Fleetwood Mac - Go your own way Live 1979

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The ultimate break-up song. The ultimate pop song. "Go Your Own Way" has such a passionate, furious driving beat that takes you to such a climactic explosive high, only to bring you down with the realization that it's really about the heartache of ending a relationship with someone you love. This song perfectly captures these feelings of hurt and anger.

"Go Your Own Way" was written by Lindsey Buckingham during the Rumours sessions. Lindsey has said he usually does not write the lyrics to his songs first, but rather initially has the music track in place prior to adding the lyrics. Lindsey's passionate guitar playing is what brings his feelings into his songs, while the addition of the lyrics creates a delicate balance between this guitar playing and putting his feelings into words. "Go Your Own Way" is a truthful song with intense emotions of love and fury that originate from the heart.

The song reflects the feelings he had revolving around the ending of his relationship with fellow band member and romantic partner at the time, Stevie Nicks. The music and lyrics show a man plagued by anger, confusion, and disbelief. Through Lindsey's eyes, he paints quite a different picture of what breaking-up feels like than what Stevie has portrayed about the same relationship in her songs at this time (see the mysterious "Dreams" and the haunting "Silver Springs.")

"Loving you, isn't the right thing to do, how can I ever change things that I feel." Lindsey is trying to convince himself that his love for Stevie is not good for him. By doing this, he will feel comfortable with the break-up, although, in his heart, he does not entirely believe this, saying he can never change the fact that he still loves her.

"If I could, maybe I'd give you my world. How can I, when you won't take it from me." Lindsey would give anything to Stevie - his heart, his soul, in essence, his "world" - if only she would stay. But she doesn't and he acknowledges this. "Maybe" is the key word here. Lindsey is offering her his world, but not all of it. He is still saving something for himself, possibly as a way to keep control over the relationship or to keep his self-respect. Stevie wants her independence though, and for reasons best know to her, she leaves. Lindsey does not understand why Stevie does not want to be part of his world.

Stevie probably did not want to hurt or necessarily leave Lindsey, but she went her own way for reasons best known to her and that he may not have understood. The consequence of her leaving left Lindsey very hurt and confused and he lashed out at her in this song. In between the verses of anger and betrayal are ones of questioning and pain. Although the lyrics in the song are mostly acrimonious, for Lindsey, they were truthful. It is ironic that such a bitter song is really and truly a love song, shouting out final pleas for the woman he loves.

http://www.fleetwoodmac.net/penguin/i...

Written by lindsey buckingham.

Loving you
Isnt the right thing to do
How can I ever change things
That I feel

If I could
Maybe Id give you my world
How can i
When you wont take it from me

You can go your own way
Go your own way
You an call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way

Tell me why
Everything turned around
Packing up
Shacking up is all you wanna do

If I could
Baby Id give you my world
Open up
Everythings waiting for you

You can go your own way
Go your own way
You an call it
Another lonely day
You can go your own way
Go your own way