Contributors to this interpretation included Stewy, Lauren Leichter, Thom, Gretchen, Janet, and Lisa.
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With lyrics from Stevie Nicks and music from the rest of the band, The Chain has become the anthem of Fleetwood Mac. The Chain is the never ending tie that bound the band together in the past and binds them together now and, hopefully, well into the future. Undoubtedly this song speaks volumes about bitter feelings, a wavering relationship, and the need to keep the links in the chain together. What is in doubt, however, is the focus of these lyrics. Did Stevie write The Chain as a way to vent her frustration and anger over her shattered relationship with Lindsey Buckingham, or is it a statement about the fragile links between the five members of Fleetwood Mac and their need to stay together for each other and for the sake of the band - or some of both?
The Chain can easily be interpreted as the written expression of love, anger, hate and frustration toward Stevie and Lindsey’s torn relationship and their inability to communicate and interact with each other on a daily basis. This can be found in the lyrics "listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise" and "...down comes the night". " And if you don’t love me now/ you will never love me again" could be a warning to Lindsey to be sure that breaking up is what he wants because he will never get another chance to love her, or simply that she knows their time is running out and she knew it was time to decide to stay together or go their separate ways. She might have given a clue to her desire to be away from him and the rest of the band when she writes " run in the shadows" and "damn you love/ damn you lies" . She loves him and he loves her, yet they can’t get along and she feels betrayed because he is the one who is leaving the relationship. They need to "break the silence" and start communicating, but instead he lies and finally "breaks the chain" between them. Her total rage toward him over leaving climaxes in the lyrics "I can still hear you saying/You would never break the Chain".
The lyrics also ring true when including all the members Fleetwood Mac as the focus of "The Chain". The discord between Stevie and Lindsey, Christine and John, and the endless fighting within the group took a terrible toll on the band. The energy and passion shown in their music was being consumed by disagreements, finally resulting in Lindsey’s departure. "Listen to the wind blow" could refer to the turmoil the band was in day in and day out. Everyone fighting, everyone wanting nothing more that to get away from everyone else. Everyone wanting to get away - to "run in the shadows". Their need to be together was tearing them all apart, and the glue holding them together was weakening day after day - "Listen to the wind blow/ down comes the night". The only way to resolve their problems would be to start communicating - to " break the silence" and strengthen the chain again. Stevie’s overwhelming personal anger toward Lindsey comes through with "damn you love/ damn your lies" and "... if you don’t love me now/ you will never love me again". The song comes to a climax with the resounding pain and anger of " I can still hear you saying/ you would never break the chain".
Fortunately for all of us, the strength of the five links in the chain have been restored. Their wounds have healed and they have grown together again. Whether or not these lyric interpretations are valid or not are almost irrelevant. What IS relevant is that they came back together - not just for all of us, but for themselves. They have finally healed and "broken the silence". Maybe now they will finally stay together and "...never break the chain".
(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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Performance #1: | |
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Running Time |
4:20 | Sound Clip |
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Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Richard Dashut (Produced By), Ken Caillat (Produced By), Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By) | Comments | (Alternate Mix) | Appears On | | Performance #2: | |
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Running Time |
5:11 | Sound Clip |
| Performers |
Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Brett Tuggle (Keyboards), Brett Tuggle (Guitars), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Brett Tuggle (Background Vocals), Neale Heywood (Guitar), Neale Heywood (Background Vocals), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Mindy Stein (Background Vocals) | Appears On | | Performance #3: | |
Date Performance |
1982-10-22 | Running Time |
6:20 | Performers |
Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Christine McVie (Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Tambourine) | Comments | Recorded at the Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles | Appears On | | Performance #4: | |
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Running Time |
5:11 | Sound Clip |
| Performers |
Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Brett Tuggle (Keyboards), Brett Tuggle (Guitars), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Brett Tuggle (Background Vocals), Neale Heywood (Guitar), Neale Heywood (Background Vocals), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Mindy Stein (Background Vocals) | Appears On | | Performance #5: | |
Date Performance |
1977-08-25 | Performers |
Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Christine McVie (Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Stevie Nicks (Background Vocals) | Comments | Recorded at the Aladdin Theatre Performing Arts, Las Vegas, Nevada | Appears On | | Performance #6: | |
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Running Time |
5:47 | Performers |
Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Tambourine), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Vocals), Christine McVie (Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums) | Comments | (Live) | Appears On | | Performance #7: | |
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Performers |
Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Rick Vito (Guitar) | Comments | Recorded in Los Angeles | Appears On | | Performance #8: | |
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Performers |
Curt Mitchell (Guitar) | Appears On | | Performance #9: | |
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Running Time |
4:20 | Sound Clip |
| Performers |
Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Richard Dashut (Produced By), Ken Caillat (Produced By), Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By) | Comments | (Alternate Mix) | Appears On | | Performance #10: | |
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Running Time |
3:46 | Performers |
Nic Johnston (Acoustic Guitar) | Appears On | | Performance #11: | |
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Running Time |
5:34 | Performers |
Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Rick Vito (Vocals), Billy Burnette (Vocals), Dan Nash (Remixed By), Dennis May(e)(s) (Remixed By), Dennis May(e)(s) (Produced By), Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Rick Vito (Produced By), (Is(s)aac) As(s)ante (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Backup Singer), Elis(e)cia Wright (Backup Singer), Dan Garfield (Additional Keyboards), Dan Garfield (Programming), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Backup Singer) | Comments | Recorded live at The Cow Palace, Sam Francisco, CA 12/12/87 & 12/13/87 | Appears On | | Performance #12: | |
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Running Time |
3:39 | Performers |
Shawn Colvin (Vocals) | Comments | by Shawn Colvin | Appears On | | Performance #13: | |
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Running Time |
3:22 | Performers |
Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums) | Appears On | | Performance #14: | |
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Running Time |
4:28 | Sound Clip |
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Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (12 String), Lindsey Buckingham (Acoustic Guitar (2 Parts)), Lindsey Buckingham (Electric Guitar (3 Parts)), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Tambourine), Christine McVie (Vocals), Christine McVie (Electric Piano), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Mick Fleetwood (Kick Drum), Mick Fleetwood (Toms), Mick Fleetwood (Cymbals) | Appears On | | Performance #15: | |
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Running Time |
4:39 | Performers |
Faster Tiger (Producer), Jeremy Wilson (Producer) | Comments | by Faster Tiger | Appears On | | Performance #16: | |
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Running Time |
5:02 | 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 | | Performance #17: | |
Date Performance |
1982-10-22 | Running Time |
6:20 | Performers |
Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Christine McVie (Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Tambourine) | Comments | Recorded at the Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles | Appears On | | Performance #18: | |
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Performers |
Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals) | Comments | Recorded live in Irvine, California. | Appears On | | Performance #19: | |
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Performers |
Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals) | Comments | by Lindsey Buckingham | Appears On | | Performance #20: | |
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Performers |
Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Background Vocals) | Comments | Recorded live at Maine Road, Manchester, England. | Appears On | | Performance #21: | |
Date Performance |
1982-10-22 | Running Time |
6:20 | Performers |
Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Christine McVie (Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Tambourine) | Comments | Recorded at the Inglewood Forum, Los Angeles | Appears On | | Performance #22: | |
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Performers |
Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Rick Vito (Guitar) | Comments | Recorded in Los Angeles | Appears On | | Performance #23: | |
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Running Time |
5:11 | Sound Clip |
| Performers |
Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Brett Tuggle (Keyboards), Brett Tuggle (Guitars), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Brett Tuggle (Background Vocals), Neale Heywood (Guitar), Neale Heywood (Background Vocals), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Mindy Stein (Background Vocals) | Appears On | | Performance #24: | |
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Running Time |
5:34 | Performers |
Billy Burnette (Guitar), Rick Vito (Guitar), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Rick Vito (Vocals), Billy Burnette (Vocals), Dan Nash (Remixed By), Dennis May(e)(s) (Remixed By), Dennis May(e)(s) (Produced By), Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Billy Burnette (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Rick Vito (Produced By), (Is(s)aac) As(s)ante (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Backup Singer), Elis(e)cia Wright (Backup Singer), Dan Garfield (Additional Keyboards), Dan Garfield (Programming), Lori Perry-Nicks/Perry/Nicks (Backup Singer) | Comments | Recorded live at The Cow Palace, Sam Francisco, CA 12/12/87 & 12/13/87 | Appears On | | Performance #25: | |
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Running Time |
4:20 | Sound Clip |
| Performers |
Mick Fleetwood (Drums), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Christine McVie (Keyboards), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Christine McVie (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Richard Dashut (Produced By), Ken Caillat (Produced By), Fleetwood Mac (Produced By), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Christine McVie (Produced By), Stevie Nicks (Produced By), Mick Fleetwood (Produced By), John McVie (Produced By) | Comments | (Alternate Mix) | Appears On | | Performance #26: | |
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Running Time |
5:11 | Sound Clip |
| Performers |
Christine McVie (Keyboards), Christine McVie (Vocals), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Brett Tuggle (Keyboards), Brett Tuggle (Guitars), John McVie (Bass), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitar), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Brett Tuggle (Background Vocals), Neale Heywood (Guitar), Neale Heywood (Background Vocals), Lenny Castro (Percussion), Sharon Celani (Background Vocals), Mindy Stein (Background Vocals) | Appears On | | Performance #27: | |
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Appears On | |
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