Sara, you’re the poet in my heart/
Never change, and don’t you ever stop.

“Sara” is a Stevie Nicks song off of the Tusk album. Many of Nicks’ lyrics are esoteric, but “Sara” is at the top of the list in terms of opacity in the lyrics. Sara is important to Nicks but something changed in their relationship. It appears to involve a man. Nicks is telling Sara that she loves her and when everything settles down, she will still be there for her. It is rumored this song had something to do with the breakup of Nicks and Mick Fleetwood, but who knows.

The melody of the chorus is what drives this song.  It has that quality- that “I think I have heard this before” quality. McCartney held off on finishing writing Yesterday for some time because he could have sworn it must already be a song. I feel the same thing about Sara. It feels like it already existed.

The bassline is solid in this song and it adds a lot. John McVie gets the least amount of recognition of the Fleetwood Mac cast, but he is consistent and innovative.  The production is amazing—especially during the verses. If you listen to the pieces of the song there is so much going on in the background. Notice how the piano doesn’t play chords throughout the verse: it sounds more like random chimes. A great job by Lindsey Buckingham.

Sara Lyrics

Wait a minute baby
Stay with me awhile
Said you’d give me light
But you never told me about the fire

Drowning in the sea of love
Where everyone would love to drown
But now it’s gone
It doesn’t matter what for
When you build your house
Then call me home

And he was just like a great dark wing
Within the wings of a storm
I think I had met my match, he was singing
And undoing, and undoing the laces
Undoing the laces

Said Sara, you’re the poet in my heart
Never change, never stop
But now it’s gone
It doesn’t matter what for
But when you build your house
Then call me home

Hold on
The night is coming and the starling flew for days
I’d stay home at night, all the time
I’d go anywhere, anywhere, anywhere
Ask me and I’m there, yeah
Ask me and I’m there, I care

In the sea of love
Where everyone would love to drown
But now it’s gone
They say it doesn’t matter anymore
When you build your house
Then please call me home

Sara, you’re the poet in my heart
Never change, and don’t you ever stop
Now it’s gone
No it doesn’t matter anymore
When you build your house
I’ll come by
Sara
Sara

Songwriters: Stevie Nicks

You just call out my name/
And you know wherever I am/
I’ll come running.

Carole King and James Taylor’s “You’ve Got A Friend” both produced huge successes.  King and Taylor were lovers, and released their songs around the same time. Their versions sound very similar. If there is anything negative against Taylor’s version, it is that he does not deviate at all from King’s original—though I do not see many obvious opportunities for variation.

Of course, Taylor plays the guitar and King’s version is on the piano; and Taylor is a male voice and King is female, so perhaps that is more than enough to make two satisfyingly unique versions.

The meaning of “You’ve Got a Friend” is simple, but often those are the ones that become timeless. Interestingly Taylor sings backup on Kings version. I believe they were an item at the time. King released this on her Tapestry album. If you are a fan of female singer-songwriters, you must check out that album. It might be the best of all-time!

You’ve Got a Friend Lyrics

When you’re down and troubled
And you need some love and care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there
You’ve got a friend

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you’ll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there, yes, I will

Now, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend
When people can be so cold?
They’ll hurt you, yes, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them, oh, but don’t you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running, running, yeah, yeah, to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I’ll be there, yes, I will
You’ve got a friend
You’ve got a friend
Ain’t it good to know you’ve got a friend?
Ain’t it good to know, ain’t it good to know, ain’t it good to know
You’ve got a friend?
Oh yeah now, you’ve got a friend
Yeah baby, you’ve got a friend
Oh yeah, you’ve got a friend

Songwriters: Carole King

Would he have loved you, and not let you down/
And would he be stronger than his father.

Isobel is a friend who had an abortion and, in her sorrow, may have skipped town because she felt ashamed. I am sure of the former part, not certain about the later.  Dido’s lyrics rarely provide a complete picture, but they usually provide a hint, with the listener left to fill in the blanks.

What is amazing about this song is the live performance.  Dido’s “Isobel” live version is a much different song than the the album version. The energy and production are completely different. Jam songs can get boring, but Dido and her band riff for a couple minutes at the end and it is heavenly.

If you like Dido, or great live concerts, or singer-songwriters, you owe it to yourself to buy Dido’s Live from Brighton Academy. It is one of the best concerts I have ever seen. It is also visually stunning. I go to a concert for the sound, but this experience is something else with the visual production and just seeing the beautiful Dido in her prime, singing.

Another interesting thing about this song is the number of melodies that come out of it. The verses into “…Isobel I hope you’re well” are pretty rocking, and sound great. Even better is the refrain, “I’m helping it past by loving, loving you more.” That line is great, and the melody of that line is so special.

Isobel Lyrics

I thought it was funny when you missed the train
When I rang you at home they said you left yesterday
I thought it was strange when your car was found
By the tree in Ennis where we used to hang around

Dear Isobel
I hope you’re well and what you’ve done is right
Oh it’s been such hell
I wish you well I hope you’re safe tonight

It’s been a long day coming and long will it last
When it’s last day leaving, and I’m helping it pass by loving you more

And who he would become, all the things he’d have done
Would he have loved you, and not let you down
And would he be stronger than his father
Don’t punish yourself, leave it well alone

Dear Isobel
I hope you’re well and what you’ve done is right
Oh it’s been such hell
I wish you well I hope you’re safe tonight

It’s been a long day coming and long will it last
When it’s last day leaving, and I’m helping it pass by loving you more
It’s been a long day coming and long will it last
When it’s last day leaving, and I’m helping it pass by loving, loving you more.

written by Dido