Fleetwood Mac – The Chain

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  My Interpretation:I feel this song is more about a relationship or friendship on the verge of collapse and someone's attempts to stop it as opposed to a hateful goodbye. Things are going bad and they tell their partner that they must work to keep their bond. I think the end lines are actually " Chains keep us together, running through the shadows" the shadows are dark times when they are running blindly through struggles, the chain may be oppressive but they need each other.
  
  They've argued ("listen to the wind blow") and are tired of it but the chorus reminds them that this could be the end so keep this anger smothered. They may be at odds but they know that the chain keeping them together is important . Persevere and they may rebuild their relationship or friendship back to its former glory.

  Flag Socal95on May 15, 2013   Link

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  General Comment:Both partners are arguing.
  Both are accusing the other of cheating.
  Both are trying to figure out the truth.
  Both are lying to try to prevent hurting the others feelings.
  Both are angry at the other and using that anger as an excuse for their own infidelity.
  Both expected the promise of fidelity to strengthen the relationship, but it only bound them together in restrictive chain that they can't get out of.
  Neither will be happy no matter what the outcome.

  Flag JakobLighton October 17, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:'I can still hear you say you would never break the chain."

  Flag ILUVUon May 31, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:This song speaks for itself...truly amazing...Fleetwood Mac are incredible. Rumours (and also many other Fleetwood Mac songs) have changed my life :)

  Flag MsStaron May 15, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:Listen with headphones. Before the music starts, you can hear someone (Buckingham?) whisper a curse word.

  Flag canada67on August 17, 2011   Link

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    Perhaps it's 'screw you.' Just a thought ;)

    Flag MissCharlotteSometimeson October 31, 2011  
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  Song Meaning:I have to disagree with Maags. "The Chain" is about a relationship that is already broken. The singer is accusing the party who broke up with her as lying, reminding him (or her) that they who'd promised never to break the chain. It's about bitterness, betrayal, and lies that end the relationship. If there is "obsession" as Maags depicted, it's not between two people... it's only with one now. That's the whole point. Great song.

  Flag Phillipeon August 13, 2011   Link

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  My Interpretation:"I can still hear you saying you would never break the chain"
  
  Sounds like a broken promise, no? When people say, or rather swear, that they promise ...and they don't keep their word. But you'll always remember that they made that promise and broke it.

  Flag zeppelinchildon March 13, 2011   Link

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  Song Meaning:I think this song is about infidelity and the inevitable break up of a relationship / marriage (the chain).
  
  "Run in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies"
  
  Here her partner is running around behind her back, she doesn't fully know it yet but she has the feeling. She is starting to see through his lies and false claims of love. She can no longer trust him
  
  "List to the wind blow, down comes the night", as the night comes once again he is running around behind her back - "Run in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies"
  
  She then finally confronts him about it by breaking the silence "Break the silence - damn the dark, damn the light" and afterwards she is depressed by saying damn the dark, damn the light. She is unhappy with everything, she finally learned the whole truth.
  
  "And if you don't love me now, you will never love me again
  I can still hear you saying you would never break the chain"
  
  -- I think this verse means that she might have taken him back but she can no longer trust him. He has lied too much, he promised her to be faithful. He has broken that special connection with his lies, he has broken the chain that linked them together.
  
  Chain, keep us together
  (Running in the shadows)
  Chain, keep us together
  (Running in the shadows)
  Chain, keep us together
  (Running in the shadows)
  Chain, keep us together
  (Running in the shadows)
  
  She feels betrayed. She was trying to keep the chain (that special connection) together while he is out running around with other women. He has effectively broken that connection and trust with his partner by cheating and lying.
  
  A very powerful and emotional song.

  Flag devem0on June 08, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:Cindy, you are right I believe. The "run in the shadows" is a reference to infidelity, imo, but the "chain" doesn't allow the escape that one would want to have from their cheating significant other, or perhaps the control that they had on each other prevented them from cheating. Great song!

  Flag bigchuck35630on October 07, 2009   Link

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• +2
  General Comment:This song is about sick immature love, yet love nontheless. It's about playing games such as acting hard to get, cheating, lies, making them jealous, abuse, hurting your love in the name of low self-esteem, This is about dirty love, toxic love, tainted love, poisonous. Not a good and honest wholesome love.
  
  It's about a negative/bad relationship that you just cannot end no matter how hard you want to, because "your chained together." Maybe the sex is good ? Maybe one person controls the other economically or they are married and have children.
  
  It's about hell on earth.

  Flag cindyljoanon September 18, 2009   Link

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