Edge of Seventeen: What Exactly Does That Mean?

Image result for edge of seventeen song
Last Friday, I discussed Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Bckingham and his bipolar disorder. So this Friday let's talk about another member of Fleetwood Mac fame, Stevie Nicks.

When did that song originate?

 Stevie Nicks wrote Edge of Seventeen around 1978 - during her time with Fleetwood Mac. While some of the songs written in that time period made the cut for her 1981 solo debut, Belladona Cove, many were used for Fleetwood Mac's 1979 double album, Tusk.

What's it All About?

 While it has become accepted that the title was derived from Tom Petty's then-wife, Jane (Petty and Nicks were good friends), there is more to the story. Basically, Nicks asked Jane how she made Petty, and Jane explained that she met him at the age of seventeen; Nicks however misinterpreted the way Jane said "age" (Southerners have a special accent), as "edge."

There's more to it...

 ...In an interview, Nicks explained that she dedicated the song to John Lennon who had been murdered some months before writing it. This can be seen in With the words of a poet and a voice of  a choir. Nicks also wrote the song after her uncle Bill died from cancer.

What's the white-winged dove?

 Nicks attributed the white-winged dove as a symbol of peace (a la John Lennon). The song became an anthem about violent death, and, fun fact, Nicks found out that the white-winged dove lived in the Saguario Cactus - very popular cactus in the Desert Southwest. Nicks further recalled that the white-winged dove had a "Whoo, whoo, whoo," sound which formed the basis of the chorus to the song.

Take a look at the picture below.

Image result for white-winged dove

Continuing with the subject of Petty, the album Belladona Cove features Stop Draggin' my Heart Around sung with Petty and featuring Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench of the Heartbreaker. The song was meant for inclusion on Petty's 1981 record, Hard Promises, but wasn't due to running time. Belladona Cove also features the hit song Leather & Lace sung in a duet with Eagles drummer Don Henley. Give it a listen if you haven't.

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