Led Zeppelin Songs - D'yer Mak'er Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er

Led Zeppelin - D'yer Mak'er Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Houses Of The Holy
Released: 1973

D'yer Mak'er Lyrics

D'yer Mak'er Song Chart

The title is pronounced "Jamaica," as spoken by the locals in that country. It is a play on the phrase "did you make her":

"She went to the Caribbean."
"Jamaica?"
"No, she went on her own."

The title could also be a sexual reference.

Many people thought the title was pronounced "Dear Maker" and read way too much into it. Jimmy Page had an interest in the occult and Robert Plant wrote some very spiritual lyrics, which led to deeper meanings in many of Led Zeppelin's songs, but not this one.

This song was meant to imitate reggae and its "dub" derivative emerging from Jamaica in the early '70s. Bonham's inability to replicate a reggae beat on his drums, however, turned the song into an odd melange of what sounded like '50s doo-wop and reggae. This song and "The Crunge" are considered the two "joke" songs on the album. (thanks, John - Boca Raton, FL)

Led Zeppelin had a curious history of single releases in America. While the band was active, they released just 10 singles (they didn't release any in the UK while they were extant), which typically did just well enough to get a mention from Casey Kasem on American Top 40. "D'yer Mak'er" was one of those singles (backed with "The Crunge"), peaking at #20. Zeppelin was never a "singles band," so these releases were intended to drive sales of the albums, which they did. They often sold well enough to make the charts, however, leaving poor Mr. Kasem to wonder how to pronounce the title to this one.

The distinctive drum sound was created by placing three microphones a good distance away from John Bonham's drums.

Led Zeppelin never performed this live. It would have been difficult to re-create the reggae band.

This is one of the few Zeppelin songs where all four members share the composer credit.

Sheryl Crow sang this on Encomium, the 1995 Led Zeppelin tribute album.