Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night and
Wouldn't you love to love her?
Takes to the sky like a bird in flight and
Who will be her lover?

All your life you've never seen
A woman taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?

She is like a cat in the dark and then
She is the darkness
She rules her life like a fine skylark and when
The sky is starless

All your life you've never seen
A woman taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?
Will you ever win?

Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon

She rings like a bell through the night and
Wouldn't you love to love her?
She rules her life like a bird in flight and
Who will be her lover?

All your life you've never seen
A woman taken by the wind
Would you stay if she promised you heaven?
Will you ever win?
Will you ever win?

Rhiannon
Rhiannon
Rhiannon

Taken by
Taken by the sky

Taken by
Taken by the sky

Taken by
Taken by the sky

Dreams unwind
Loves a state of mind

Dreams unwind
Loves a state of mind

Dreams unwind
Loves a state of mind



Lyrics submitted by oofus

Track duration: 04:11

"Rhiannon" as written by Stevie Nicks

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Rhiannon song meanings
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45 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song was written about a magical maiden or witch...it is based on the myth of the Welsh Goddess "Rhiannon".

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…
    Flag Rhirhmeowson January 30, 2013   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:To me personally, this song is about a women or girl who runs away from love because she is afraid of getting hurt or she has trust issues (or perhaps both.) Stevie is the narrator talking about two lovers (she's speaking about the girl to the boy)

    "Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night and Wouldn't you love to love her? Takes to the sky like a bird in flight and Who will be her lover? All your life you've never seen A woman taken by the wind. Would you stay if she promised you heaven? Will you ever win?"

    This is saying that she got close to him and then decided to leave the relationship before he would have a chance to hurt her. He'd love to love her but she isn't letting him-trust issues or fears keep getting in her way of fully showing her full love to him and letting him do that to her. She "takes off" like a bird (leaving the relationship) and the boy is wondering if she's ever going to let anyone love her. He's never seen someone before who just leaves like that and he sees her as a challenge. He wonders if he will ever win her love and be able to get her to open up and break down her walls.

    "She is like a cat in the dark and then She is the darkness. She rules her life like a fine skylark and when The sky is starless"

    Either they are comparing her to a cat because cats are mysterious, or they are saying that you never thought you would love this girl but then her love just creeps up on you and you end up loving her and finding out that she's better than you ever thought she would be. On the "skylark" part, I'm a bit confused. Skylark has two meanings. One is like a songbird-the other is someone who plays practical jokes on someone. I think in this context it's referring to the previous lyric "takes off like a bird in flight," it's saying that she never stays in a relationship too long and she flees before she can be hurt. It could also mean that she plays with people's minds just to see how many people can fall in love with her and then she leaves them heartbroken??

    I could be wrong but that's my interpretation.
    Flag PinkInkon July 24, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:Rhiannon has been my most favorite song in the world ever since I first heard it in 1976 at the age of 14, there's been a lot of great music written over the years, but leave it to Stevie Nicks to write my most favorite. Stevie is the most beautiful, talented, coolest woman of all time, a true goddess, I love her so much.
    You should see the most amazing performance of Rhiannon, go to YouTube and type in "Rhiannon - ( Awesome performance ) 1976" (it's from The Old Grey Whistle Test), this tiny little woman explodes on stage at the end, and she even out sings the Lindsey Buckingham guitar solo! It's the most amazing thing to see and hear, check it out.
    Flagged Tropiaon April 03, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I met her tonight. She was always there, yet she wasn't - rather, I just didn't notice her - so in a way I did meet her tonight, the real her. On this very night, she came like a cat, out of nowhere, yet out of everywhere.

    Always there.


    What was wrong with me? Sooner? Why didn't I see it?


    This song is about nothing. Pure emotion. No explanation needed, just our calling - however we see that for how it is.

    Sometimes we think it's for a singular purpose, sometimes we see it as limitless. Regardless, when it creeps up on us, we know. You can't help but know.

    Rhiannon. Rhiannon.
    Flagged blottsteinon May 05, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I think this song is about someone that wants to love but has very little faith in love. Therefore, as some suggest "a drifter". She doesn't trust enough to stay. This is how the song speaks to me. Of course, I've been hurt & everytime I get close to someone; I have a tendancy to drift. Wouldn't you love to love her....if only she would let you.
    Flag hush4uon April 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love love love love this song so much if my school were to have a talent show i would so sing this song i love it so much i didn't know this song untill didi benami sang it on american idol this past season i love it so much
    Flagged musicgirl9507on October 05, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:After reading the above comments I can get the sense of inspiration from a mystical woman. Very dark and sensual. She is there but then isn't...

    Love it. i want me a Rhiannon
    Flag iheartmanateeson June 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:me too. rhiannon is a drifter.
    Flag ParadoxicalSoulon April 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Rhiannon is also the moon goddess. My 2 year old daughter is named Rhiannon, her daddy has always loved the song and named her, and she is definitely a night owl! She also loves this song and giggles when it gets to the Rhiannon bit.
    Flag gerimerrymuffinon April 14, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I personally think that this song also applies to a promiscuous woman. I think the speaker is directly questioning both Rhiannon, and whoever her lover might be, in the line "will you ever win?" It addresses how, even if "heaven" is promised, the man will never truly have her commit to him, and how Rhiannon will never find the satisfaction she so desperately searches for. I don't know why, but I can never escape that idea when I hear this song.
    Flag shaun34on December 30, 2009   Link

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