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The Penguin Discography: Temporary One




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    Song Title »
Temporary One
    Authors »
Christine McVie, Eddy Quintela

    Year Written »
1997

    Lyrics »

Where are you darlin', when my
Moon is risin', and your
Sun is shinin' down

What are you doin', are you
Missin' me
The way that I'm missin' you now

CHORUS:
The river goes on and on, and the
Sea that divides us is a
Temporary one, and the
Bridge will bring us back together

What are you doin', goin'
Down in to Soho as I
Take my rest tonight

What are you doin', are you
Busy with your world
Well I wish you were busy with mine

(repeat chorus four times)

    Fan Interpretation »

Contributors to this interpretation included: Jessica Morgan, Justine, Christine P, Lauren, Villavic, Lesley, and Erik.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sometimes we tend to forget that Christine McVie was a displaced Brit for many years as she lived in the United States. She has stated many times how much she loves England and that her roots there mean a great deal to her. She was not thrilled about the band's move to California in 1974, being close to her family. After Fleetwood Mac's 1990 Behind the Mask tour, she decided that she would no longer tour with the band, although she would still record with them. Presumably, she wished to spend more time with her husband and family, as her father had died in 1989. Christine and her husband, Eddy Quintela, had been restoring a house in England, and in 1997 sold their California home in order to live in England full time. After Christine announced she did not wish to continue The Dance tour in late 1997, primarily because of exhaustion, it was also mentioned that she wanted to be in England with her husband and family as much as possible.

Some thought that Temporary One was about Fleetwood Mac's 1997 reunion. However, in a 1997 Orlando Sentinel interview, Christine said that she and Eddy had written the song well before she had any inkling of a possible reunion. She went on to say that Temporary One was really about moving back to England. It also seems that her relationship with Eddy and the separations that they have had to endure over the years while she has recorded and toured with Fleetwood Mac.

Where are you darlin', when my
Moon is risin', and your
Sun is shinin' down

Christine misses Eddy and her family in England. Eddy, in turn, misses Christine. Where one of them is it is night, while where the other is, it is day. They want to be together all the time, night and day.

What are you doin', are you
Missin' me
The way that I'm missin' you now

Christine and Eddy do not know what the other is doing is doing all the time, but they are thinking of each other. Of course they miss one another. Christine also thinks of her family and wonders what they are doing.

The river goes on and on, and the
Sea that divides us is a
Temporary one, and the
Bridge will bring us back together

The river is her bond with Eddy, her family, and England. It "goes on and on," and will never end. The sea that divides them, is literally, the Atlantic Ocean between England and the United States. The sea can also be any distance that separates her from her from the people she loves, no matter where she is. But, the division is always temporary, because she will always reunite with them. The bridge is her love for them which draws her back. She cannot stay away long.

What are you doin', goin'
Down in to Soho as I
Take my rest tonight

Soho is a notoriously racy district of London. Perhaps Christine realizes that Eddy has another life when she is not with him. He has friends and goes places with them. If they are in different countries, Christine could likely be sleeping while Eddy is having dinner with friends. Eddy is not doing anything wrong, but Christine has noticed that he has life away from her, too. He misses her, but he does enjoy himself, too.

What are you doin', are you
Busy with your world
Well I wish you were busy with mine

Once again, they are wondering what the other is doing. Christine knows now that Eddy has his own world away from her. And, of course, she has her music that keeps her busy. But, Christine and Eddy would still rather be together no matter what. They wish for each other when separated. And, Christine wants to be with her family.

Christine and Eddy have written a song that is both a love song for them and a love song from Christine to her family and England. As one of the four new songs on The Dance, it was a big winner with Fleetwood Mac fans, as well.

(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.)

    Tabs »
Intro:
G5

Verse 1:

A         D        G
Where are   you darling,
D       A      D    G
When my   moon is rising 
     D   A                 D     G
And your   sun is shining down?  

D    G    A

Verse 2:

         D       G
What are   you doing?
D       A    D    G   D        A
Are you   missing me in a way 
                      D  G
that I'm missing you now

D    G

Chorus:

D                 G
   The river goes on and on 
         D                      G
and the,    the sea that divides us is a,
D                 G
   a temporary one 
      D               Bm              Asus
and a    bridge will bring us back together

Intro

Verse 3:

What are you doing?
Going down into Soho once I get my rest tonight.
What are you doing?
Are you busy with your world?
Well, I wish you were busy with mine

Chorus

Outro:

D    G(9)     D     G(9)  (repeat a couple of times, end on D)

    Performances »
Performance #1:
Running Time 4:00
Sound Clip Listen.
Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Brett Tuggle (Keyboards), Brett Tuggle (Guitars), Brett Tuggle (Background Vocals), Neale Heywood (Guitar), Neale Heywood (Background Vocals), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Mindy Stein (Background Vocals)
Appears On
The Dance (1997)
Fleetwood Mac
The Dance (1997)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #2:
Performers Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Background Vocals)
CommentsRecorded live in Irvine, California.
Appears On
Dancing Again (1998)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #3:
Running Time 4:00
Sound Clip Listen.
Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Brett Tuggle (Keyboards), Brett Tuggle (Guitars), Brett Tuggle (Background Vocals), Neale Heywood (Guitar), Neale Heywood (Background Vocals), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Mindy Stein (Background Vocals)
Appears On
Fleetwood Mac: The Dance (Piano/Vocal/Chords) (1998)
Warner Brothers Publications Inc.
Temporary One (0000)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #4:
Running Time 3:10
Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Brett Tuggle (Keyboards), Brett Tuggle (Guitars), Brett Tuggle (Background Vocals), Neale Heywood (Guitar), Neale Heywood (Background Vocals), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Mindy Stein (Background Vocals)
Comments(Edit)
Appears On
Temporary One/Silver Springs/Songbird/Gypsy (1997)
Fleetwood Mac

    Comments »

Fleetwood Mac Music BMI/New Envoy Music ASCAP

    Reviews »
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    Last Modified »
2009-04-17

    Discography Credits »
Interpretation prepared by Jessica Morgan. Tabs prepared by Josh Shank.