Don't Stop by Fleetwood Mac

Album: Rumours (1977)

Charted: 32 3

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Christine McVie wrote this about leaving the past behind. She and John McVie (Fleetwood Mac's bass player) were splitting up, which inspired the lyrics. This caused some awkward moments, since John had to play a song written about him. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were also going through a breakup and writing songs about each other ("Go Your Own Way," "Dreams"), and Mick Fleetwood was going through a divorce. All the tension in the studio didn't seem to hurt - Rumours is one of the best-selling albums of all time.
The album was going to be called "Yesterday's Gone," after a line in this song. John McVie suggested "Rumours" because it seemed like everyone in Southern California was talking about the personal drama Fleetwood Mac was going through.
Bill Clinton used this as his theme song when he successfully ran for US president in 1992. He was the first baby boomer president, and he knew Fleetwood Mac would appeal to a lot of voters in this demographic.

There was some subtext to this pairing of song and politician: Clinton was a known philanderer, and had been through some rough times with his wife, Hillary. The song finds Christine McVie offering her husband a chance to move forward despite his transgressions:

Why not think about times to come
And not about the things that you've done

The vast majority of listeners didn't pick up on this, as it was heard as a song of hope and renewal in the context of the campaign.
When Bill Clinton won the presidential election, Fleetwood Mac was thrust back into the spotlight because his campaign had used this song at every opportunity. At this time, the band was fractured, with Lindsey Buckingham out of the lineup since 1987 and Stevie Nicks out since 1991. And while Clinton couldn't push through universal health care, he was able to get the Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac back together, as Buckingham and Nicks joined John and Christine McVie and Mick Fleetwood to perform at his inaugural gala in 1993 (the day before he was sworn into office).

Nothing came of the one-off reunion, and the band spent the next few years punching below their weight, even opening for REO Speedwagon. In 1997, Buckingham and Nicks returned to the fold and Fleetwood Mac was once again an arena act, embarking on their wildly successful The Dance tour.
On September 26, 2013, the band welcomed old friend Christine McVie to the stage in London's O2 Arena. The singer-keyboardist, who quit the group in 1998, sang her own "Don't Stop," marking a rare full-band reunion. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
John McVie didn't twig for a long time that Chrissie McVie wrote the song about him. He told Mojo magazine in 2015: "I never put that together. I've been playing it for years and it wasn't until somebody told me, 'Chris wrote that about you.' Oh really?"
The Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt covered this for a 2013 John Lewis ad. Her version peaked at #61 on the UK singles chart.

Comments: 24

Smitty from EarthTook a while for me to forgive FM for plugging Slick Willie with this song.
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenSince it was used politically, a political spoof was done of it that included the lines "Don't stop thinking how much we borrow" and "solvency's gone, solvency's gone."
Don from Sevierville, TnI first heard the line as "Don't stop thinking about the car".
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 3rd 1977, "Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac entered Billboard's Hot Top 100chart at position #72; and on September 18th, 1977 it peaked at #3 (for 2 weeks) and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 6 of those 18 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
And on September 10th, 1977 it reached #1 (for 1 week) on the Canadian RPM Top Singles chart...
Was track four of side one on the quartet's eleventh studio album, 'Rumours', and on March 27th, 1977 it reached #1 (for 31 non-consecutive weeks) on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart (also peaked at #1 in Canada, Australia, Holland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom)...
Three other tracks from the album also made the Top 10; "Go Your Own Way" (#10 for 2 weeks), "Dreams" (#1 for 1 week), and "You Make Loving Fun" (#9 for 1 week).
Ken from San Mateo, CaSuch a positive, great song.
Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia FederationFrom the transcript of BBC Radio 2 Classic Album:
Rick Wakeman (of Yes): Don't Stop. A song that was hijacked by a young democratic governor from Little Rock, Arkansas. Bill Clinton used the song as his campaign theme and eventually, Fleetwood Mac played a special one-off gig at his inaugauration party in 1993. This did not please John McVie!

John McVie: Twixt you and me, erm, I thought well, that's very nice (laughs) ... I just kept my mouth shut 'cos I wasn't gonna blow it. So we did it and I'm not a Clinton fan. He was off somewhere ... we met the Gores. It was a complete experience! You think rock and roll is phony? You should meet this lot! The whole political thing was just amazing!
Esskayess from Dallas, TxA pity this song was tainted by them using it politically. I usually skip it when playing their stuff now.
Reed from Sterling Heights, MiThis is my all-time favorite song. When I die, I want it played at my funeral because it is so happy and uplifting. I want it to remind my friends and family that I am now in a better place and I wouldn't want them to be sad.
Tom from El Paso, Txbill clintons birthday is august 19.the cd The Dance was released on aug 19.bruce lees enter the dragon was released on aug 19.did mr. hendrix play the star spangled banner on aug. 18 or aug 19??stephen king began writing THE TOMMYKNOCKERS on aug 19. my name is tom and my birthday is aug 19.too much info. tom,el paso tx.
Sandra from Gardnerville, NvSorry. I never cared for Christie McVie singing lead...even for a verse.
Tony from Chicago, Ilone of the msot incredible upeat anthems ever in Rock!!!!!
Bluesmama from Beautiful Northeastern , Pa"Singed"?? You did NOT say "singed". Did you mean she burnt it slightly?? Aaaagggghhh!!
Constance from Dallas, TxI love Christine Mcvie. She is an awesome songwriter. Some people don't know this but she singed the second verse to this song. Many people think only Lindsay was singing.
Dave from New Orleans, LaNot long after Bob Welch left Fleetwood Mac, he formed a band named 'Paris.' The band released only two (I think) albums in America. I had 'Big Towne 2061.' Loved it.
Dessire from El Cajon, CaI thought bob welch left the band cause no one talked to him xD and John suggested the album be called rumours because everyone was writing songs for everyone except john cause he didnt write and Mick because his wife wasnt in the band.. and yes first was the white album or fleetwood mac and THEN Rumours.... and yes the dance version is sooo awesome the concert closes with songbird
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnThis song also closes Fleetwood Mac's 1997 live CD The Dance. In this version they are joined by the University of Southern California marching band (who had also backed them up on "Tusk"). While introducing the song, Christine McVie admits to the audience, "We've never done this song with a brass section before, so this should be interesting." That's putting it mildly.
Spencer from Bronx, NyEventhough it is about a divorce, it is a good song to work out to.
Kevin from Flower Mound, TxThe band spent 10 solid hours on a kick-drum sound in Studio B, but eventually moved to Studi A and build a special platform for the drums, which got them sounding the way they wanted them.
Patrick from Humboldt, IaMy favorite song ever. I love listening to it when I wake up in the morning. It's makes me feel happier.
Roger from Los Angeles, CaClinton worked really hard to get the under 40's to come out and vote. Voter turnout before the Clinton election for the under 40's was very low. The fact that him and Gore saw to it to get them out to the polls, ensured a win for him. This song was one example of how Clinton tried to reach out to the younger generation and to encourage them to vote, that they could make a difference.
Nessie from Sapporo, JapanI'm not sure why Clinton would have needed to woo the under 40's, since they're already more likely to vote Democrat.
Ronnie from Ft. Meyers, FlBill Clinton and Al Gore used this as their theme song when they ran for President/Vice President in 1992. A large part of their campaign was trying to win over the under 40 voters who viewed George H. W. Bush as a stiff and they thought choosing a classic rock song that most people in that age group liked would help their campaign.
Mariel from Clearwater, Flnot to nitpick, especially as a newbie, but may i respectfully counter... the 'white' Fleetwood Mac album was released in 1975 with lindsey and stevie (who replaced welch in 1974), Rumours followed two years later.
Ray from Jackson, NjBob Welch quit Fleetwood Mac because he felt the band was not heading in the right direction..... the next album they released was "Rumours"

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