In 1977, it took Christine McVie 30 minutes to write a Fleetwod Mac classic. Now, it has been heard over 179,000,000 times

Christine McVie said “Songbird”, her tender Fleetwood Mac ballad, came to her almost fully formed in about 30 minutes. Written during the turbulent period around the making of *Rumours*, the song stands out for offering reassurance and affection without the blame or demands that coloured many of the band’s relationships.

McVie recalled waking at around 3.30 am and finding the words, melody and chords on a small electric piano, though she had no way to record the idea then. The band later recorded it in an empty concert hall, whose spacious sound became part of the track’s character. The article says “Songbird” has been heard more than 179 million times, and its straightforward message has helped it resonate beyond the circumstances in which it was written.