Words… and Music… By Stevie Nicks

I began thinking about making this record in February of this year because I had about five months before Fleetwood Mac rehearsals started in August. We didn't have a year to hang out and work on music like I usually do. I had about 40 songs originally done in demo form from 1969-1987 and '94 and '95. I thought we could certainly make an album from this collection – probably three albums. Many of the songs were already out there on the internet and fans have been asking for them for years through fan sites and letters. I used to make cassettes of my music and give them to anybody. But to know that these songs were finally going to be recorded with the same love they were originally done when they were demos – that was joyous for me. I narrowed it down to 30 and had to keep weeding out. I think Waddy hit it on the head when he said, "Stevie really writes one very long song. They're all involved with each other. Each song is a lifetime... Each song has a soul... Each song has a purpose. Each song is a love story... They represent my life behind the scenes, the secrets, the broken hearts, the broken hearted and the survivors... These songs are the memories – the 24 Karat gold rings in the blue box… These songs are for you."

You usually don't write songs about being super happy... When you write a song or a book, it's usually when someone walks away. I think that's the first moment you start to think about it not working out and you start to write. The relationship may go on for longer but you've already started writing in your head because you see the future... Other times, you know a relationship won't work from almost the beginning but you wouldn't trade what you shared for a million dollars...

It's not acting... It's never acting... It's the reason I go onstage and sing Edge of 17 every night since '81 or Gold Dust Woman. I just take myself back to that time when it was written... Sometimes I can't remember what happened yesterday but I remember so well what happened through the whole period of time that I wrote these songs.

Regarding Fleetwood Mac, it's going to be so great to look over to my right and see Christine behind the Hammond organ... I've missed her so much... I never thought she'd come back... She said she was never coming back... But she started seeing a therapist and one day she had an epiphany. I think he said, "What are you doing staying out in your castle, Guenivere... What are you doing out there? You need to come back and start living life... Go back to the band..." At that time, it was Mick, John, Lindsey and I touring... She called up and asked, "What would you think if I came back to the band?" And I said, "Chris, it is your band... Get a trainer..." So she got a trainer and she's been working out for the last six months and she's stronger than all of us. She's going to leave us in the dust.