Hear Stevie Nicks Go Unplugged For Angst-Filled “Gold Dust Woman” Demo

Stevie Nicks Unplugged

This rendition of Fleetwood Mac’s iconic ‘Gold Dust Woman’ is unbelievable – it’s completely stripped down, featuring only Stevie Nicks singing and harmonizing with herself to an acoustic guitar and a hi-hat playing softly in the background. It’s so incredibly special because it’s a glimpse into Stevie’s quest for perfection; because it’s still fairly rough and unfinished as demos generally are, it’s far from perfect. In fact, it’s actually kind of eerie and has an undercurrent of anger – with her failed relationship with Lindsey Buckingham, to the mild cold she was battling while trying to record the song.

A woman scorned: Lindsey Buckingham said of ‘Gold Dust Woman’, “This song is very dark and somewhat acrimonious. I’m guessing that the acrimony was directed at me at the time.”

It’s not a new fact that Stevie Nicks is one of the most talented and respected women in music, but when we get to hear stripped down versions of songs that have come to represent Fleetwood Mac, her talent is allowed to shine even further!

+ Gold Dust Woman lyrics +

Rock on, gold dust woman
Take your silver spoon and dig your grave

Heartless challenge
Pick your path and I’ll pray

Wake up in the morning
See your sunrise loves to go down

Lousy lovers pick their prey
But they never cry out loud, cry out

Well, did she make you cry,
Make you break down,
Shatter your illusions of love?
And is it over now?
Do you know how?
Pick up the pieces and go home

Rock on, ancient queen
Follow those who pale in your shadow

Rulers make bad lovers
You better put your kingdom up for sale, up for sale

Well, did she make you cry,
Make you break down,
Shatter your illusions of love?
And is it over now?
Do you know how?
Pick up the pieces and go home

Well, did she make you cry,
Make you break down,
Shatter your illusions of love?
And now tell me is it over now?
Do you know how?
Pick up the pieces and go home
Go home
Go home

Ooh, pale shadow of a woman,
Black widow,
Pale shadow of a dragon,
Dust woman.

Ooh, pale shadow of a woman,
Black widow,
Ooh, pale shadow, she’s a dragon,
Gold dust woman