New Song: Stevie Nicks’ New Powerful Protest Song, “The Lighthouse” – A Woman’s Rights Anthem For These Troubled Times
“Don’t let them take your power…” – Stevie Nicks, “The Lighthouse”
Having just posted about Fleetwood Mac’s Mirage Tour ’82 a few days ago, it may seem like I’m becoming a stan of the Fleetwood Mac diaspora but I swear I had no idea Stevie Nicks was going to unleash a new protest song today. I saw hints on social media that a new track was coming but not until after I’d published the piece on the Mac’s latest live vault release. And let me say, wow, what a powerful song this is… I’ve always been a fan of Nicks’ solo stuff but even I wasn’t prepared for this track.
I keep waiting for someone to step up and release some protest music. This is not a political blog and has never aspired to be one but I’ve always dug protest songs. We live in tumultuous times and maybe my high school guidance councilor was right and I just have a problem with authority. The stakes couldn’t be higher, especially for the women in this country. The sixties were a similar divided time but without the inherent threat of fascism that we face today. Women are on the front line of this battle, they typically are in any time of social upheaval. And now, we’ve got a song that should be played everywhere, “The Lighthouse.”
Stevie is no stranger to speaking her mind. Just a few years ago we posted about her cover of Stephen Stills’ great song from the Buffalo Springfield, “For What It’s Worth.” Her spin on that track hit differently. Now she’s back with a complete original produced by Stevie, her ol’ pal Sheryl Crow and Dave Cobb. The song is one of the most rousing protest tracks I think I’ve ever heard. It made me want to grab a sign and head to the barricades.
The track starts with pulsing music – like the light of a lighthouse flashing at you – with Nicks’ singing “I’ve got my scars, you’ve got yours.” Her voice sounds really processed at first but you get the signature Nicks sandpaper voice later in the song. In the verse where Nicks sings “the light is going fast, until the final hours when your life is forever changed,” the guitar and drums sound like the clicking of a doomsday clock. When the music kicks in behind Nicks saying, “take it back,” it hits you in the solar plexus. It’s loud, aggressive and the music sounds chaotic, angry and at the same time focused, like the unleashing of a targeted storm. Stevie’s not taking this shit any more. Goosebumps, baby. It certainly had my apolitical fist pumping in the air. This is the best original track I’ve heard from Nicks in a long time.
In the song Stevie sings about having to fight the battles that were fought and won before. The man is slowly taking rights and power away, especially where women are concerned. This track hits it straight on. Nicks was apparently inspired by the reversal of Roe v Wade, which I know is an emotional issue on both sides. Regardless of where you fall on that, this song will be used at protest rallies for decades to come so get used to it.
I haven’t been in the habit of talking about videos since the 80s when MTV actually played music videos, but I had to post the link to this one. It’s scenes of protesters out marching for women’s reproductive freedom juxtaposed with scenes of Nicks inside a spooky lighthouse. It’s some very powerful stuff. It ties this thing more directly to reproductive rights but just listening to the tune I think it can be taken more broadly as a pro-feminist anthem. Here is the video:
Whatever your feelings on such matters, you’ve got to admit it’s a pretty amazing track. This thing borders on inspirational. If it doesn’t get you out to the voting booth, I don’t know if rock n roll can reach you.
It’s gonna be dark ride over the next few months… hang in there and take care of each other. Remember, we’re better together.
Cheers!
We in Europe look with very strange feelings what is currently happening in the US. Considering Project 2025, I do not understand how any American who loves his freedom, his Land of the Free and the American Constitution, can vote for an insane autocrat and liar as Donald Trump. Completely incomprehensible.
And I regret that the protest songs have lost much of their power and no longer have the same impact as they used to. Neil Young even made an intire album around the elections, ‘Living with War’ and Ry Cooder with ‘Election Special’ from 2012.
And they did that in the period G.W. Bush and Obama when the need was not as urgent as it is now.
And now it appears that hardly anyone releases protest songs anymore. Very strange.
But than again, ‘Lighthouse’ is a powerful and great protest song. Thank you Stevie, the women, the US and the rest of the world needs you. Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World, Kenneth.
It’s a frightening time. I know enough history to say if you’re on the side of politics where they’re banning books, then you’re probably on the wrong side. But we’re not a political blog so let’s talk protest music. When I think that CSNY were doing Neil’s “Ohio,” or John Lennon was doing “Give Peace A Chance” and it takes a veteran artist like Stevie to drop a great protest song when not many if any of her younger contemporary artists are saying anything makes me sad. These young artists have a voice and they should use it. We all should in these precarious times!! And you keep rockin’ Guy! Cheers!!
Can somebody translate this for me? Thanks.
Just watched the video on YouTube and it seemed as if she grabbed the baton from Marley/Tosh on Get Up, Stand Up and evoked their message as inspiration to create this parallel anthem.
Beautiful to see the kindred spirits cooperate to motivate, inspire, teach and remind us all what’s at stake.
Can’t wait to see where this goes from here.
Couldn’t agree more! If this one doesn’t rouse your spirits nothing will! Cheers! ps, I love Marley/Tosh and that whole early Wailers “Burnin’ and a Lootin'” stuff!!
In the 60s and early 70s the influence of music was immense. The music had a great influence on society, even the way of dressing, the length of hair and the minds and thoughts of the young people. Remember Woodstock and the hippies. Music could change lives back then.
Since then there has never been such a huge music movement, it has been commercialized and disintegrated. And now there is no real movement anymore, just individual artists without much of a message. And along with that, the protest song has faded into the background. It’s a shame.
Who was it who said that money ruins everything! Certainly screws up art…
Had to seek this song out after her SNL performance. Once again the SNL history of bad sound mixes stuck hard … the video you posted sounds way better and I actually could imagine putting it on repeat.
I actually didn’t see the SNL performance, but it sounds like I didn’t miss anything based on your comment! Thanks for the feedback! Cheers!
You really DIDN’T miss anything. Song is corny, she sounds corny.
Well, can’t say much about the performance as I didn’t see it, but I dig the song.
VOTE
Yes!
I Did, We The People Spoke ‘LOUD & CLEAR’.
This is a rock n roll blog. This is not a political blog. Now, I understand that rock n roll, like any art, can veer into political waters to make a statement. I wander into those “political adjacent” waters myself on occasion. But I want us all to focus on the music here. I’m delighted to hear you voted ’51catnip,’ as alas, 85-87m of your fellow Americans chose to stay home, which is more people than either candidate actually had vote for them. While the divisions in our country are more more apparent, I like to think of B&V as a place we can put those feelings aside and turn up the volume while we listen to some rock n roll. Again, lets all try to focus on music, not politics, we get enough of that crap elsewhere. Thanks!
interesting that you missed The Chicks “March March” 4.5 years ago ….. a Real protest song.
Well, I can only comment on songs that reach my ears and that one never did. I read the lyrics and yes, you are correct, that’s one helluva protest song! Those ladies have always been willing to put themselves out there… Good on them. Cheers!