About the song
“Dreams” is an iconic track by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, written and performed by Stevie Nicks. It was released as the second single from their critically acclaimed eleventh studio album, *Rumours* (1977). This song not only epitomizes the essence of Fleetwood Mac’s sound but also stands as a testament to the emotional depth and creative resilience of its members during a tumultuous period.
The song’s origins are deeply rooted in the band’s complex interpersonal dynamics. During the recording of *Rumours*, Fleetwood Mac was undergoing significant personal upheavals. Drummer Mick Fleetwood was dealing with a divorce, Christine and John McVie were separating, and Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were ending their long-term relationship. Despite the emotional turmoil, the band managed to channel their personal struggles into their music, creating a record that would go on to become one of the most successful of its era.
Stevie Nicks composed “Dreams” in early 1976 at Record Plant studio in Sausalito, California. The song came to life quickly; Nicks wrote it in about ten minutes while sitting at a keyboard in a room that once belonged to Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone. The song’s initial reception by the band was lukewarm, but Nicks’ persistence led to its inclusion on the album. The final recording was a product of meticulous production, including the use of an eight-bar drum loop and innovative signal processing for the guitars.
Released in March 1977 in the U.S. and June 1977 in the U.K., “Dreams” quickly ascended the charts. It became Fleetwood Mac’s only number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the RPM Top 100 Singles chart in Canada. Its haunting melody, coupled with Nicks’ distinctive vocal delivery and the band’s rich instrumentation, captured the zeitgeist of the late 1970s.
The song’s enduring appeal was reignited in late 2020 when a viral TikTok video by Nathan Apodaca featured him lip-syncing to “Dreams” while skateboarding and drinking Ocean Spray cranberry juice. This resurgence led to the song re-entering various charts, including the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Official Charts, achieving new peaks in multiple territories. It was even ranked number nine on Rolling Stone’s 2021 list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”
“Dreams” remains a powerful symbol of Fleetwood Mac’s legacy, showcasing the band’s ability to transform personal challenges into timeless music. Its blend of melancholic lyrics, rhythmic groove, and Nicks’ ethereal vocals ensure that “Dreams” continues to captivate audiences decades after its initial release.
Video
Lyrics
Now here you go again
You say you want your freedom
Well, who am I to keep you down?
It’s only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your lonelinessLike a heartbeat… drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost…
And what you had…
And what you lostThunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Say… Women… they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean… you’ll know, you’ll knowNow here I go again, I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
It’s only me
Who wants to wrap around your dreams and…
Have you any dreams you’d like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness…Like a heartbeat… drives you mad…
In the stillness of remembering what you had…
And what you lost…
And what you had…
And what you lostThunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Women they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you’ll knowOh, thunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Say women they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know, you’ll know
You will know, you’ll know