The classic break-up rock song Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac had inexplicably flown under my radar for decades – until a friend put it on last weekend. Although I’m far from well acquainted with Fleetwood Mac’s full discography, Everywhere and Songbird remain favourites of mine, along with this track. It appears on the British-American rock group’s 11th studio album, Rumours (1977), and became their first top 10 hit in the United States. Over the years, it has stood out as one of their defining songs. Rolling Stone ranked it number 120 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and second on their list of the 50 Greatest Fleetwood Mac Songs.
Lyrically, the song captures the bitterness and emotional fallout of a breakup. Lindsey Buckingham, the band’s co-lead vocalist and songwriter, wrote it about the end of his relationship with Stevie Nicks, expressing his anger and sense of rejection. He described it as “a stream of consciousness” that focused on his raw emotions – reflecting his perspective that Nicks was the one who ended the relationship and chose to “go her own way,”. The line “Packing up, shacking up is all you want to do,” were seen by Nicks as a personal attack, and she reportedly wanted the line removed, highlighting the intense personal conflict behind the music. Nicks’ own song Dreams, was written as a counterpoint to Buckingham’s message, making the two tracks a musical exchange between two people who were both hurt and angry.
Recorded in three separate studios, the track was developed over a period of four months. As with most tracks on the Rumours album, none of the instruments were recorded live together; the tracks were instead completed through a series of overdubs. Go Your Own Way was written at a house the band rented in Florida between legs of their Fleetwood Mac Tour and was the first song Buckingham presented to the band for the Rumours album. Mick Fleetwood, the band’s drummer, remembered that the house had a “distinctly bad vibe to it, as if it were haunted, which did nothing to help matters“.
Loving you isn’t the right thing to do
How can I ever change things that I feel?
If I could, maybe I’d give you my world
How can I when you won’t take it from me?
[Chorus]
You can go your own way, go your own way
You can call it another lonely day
You can go your own way, go your own way
Tell me why everything turned around
Packing up, shacking up’s all you wanna do
If I could, baby, I’d give you my world
Open up, everything’s waiting for you
References:
1. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I always loved this song. I HATED “Dreams”, not to mention that “thunder only happens when it’s raining” is totally wrong, at least east of the Rockies. Maybe it’s different on the west coast. I remember thinking, how stupid is that?
I always thought Steve Nicks was wicked overrated.
Lindsey Buckingham is a great guitarist & a great songwriter/singer.
One of my high school boyfriends, with whom I am still friends ~ he’s an accountant now, unmarried & RICH ~ had the Buckingham/Nicks album that was played for Mick Fleetwood when he was checking out a studio for recording the album that became “Fleetwood Mac” & he liked the sound of the guitar work & ended up hiring Buckingham ~ Nicks was part of that package. That was too bad, because she ended up taking over the entire band IMHO & Fleetwood Mac became the Stevie Nicks show.
That Buckingham/Nicks album is pretty good. I remember really liking “Suzanne”. I have it on a disc somewhere.
Although my exposure to their music is limited, I couldn’t agree more with your strong opinions here. I’m definitely not a fan of ‘Dreams’ either, and I much prefer Christine McVie’s contributions such as ‘Songbird’ and ‘Everywhere’.
It’s impressive you remember that bizarre line about “thunder” — it left me dumbfounded and chuckling. Based on your reasoning (assuming it’s accurate), it does seem like it became Nicks’ show, even though she was initially tagging along with Buckingham.
I couldn’t find the ‘Suzanne’ song. Thanks, Polly, as always, for your interesting thoughts.
Stupid me. The name of the song is “Stephanie”. Sorry for the mistake. I haven’t listened to it in a long time. Maybe I should listen to those discs.
I just read that the album is being re-released. https://www.salon.com/2025/09/19/buckingham-nicks-the-lost-album-that-lit-the-fuse-for-fleetwood-mac/
I found an instrumental acoustic 2012 performance of it by Lindsey. Geez, he aged well that guy! Oh, I just found the original. It’s pretty.
Another one I grew up on from my parents. The first time I heard this song all the way through was on Guitar Hero for the Wii (I cannot remember which one). Brings me back lol
There was so much drama with this group, it kind of ruined my opinion and enjoyment of them.
They do have some good songs though. Everywhere is definitely one of my favorites.
Hi there, I don’t think I ever played Guitar Hero, but that’s cool they had this song on it. I was an Atari kid lol
I see what you mean about the drama affecting one’s appreciation of their music. Glad you are a fan of ‘Everywhere’ as well. Love it!
I grew up on Nintendo, so the Wii was just the progression lol
There is this really great cover of ‘Everywhere’ by the group Roosevelt. Sometimes I prefer it over the original.
Yeh, I liked the interpretation of ‘Everywhere’ by Roosevelt a lot! I added it to my collection, so thanks! I go way back with this song. When I was in Year 10 at high school we were about to see a theatre production near Sydney which my friend Gary was starring in. As we waited for the curtain to open, they played the intro to Everywhere on loop. The teasing bass-line intro and its interludes are my preferred parts of the track and I’ve never grown tired of it.
Funny how songs take you back. This one reminds me of Cheap Trick in 1984. I was in my Mustang going to see them and I had just bought Rumours on cassette…I was blasting this song on the way to see Cheap Trick…but I heard it before then…this is one I never get tired of.
You have a very sharp memory, Max, about your situational connection with music. I’m envious…hehe
Oh wow , I remember Cheap Trick and their ‘The Flame’ song. They are still touring I see.
Cheap Trick was probably the hardest working band of that era…they worked for everything they got…toured constantly. It doesn’t surprise me that they are still playing.
Well, I’m glad they made it big then given their hard earned efforts.
Classic song, album…nice..
While it’s safe to assume some folks prefer the Peter Greene era Fleetwood Mac and/or have grown tired of “Rumours,” I still love that album in its entirety to this day. Super catchy songs, neat sound and great singing –
I would argue pop rock doesn’t get much better!
One of the many reasons I’ve always dug “Rumours” is “Go Your Own Way.” If you think about it, it’s kind of amazing this group was able to record this album, given all the relationship drama they had going on.