About the Song
Stevie Nicks, the enigmatic songstress of Fleetwood Mac fame, has a knack for weaving deeply personal experiences into captivating narratives. Her 1981 solo hit, “Edge of Seventeen,” exemplifies this talent, standing as a powerful exploration of grief and the fragility of life.
The song’s origins lie in a period of immense personal loss for Nicks. Within the same week, she faced the sudden deaths of her uncle and music icon John Lennon. This profound grief permeates the lyrics, creating a haunting atmosphere that lingers long after the final note fades.
The opening lines set a melancholic tone: “Just like the white-winged dove / Sails across the sunny sky / You were young and full of life / With a smile in your eye.” The imagery of the white dove, a symbol often associated with peace and the departed soul, foreshadows the emotional weight of the song.
“Edge of Seventeen” isn’t a song solely focused on mourning. It delves into the universal themes of impermanence and the preciousness of life. The lyrics, “Didn’t know it was the end / And all the words that I can say / Wouldn’t bring back yesterday” resonate with anyone who has experienced loss. The song captures the sting of sudden goodbyes and the yearning for unsaid words.
Musically, the song complements the lyrical message perfectly. The slow tempo and melancholic piano chords create a sense of introspection, inviting the listener to share Nicks’ emotional journey. Her vocals, soaring and expressive at times, then dropping to a vulnerable whisper at others, convey the raw pain of loss.
“Edge of Seventeen” transcends the boundaries of a personal experience. It becomes an anthem for anyone who has grappled with grief. The song serves as a reminder to cherish the present and the loved ones in our lives. It’s a testament to the enduring power of music to offer solace and shared humanity in the face of loss.
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Lyrics: Edge of Seventeen
Just like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo-whoo-whoo
Just like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whooAnd the days go by
Like a strand in the wind
In the web that is my own
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby
Nothin’ else matteredHe was no more
(He was no more)
Than a baby then
Well, he seemed broken-hearted
Somethin’ within him
But the moment
That I first laid
Eyes on him
All alone on the edge of seventeenJust like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, whoo
Just like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Said, whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whooWell, I went today
Maybe I will go again
Tomorrow, yeah, yeah
Well, the music there
Well it was hauntingly familiar
When I see you doin’
What I try to do for me
With their words of a poet
And a voice from a choir
And a melody
Nothin’ else matteredJust like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, said whoo
Just like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Said, whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whooThe clouds never expect it
When it rains
But the sea changes colours
But the sea
Does not change
So with the slow graceful flow
Of age
I went forth with an age old
Desire to please
On the edge of seventeenJust like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, said whoo
Just like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whooWell then suddenly
There was no one left standing
In the hall, yeah, yeah
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
When I went searchin’ for an answer
Up the stairs and down the hall
Not to find an answer
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird singin’
Come away
(Come away)
(Come away)Just like the white-winged dove
(Just like the white-winged dove)
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, said whoo
Just like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whooWell, I hear you (well, I hear you)
In the morning (in the morning)
And I hear you (and I hear you)
At nightfall (at nightfall)
Sometime to be near you
Is to be unable to hear you
My love
I’m a few years older than you
(I’m a few years older than you)
My loveJust like the white-winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo