The Fleetwood Mac song credited to all five members of the Rumours lineup is “The Chain.” Its songwriting credit belongs to Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Stevie Nicks—the only complete five-member lineup credit on Rumours.
The song was assembled from several musical ideas rather than written in one sitting. It began partly as Christine McVie’s unused song “Keep Me There,” while the famous bass-driven ending came from John McVie and Mick Fleetwood. Buckingham and Nicks reshaped the lyrics and melody, creating a song built from separate sections.
The Chain’s fractured construction mirrors the band’s turbulent personal lives during the Rumours sessions. Buckingham and Nicks had ended their relationship, while John and Christine McVie were divorcing and Fleetwood was dealing with his own marital problems. Despite disagreements over who contributed most, the finished track gave all five members writing credit.
A common mix-up is assuming that “The Chain” was written entirely by one member because of its distinctive bass line. That bass figure is central to the song, but the official credit recognizes the group’s combined work.