Stevie Nicks Wrote This 1985 Deep Cut While Actively Drawing Its Titular Character

After the success of her first two solo albums, Bella Donna and The Wild Heart, Stevie Nicks returned in 1985 with a third, Rock a Little. It spawned hit singles like “I Can’t Wait” and “Talk to Me”. However, its deep cut “Sister Honey” is one that has an interesting story and character.

Nicks has often turned to her personal life for inspiration, as most musicians do. She’s also written songs about characters she’s created, such as the mysterious character Sister Honey. Nicks wrote “Sister Honey” along with guitar player Les Dudek. And as the song was taking shape, Nicks also started drawing portraits of the character.

“So Sister kind of came out of this song, and I did it right here, you know, and even when it was dark, I would just kind of zero in on throwing color in and mushing it around, and I’d go up to the light for a while and go work on her,” Nicks explained of her drawings of the character. “And she just grew and she became a person.”

With synthesizers and the occasional electric guitar, “Sister Honey” is a quintessential 1980s Nicks song. It’s perfectly suited for Rock a Little. The lyrics describe a mysterious woman with “golden hair” who “will help you make up your mind” and will “hit you with a fury.” The line “Do you understand the word pleasure” implies a sexual aspect. Despite Nicks’ vision of the character, the lyrics offer up very little when it comes to explaining who Sister Honey is or what makes her so alluring. Some fans interpret the song as Nicks describing a version of herself and her relationship with Dudek. Nicks hasn’t said much else about the song, however, and she has never played it live.

Stevie Nicks’ fondness for characters and storytelling adds a dynamic layer to her songwriting. “Sister Honey” is just one example throughout her vast discography. Nicks’ characters are often women, the most famous of whom is arguably “Rhiannon,” one of the hits she penned for Fleetwood Mac. She has often introduced “Rhiannon” live as a song about “an old Welsh witch.” The story of “Sister Honey” is yet another example of the extent of Nicks’ creativity. It’s also a great example of how her various creative interests and skills work together.

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