About the song
Released in 1975 on Fleetwood Mac’s self-titled album, “Rhiannon” marked the arrival of Stevie Nicks as a force of mystique, lyrical poetry, and emotional power in rock music. The song, written entirely by Nicks before she joined the band, is inspired loosely by the Welsh mythological figure Rhiannon, a goddess or enchantress associated with horses, the moon, and mystery.
While Nicks later admitted she hadn’t fully known the myth when she wrote the song — she discovered the deeper Celtic legend afterward — the name itself sparked her imagination. The result is a haunting, ethereal track that feels like it exists in the liminal space between fantasy and heartbreak.
The sound and atmosphere:
“Rhiannon” is built on a rolling, piano-driven groove, complemented by Lindsey Buckingham’s shimmering guitar work and Mick Fleetwood’s restrained, propulsive drumming. Musically, the song dances between soft rock and mystical folk, with a touch of bluesy tension underneath.
Highlights include:
-
Stevie Nicks’s iconic vocal: smoky, mystical, rising from soft incantation to full-throated passion
-
A hypnotic, mid-tempo rhythm that mirrors the character’s elusiveness
-
The use of layered harmonies, giving the track a dreamy, floating quality
In concert, “Rhiannon” would often transform into a dramatic, extended piece, with Nicks embodying the spirit of the song — wild-eyed, arms outstretched, conjuring storms on stage. These live performances helped build her legend as rock’s resident witchy woman.
Lyrical themes and symbolism:
The lyrics are filled with mystery and duality — Rhiannon is portrayed as both powerful and unattainable, a woman who “rules her life like a bird in flight” but also seems trapped by her own freedom.
“She is like a cat in the dark / And then she is the darkness…”
There’s a quiet ache underneath the mysticism, a longing for connection with something or someone unknowable. In many ways, the song is not just about a mythological figure — it’s about the idea of feminine power, autonomy, and the loneliness that can come with both.
Legacy and cultural impact:
“Rhiannon” became one of Fleetwood Mac’s first major hits with the new lineup of Nicks and Buckingham, helping to launch their ascent into global superstardom. It reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of their most played and cherished tracks.
The song also helped define Stevie Nicks’s persona — mystical, bohemian, and fiercely independent — a persona that would influence countless female artists and become a symbol of empowered femininity in rock music.
“Rhiannon” has since become:
-
A staple of classic rock radio
-
A frequent subject of critical praise for its lyrical depth and atmospheric brilliance
-
A cornerstone of Stevie Nicks’s mythos, both inside and outside of Fleetwood Mac
Final thoughts:
“Rhiannon” is more than a song — it’s a spell, a character study, and a timeless invocation of mystique and power. With it, Stevie Nicks didn’t just write a hit — she created a persona, a mood, and a world that listeners have returned to for decades.
Mysterious yet intimate, grounded yet otherworldly, “Rhiannon” stands as one of Fleetwood Mac’s most iconic creations — a song that soars and seduces, always just out of reach, like the goddess it’s named after.
Video
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
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 to darkness
She rules her life like a fine skylark
And when the sky is starless
All your life you’ve never seen
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
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
(ah-ah)
Taken by taken by the sky
(ah-ah)
Taken by taken by the sky
(ah-ah)
Dreams unwind
Love’s a state of mind
Dreams unwind
Love’s a state of mind