My Sunday Song – “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

For My Sunday Song #105, I am bringing to you “Edge of Seventeen” by the wonderful and talented Stevie Nicks.  The song was released as a single in 1982 and appeared on her 1981 album ‘Bella Donna’.  The song reached all the way to #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 just missing going Top Ten.

This is one of my favorite songs by Stevie and it is from a time where she could do no wrong whether it was her solo work or her work with Fleetwood Mac.  She was everywhere.  She didn’t have this beautiful, angelic vocals of the pop stars of that era. She was graced with a little gritty voice that is even better and is pure rock & roll.  And if I had to pick my favorite female vocalists, she would be at or near the top.

The song is about death.  It was written due to the death of two individuals.  First one was John Lennon (heard in the lyric…”With their words of a poet / And a voice from a choir”) and the other death was her uncle.  Her uncle was diagnosed with cancer and within weeks died and all those emotions she was feeling came out in the song.

What I also love about the song is the line “Just like the white winged dove” and then the chorus of “Whoo, Whoo, Whoo” which sounds like the bird is singing.  The dove is symbolic of the spirit leaving the body and she flies away she sings.  It is really a beautiful visual.

stevie-nicks

The song title “Edge of Seventeen” was actually inspired by a story Tom Petty’s wife told Stevie about when her and Tom met.  They met at the age of seventeen.  Stevie was inspired to write a song about Petty and his wife, but she decided to use the title for this song and instead of age of seventeen, we get “edge of seventeen” as that was what Stevie thought she said (http://www.nicksfix.com/oldtrivi.htm).

What I also love about the song is that guitar riff that opens the song and is played throughout by Waddy Watchel.  Apparently, the riff was inspired by the Police song “Bring on the Night”.  That riff was also sampled by Destiny’s Child for their song “Bootylicious” if that doesn’t tell you how great it is!! (Stevie actually appears in their video for the song).

Okay, I have gone on enough about the song.  Give it a listen and let me know what you think.  I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you have a Happy Sunday!

“Edge Of Seventeen”

Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo-whoo-whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo

And the days go by
Like a strand in the wind
In the web that is my own
I begin again
Said to my friend, baby
Nothin’ else mattered

He was no more
(He was no more)
Than a baby then
Well, he seemed broken hearted
Somethin’ within him
But the moment
That I first laid
Eyes on him
All alone on the edge of seventeen

Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Said, whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo

Well, I went today
Maybe I will go again
Tomorrow, yeah, yeah
Well, the music there
Well it was hauntingly familiar
When I see you doin’
What I try to do for me
With their words of a poet
And a voice from a choir
And a melody
Nothin’ else mattered

Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, said whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Said, whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo

The clouds never expect it
When it rains
But the sea changes colours
But the sea
Does not change
So with the slow graceful flow
Of age
I went forth with an age old
Desire to please
On the edge of seventeen

Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, said whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo

Well then suddenly
There was no one left standing
In the hall, yeah, yeah
In a flood of tears
That no one really ever heard fall at all
When I went searchin’ for an answer
Up the stairs and down the hall
Not to find an answer
Just to hear the call
Of a nightbird singin’
(Come away)
(Come away)

Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo, said whoo
Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo

Well, I hear you (well, I hear you)
In the morning (in the morning)
And I hear you (and I hear you)
At nightfall (at nightfall)
Sometime to be near you
Is to be unable to hear you
My love
I’m a few years older than you
(I’m a few years older than you)

Just like the white winged dove
Sings a song
Sounds like she’s singin’
Whoo, baby, whoo
Said, whoo

Written by Stevie Nicks

15 thoughts on “My Sunday Song – “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks”

  4. I have heard this song countless times on the radio always thought it was a Mac tune and as well I never ever knew the title of this track…
    Good music history lesson here John…
    Thanks for posting the video as well…

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