Nancy Wilson of Heart has written new lyrics in tribute to Mike Fisher, an early associate of the band who died in August.
Wilson shared the lyrics on her “Something Good” blog, which is distributed to fans via email. While the entry did not include a title or details about when the lyrics were written, Wilson confirmed in an email to UCR, through an official representative, that she composed the lyrics recently to honor Fisher.
Fisher played a significant role in Heart’s early history. His younger brother, guitarist Roger Fisher, co-founded the band’s precursor, The Army, in 1963 with bassist Steve Fossen. The group underwent several name changes—including White Heart and Hocus Pocus—before adopting the name Heart. Both Fisher brothers were romantically involved with the Wilson sisters: Mike with Ann Wilson, and Roger with Nancy Wilson.
In the 1970s, Mike Fisher held various roles within Heart’s organization and was sometimes referred to as their manager. According to Fisher, however, he performed a wide range of duties, supporting the band wherever he could. He briefly played drums in The Army before moving to a behind-the-scenes role, eventually traveling with the band and running sound through the late 1970s.
“I never aspired to be a label in the music industry. I just had this vision for what those people could become and I was totally fired up and passionate about it,” Fisher said in a 2013 interview. “We all were for a long time. So to realize that dream was really incredible.”
Fisher’s impact on Heart was commemorated when Ann Wilson wrote the song “Magic Man” about him. Nancy Wilson noted that Fisher’s “sharp business brain” and guidance were invaluable to the band. She described him as the “perfect catalyst” during the group’s formative years.
“When we were a baby band in Vancouver, Ann wrote the words for ‘Magic Man.’ It’s the story of a girl leaving home and her mother for the first time for the man who cast a spell of love over her,” Nancy Wilson wrote. “Turns out it’s still a very universal story for many girls who leave home for the love of a man. Sometimes for better.
“In our case it was very much for the better because her ‘Magic Man,’ Mike Fisher, was the perfect catalyst for instigating and navigating with his sharp business brain to help our band get a foothold and a good start in the business of rock,” she continued. “He was a real taskmaster in the best possible way and even designed the classic Heart logo that is still the best of them all to this day.”
Wilson recalled learning from Roger Fisher that Mike was suffering from pancreatic cancer. “I thought it would be a good thing for Mike to hear a voicemail where I could say thank you, for all the great things he did for the legacy of Heart and how it still is so vital and meaningful in rock history to this day. So I did.”
She said she was told that Fisher appreciated the message, adding, “He was able to clear away any old hard feelings from the past. He left us too soon and I thought of a song to honor him. Here are the words.”
Lyrics excerpt:
“I can see your eyes
Oh brother brother
I can see your eyes
Searching through our time
Oh brother brother
I can see your eyes
They tell me
They tell me all is not lost
A story
A victory over darkness we shall prevail
Swinging the world by the tail
Angel
Angel
I can hear your laugh
Oh brother brother
I can hear your laugh
Present and the past
Oh brother brother
I can hear your laugh
The river
Forever dance to the sea
Remember
We sing your song
Always telling your magical tale
Sipping on the holy grail
Angel
Angel
Sipping on the holy grail
Swinging the world by the tale
Angel
Angel”
Heart is marking its 50th anniversary with additional dates on the Royal Flush tour in 2026. Nancy Wilson is also scheduled to appear at this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where longtime friends Soundgarden will be inducted. The band’s current tour resumes Nov. 12 in Las Vegas.