SOTD #2: Running in the shadow

WA-BAM! Time for another lyrical reflection, fellow jammers. This week, the reflection spotlight shines on another rock song and another personal favorite. Who am I kidding, all the songs I'm going to reflect on are personal favorites.

But this one is a BIG FAT favorite, which is different. I've heard it live, and I probably had goosebumps for days. So, performed by one of my top five bands of all history and time, here is... *mystical bohemian witchcraft noises*

The Chain - Fleetwood Mac

(Personal fave lyrics in bold)

Listen to the wind blow, watch the sun rise
Run in the shadows
Damn your love, damn your lies

And if you don't love me now,
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin'
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)

And if you don't love me now,
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin' (Still hear you saying)
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)

Listen to the wind blow, down comes the night
Run in the shadows
Damn your love, damn your lies
Break the silence
Damn the dark, damn the light

And if you don't love me now,
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin'
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)

And if you don't love me now,
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin' (Still hear you saying)
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)

And if you don't love me now,
You will never love me again
I can still hear you sayin' (Still hear you saying)
You would never break the chain (Never break the chain)

Chain, keep us together (Running in the shadow)
Chain, keep us together (Running in the shadow)
Chain, keep us together...

*

The aviators analysis:

First of all, this song is a little trippy. This comes as no surprise, since it comes from the Mac. Actually, from what I've heard, this song is a lyrical combination of several other songs that didn't make it out of the studio in their final forms. That's why (also just something I've heard and have NOT yet backed up with research) there's a rumor that this "Rumours" gem (I'm hilarious) is the only song in the Mac's vast repertoire for which the songwriting credit is given to all five members. That is probably also why the lyrics don't make a lot of "sense," really. Obviously it's about scorned love, but what about the sunrise and the shadows? What does "run in the shadows" mean, as it relates to a typical breakup song? I haven't asked Fleetwood Mac yet, but if I ever meet them (after I peel myself off the floor from fainting), I will be sure to bring it up. How about y'all? Has anyone scoured the internet for theories? I'm sure the Mac has discussed the lyrics of this song before.

Anyway, going off what I do know or have heard, the reason this song resonates for me is the nature of the band who wrote it. Fleetwood Mac has been called the "soap opera" of classic rock, with various members almost always at each other's throats for various reasons. But buried between all the songs about the Buckingham-Nicks breakup or the McVie breakup or that weird Nicks-Fleetwood thing, "The Chain" emerges as a little glimmer of artistic unity. This song was performed as the opening during Fleetwood's 2015 On With the Show tour, and let me tell you, there's something undeniably powerful in watching the famous five lineup, with all their history and drama, standing on stage together again after all this time, singing out Chain, keep us together. The Mac's still got it. They always will.