For decades, fans have linked Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks to The Eagles’ classic rock anthem, “Witchy Woman,” given her iconic mystical stage persona. However, the true story behind the 1972 hit reveals an entirely different muse, though Nicks herself was profoundly inspired by the track long before her own meteoric rise to fame.
The image of the “witchy woman” has long been a potent symbol in rock and roll, none more so than through the enigmatic presence of Stevie Nicks. Her captivating performances and lyrical storytelling, particularly with songs like “Rhiannon,” have solidified her place as the quintessential rock enchantress. This powerful persona naturally led many fans to believe that The Eagles’ spellbinding 1972 hit, “Witchy Woman,” was penned with her in mind. Yet, the reality behind the song’s creation offers a fascinating glimpse into a different, equally compelling inspiration.
The Eagles’ Spellbinding Classic: “Witchy Woman”
Released as the second single from The Eagles’ debut studio album in 1972, “Witchy Woman” quickly soared up the charts, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. This early success marked a pivotal moment for the band and its co-writer, Don Henley. The track’s haunting melody, R&B pulse, and evocative lyrics painted a distinct portrait of a mysterious, seductive enchantress, cementing its status as an instant classic and a staple on rock radio.
The song, primarily written by Don Henley and Bernie Leadon, began to take shape while Leadon was still with The Flying Burrito Brothers. After joining The Eagles, Leadon and Henley completed the track, making it the only song on their debut album with a writing credit for Henley. Its unique sound and lyrical depth set a high bar for the band’s future endeavors, captivating listeners with its allure.
Beyond the Legends: The Real Muse of “Witchy Woman”
Despite persistent fan theories, Don Henley has clarified that “Witchy Woman” was not written about Stevie Nicks. The inspiration for the enigmatic figure in the song was a composite drawn from several sources, with one literary icon standing out. Henley revealed that he was reading a biography of Zelda Fitzgerald, the wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald, during the song’s conception.
As Henley recounted to Rolling Stone, “The female character in the song is a composite. I had been reading a book about the life of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s troubled wife, Zelda, who, in her thirties and forties, drifted in and out of psychiatric hospitals… while her husband’s health and career spiraled downward, due to his abuse of alcohol.” The lyrics “she drove herself to madness with a silver spoon” are often interpreted as a direct reference to Zelda’s struggles with mental health and the era’s absinthe culture, which utilized specific silver spoons.
Other inspirations included a roommate of a girl Henley was seeing in the early 1970s who was interested in the occult, particularly “white witchcraft,” which involved benevolent folk magic. Henley also cited the shamanistic aspects of Carlos Castaneda’s books, which intrigued him at the time, as an influence for the song’s mystical undertones. These diverse influences converged to create the mysterious figure listeners have come to love, firmly predating Stevie Nicks’s arrival on the national stage with Fleetwood Mac in 1975.
Stevie Nicks’s Own Witchy Lore: “Rhiannon”
While not the subject of “Witchy Woman,” Stevie Nicks has her own deeply personal connection to a powerful, mystical figure: “Rhiannon.” Released on Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 self-titled album, “Rhiannon” became an instant classic, helping to define Nicks’s “white witch” persona. Nicks often introduced the song at live performances with the words: “This song’s about an old Welsh witch,” a testament to her profound connection to the subject matter.
Nicks discovered the character of Rhiannon in the 1970s through Mary Bartlet Leader’s novel, Triad, which features a woman named Branwen possessed by another named Rhiannon. Nicks later learned of the character’s roots in medieval Welsh prose tales, the Mabinogion, finding many parallels between the ancient folklore and her own musings. This connection was so strong that Nicks even embarked on a larger “Rhiannon project” based on the Welsh goddess, writing songs like “Stay Away” and “Maker of Birds” as part of the unfinished endeavor.
A Shared Musical Spirit: Nicks’s Admiration for The Eagles
The story of “Witchy Woman” and Stevie Nicks is one not of direct inspiration, but of mutual admiration and shared musical landscape. Nicks herself confirmed her deep affection for “Witchy Woman.” In an interview for Far Out Magazine, she recalled listening to the track with Lindsey Buckingham when they moved to Los Angeles in the early ’70s.
“The Eagles were famous before Lindsey, and I moved to Los Angeles,” Nicks stated. “We drove to LA, and I remember listening to that song, thinking what a great song it was, and of course, I’m sure as all women my age did at that point, we were all hoping that we would actually be the witchy woman.” She noted that The Eagles were a significant inspiration to her and Buckingham, praising their ability to “bridge country and rock and roll so beautifully.”
In a twist of fate, Stevie Nicks’s life would later intertwine with Don Henley’s. The two embarked on a romance, and even after their relationship ended, they collaborated on the duet “Leather and Lace” in 1981, which appeared on Nicks’s debut solo album, Bella Donna. This collaboration underscored a lasting connection, built on shared musical artistry rather than an initial inspiration for “Witchy Woman.”
The Legacy of “Witchy Women” in Rock
Both “Witchy Woman” and “Rhiannon” stand as enduring testaments to the power of mystical themes in rock music. While the inspirations behind them diverge, they collectively paint a rich tapestry of strong, enigmatic female figures that continue to captivate audiences. The Eagles’ classic, rooted in literary history and occult interests, and Stevie Nicks’s personal journey through Welsh folklore, each contribute uniquely to the “witchy woman” archetype that remains a beloved and iconic part of rock and roll history.
