‘Don't Stop’ is a song by the British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, written by Christine McVie. The song was sung by Lindsey Buckingham and McVie, and was released as a single from the band's album Rumours (1977). One of the band's most enduring hits, ‘Don't Stop’ was released as the second single from Rumours in the United Kingdom in April 1977, peaking at No. 32, while in the US it followed ‘Dreams’ as the third single from the album in June, eventually peaking at No. 3 at Billboard Hot 100 in September.
Christine McVie wrote this song about leaving the past behind. She and John McVie (Fleetwood Mac's bass player) were splitting up, which inspired the lyrics. This caused some awkward moments, since John had to play a song written about him. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks were also going through a breakup and writing songs about each other (‘Go Your Own Way,’ ‘Dreams’), and Mick Fleetwood was going through a divorce. All the tension in the studio didn't seem to hurt - Rumours is one of the best-selling albums of all time. John McVie was unaware of the song's subject matter until its release. "I've been playing it for years and it wasn't until somebody told me, 'Chris wrote that about you.' Oh really?"
The song was originally tracked with drums, bass, electric guitar, and electric piano on March 16, 1976. Its working title was ‘Yesterday's Gone’, although the title was changed a few weeks later to ‘Don't Stop’ once Buckingham started to sing the song as a duet with McVie. The decision to sing ‘Don't Stop’ as a duet was made by McVie, which significantly improved the song according to Fleetwood Mac producer Ken Caillat. Take 25 was deemed satisfactory and used as the master.
Cash Box said that "Mick Fleetwood and John McVie comprise a deadly rhythm section, especially when they're working with a straight-ahead shuffle like this one." The Guardian and Paste ranked the song number four and number 25 respectively on their lists of the 30 greatest Fleetwood Mac songs. The Guardian wrote that the song's "cantering rhythm and chorus are so impossibly, infectiously buoyant, the song so flawless, that it cancels out the unhappiness that provoked it".
The song was the theme music for United States presidential candidate Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, and was played at the 1992 Democratic National Convention during its final night balloon drop. Upon winning the election, Clinton persuaded the group to perform the song for his inaugural ball in 1993.
Label – Warner Bros.
Songwriter – Christine McVie
Producers – Fleetwood Mac, Richard Dashut, Ken Caillat
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1: Lindsey Buckingham]If you wake up and don't wanna smile
If it takes just a little while
Open your eyes and look at the day
You'll see things in a different way
[Chorus: Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks]
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone
[Verse 2: Christine McVie]
Why not think about times to come
And not about the things that you've done?
If your life was bad to you
Just think what tomorrow will do
[Chorus: Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks]
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be better than before
Yesterday's gone, yеsterday's gone
[Verse 3: Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie]
All I want is to see you smile
If it takеs just a little while
I know you don't believe that it's true
I never meant any harm to you
[Chorus: Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks]
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone
Don't stop thinking about tomorrow
Don't stop, it'll soon be here
It'll be better than before
Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone
[Outro: Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie]
Ooh, don't you look back
Ooh, don't you look back
Ooh, don't you look back
Ooh, no, don't you look back