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The Penguin Discography: Bleed To Love Her




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    Song Title »
Bleed To Love Her
    Authors »
Lindsey Buckingham

    Year Written »
1994

    Lyrics »

Once again she steals away
Then she reaches out to kiss me
And how she takes my breath away
Pretending that she won't miss me

Oh I would bleed to love her
Bleed to love her
Oh I would bleed to love her

And once again she calls to me
Then she vanishes in thin air
And how she takes my breath away
Pretending that she's not there

Oh I would bleed to love her
Bleed to love her
Oh I would bleed to love her

Somebody's got to see this through
All the world is laughing at you
Somebody's got to sacrifice
If this whole thing's going to turn out right

Oh I would bleed to love her
Bleed to love her
Oh I would bleed to love her

    Fan Interpretation »

"Once again she steals away, Then she reaches out to kiss me, And how she takes my breath away, Pretending that she won't miss me."

This verse displays the onset of the elusiveness in the relationship. The woman Lindsey is writing about "steals away," a gentle way to describe her alluring detachment. Yet she returns to him right at that point where she feels she might lose him. Through all this, he still yearns for her. She gives him just enough -- "she reaches out to kiss me, " -- and then lets go. In this way she is controlling his heart and his emotions. She has become a master at manipulating him. Lindsey was probably confused by this elusiveness at the time, even amazed -- "how she takes my breath away." Although this must have caused an emotional struggle from within him, he may not have yet reached that point where he was ready to let her go. The old adage "you want what you can't have" certainly applies here.

"Oohh I would bleed to love her, Bleed to love her, Oohh I would bleed to love her."

Lindsey said that the bleeding line can best be described as "an element of having to sacrifice your blood in order to get back what is sometimes worthwhile." This line has a very noble, romantic feel to it, sacrificing your "blood" to protect a love you have with someone. Lindsey has discussed this same type of sacrifice in another song, "Not That Funny," off the Tusk album, ("I didn't want to bleed so."). It's very interesting to note that he says "I would bleed to love her," not "I bleed to love her." It's something he would do, but he cannot, as this relationship isn't entirely in his control since the woman continues to manipulate his heart. There's something very powerful in the physical nature of his "bleeding" and the ephemeral feeling of her kisses and her stealing away.

"And once again she calls to me, Then she vanishes in thin air, And how she takes my breath away, Pretending that she's not there."

Again, Lindsey is referring to the intangible elements of the relationship and how she continues to manipulate his emotions. She leaves again once she feels she has regained control of the relationship and he is left with a devastating feeling of emptiness, with emotions for her that alternate between sweetness and confusion. Another Fleetwood Mac song along these lines written by Christine McVie is "Over My Head." Both songs are about wanting someone you don't completely understand and aren't quite connecting with, but that you want so intensely it hurts.

"Somebody's got to see this through, All the world is laughing at you Somebody's got to sacrifice, If this whole thing's going to turn out right."

This verse comes directly from the song on Lindsey's third solo CD, Out of the Cradle , called "You Do or You Don't," which interestingly enough, is also about the confusion and the risks involved in making difficult choices. Lindsey has been known to recycle his lyrics over the years and this verse is a good example.

Lindsey has now turned his feelings away from himself and to both people in the relationship, as indicated in the line "somebody's got to see this through." One of them has to make a choice at this point, either he leaves and doesn't continue to let her manipulate him or she changes. If Lindsey chooses the former, he will become stronger, even if he is alone. If he waits for the latter, he will probably grow more lonely both emotionally and physically, as the woman can no longer show him a sense of total commitment. "All the world is laughing at you," most likely refers to the point where the whole situation will become something of a joke, for both of them, if they continue on the way they have been. As well, his use of the word "sacrifice" is very powerful, meaning he feels that either choice is giving up a lot, it's a sacrifice that is likened to his bleeding for her. He has come to the conclusion that he has given too much in this relationship and one of them has to make a change in order for it to work, then "this whole thing will turn out right."

"Bleed to Love Her" is a song about taking emotional risks in a fragile relationship and what one might feel they have to give up in order to get back something that is important to them. If you have sacrificed what you feel is everything in your heart, you can become emotionally drained if you don't get back a part of what you have given up, and may no longer have the strength to continue on with that relationship. No matter how much you sacrifice, you will not succeed. Lindsey once again, has displayed his feelings of love and raw emotion in a very romantic and sincere song. It doesn't get any more honest that.
">Contributors to this interpretation included: Lauren Leichter, Phil, Janet, Justine, Jamie, Drew, Casi, and Sarah.

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

If Lindsey Buckingham has reclaimed the title of the angriest dog in rock, according to Rolling Stone Magazine, (October 30, 1997) the following overture before introducing the song "Bleed to Love Her," displays a much softer man, who talks about how Fleetwood Mac's recent reunion tour "goes beyond the formula" into something much more accessible and enjoyable.

"I had asked Mick to play drums on a solo album I was working on - still working on actually - and one thing led to another and suddenly there we were in the studio saying 'Gee, this feel's pretty good,' Isn't that weird? And that brought us to this point. So, we thought we would do a song we had been working on together at that time and it's called 'Bleed to Love Her.' " - Lindsey Buckingham, Fleetwood Mac Reunion Concert, Burbank, May, 1997.

"Bleed to Love Her," like most of Lindsey's songs, is a heartfelt song. It is about the elusiveness in a relationship and the emotional risks involved. It comprises one of four new songs on the new Fleetwood Mac Dance CD, and will most likely be on Lindsey's upcoming fourth solo CD. Lindsey had this to say about the composition of the song during a recent interview. "The song was written over a period of years. The chorus was written at the top of a new relationship and the verses written near the end." This song, both lyrically and musically, showcases Lindsey's talent, once again, for writing a truly compassionate love song.

"Once again she steals away, Then she reaches out to kiss me, And how she takes my breath away, Pretending that she won't miss me."

This verse displays the onset of the elusiveness in the relationship. The woman Lindsey is writing about "steals away," a gentle way to describe her alluring detachment. Yet she returns to him right at that point where she feels she might lose him. Through all this, he still yearns for her. She gives him just enough -- "she reaches out to kiss me, " -- and then lets go. In this way she is controlling his heart and his emotions. She has become a master at manipulating him. Lindsey was probably confused by this elusiveness at the time, even amazed -- "how she takes my breath away." Although this must have caused an emotional struggle from within him, he may not have yet reached that point where he was ready to let her go. The old adage "you want what you can't have" certainly applies here.

"Oohh I would bleed to love her, Bleed to love her, Oohh I would bleed to love her."

Lindsey said that the bleeding line can best be described as "an element of having to sacrifice your blood in order to get back what is sometimes worthwhile." This line has a very noble, romantic feel to it, sacrificing your "blood" to protect a love you have with someone. Lindsey has discussed this same type of sacrifice in another song, "Not That Funny," off the Tusk album, ("I didn't want to bleed so."). It's very interesting to note that he says "I would bleed to love her," not "I bleed to love her." It's something he would do, but he cannot, as this relationship isn't entirely in his control since the woman continues to manipulate his heart. There's something very powerful in the physical nature of his "bleeding" and the ephemeral feeling of her kisses and her stealing away.

"And once again she calls to me, Then she vanishes in thin air, And how she takes my breath away, Pretending that she's not there."

Again, Lindsey is referring to the intangible elements of the relationship and how she continues to manipulate his emotions. She leaves again once she feels she has regained control of the relationship and he is left with a devastating feeling of emptiness, with emotions for her that alternate between sweetness and confusion. Another Fleetwood Mac song along these lines written by Christine McVie is "Over My Head." Both songs are about wanting someone you don't completely understand and aren't quite connecting with, but that you want so intensely it hurts.

"Somebody's got to see this through, All the world is laughing at you Somebody's got to sacrifice, If this whole thing's going to turn out right."

This verse comes directly from the song on Lindsey's third solo CD, Out of the Cradle , called "You Do or You Don't," which interestingly enough, is also about the confusion and the risks involved in making difficult choices. Lindsey has been known to recycle his lyrics over the years and this verse is a good example.

Lindsey has now turned his feelings away from himself and to both people in the relationship, as indicated in the line "somebody's got to see this through." One of them has to make a choice at this point, either he leaves and doesn't continue to let her manipulate him or she changes. If Lindsey chooses the former, he will become stronger, even if he is alone. If he waits for the latter, he will probably grow more lonely both emotionally and physically, as the woman can no longer show him a sense of total commitment. "All the world is laughing at you," most likely refers to the point where the whole situation will become something of a joke, for both of them, if they continue on the way they have been. As well, his use of the word "sacrifice" is very powerful, meaning he feels that either choice is giving up a lot, it's a sacrifice that is likened to his bleeding for her. He has come to the conclusion that he has given too much in this relationship and one of them has to make a change in order for it to work, then "this whole thing will turn out right."

"Bleed to Love Her" is a song about taking emotional risks in a fragile relationship and what one might feel they have to give up in order to get back something that is important to them. If you have sacrificed what you feel is everything in your heart, you can become emotionally drained if you don't get back a part of what you have given up, and may no longer have the strength to continue on with that relationship. No matter how much you sacrifice, you will not succeed. Lindsey once again, has displayed his feelings of love and raw emotion in a very romantic and sincere song. It doesn't get any more honest that.

(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 »
Tuning = Eb Ab Db Gb Bb eb 
(tune all strings down one half step)

eb|-----5-----5---5-|-----5-----5---4-|
Bb|-----------------|-----------------|
Gb|---2-----2-------|---2-----2-------|
Db|-----------------|-----------------|
Ab|-0-----0-----0---|-0-----0-----0---|
Eb|-----------------|-----------------|

eb|-----4-----4---2-|-----2-----2---0-|
Bb|-----------------|-----------------|
Gb|---2-----2-------|---1-----1-------|
Db|-0-----0-----0---|-2-----2-----2---|
Ab|-----------------|-----------------|
Eb|-----------------|-----------------|

eb|-----0-----0---0-|-----0-----0----0-|
Bb|-----------------|------------------|
Gb|---2-----2-------|---2-----2--------|
Db|-----------------|------------------|
Ab|-0-----0-----0---|-4-----4-----4----|
Eb|-----------------|------------------|

eb|-----0-----0-----|-----0-----0---0-|
Bb|-----------------|-----------------|
Gb|---2-----2-------|---1-----1-------| repeat the 
Db|-0-----0---------|-----------------| whole thing
Ab|-------------4/2-|-----------------|
Eb|-----------------|-0-----0-----0---|

CHORUS riff:
eb|---------------------------------|
Bb|-----2-----0---2-----2-----0---2-|
Gb|---2-----2---------2-----2-------|
Db|---------------------------------|
Ab|-0-----0-----0---0-----0-----0---|
Eb|---------------------------------|

eb|-------------------------------|
Bb|-----2-----0---0-----2---0h2-0-|
Gb|---2-----2---------2---2-------|
Db|-0-----0-----0-----------------|
Ab|-------------------------------|
Eb|-----------------0-------------|

the last time before the verse or bridge starts up:
|---------------|
|---0-2-0-0-0---|
|-2-----------2-|
|---------------|
|---------------|
|---------------|

this is the chord that Lindsey strums during the bridge:
|---0---|
|---5---|
|---4---|
|---x---|
|---x---|
|---x---|

    Performances »
Performance #1:
Running Time 3:27
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:
Running Time 4:05
Sound Clip Listen.
Performers Stevie Nicks (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Guitars), Lindsey Buckingham (Percussion), Lindsey Buckingham (Korg Triton 7 Keyboards), Lindsey Buckingham (Yamaha Motif 8 Keyboards), John McVie (Bass), Mick Fleetwood (Drums), Mick Fleetwood (Percussion), Christine McVie (Backing Vocals), Lindsey Buckingham (Produced By), Rob Cavallo (Produced By), Mark Needham (Mixed By)
CommentsMixed at Cornerstone Recording and Conway Studios
Appears On
Say You Will (2003)
Fleetwood Mac
Performance #3:
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 #4:
Running Time 3:27
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.
Fleetwood Mac: Guitar Anthology Series (1998)
Warner Brothers Publications Inc.
Bleed To Love Her (0000)
Fleetwood Mac

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(C) 1997 Now Sounds Music (ASCAP)

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    Last Modified »
2008-11-25

    Discography Credits »
Interpretation prepared by Lauren Leichter. Tabs prepared by Josh Shank.