Song Title »

Stand Back

Authors »

Stevie Nicks

Year Written »

1983

Lyrics »

No one looked...as I walked by Just an invitation would have been just fine Said no to him...again and again First he took my heart...then he ran No one knows how I feel What I say unless you read between my lines One man walked away from me First he took my hand...take me home Stand back...stand back In the middle of my room I did not hear from you It's alright...it's alright To be standing in a line (Standing in a line) I would cry... Do not turn away my friend Like a willow I can bend No man calls my name No man came So I walked on down away from you Maybe your attention was more Than you could do One man did not call He asked me for my love And that was all Stand back...stand back In the middle of my room I did not hear from you It's alright...it's alright To be standing in a line (Standing in a line) (Standing in a line) So I walked on down the line Away from you Maybe your attention was more Than I could do One man...did not call Well he asked me for my love That was all

Fan Interpretation »

To begin, here are some of Stevie's thoughts about this song, found in her notes in Timespace--her greatest hits album from 1991: "I got married on the day I wrote this song. We were driving to Santa Barbara and a new song by Prince came on, so we pulled over somewhere and got the tape. It just gave me an incredible idea, so I spent many hours that night writing a song about some kind of crazy argument, and it has become one of the most important of my songs. I've been doing this song for years, Fleetwood Mac does it also, and I never get tired of it. "Stand Back" has always been my favorite song onstage, because ...when it starts, it has an energy that comes from somewhere unknown... and it seems to have no timespace. I've never quite understood this sound...but I have NEVER questioned it. I become a different person, and like that, because usually I make up my OWN characters..but that lady in "Stand Back" was not my idea. By the way, Prince did come into the studio the night I called him and told him about the song, and he played incredible synthesizer on it...and then he just walked out of my life, and I didn't see him for a long time. It was extraordinary..." "No one looked as I walked by" This could be about the wedding--as she walks down the aisle, no one would help her see or recognize what she was doing. Perhaps it means she felt very alone. "Just an invitation would have been just fine Said no to him again and again First he took my heart...then he ran" Again, it is said this could be as she was walking down the aisle--people didn't help her out. This might also possibly be a line about Fleetwood Mac, and how she felt excluded from them. She said no to him--his proposals---Fleetwood Mac ?? He took my heart and then he ran.--KIM ?? Lindsey ?? "No one knows how I feel What I say unless you read between my lines One man walked away from me First he took my hand...take me home" This is obviously about how no one can know her unless they dig deeper to find out what she is truly about. Her words are so obscure,like her songs; you can't know her unless you read the journals--or unless you get to know her. Men come and go--she just needs to find someone to love her. Again--is it Kim?? Lindsey?? No one knows for sure. "Stand back...stand back In the middle of my room I didn't not hear from you Is alright...Its alright To be standing in a line (Standing in a line) I would cry..." This may be about the wedding, or about regretting the wedding. Stand back and think about it--what did she do??? No one was there to help her see more clearly. "Do not turn away my friend Like a willow I can bend" This may be a plea to either Kim of her friends to help her--don't desert her. "No man calls my name No man came So I walk on down the line away from you Maybe your attention was more Than you could do One man did not call He asked me for my love That was all" It could be about Kim again. She regrets marrying him--she really does. These words are so obscure--it could be about any experience. This is supposed to be a conclusion after all the ideas are posted--but all the ideas were different from each other. According to Stevie--the writer--this song is about a 'fictional character who gets in this huge fight' and she says, "Get away--but not too far--I may need you soon". I think the wedding does play a huge part in her feelings though. She gets married to her best friend's widower on a whim to help raise their son--was it a promise she made to Robin?? Was it just a purely good deed?? It was not love. The marriage probably took place before she had a chance to really think about her reasons for doing it. Mick said in his book he saw her face and she was not happy--plus this was a religious man, and she wasn't religious--not as much as Kim's family would have liked. Lindsey didn't show up, although Mick and Chris did. (However, Chris has said she didn't buy her a wedding present, since "it didn't seem like crazy love to me.") But to write a song like this on the wedding day--obviously there was a little love. She needed to stand back and think--what in the hell did she do?? Why did Robin die?? Where are my friends--why didn't they stop me from doing this??? It is a great song--there is an energy, it perks you up--but it IS dark--one of her darkest. She says she sees the silver lining, but that silver lining must have been too hard to see then. The divorce was finalized in April 1984-- they had been married in January 1983.... (The interpretations to these lyrics were compiled through discussions on the message boards of the Penguin, The Ledge. It is entirely possible that the artists had something completely different in mind.)

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Performances »

Performance #1: Running Time 5:02 Sound Clip Performers Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Christine McVie (Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Dennis May(e)(s) (Produced By), Christine McVie (Vocals), Billy Burnette (Vocals), Rick Vito (Vocals), (Is(s)aac) As(s)ante (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Backup Singer), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Backup Singer), Elis(e)cia Wright (Backup Singer), Dan Garfield (Additional Keyboards), Dan Garfield (Programming), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Produced By), Rick Vito (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By) Comments Recorded live at The Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA 12/12/87 & 12/13/87 Appears On 25 Years: The Chain (1992) Fleetwood Mac Performance #2: Running Time 4:57 Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Background Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programming), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Chris Lord-Alge (Remixed By) Comments (Remix) Recorded at Studio 55, L.A. Appears On Enchanted (1998) Stevie Nicks Timespace: The Best Of Stevie Nicks (1991) Stevie Nicks Performance #3: Running Time 4:48 Performers David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Ladies Vocals), Sharon Celani (Ladies Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), Stevie Nicks (Lead Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programmed By), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Shelly Yakus (Mixed By), Greg Edward(s) (Mixed By) Comments Recorded at Studio 33, L.A. Mixed at Rumbo Recorders. Chart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Aug 20, 1983 Weeks On Charts: 19 Appears On The Wild Heart (1983) Stevie Nicks Selections From The Enchanted Works Of Stevie Nicks (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #4: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Appears On Dreamer (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #5: Running Time 4:57 Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Background Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programming), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Chris Lord-Alge (Remixed By) Comments (Remix) Recorded at Studio 55, L.A. Appears On An Enchanted Hour With Stevie Nicks (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #6: Date Performance 1991-11-11 Running Time 5:22 Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded live in Los Angeles on the Timespace tour. Appears On Live In Los Angeles (Pretty Mac Goes Metal) (1991) Stevie Nicks Performance #7: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Rick Vito (Guitar) Comments Recorded in Los Angeles Appears On Street Blue Angel (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #8: Running Time 5:22 Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded live in Hollywood, CA Appears On Livespace (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #9: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded live at The Whiskey. Appears On Live At The Whiskey (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #10: Date Performance 1986-06-21 Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded at Poplar Creek, Chicago Appears On Cloaks And Daggers (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #11: Running Time 5:02 Sound Clip Performers Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Christine McVie (Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Dennis May(e)(s) (Produced By), Christine McVie (Vocals), Billy Burnette (Vocals), Rick Vito (Vocals), (Is(s)aac) As(s)ante (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Backup Singer), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Backup Singer), Elis(e)cia Wright (Backup Singer), Dan Garfield (Additional Keyboards), Dan Garfield (Programming), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Produced By), Rick Vito (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By) Comments Recorded live at The Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA 12/12/87 & 12/13/87 Appears On Tango In The Night (0000) Fleetwood Mac Performance #12: Running Time 4:48 Performers David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Ladies Vocals), Sharon Celani (Ladies Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), Stevie Nicks (Lead Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programmed By), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Shelly Yakus (Mixed By), Greg Edward(s) (Mixed By) Comments Recorded at Studio 33, L.A. Mixed at Rumbo Recorders. Chart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Aug 20, 1983 Weeks On Charts: 19 Appears On Sounds Of The Eighties: 1983 (0000) Various Artists Performance #13: Running Time 6:44 Sound Clip Performers Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Jana Anderson (Background Vocals), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Neale Heywood (Guitar), Taku(ya) Hirano (Percussion), Steve Rinkoff/Rinkov (Drums), Carlos Rios (Guitar), Brett Tuggle (Keyboards), Mike Dean (Keyboard), Ed Cherney/Chernay (Music Mixed By) Appears On Live In Boston (2004) Fleetwood Mac Live In Boston (2004) Fleetwood Mac Performance #14: Performers Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Bass), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded live in Irvine, California. Appears On Dancing Again (1998) Fleetwood Mac Performance #15: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded live in Houston during the Other Side Of The Mirror Tour. Appears On Superstar Concert Series (0000) Fleetwood Mac Performance #16: Performers Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded live at Maine Road, Manchester, England. Appears On Next Stop: Main(e) Road (0000) Fleetwood Mac Performance #17: Running Time 4:48 Performers David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Ladies Vocals), Sharon Celani (Ladies Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), Stevie Nicks (Lead Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programmed By), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Shelly Yakus (Mixed By), Greg Edward(s) (Mixed By) Comments Recorded at Studio 33, L.A. Mixed at Rumbo Recorders. Chart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Aug 20, 1983 Weeks On Charts: 19 Appears On Startrak Profiles (0000) Fleetwood Mac Performance #18: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Rick Vito (Guitar) Comments Recorded in Los Angeles Appears On Superstar Concert Series (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #19: Running Time 4:48 Performers David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Ladies Vocals), Sharon Celani (Ladies Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), Stevie Nicks (Lead Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programmed By), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Shelly Yakus (Mixed By), Greg Edward(s) (Mixed By) Comments Recorded at Studio 33, L.A. Mixed at Rumbo Recorders. Chart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Aug 20, 1983 Weeks On Charts: 19 Appears On Up Close (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #20: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Rick Vito (Guitar) Comments Recorded in Los Angeles Appears On Welcome To My World (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #21: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded live in Houston during the Other Side Of The Mirror Tour. Appears On Live In Houston (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #22: Running Time 4:48 Performers David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Ladies Vocals), Sharon Celani (Ladies Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), Stevie Nicks (Lead Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programmed By), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Shelly Yakus (Mixed By), Greg Edward(s) (Mixed By) Comments Recorded at Studio 33, L.A. Mixed at Rumbo Recorders. Chart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Aug 20, 1983 Weeks On Charts: 19 Appears On Off The Record (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #23: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Comments Recorded live in Houston during the Other Side Of The Mirror Tour. Appears On Superstar Concert Series (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #24: Running Time 4:48 Performers David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Ladies Vocals), Sharon Celani (Ladies Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), Stevie Nicks (Lead Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programmed By), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Shelly Yakus (Mixed By), Greg Edward(s) (Mixed By) Comments Recorded at Studio 33, L.A. Mixed at Rumbo Recorders. Chart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Aug 20, 1983 Weeks On Charts: 19 Appears On Up Close (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #25: Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals) Appears On Superstar Concert Series (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #26: Date Performance 1986-08-20 Running Time 6:47 Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Jennifer Condos (Bass), Bobby/Robert A. Martin (Keyboards), Bobby/Robert A. Martin (Horns), Bobby/Robert A. Martin (Vocals), Jai (Jay) Winding (Keyboards), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Background Vocals), Elis(e)cia Wright (Background Vocals), Mick Fleetwood (Percussion), Rick Marotta (Drums) Comments Brad Jeffries dances with Stevie in the video portion of this performance. Appears On Live At Red Rocks (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #27: Running Time 4:48 Performers David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Ladies Vocals), Sharon Celani (Ladies Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), Stevie Nicks (Lead Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programmed By), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Shelly Yakus (Mixed By), Greg Edward(s) (Mixed By) Comments Recorded at Studio 33, L.A. Mixed at Rumbo Recorders. Chart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Aug 20, 1983 Weeks On Charts: 19 Appears On I Can't Wait (0000) Stevie Nicks Stevie Nicks: The Wild Heart (0000) Warner Brothers Publications Inc. The Best Of Stevie Nicks (0000) Hal Leonard The Best Of Stevie Nicks: Timespace (0000) Warner Brothers Publications Inc. Stand Back/Garbo (0000) Stevie Nicks Edge Of Seventeen/Stand Back (0000) Stevie Nicks Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind/Thousand Days/I Can't Wait/Stand Back (0000) Stevie Nicks Stand Back/Garbo/Wild Heart (0000) Stevie Nicks Stand Back/Stand Back (0000) Stevie Nicks Performance #28: Running Time 5:44 Performers Rod Stewart (Vocals) Comments by Rod Stewart Appears On Lead Vocalist (1993) Rod Stewart Performance #29: Running Time 4:48 Performers David B. Williams (Guitar), Sandy Stewart (Synthesizer), (Ms.) Bobbye Hall (Percussion), Waddy (Robert) Wachtel (Guitar), Ian Wallace (Percussion), Russ(ell) Kunkel (Drum Overdubs), Steve Lukather (Guitar), Marvin Caruso (Drums), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Ladies Vocals), Sharon Celani (Ladies Vocals), David/Dave Bluefield (OBX-A Drum Machine Programmed By), Stevie Nicks (Lead Vocals), Prince (Rogers Nelson) (Synthesizer), David/Dave Bluefield (DMX Drum Machine Programmed By), Jimmy Iovine (Produced By), Shelly Yakus (Engineered By), Shelly Yakus (Mixed By), Greg Edward(s) (Mixed By) Comments Recorded at Studio 33, L.A. Mixed at Rumbo Recorders. Chart: Billboard US Hot 100 Singles Peak Position: 5 Peak Dates: Aug 20, 1983 Weeks On Charts: 19 Appears On The Divine Stevie Nicks (0000) Stevie Nicks

Comments »

(C) 1983 Welsh Witch Music (admin. by Sony/ATV Songs LLC) BMI/Controversy Music ASCAP All Rights Reserved. Stevie Nicks: "Inspired by Prince. I got married the day I wrote this song. We were driving to Santa Barbara and a new song by Prince came on, so we pulled over somewhere and got the tape. It just gave me an incredible idea, so I spent many hours that night writing a song about some kind of a crazy argument, and it was to become one of the most important of my songs. I've been doing this song for years, Fleetwood Mac does it also, and I never get tired of it. 'Stand Back' has always been my favorite song onstage, because...when it starts, it has an energy that comes from somewhere unknown...and it seems to have no timespace. I've never quite understood this sound...but I have NEVER questioned it. I become a different person, and I like that, because usually I make up my own characters...but the lady in 'Stand Back' was not my idea. By the way, Prince did come into the studio the night I called him and told him about the song, and he played incredible synthesizer on it...and then he just walked out of my life, and I didn't see him for a long time. It was extraordinary..."

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Last Modified »

2011-10-25

Discography Credits »

Interpretation prepared by Janet Strayer, Justine, Lis, and Di.