affair
A declaration of war
No, I won’t be here tomorrow night
You won’t see me smiling
Tomorrow when it’s very dark
No crying

I think that is the meaning of love
And I prefer to kick it
Yes, I think that is the meaning of love
Surrender

Well, I think that is the meaning of love (think that’s the meaning of love)
I think that is the meaning of love (love, love)
And I prefer to kick it
Yes, I think that is the meaning of love (love, love)
But, I prefer to kick it

Well, I loved you more than life itself (love, love)
(Nothing like forever more)
But I’m prepared to kick it
(Something like dying)
Yes, I loved you more than life itself (love, love)
But I’m prepared to kick it
I think that is the meaning of love
And I’m prepared to kick it

(Stevie Nicks/Mike Campbell) © 1994 Welsh Witch Music (BMI)/Wild Gator Music (ASCAP) (Stevie Nicks/Mike Campbell) © 1994 Welsh Witch Music (BMI)/Wild Gator Music (ASCAP)

Musicians

Reference

Wilde, Oscar (1888). The Happy Prince.