World Turning

This article is about the Fleetwood Mac song. For the song by Yothu Yindi, see World Turning (Yothu Yindi song). For the album by Tony Trischka, see World Turning (album).

"World Turning" is a song written by Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham for the British/American rock band Fleetwood Mac's tenth album, Fleetwood Mac.^[1] The band has since performed the song on several concert tours, often with an extended drum solo.

"World Turning"
Song by Fleetwood Mac
from the album Fleetwood Mac
Released	1975
Recorded	1975
Genre	Blues rock, country rock
Length	4:25
Label	Reprise
Songwriter(s)	Christine McVie, Lindsey Buckingham
Producer(s)	Fleetwood Mac Keith Olsen

Background

While the song was written in 1975, its roots date back to 1968. Fleetwood Mac's first album, which was also titled Fleetwood Mac, contained a track titled "The World Keep on Turning", written by founding member Peter Green. The band reworked the song, and the title was later truncated to "World Turning".^[2]

Unlike other songs on the album, "World Turning" was a collaboration with two Fleetwood Mac members: keyboardist Christine McVie, and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.^[3] Producer Keith Olsen claimed that Stevie Nicks was initially jealous over her lack of involvement in the writing process, but eventually "got over it".^[4]

Buckingham used two guitars on the track: a Fender Telecaster electric guitar and a Dobro, a resonator guitar that produces sound through one or more metal cones.^[5] He also had his low E string tuned down to a D.^[6] Mick Fleetwood played a talking drum on both the studio recording and subsequent live renditions of the song. A Nigerian musician named Speedy made a red talking drum for Fleetwood, which he included in his equipment setup for every Fleetwood Mac tour since 1969.^[7]

"World Turning" has appeared on most of the band's concert tours from the Fleetwood Mac tour onwards. Starting with their Shake the Cage Tour in 1987, the band performed an extended live version that showcased Fleetwood's drumming.^[8] Up until the Say You Will Tour, he also played a solo on a "drum vest" utilising MIDI. The vest, which was connected to an amplifier, had five touch-activated pads that produced various sampled noises such as bells, screams, horns, and shattering glass.^[9] Performances on the 2018–2019 An Evening with Fleetwood Mac Tour lasted over ten minutes that featured both a talking drum solo and a call and response section.^[10]

Personnel

• Lindsey Buckingham – guitars, Dobro, lead and backing vocals
• Christine McVie – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
• Stevie Nicks – backing vocals
• Mick Fleetwood – drums, talking drum, tambourine
• John McVie – bass guitar

Covers

• The song was covered by former Fleetwood Mac member Bob Welch on his 2006 album His Fleetwood Mac Years and Beyond, Vol. 2.
• Tony Trischka covered this song on his 1993 album World Turning featuring Alison Krauss on vocals.
• Leo Kottke covered this song on his 1997 album Standing in My Shoes.