Once in a million years a lady like her rises....

Did you know.....that in the late 70's and early 80's, Stevie was working diligently on a Rhiannon film project? She wrote many songs for the soundtrack, including Maker Of Birds (aka Three Birds of Rhiannon) and Forest of the Black Roses. The film project never got off the ground, though, and all the songs ended up in Stevie's vault, sadly to never be released.
UPDATE 4/30/98 - Stevie participated in a live Yahoo! chat on the internet on 4/28/98 (the same day her boxed set Enchanted was released). She was asked about Forest of the Black Roses, and her response was that she was saving it along with a group of 9 other songs that she calls her Rhiannon songs, to eventually be released together. Sounds like this project is not dead after all!
        

There is indeed a Welsh mythological goddess, Rhiannon and there are many stories and books written about
her. However, Stevie was initially inspired only the ethereal sound
of the name Rhiannon, which she first encountered while reading a novel
named Triad (by Mary Leader). It was not until later that she discovered
the Welsh goddess and realized the uncanny similarities (ie: the birds).
As recently as 11/98, during her Storytellers show on VH-1, Stevie acknowledged
that something magical must have been going on in Aspen, Colorado when she was
penning the lyrics to Rhiannon, while there with Lindsey.

"I read the name of it in ...just a novel...really liked it....thought that's really a beautiful name....sat down, about
ten minutes later, wrote Rhiannon ...we think that she was, in fact, Queen."

(Stevie, introducing Rhiannon on the 1977 promotional film called Rosebud )

The above image is the 1973 "Rhiannon" painting by renowned artist Susan Seddon Boulet.  It is part of her 1999 calendar entitled "Goddesses"
and Rhiannon graces not only the month of December but the front cover
as well.  (Thank you, Donna, for the calendar!!!)   Here is the text on the December page:
RHIANNON, 1973
Rhiannon is the Welsh moon goddess and goddess of the dawn
who is identical with Rigantona, meaning "Great Queen." A
mother and fertility goddess, she later became the goddess
Nimue, or Vivien, who was the Lady of the Lake in Arthurian
myth. She was a shapeshifter and often appeared as a white
horse. As a mare-headed goddesss, she carried the dead to the
underworld, where she also reigned. She aws always accompanied
by birds to welcome the seasons, and three birds in
particular who could either kill the living or restore the dead
back to life. She is a muse of poets, the source o all inspiration,
and sweet singing sirens were called "the birds of Rhiannon."
Rhiannon can still be a muse to us today, taking us into the path
where inspiration leads.

graphic by Susan Childs, may not be reproduced without permission

The story behind the Three Birds of Rhiannon....

In times of hardship or pain, the song of the birds can be heard. Down the pathway will come three singing birds, one snow white, one emerald green, and one golden. The song of the birds will put you to sleep, and when you awaken, all hardship and pain will be gone.

The photo above shows the beautiful Three Birds of Rhiannon Cape designed by Bear, of Brandi's Dream.  It features glittery birds painted onto the cape, in tribute to Stevie's own incredible Rhiannon painting.  To find out about ordering one for yourself, click the image.

Rhiannon has looked very different onstage through the years.....she started out as flowing black chiffon in the late 70's....became flowing white chiffon in the early 80's.....was a hooded velvet cape on occasion....by 1994, she was often a vintage fringed shawl wrapped over white chiffon. But in 1998, Rhiannon of the Enchanted tour is symbolized onstage by this beautiful, sparkling gray shawl.
photo by Gypsy, courtesy of The Nicks Fix
Holmdel, NJ 6/13/98

Stevie has varied the lyrics to Rhiannon many times since she first began performing this song in concert in 1975. What are your favourite variations? Please send lyric quotes along with location and date of concert . Or, if you'd just like to tell us what your favourite over-all live version of this song is....please do!!! I also welcome and appreciate any other contributions about Rhiannon, to this page. I look forward to hearing from you! Click here to e-mail me about this page: Rhiannon

Thank you for your valued contributions!

"The House of Blues, September 1994 at the end of the Street Angel tour. The version of Rhiannon captured on the Westwood One recording (also packaged as Welcome to My World) is incredible! Stevie cuts loose harder on this rendition than any version I've heard since about 1980....'Will you take me with you to the skyyyyyyyy?!!!!' The song builds to an amazing finish."
Gypsy63

"It was from the Alpine Valley,Wi 5/31/86 Rock-A-Little Show. During Rhiannon Stevie sings some parts of Juliet. She mumbles "when the Sky is Falling". & she also repeats "And You just might get to her" a couple of times....and in the middle of the performance.....she starts to introduce her band...while they were still playing!!! I love that!!!! She also says right before her band intro "The Sky was Blue". Sort of a preview of Juliet on the RAL tour!!!!!! Fab show!!!!!"
Shawn, S2snta@aol.com

"Did you dream her....yes I did.... Rhiannon..." Compton Terrace, Tempe, AZ 1983
Bear, MakerOfBirds@mindspring.com

"My favorite 'added' phrase she puts in the song was in Boston on October 30, 1987.
Instead of singing the 'Rhiannon' chorus, she keeps singing 'nothing ever changes' over and over and then at the end after the song just ends and the music completely stops, she sings "Rhiannon...It's never gonna change... Rhiannon...It's never gonna change baby... Rhiannon...cuz nothing ever changes."
John, JG68@aol.com

" On 'The Midnight Special', April 9,1976
Stevie was marching in place, singing "Dreams unwind, love's a state of mind,
dreams unwind, love is hard to find, dreams unwind, you know a state of mind,
take me with the wind now, take me with the sky." Then she goes, "DREAM ON,"
points to a girl in the audience and says, "YOU'RE A DREAMER!" I thought it
was so cool, and I'm only 14 years old, listening to my mother's old Fleetwood
Mac albums, but I do have Bella Donna. " Stacy Lee Bergin

I have always loved the song Rhiannon, although if I had to pick a performance, it would have to be the one they did for "The Midnight Special"
or the one from "The Rosebud" show. Stevie's voice was so strong during that
time, and she really tore it up. Although I also love the version on "The Dance". It just shows how her voice has come back over the years, and how
the song is ageless.
What I love most about the song is how Stevie changes the ending.
Most of the time she weaves in and out of "Dreams un wind ... love's a state
of mind". "Your dreams unwind... your love is hard to find". She has added
verses like, "love has been unkind..." "or love is blind..." to fit into
what is going on in her life at the time. I recently was listening to the "Alabama show from Aug. 12th 1980 and one of the interesting lyrics was,
"Taken by the sky... taken by surprise... " She then goes on to sing "It's all the same... is that what you wanted, all the same... is it what you wanted." She continues to live her life and as she changes so does the song. Rhiannon
will be forever timeless and as new fans discover it, it shall live on in the heart of the young, as well the older, wiser folk.
Don, Nicksrocks@aol.com

My favorite version is from the Japan video, from the Rumours tour, when Stevie sings near the end "Emerald, Gold, and " ? " (sounds like "shelter"). The intensity she has in this performance haunts me.....
Linda, Legends 89@aol.com

Just visited your web page reading about Rhiannon and I wanted to share my thoughts.
My favorite Rhiannon is from the Japan video December '77. Stevie is sooo
into the song and the way she sings and when she takes the mike down to her famous "Dreams unwind" stance and then she sings "Golden, Emerald, Satin" ----for the birds of Rhiannon-(one emerald green, one snow white,
one golden flashing like a sunbeam through the night)---- and the first time she sounds like she is tearing up her voice and then she sings it again
for the second time a little softer. Just amazing how she casts a spell with her performance. I had chills. Never have I been a bigger fan than
after the first time I saw this.
Michelle Bidwell, Wlshwich@email.msn.com

My favorite Rhiannon version is off of the "Fleetwood Mac Live" album. It's when she sings "dream on..silly dreamer" and "all the same, all the
same, all the same Rhiannon" with the "yeah" yells at the end.
Tiffany, muenzen@ivnet.com

My favorite Rhiannon lyrics are from Fleetwood Mac Live at the very end, where that guitar is just screaming and bass is pumping and Stevie is up
there chanting "All the same.... all the same.... Rhiannon... All the same.... all the same.... Rhiannon.... Dreamer... Try hard.... You can't
leave her.... Dreamer.... Silly dreamer.... ohhh.... take her to the sky..." That part just literally takes my breath away.
Leigh, Rhiannon_77@hotmail.com

"Dreams unwind, well, don't you think that's really hard to find, baby?!" ~ 06/21/86 Weedsport, NY
Michael Bise, MikeBise@aol.com

Hi! My name is Rachel and I'm 14 years old. My favorite variation of "Rhiannon" is off of The Dance. I like it because it's longer, and Stevie's performance is awesome! Stevie is my favorite singer. I think she is beautiful! Now I wear my hair like hers (long and straight with bangs), I dress like her, and my graduation dress (for 8th grade) is just like her outfits. I even have the boots. I am going to name my daughter Rhiannon. I love the name and the song so much, almost as much as I love Stevie!
Rachel, klubkerr@worldnet.att.net

I have two favorite versions, the first one is when Stevie performs on the Bella Donna tour video made in 1981, White Wing Dove. She starts out singing the song high up on the stage, then comes down and twirls around.....Dreams unwind and loves a state of mind. My second favorite is off the Fleetwood Mac live album, she strains that voice of hers and screams, all the same, all the same, all the same Rhiannon, all the same babe, take me to the sky...dreamer....silly dreamer OHHHHH. It is incredible, I love it!
Cat049@aol.com

It was still pretty early on in the Tusk tour, so no one was totally drained yet, and things weren't as high strung as they were later on. One of the reasons I like this version so much is a little instrumental dub Lindsey does while the drums are being adjusted, and it leads in so perfectly. The way this is done, the tempo of everything reminds me of the versions from the 75 tour, the only difference being the intensity of Lindsey's guitar solo. It seems like on this version, he's trying to steal the spotlight away from Stevie in a bizarre way. Its just a hodgepodge of Stevie's amazing vocals, and Lindsey's guitar which is great as always, and John and Mick really click on Rhiannon live, when Stevie starts to dance during the instrumental break, you can really hear that extra piece Christine adds to Fleetwood Mac, and it just gives me chills to hear Stevie drop back into the song vocally. It's indescribable, it's haunting actually.
Fallidol@aol.com

My favorite versions of "Rhiannon" are 1) "Fleetwood Mac Live" and 2) "Welcome To My World" (live, House of Blues, September 1994)
Mike Sarzo, sarzo@wam.umd.edu

I saw Fleetwood Mac in concert, I believe it was the summer of 1974,  or 75 in what used to be known as the Capitol Center in
Maryland. She did the song Rhiannon on stage that night.  She did a floor show with a head dress and a light show
including a full moon in the background. I haven't seen that done since. I really thought that was the best way to do that song.
Cayce, cayce@sylvaninfo.net

My absolute favorite version of this song is from '' The Dance"... "
and he says "Rhiannnon..don't go". and he says " Rhiannon... stay." and  he still cries out for her "Don't leave me...don't leave...me"
Thank you - sincerely Sweet_thing_18 @webtv.net

I personally like the version of Rhiannon she did on The Midnight Special back in 1976. It was full of passion, anger, hate, love EVERYTHING!!! I also like the version that she did on FM Live album too!
BellaBlue1@aol.com

I wasn't originally going to respond to this poll...cause I felt I couldn't answer it, but someone convinced me I should ~ : ). Rhiannon has always been my favorite song from the moment I heard it. Stevie's voice coming through the air waves captivated me...and still does to this day. There has never been another song by Stevie or any other artist that has touched me the way this song has.

I have quite a few versions...some on CD....some on album or cassette tape and some on video tape. If I could combine that haunting sound of the Live FM version, with the mystery of the Mirage Tour Version and the gentleness of the Dance Version without leaving out the soul engulfing Enchanted Version or the fresness of the White Album Version...then I could have to say that one is my favorite.

Sometimes I will just sit back and close my eyes and hear the song ringing like a bell through the night...that is the way I hear it...all versions..combined as one....all the same name...
Drmsunwind@aol.com  (Thank you, Lorraine!)

Well, I have 5 versions of Rhiannon: ~Demo, ~1975 version, ~FM Live version, ~Dance Version, ~Enchanted Version

It really depends what type of mood I am in I guess although i LOVE the Live version.... what I did was make a "Rhiannon" tape of all the versions so I can listen to them all without having to change CD's. (I did the same thing for "Sara"). I really like all the versions..the demo is beautiful,very haunting..each one has some special quality that makes me me like it.
Sarah, AngelSara0@aol.com

My VERY VERY favorite version of Rhiannon is the FM Live version!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOVE it!!!!!! She just like lets you have it & I LOVE when she does that!!!!! I heard that she did that at the Woodstock thing too so that may be my fave version but i dont know haven't heard it... YET!!!!
Amber, MstclGypsy@aol.com

My absolute favorite version is the one that my mother has recorded from the radio. It begins slowly and there is a flue in the background. This adds a mystrey and a magic and build to the moment when Stevie's voice cuts through the music to unleash the spell.

Secondly, I love the version from the Live (1980) album. The very end when Stevie seems to get lost in the music and possessed by the music. I love the build to the end, and finally ... ""Woah... She was Rhiannon.""
BasiLysc@aol.com

I have THE DANCE on DVD, this is by far the best version of Rhiannon I have ever heard!!!! There isn't a more beautiful voice to listen to, especially in 5.1 dolby ditigal sound.
RShof69@aol.com

Rhiannon from the LIVE CD is my favorite of all time
Jason, Fulgham@tecinfo.com

If you are a fairly new fan of Stevie's, you might wonder why some live versions of Rhiannon start out slowly and then kicked into the familiar rock beat we all know so well from Fleetwood Mac's "white" album. There is a reason for this!

Stevie originally composed Rhiannon as a slow beautiful ballad with a haunting melody. Early demos of this song are mesmerizing.....one has Stevie speaking in solemn tones, telling her friend Richard that "we must go to the park and record the sound of birds rising." In 1975, Fleetwood Mac recorded this song, however, as a much more uptempto rock song and continued to perform it live in this fashion. Stevie took the live performances of this song to a whole new level, stretching her voice to its outer limits. By 1981, Stevie was out on the road doing her first solo tour and at this time, she chose to share the original version of Rhiannon with her audience. She knew they would want to hear the familiar rendition, but she started out first singing the ballad version with the lilting piano melody behind her. Then the band would rev up for the high-powered version and Stevie would sing the song again. She continues, to this day, to perform the song this way. I particularly enjoyed the Rock a Little tour version of Rhiannon which featured Bobby Martin playing a very mystical sounding flute during the opening strains of the lush ballad. Fleetwood Mac performed Stevie's preferred version of Rhiannon for the first time on their 1997 The Dance tour.

Enchanted Rhiannon....... Stevie recorded a simple, powerful version of Rhiannon in February, 1998 for her boxed set Enchanted. It is mesmerizing, Stevie's voice is at an all-time best....strong, clear, unwavering. She sings while playing the piano herself, without any other accompaniment besides Sharon Celani doing some light, lovely background vocals. Here is what Stevie wrote about the new recording, in the Enchanted booklet:
With all the bootlegged piano demos of "Rhiannon" that are out there, I decided to just go into a studio with a great grand piano, sit down,and play "Rhiannon" to you now, as she is today. I feel her wisdom is much evolved....and you will hear that in the piano, and in my voice. People say "Do you really want to go through that again?" And all I can say is...."It is my pleasure"....
I find this statement so telling of how Rhiannon has become an entity...a personality of her own...part of Stevie, part of us and part of musical history.

Click the photo below to hear a sound sample of  "Rhiannon", from the boxed set.

Stevie lent her beautiful Rhiannon painting to a limited edition series of t-shirts produced by the Hard Rock Cafe.

I am proud to present a wonderful article written by Bear (BirdsMaker@aol.com), one of my favourite people in the world....a true Wild Heart! This was originally printed in the program for the 1992 Fleetwood Mac convention held in Austin, TX.

"She rings like a bell through the night, and wouldn't you love to love her?"

There is something in the spirit of Rhiannon that calls to many of us, or maybe it's something in each of our souls that call to her....I have heard the song of the birds, and I follow as friends often do...

I became acquainted with Rhiannon through Stevie's song, and felt compelled to find out all I could about this magical legend. "She was dark at the top of the stairs, she called to me..." Over the years my search has lead me many places and has brought me many wonderful friends. It is the magic that brings us together, and the chain that will never break us apart. When my friends and I decided to take on "Stevie names", there was no doubt in my mind that I would be called Rhiannon. She is my guardian, and I listen for that sound of the birds singing "Come away...come away..." So close your eyes softly until you become that part of the wind, and I will tell you the story of the charmed hour....the haunted song....and Rhiannon.

Rhiannon's story is one of love and magic. Rhiannon was a queen in the "Bright World" which is far above our own. She fell in love with a mortal man and gave up her powers and her world to marry him. The only power she was left with was her power of insight, enabling her to see into the future. Rhiannon had three magical birds, one emerald green, one golden, and one snow white. The three birds could sing the dead to life and the living to sleep. The birds would only come in time of great need to help heal and end suffering. As Stevie said in an interview in 1979, "In that sleep there will be no pain. An in that non-existence of pain, there will be happiness, because it was only given with great love. And this was in a haunted song, at a charmed hour, and this was the angel of my dreams....because that's the birds of Rhiannon....which always are there if you need help. And you may black out, and that's what they do, and they take it from you. And you wake up and it's alright. And that's the haunted song of Rhiannon."
"Once in a million years, a lady like her rises,
'Oh no, Rhiannon', you cry but she's gone
And your life knows no answer..."
Through Stevie, Rhiannon has become a guardian angel for many causes. In 1982, Stevie painted her vision of Rhiannon when her best friend Robin was dying of leukemia. At a special benefit concert in Phoenix in 1983, a limited edition poster of Stevie's painting of Rhiannon was sold with all the profits going to the City of Hope, a cancer research facility that had taken care of Robin until her death. Some small cards and pictures have also been sold with all the profits going to the City of Hope. A post script accompanies the painting that reads "Rhiannon was started at the onset of Robin's leukemia last August - she died last Tuesday....she was originally finished for Patrick at the City of Hope - he died while she was still in her grey stage....I finished her in brilliance because Robin was brilliant....may she be patron of driving this disease away - it cannot live this cancer - amongst Rhiannon's bright colors. She was a bright light girl - and we will fight on.....white light..." Earlier (in 1992) the Hard Rock Cafe sponsored a series of t-shirts with the proceeds going to the Special Olympics. Stevie's painting of Rhiannon is one of them.

When the war broke out in the Gulf in 1991, Rhiannon became the guardian angel for many who were fighting the war. Stevie sent an open letter to "Stars and Stripes", sending the troops her love, and the story of Rhiannon. "It is said that in time of war, or strife, or pain, that her song can be heard. And down the glorious pathway, came three singing birds, straight into the middle of the trouble and the hardship. When you heard her song, your eyes would softly close and you would slip away. When you awoke, the trouble would be gone, the sky would be themost wondrous blue, and far in the back of your mind you would hear that song, like a delicate little music box. If you were lucky, you might even see the three beautiful birds slowly flying away from you, and if you were very, very lucky, you might even see Rhiannon slowly turning around to you to say everything is fine. She is smiling and you see her disappear into the fine white clouds. It is said that the legend is true, so I send you the energy from my golden cross and the three singing birds of Rhiannon to comfort you and keep you safe."

Though the story of Rhiannon is only a legend, for all of us it is very real. At one time or another I'm sure we've all heard a few notes of music from the sky, turned around....and caught a glimpse of Rhiannon riding away on her white horse.

"Don't go....Rhiannon...."

(above, the legendary Rhiannon painting, by Stevie Nicks, completed 10/12/82)
The following is the complete, heartfelt postscript printed on the back of the beautiful and now rare Rhiannon cards, sold at one time by Stevie's mother as a fundraiser for the City of Hope hospital. If you still have one, these cards are to be especially cherished as they are out of print and no longer available for sale anywhere.  Click on the painting to see an enlargement, as well as the printed postscript in Stevie's own handwriting.

"Rhiannon was started at the onset of Robin's Leukemia ~ last August ~ she died last Tuesday ~
she was originally finished for Patrick at the
City of Hope ~ he died while she was still in her grey stage ~ I finished her in brilliance upon Robin's death ~ because Robin was brilliant ~
May she be a patron of driving this disease away ~ it cannot live, this cancer ~ amoungst Rhiannons...bright colors ~ she was a bright light girl~ and we will fight on white light ~
S. Nicks 1982"

Want to read some more about the Welsh legend of Rhiannon?

Click here   The Mabinogian; books 1 to 4

Rhiannon's symbol is the horse, her element water and her colour green, and she is the Goddess to whom one can pray for justice and an airing of the truth. Those who have borne life's ills and injustices with patience, but who are nearing the end of their tether, may turn to Her for solace and strength.

Prayer to Rhiannon

Hail Rhiannon, Consort of the Divine Charger
Who is also Lord of the Sea.
Straight is the path of thy steeds
That step the starlit paving stones
Of firmaments forgotten. Yes, but
Only in the blinkered sight of those
Whose eyes are blinded to thy kingdom.
Count me not amongst these, noble Queen,
For I would know and love thee,
And in doing thus would seek thy counsel
And thine aid. Thou too wert wronged
In eons past, when thy fair Cult was
Judged by false evidence to be of
Bloody kind. Yet as young Pryderi did
By Tiernyon's king touch deliver thee
From penances unjust, in manner like
Deliver me, O Queen, from that which
Thus afflicts me without cause, and see
My bold accusers put to right.
For which great mercy I will hence thy
Praises sing to all of men, and honour thee,
O Goddess of the Horse.

Murry Hope 1987

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