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Fleetwood Mac — Go Your Own Way
Album: Rumours
Avg rating:
8.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2790









Released: 1977
Length: 3:35
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Loving you isn't the right thing to do
How can I ever change things that I feel?
If I could, baby, I'd give you my world
How can I when you won't take it from me?

You can go your own way, go your own way
You can call it another lonely day
You can go your own way, go your own way

Tell me why everything turned around
Packing up, shacking up's all you want to do
If I could, baby, I'd give you my world
Open up, everything's waiting for you

You can go your own way, go your own way
You can call it another lonely day
You can go your own way, go your own way

You can go your own way, go your own way
You can call it another lonely day, another lonely day
You can go your own way, go your own way
(You can call it another lonely day)

You can go your own way
You can call it another lonely day
You can go your own way
Comments (136)add comment
I've never been a huge Fleetwood Mac  fan, but this song rocks.
Rest in peace Christine McVie
 Biscobret wrote:

What a great fucking album.




The all-time best selling album after it was released in'77.  And still terrific.
 lathyris wrote:
Brilliant interview with Lindsey Buckingham on the making of this song: http://songexploder.net/fleetwood-mac

So many surprising facts. Such as: how unimpressive some of these vocal tracks are when isolated -- even though they're pure gold when harmonized.

And: inspiration for the fantastic drums.

And: how the acoustic guitar almost didn't make it.

And so much more.

ALSO: although he never actually addresses it directly, you'll understand exactly why nobody wants him in the band anymore  (Why didn't Mick play the drum part you wanted Lindsey? Say it one more time?)

Thanks for that. I usually enjoy hearing artists or actors describe their creative process. 

Band dynamics is a fascinating topic. An unavoidable aspect of that is creative control which can be a source of conflict, tension, as well as synergistic collaboration. Some bands seem to thrive on the synergy, or tension, or both, others chafe. 

If a band identifies as a band, then my expectation is that they probably collaborate as a group, which seems usually to be the case, though often with some level of conflict. If an artist identifies as themselves, that is, as an individual, then that implies, to me, that creative control rests mainly on that individual, and that individual may or may not seek or accept collaboration.

Yeah, it sounds to me like Lindsey is trying to exert individual-level creative control in a collaborative band environment and I’d have to side with the band since, this is “Fleetwood Mac”, not “Lindsey Buckingham”. That’s despite the fact that I think highly of Lindsey’s songwriting, playing, and producing skills. 
Perhaps the song title is more revealing now.

In my experience it's rarely that I enjoy an artist's solo work more than their collaborative work within a band, so I think in my case I'd hope for a band to manage those creative tensions harmoniously, or at least peacefully, since that seems to produce the work I enjoy most.

But that just doesn't work out ultimately for a lot of bands.
 eyke wrote:

Mick's drumming is just...how does he do that...phenomenal.



Acting!!! (Insert gif of Jon Lovitz as Master Thespian here, I'm too dumb to figure out how to do that)
Mick's drumming is just...how does he do that...phenomenal.
 sfyi2001 wrote:


Fleetwood Mac were BIG that year.
'RUMORS' was a phenomenal success - Set the stage for the rest of their career.
Was a Junior in High School and 'Go Your Own Way' was one of the songs that went on the turntable every day when I got home from school.



It's 'RUMOURS'. Just sayin'.


100% godlike!
In my opinion the old "Fleetwood Mac" was one of a kind and this group should have taken another name. Not that I wouldn't like also this group..........


Fleetwood Mac were BIG that year.
'RUMORS' was a phenomenal success - Set the stage for the rest of their career.
Was a Junior in High School and 'Go Your Own Way' was one of the songs that went on the turntable every day when I got home from school.


Top 10 in my worst days of heartbreak... (she died at 40... never had the chance to go back...still hurts)
 NelsonBlack wrote:
BTW - when will the mid-period Mac with Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch ever get the remaster treatment?
 

It has begun.  CD sets are completed and good to go.  Vinyl is a little bit more sketchy but getting along.  Future Games and Bare Trees sorta got skipped, so far.
 memoryboxer wrote:

Yeah, it sucks. But I expect from their perspective (and most musicians I know) that it sucks even more that folks no longer BUY music, they just listen on line for free, download what they want without paying, etc. I've a couple friends who are pro musicians and they've said that even when people do buy a song off iTunes or wherever (as so few seem to buy full albums anymore when they do buy), that the musicians are lucky to see pennies per sale after the industry rakes it's cuts. Even live shows they are barely making minimum wage, as those hyper inflated ticket prices go everywhere except to the folk actually making the music.
So yeah... it sucks to hear Iggy touting cruise ships for seniors, and Steppenwolf flogging Mercedes, but ask yourself how much do you spend on music these days? Including here... you're a paying supporter, I hope.
 

Agreed one million percent.

That is why I never use Amazon or ITunes, never mind the flac-mp3 issue.

I ALWAYS go on Bandcamp first, even for big artists. That platform seems to be the most fair and made it alot easier for smaller bands & scenes to develop.
If it's not there, I'll hunt for the band's personal website, or the label's site.

I grew up straight into CDs, but I still also buy vinyls to this day. Music nerds will nerd.
 rdaufan wrote:
Too bad it is now a commercial for a prescription medication.  Sucks that bands sell out.







IMHO this song is way, way overplayed. Especially now that it is in a commercial.
Hitting on all cylinders!
 GuiltyFeat wrote:
Any dissent would be churlish. This is power pop at its finest.
 

The perfect power pop song?
 rdaufan wrote:
Too bad it is now a commercial for a prescription medication.  Sucks that bands sell out.
 
Yeah, it sucks. But I expect from their perspective (and most musicians I know) that it sucks even more that folks no longer BUY music, they just listen on line for free, download what they want without paying, etc. I've a couple friends who are pro musicians and they've said that even when people do buy a song off iTunes or wherever (as so few seem to buy full albums anymore when they do buy), that the musicians are lucky to see pennies per sale after the industry rakes it's cuts. Even live shows they are barely making minimum wage, as those hyper inflated ticket prices go everywhere except to the folk actually making the music.
So yeah... it sucks to hear Iggy touting cruise ships for seniors, and Steppenwolf flogging Mercedes, but ask yourself how much do you spend on music these days? Including here... you're a paying supporter, I hope.
I gave it a 9, but when I hear the drums (especially the drums), the bass, the guitar solos...this one reaches into Godlike.  Maybe one day I will put it there.
 rdaufan wrote:
Too bad it is now a commercial for a prescription medication.  Sucks that bands sell out.
 

Money rules & will be the downfall of our little blue ball.
Too bad it is now a commercial for a prescription medication.  Sucks that bands sell out.
Fleetwood Mac is exemplary of how great art and music often comes from very dysfunctional people and relationships.
I love the end of the final overdubbed guitars solo where the notes descend into that crunchy sound...

BTW - when will the mid-period Mac with Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch ever get the remaster treatment?
Brilliant interview with Lindsey Buckingham on the making of this song: http://songexploder.net/fleetwood-mac

So many surprising facts. Such as: how unimpressive some of these vocal tracks are when isolated -- even though they're pure gold when harmonized.

And: inspiration for the fantastic drums.

And: how the acoustic guitar almost didn't make it.

And so much more.

ALSO: although he never actually addresses it directly, you'll understand exactly why nobody wants him in the band anymore  (Why didn't Mick play the drum part you wanted Lindsey? Say it one more time?)

The vocals are haunting  but I always liked Mick's drumming and perc on this one.
currently adopted by big pharma commercials, effective for its generation
 GuiltyFeat wrote:
Any dissent would be churlish. This is power pop at its finest.
 
Oooo, "churlish"; nice one.  ; )
It's still good!
Any dissent would be churlish. This is power pop at its finest.
I was 7 when this album was released. My dad bought it. And I listened to it over and over and over and over. It was the catalyst for my love of music. Finally saw Fleetwood Mac perform live in 1997. I was so grateful for that (first) reunion tour!!
 bindi wrote:
Agreed!  Arguably, one of the best Rock&Roll song ever written. (my vote for the best)
 
Everybody in my hotel room loves this classic song from a marvelous album...  we be dancing like happy hippies...  hope life is grand for you right now, bindi...  love Radio Paradise...
Overplayed?  Yes.  Still like hearing it for the Nth time?  Hell Yes!  This was our (me on guitar, wife on vocals, daughter on drums) favorite Rock Band song to play.  Long Live RP (and RamFish!)
 Old_Pat wrote:
While I like the entire album in small doses, it is without a doubt the greatest tribute to complete and unabashed egotism ever recorded.

 
Huh. After reading your comment I figured I had been kinda sorta humming along with this song for the last 40 years not actually paying attention to the message it was trying to convey so I hit the lyrics button and found that it's not "you can call it thunder along the way" after all.  So thanks, Old Pat, for prompting me to read the lyrics although I'm sure that after all these years I'll still remember it the way I've always remembered it, with the thunder thing.  And I know that was not your point but WTF.
Just saw Colbie Caillat play this in Maui last week (OK, guilty pleasure), with Mick Fleetwood on drums!
 swart wrote:
I wish I could go back in time and buy Rumours on vinyl again

 
Oh that'll never happen.   {#Roflol}

Hey have you heard of that Google thingy?{#Whipit}
 
 swart wrote:
I wish I could go back in time and buy Rumours on vinyl again

 
Put LIKE button here {#Dancingbanana}
 swart wrote:
I wish I could go back in time and buy Rumours on vinyl again

 
Amazon have it
I wish I could go back in time and buy Rumours on vinyl again
 DaidyBoy wrote:
Superb album and this is my favourite track.  Cover is odd - she seems fascinated by his clackers.  

 
Well, she was.
Saw them on their tour recently. Sounded sharp and energized, even if there was no new material. Still a great band, and hearing great songs never gets old.
Puts me on and happy since decades ago!!!!
Superb album and this is my favourite track.  Cover is odd - she seems fascinated by his clackers.  
 Biscobret wrote:
What a great fucking album.

 
This.
 gjeeg wrote:
Sorry, a rare RP dip into FM overplayedness. ugh.

 
Dude! Lighten up! Not everything popular is poor - every now and then those poor, miserable, uninspired, ignorant masses do notice something great in their midst, and in their notice it may not always be destroyed...

...like ice-cream.  
Finally a most excellent tune! I've been out of sync with RP today, nothing has matched my mood. 
Sorry, a rare RP dip into FM overplayedness. ugh.
 Biscobret wrote:
What a great fucking album.

 
..... took the very words out of my mouth
While I like the entire album in small doses, it is without a doubt the greatest tribute to complete and unabashed egotism ever recorded.
I don't know about you, but I get a SERIOUS case of AIR DRUMS listening to this song!
 Stingray wrote:
EXELLENT! EXELLENT!

This is exacly what I understand as being:

Drive, melody, rythm, voice, lyrics, great guitars!
All fits - just perfect!

Yes - it is a 10 indeed!
SENSATIONAL!!!!!


 
No "C's" needed...ever.
Everyone sitting at my desk is dancing!

{#Dancingbanana_2}
 Biscobret wrote:
What a great fucking album.

 
Agreed!
What a great fucking album.
 (former member) wrote:


brilliant song from a magnificent album...  we be dancing madly...

 

 
Everyone in your church is dancing!
 agkagk wrote:
Timeless
 

Indeed...  and what an incredible album...
 
Certain songs transport you to a particular time and place in your life. This is one of those songs...
Timeless
 Cynaera wrote:
I really didn't like this song when it first came out. It took a long time for it to grow on me, but once it did, I cranked it up every time I heard it.

I still do. I can't pinpoint exactly what makes me love this song - could be the whole group vibration at the time. That they could produce a song of this power and emotion, even though the band was exploding into divisive shards, says a lot for their longevity.

Or, maybe I like the tune. {#Roflol}

 
 

Miss you...

love this song...
 
Genius drumming on this tune. And Lindsey's no slouch on the geetar.
Liked this so much 35 years ago.!!!! Maybe even more now? like a good wine.
 
 treatment_bound wrote:
 I graduated from high school in '77 (the year this song was everywhere), and I've pretty much spent the last 33 years trying to erase every single sorry-ass moment of it (high school, not Rumours). 
Exactly — me too!
Great great great. Truly classic album - sure it's catchy, hooky, melodic, highly popular, top-40, all of that - but occasionally, the masses get it right in recognizing quality. This band and this album is one of those times...
Catharsis.
Always liked this album, even though I'm not much of a Fleetwood Mac fan. Always liked this song, too—nice guitar.
I really didn't like this song when it first came out. It took a long time for it to grow on me, but once it did, I cranked it up every time I heard it.

I still do. I can't pinpoint exactly what makes me love this song - could be the whole group vibration at the time. That they could produce a song of this power and emotion, even though the band was exploding into divisive shards, says a lot for their longevity.

Or, maybe I like the tune. {#Roflol}

 
I always wondered if they knew what a smash hit this album was going to be before they released it. I'm sure the answer is an interview somewhere.

I LOVE Mac, and I expecially LOVE this song.   Gets me up, gets me moving, dancing, smiling, happy, happy.  

Very very good song from a great great album.
But, please sir, show your little balls off!
Fun song, great in Rock Band.
I can't help it.  I like it.  Sometimes you just go for the candy...
so true!!!

 
Rooney wrote:
For ****'s sake!  I hated this song then, I hate it now, and will continue to turn off the radio every bleeping time it comes on.  Cheeze-its, Merry and Yusef, please play something different by this talented crew.  Not this hackneyed, over done, piece of crap.

Now, let me tell you how I really feel. 

 


For ****'s sake!  I hated this song then, I hate it now, and will continue to turn off the radio every bleeping time it comes on.  Cheeze-its, Merry and Yusef, please play something different by this talented crew.  Not this hackneyed, over done, piece of crap.

Now, let me tell you how I really feel. 

Like alot.  #9
simply the best breakup song ever!


                                     . . . .EVER!


                                                          EVER!
 romeotuma wrote:


Man, I love this song...  I remember when this song came out like it was last year...  awesome...


 
That makes one of us.  I graduated from high school in '77 (the year this song was everywhere), and I've pretty much spent the last 33 years trying to erase every single sorry-ass moment of it (high school, not Rumours).





I'm so grateful for the mute button.


EXELLENT! EXELLENT!

This is exacly what I understand as being:

Drive, melody, rythm, voice, lyrics, great guitars!
All fits - just perfect!

Yes - it is a 10 indeed!
SENSATIONAL!!!!!

 Dillinquent wrote:
Yawn. AOR at it's coke fuelled dullest.
{#Moon}
 
Nope. That honor goes to Hotel California.

This is truly one of the greatest albums of all time! Amazing how every single song was a creative masterpiece in it of itself! Amazing!{#Notworthy}
 Dillinquent wrote:
Yawn. AOR at it's coke fueled dullest.
{#Moon}
 
This made me laugh, despite the fact that I have a soft spot for this song 

I saw FM during the Buckingham/Nicks breakup and every time they came to the chorus of this cut, Lindsay would either look directly at Stevie when he sang the harmony, or he would get in her face. . . nothing like making your feelings known publicly. . .

 Dillinquent wrote:
Yawn. AOR at it's coke fuelled dullest.
Yep. 

 Poacher wrote:

As you are a consistent troll in city of future dust
 

Worse than unnecessary, that was unkind.  Meanness is unbecoming of you.
 romeotuma wrote:


This is a truly great song from a seminal album...
 
As you are a consistent troll from a city of future dust

Overplayed the 8Track of this when it first came out
not one of the better songs on the album
Yawn. AOR at it's coke fuelled dullest.
{#Moon}
Great under-rated guitar playing in this...
 Rick_V wrote:
While this song has been overplayed it does not change the fact that it is awesome.
 
Damn straight!

 haresfur wrote:
Classic rock - all the music I hated the first time around...{#Grumpy}
 

How was it "classic" the first time around? Wasn't it just rock then? Damn good rock too, imho. And still good rock, despite however much it's been played over the years.
Overplayed, Yes!  But I heard it from my mom in the mid eighties!  I fell for Fleetwood Mac!  I loved the whole sound!  And the lyrics are awesome!
 Rick_V wrote:
While this song has been overplayed it does not change the fact that it is awesome.
 
Yup. {#Yes}

Classic rock - all the music I hated the first time around...{#Grumpy}
While this song has been overplayed it does not change the fact that it is awesome.
This was one of those songs that defined the 70's and my teen years.  Boston - More than a feeling,  Cheap Trick - I want you to want me, Fleetwood Mac - Go Your Own Way,  Foreigner - Cold as Ice, Bruce - Born To Run,  there's more and you all know there are - but to me  these are the classics - and KUDO's to RP for playing them 
 Shesdifferent wrote:
{#Puke}So overplayed no thanks.....

 

are you mad...?

Truely - you must be from another planet.
One where good music is a punishment!

Overplayed - ttttzzzzzzzzzzzz...!!!

Still one of best cranky-sounding guitar solos ever!
OUTSTANDING!
Nice classic tune!
 a_genuine_find wrote:

Counting the days
'till January 20th
...go your own way

{#Bananasplit}{#Dancingbanana}{#Moon}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Clap}



 
I pass through Crawford a couple of times a year.  Camp Casey has gone its own way, too.  Not that the Dems care about Cindy Sheehan anymore.  She was useful for a while.

{#Puke}So overplayed no thanks.....

 romeotuma wrote:


This song is soooo good for the ears...
 



ОМ yes! :) is sooo good!
Aaaaghh! 80s tut...was MOR then and even less listenable now. Should never have been allowed to keep the Fleetwood Mac monicker - for verily they were NOT keepers of the flame
one of the most perfect pop songs ever written. simple, irresistible, pure and (a little bit) silly.
It happens that I spent a part of this last weekend rereading Mick's intriguing autobiography, Fleetwood, and can handle revisiting this now in light of the historical picture.

Lindsey's guitar-playing on this still kicks a__.


I've heard of this LP.
Hmmmmmm. Steamy Knicks {#Tongue}
 dgraham wrote:
this bubblegum 'music' doesn't belong on the radio paradise I love...

 
BUBLEGUM?  Lindsay is basically telling Stevie to F*ck-Off in this song - hardly bubble gum lyrics! 

Then that guitar!  Still has my vote for the numero uno #10 ever.

Counting the days
'till January 20th
...go your own way

{#Bananasplit}{#Dancingbanana}{#Moon}{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Clap}



a great song, from one of the greatest albums of ALL time......!
Classic rock staple? Yep.

Played to death? Check.

A great tune? Absolutely.
Oh please.  Lindsey Buckingham is the bubblegum antidote.

 dgraham wrote:
this bubblegum 'music' doesn't belong on the radio paradise I love...
 


 romeotuma wrote:


I wish I could rate this song 100...
 

Agreed!  Arguably, one of the best Rock&Roll song ever written. (my vote for the best)
 dgraham wrote:
this bubblegum 'music' doesn't belong on the radio paradise I love...

 

It might seem like bubblegum now, but in 1977 it was called rock. I know, because I lived though it. I understand the bubblegum comment, as this song is overplayed over the last couple decades.
Now that's just dumb...

 
dgraham wrote:
this bubblegum 'music' doesn't belong on the radio paradise I love...

 


Songs like this are OK once in a while. The thing that ruins it for most people is the incessant repetition on classic rock stations. RP will play this only once in a while, and it won't get old, which is the way it should be.

 songbirdfemme wrote:
Fleetwood Mac is such a classic awesome band... I vote to hear some TUSK!
 
IMO Tusk is not that good. I have it in my collection and it does not get often rotation.

one of the greatest guitar parts ever - that you can't hear