The Penguin: Lyric Interpretations: Don't Look Down

Don't Look Down

Written by Lindsey Buckingham.

Contributors to this interpretation included: Alexa, Joanne, Stephanie M, Lauren, Ocean, Janet, Barbara II, Les, and Becky.

With the song Don't Look Down, Lindsey is telling Fleetwood Mac, the fans, and mainly himself that the time has come for him to finally spread his broken wings and fly. Lindsey has stated many times that he was very unhappy in Fleetwood Mac. It became very hard near the end because he felt that Fleetwood Mac just wasn't in an environment that nurtured creativity anymore.
Things have changed since then. With the entire album Out Of The Cradle and with the song "Don't Look Down," Lindsey has finally reached the musical high that he felt was missing all those years in Fleetwood Mac.

Diamonds in the sunset, now your time has come
Pretty yellow bird fly away into the sun
Don't look down
Do not look down
Lindsey's time has come. He is the pretty yellow bird that must fly away into the sun. The color yellow may represent his new freedom, as does the bright yellow sun. He sees a bright future ahead. He sees the pretty diamonds in the sunset which represent everything he has ever longed for musically in Fleetwood Mac. As he is flying away, he warns himself that he must not look down. If he does he may lose his nerve. The courage he has acquired at this point is something he knows he must not lose. Lindsey may be a little nervous and scared at this point also. Although he has accomplished his goal by making this album, he still has some doubt. These insecurities may be about being accepted by the world as a solo artist without Fleetwood Mac to fall back on. Again, he repeats DO NOT LOOK DOWN. He is heading towards a bright future and leaving a hurtful past forever behind.

Spread your broken wings and learn how to fly
Take the diamonds from the sun,
wipe the tear from your eye
Don't look down
Do not look down
Lindsey has been unhappy for so long that his "wings" are broken. He has suffered too many emotional and professional heartbreaks while in Fleetwood Mac. The disunity in the band before he left was just too much to handle. He felt he gave too much of himself near the end, but didn't receive enough from the other members in return. Now that he has left Fleetwood Mac, he must start over-learn how to fly again. The diamonds are mentioned once again. He knows that the diamonds represent everything he has longed for musically and personally. He embraces them, wiping tears from his eyes. The bitterness and pain are still very much a part of him at this point. Its time to move on. Don't look Down!

When the candles burn down worlds turn to stone
That's when you've got to fly, fly away home
Don't look down
Do not look down
Get out of town
Follow the sound
When the candles burn down the musical creativity is gone. When the world turns to stone the musical momentum is lost. This is what Lindsey feels had happened to Fleetwood Mac. He has such a strong desire to get things exactly the way he wants. He wants to be able to do something for himself for once. He doesn't want to do what everybody else wants him to do anymore. It is his time now. At this point Lindsey knows that there is no other choice than to fly away home. Home is where his heart is. It is where he can re-establish an environment where creativity is welcomed. A similar verse is mentioned in his song "Surrender the Rain" also. This shows just how strongly Lindsey believes in starting over, this time with an open heart and mind.

Get out of town
Follow the sound
These two lines may be the most important of the whole song. He must get away, out of town, and away from Fleetwood Mac. He is going to a place where he can forget his past insecurities and heartbreaks. He is on his way home. He says, "Follow the Sound" which is the sound of his heart. He is going back to the music he loves so much and wants to create. It is a place where above all things, he is happy with himself and his music.
Lindsey isn't going to look down. He is on his way towards a new phase of his life and career, which is a little scary, but he knows feels right. His broken wings have mended and he is ready to soar!

Transcribed to HTML by Marty Adelson.