When you believe in things/
That you don’t understand,
Then you suffer…

Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” is a very unique concept for a song. Wonder’s thoughts on superstition is actually pretty profound: “When you believe in things that you don’t understand/ Then you suffer.” Interesting. I think most of us think of having superstitions as being cute or quirky. However, when stated like that, it is one more mental barrier I am placing between myself and the Truth, and that can’t be good, right?

That funky beat in the introduction is a great cross between Motown and a bit of Disco. The clavinet creates a great sound…it should be used more often in pop music and rock music. If I were a current producer this seems like unexplored territory I might want to look into. The intro drumbeat is pretty standard, but not many songs start with a 10 second drum-only part. It was recorded by Jeff Beck.

Lyrics Superstition
Very superstitious,
Writing’s on the wall,
Very superstitious,
Ladders bout’ to fall
Thirteen month old baby,
Broke the lookin’ glass
Seven years of bad luck,
The good things in your past

When you believe in things
That you don’t understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition aint the way

Everybody scream!

Very superstitious,
Nothin’ more to say,
Very superstitious,
The devil’s on his way,
Thirteen month old baby,
Broke the lookin’ glass,
Seven years of bad luck,
Good things in your past

When you believe in things
That you don’t understand,
Then you suffer,
Superstition ain’t the way,
No, no, no

written by Stevie Wonder

A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.

Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Right Between The Eyes” deals with honest communication. In dealing with other people, especially friends and lovers, there is a lot of trust involved. If we don’t trust what people say, we could remain shut off to almost everyone. There are very few people who would want to wait around to “prove” to you that they are an honest person. So trusting is important.

We develop a kind of blindness to those we love. When that trust is broken it can be debilitating. When there are secrets that are later discovered…the same thing. Why couldn’t you just have told me? It makes you doubt that the relationship ever had any real value. Nash seems to value some of this radical honesty. A man would have looked me in the eyes and told me the truth.

Most of the power of “Right Between the Eyes” comes from the clear vocal delivery of a powerful message. But, of course, the melody is so beautiful. The harmonies that CSNY are so famous for are very subtle in this song. The band is able to show restraint which is difficult. Sometimes egos get in the way and everyone wants to sing lead—which ruins good harmonies. While CSNY has had clashes of egos their harmonies have still always been able to remain amazing.

Right Between The Eyes Lyrics

My head is hanging heavy with the thoughts of him in mind,
‘Tis sacrilege for us to take advantage of the blind.
So, tell before you come to me from out of yonder skies,
A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.

And the pain that we can bring to him,
I don’t think he could beat.
Please don’t ask me how I know
I’ve just been up that street.
And all the people living there
Have been silenced by their own lies…

A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.

And talking’ from experience I know how he would feel,
Waking up and finding that his one love wasn’t real.
But the age of truth will soon appear, Aquarius arrives,
A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.

written by Graham Nash

Even children get older/
And I’m gettin’ older, too.

Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” is about facing challenging decisions in your life. Will you be up to it, even if others don’t think you will be? Or will you let life’s challenges take away all your progress and success right down to the bottom. It might take something as simple as loosing faith in yourself to lose everything. The landslide will bring you crashing down. But Nicks feels a renewed strength in herself.

The arraignment of “Landslide” is simple, and it really is one of the most likable rock songs of all-time. No one dislikes Landslide. The finger-picking arrangement by Lindsey sounds great coupled with Stevie singing in her prime.

For aspiring guitar players, “Landslide” is a relatively easy song to learn (minus the guitar solo) so this might be a neat place to start. I think this will go down as Fleetwood’s most enduring song. Though Nicks takes the top spot, it is nice to see that her, McVie and Buckingham each had songs on this list. That is the making of an all-star band.

Landslide Lyrics

I took my love, I took it down.
Climbed a mountain and I turned around.
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills,
‘Til the landslide brought me down.

Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin’ ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Mmm

Well, I’ve been ‘fraid of changin’
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you.
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older,
And I’m gettin’ older, too.

Well, I’ve been ‘fraid of changin’
‘Cause I’ve built my life around you.
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older,
And I’m gettin’ older, too.
I’m gettin’ older, too.

Ah, take my love, take it down.
Oh, climb a mountain and turn around.
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well, the landslide will bring it down.
And if you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well, the landslide will bring it down.
Oh, the landslide will bring it down.