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Music
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The Southern Accent and Serendipity: How a Misheard Phrase Became Stevie Nicks' 'Edge of Seventeen'
Stevie Nicks' iconic anthem "Edge of Seventeen" owes its famous title to a happy accident. She misheard Tom Petty's wife, Jane Benyo, say "age of seventeen" as "edge of seventeen" due to her Southern accent, loved the poetic phrase, and promised to build a song around it.
The chugging, machine-gun guitar riff is unmistakable. The raw, desperate cry of Stevie Nicks' voice is iconic. "Edge of Seventeen" is more than just a song; it's a feeling, an anthem of youth, angst, and passage. But the origin of its evocative title isn't found in a moment of poetic inspiration or a carefully crafted lyric. Instead, it was born from a simple, serendipitous misunderstanding fueled by a Southern accent.
A Fateful Misunderstanding
The story begins with a conversation between Stevie Nicks and Jane Benyo, Tom Petty's first wife. Nicks, a close friend of the couple, asked Benyo when she and Tom had first met. Benyo, with her distinct Southern drawl, replied that they met "at the age of seventeen." But that's not what Nicks heard. In her ears, the phrase transformed into something far more poetic and urgent: "the edge of seventeen."
Nicks was immediately captivated by the accidental poetry of the phrase. She knew, in that instant, that she had to capture it. As she later recounted, the exchange went something like this:
"I said, 'Jane, I'm writing that down.' She said, 'What?' I said, 'Edge of seventeen.' She said, 'Well, I didn't say that.' I said, 'I know, but that's what I'm titling my new song.' So, that's really where it came from."
She saw the phrase not just as a number, but as a precarious, emotional precipice—a tipping point between childhood and the vast, unknown territory of adulthood. It was a perfect title, and it was hers for the taking.
From a Title to a Tribute
While the title was born from a moment of lighthearted miscommunication, the song itself is rooted in profound grief. In December 1980, Nicks was hit with two devastating losses in quick succession: the death of her beloved uncle, Jonathan, from cancer, and the shocking murder of John Lennon. The song became a vessel for her sorrow.
The lyrics channel her experience of being with her uncle in his final moments and the overwhelming sense of a world shaken by Lennon's death. Phrases like "the days go by like a strand in the wind" and "he was no more than a baby then, well he seemed broken-hearted" speak directly to the fragility of life and the suddenness of loss. The once-accidental title now perfectly framed a story about standing on the very edge of life and death.
The White-Winged Dove and an Iconic Riff
The song's famous imagery, particularly the "white-winged dove," also has a specific origin. While flying home to Phoenix after her uncle's death, Nicks read a menu that mentioned a dove of peace, noting that if you were to see one, it would bring you good luck. This image merged with her grief, becoming a powerful symbol for the spirit leaving the body. She saw it as a sign of hope amidst the darkness.
Musically, the song's relentless, driving energy is owed to its signature 16th-note guitar riff, played by Waddy Wachtel. Nicks was inspired by The Police's song "Bring On the Night" and asked Wachtel to create something with a similar feel. The result was a riff that gave her intense emotions a powerful, frantic pulse, cementing the song's place as a rock and roll classic. From a misheard phrase to a cultural touchstone, "Edge of Seventeen" is a testament to how art can transform random moments and personal tragedy into a universal anthem of resilience.
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