“Second Hand News” appears on Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 album Rumours. It opens the album and was written and sung by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham.
The song reflects the emotional fallout from Buckingham’s breakup with fellow band member Stevie Nicks. Its upbeat folk-rock arrangement contrasts with lyrics about jealousy, uncertainty, and trying to move on, a tension that became central to Rumours’ character.
Rumours was recorded during a turbulent period for Fleetwood Mac: Buckingham and Nicks had separated, Christine and John McVie were divorcing, and Mick Fleetwood was dealing with the collapse of his marriage. Despite that turmoil, the album became one of the best-selling records in music history.
A common mix-up is confusing the album with Fleetwood Mac’s earlier self-titled record, which contains “Rhiannon” and “Landslide.” “Second Hand News” was released as part of Rumours, whose other major tracks include “Go Your Own Way,” “Dreams,” and “Don’t Stop.”