Rare Demo Of Buckingham-Nicks’ Ethereal “Rhiannon”

Where It All Began

Long before we knew Stevie Nicks as the voice of Fleetwood Mac, she was one half of the duo Buckingham Nicks, also featuring her writing and romantic partner Lindsey Buckingham. While the two were still struggling to make ends meet, working odd jobs by day and writing at night, Stevie penned the lyrics to ‘Rhiannon’, a tale about a Welsh witch. The song has always been amazing but it’s this hauntingly beautiful demo of the song that really digs its claws in you and refuses to let go!

This rendition of ‘Rhiannon’ features only Stevie Nicks on vocals and piano, and is infinitely more ethereal than the slightly more upbeat version we’ve come to know and love.

Completely stripped down to just Stevie’s voice and her baby grand piano, it’s here that we really get to see the first time she’s taken seriously as an artist. In fact, this demo of ‘Rhiannon’ is what got Stevie and Lindsey into Fleetwood Mac!

+ Rhiannon lyrics +

Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night and
Wouldn’t you love to love her?
Takes to the sky like a bird in flight and
Who will be her lover?

All your life you’ve never seen
A woman taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?

She is like a cat in the dark and then
She is the darkness
She rules her life like a fine skylark and when
The sky is starless

All your life you’ve never seen
A woman taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?
Will you ever win?

Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon

She rings like a bell through the night and
Wouldn’t you love to love her?
She rules her life like a bird in flight and
Who will be her lover?

All your life you’ve never seen
A woman taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?
Will you ever win?

Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon

Taken by
Taken by the sky

Taken by
Taken by the sky

Taken by
Taken by the sky

Dreams unwind
Love’s a state of mind

Dreams unwind
Love’s a state of mind

Dreams unwind
Love’s a state of mind