Fleetwood Mac ~ Stevie Nicks GYPSY!!
“Gypsy” is a song by the rock group Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks wrote the song originally circa 1979, and the earliest demo recordings were recorded in early 1980 with Tom Moncrieff for possible inclusion on her solo debut Bella Donna. However, when Nicks’ friend Robin Anderson died of leukemia, the song took on a new significance and Nicks held it over for Fleetwood Mac. “Gypsy” was the second single release and second biggest hit from the Mirage album, following “Hold Me”, reaching a peak of #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks.
Stevie Nicks’ inspiration for the song
There are two points of inspiration behind “Gypsy”, as stated by Stevie Nicks. The first of which is a point of nostalgia for Nicks: her life before Fleetwood Mac. Before joining the iconic band, Nicks lived with Lindsey Buckingham, who would also join Fleetwood Mac. Nicks and Buckingham were partners in both the musical and romantic sense; however, only their musical partnership has survived. Nicks met Buckingham at a high school party, where he was singing “California Dreaming” by the Mamas and the Papas. Nicks joined in with perfect harmony, then they introduced themselves. They didn’t see each other again until college, where they started a relationship, and started a duo called Buckingham Nicks. They barely got by with Nicks’ waitress and cleaning-lady income.[1] They couldn’t afford a bed frame, so they slept on a single mattress, directly on the floor. Nicks says the mattress was decorated in lace, with a vase and a flower at its side. Whenever she feels her famous life getting to her, she goes “back to her roots,” and takes her mattress off the frame and puts it “back to the floor” and decorates it with “some lace, and paper flowers.” [2] It takes her back to the days when she had no wealth—back to herself as a poor gypsy. Some speculate the rest of this song is directed at Buckingham, assuming the lyrics depict her leaving him. On March 31, 2009, Nicks gave an interview to Entertainment Weekly discussing the inspiration for the song:
“Oh boy, I’ve never really spoken about this, so I get verklempt, and then I’ve got the story and I start to screw it up. Okay: In the old days, before Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey [Buckingham] and I had no money, so we had a king-size mattress, but we just had it on the floor. I had old vintage coverlets on it, and even though we had no money it was still really pretty… Just that and a lamp on the floor, and that was it—there was a certain calmness about it. To this day, when I’m feeling cluttered, I will take my mattress off of my beautiful bed, wherever that may be, and put it outside my bedroom, with a table and a little lamp.”
en.m.wikipedia.org
America On Coffee 
that was a nice history take – and I once heard someone say that we never hear voices like Nicks these days because everyone is jacked up on steroid or computer enhanced voices.
Thank you. Prior, for appreciating this share. Personally, I love Fleetwood Mac. Both Stevie Nicks and Christine Mcvie are unique vocals. What a great mix of American and British talents. I believe Fleetwood Mac has an unmatchable style of music. I was not aware that modern music has become so fake. Good reason for us all to love nostalgic, oldies music.
Yeah – some modern stuff is so produced – and I vaguely recall hearing that Stevie nicks was thrown into the bad out of need – something like that –
There are many unknown details about her beginnings but however it happened, it was a perfect niche. Stevie has got style!! ( -:
Yes – so true – have a nice weekend
You as well Prior. (-:
Not that I had a crush on her ….
You and a lot of other gents. So many loving gifts have been given to her at the Fleetwood Mac concerts. What love!!!.💕💕💕💕💕💕
Indeed
Another great one with wonderful high school memories. Wow…this site has really taken me down memory lane today. Thank you!
Two thumbs up!! What great talent !