Songs Lyrics and YT- Youtube Music Videos: Led Zeppelin Songs

Led Zeppelin Songs - Darlene Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Darlene

Led Zeppelin - Darlene Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Coda
Released: 1982

Darlene Lyrics

Darlene Song Chart

An outtake from the In Through the Out Door sessions recorded in 1978, this song was remixed for Coda, an album of unreleased tracks. A different version appears on Led Zeppelin's 1993 boxed set.

This was one of three songs recorded for the In Through the Out Door album but didn't fit onto that album. The other two were "Ozone Baby" and "Wearing And Tearing."

Though this song was never released as a single, it hit the US Billboard Top Tracks chart (based on airplay alone) at #4 anyway. Just one more testament to how badly the fans would miss Led Zeppelin, knowing that this album was their swan song (barring reunions).

Led Zeppelin is one of the most famous bands in history to have never gotten a #1 hit single on the US Hot 100. They only mustered one top-10, with 1969's "Whole Lotta Love." Only five other Zeppelin songs scored in the top 40!

Led Zeppelin Songs - Walter's Walk Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Walter's Walk

Led Zeppelin - Walter's Walk Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Coda
Released: 1982

Walter's Walk Lyrics

Walter's Walk Song Chart

The vocals to this song were added in 1982 and the song was remixed for Coda, an album of unreleased tracks. The song was originally an instrumental recorded in 1972 for the Houses Of The Holy sessions. (thanks, Chad - Reading, PA)

The song was based on a guitar lick Jimmy Page came up with during live versions of "Dazed And Confused." Bits and pieces of the instrumentals in this song came from "Dazed And Confused" and "The Crunge." Since Coda was part requiem for the late drummer John Bonham and part contractual obligation from Atlantic records, the song was thrown together from previously recorded tracks.

The late John Bonham's son, Jason Bonham, has grown up to fill in on drum duties during the occasional Zep revival.

Album cover art fans: Yes, that is the work of legendary album cover design studio Hipgnosis. Composed of artists Storm Thorgerson and Aubrey Powell, Hipgnosis distinguished themselves as master album cover artists, earning clients with the top bands of the '70s and '80s, including Pink Floyd, UFO, Genesis, Yes, The Scorpions, and five Led Zeppelin albums. Their iconic style, usually amazing photography that told a surreal story based on the lyrics, was abandoned here in favor of a stark font in plain colors, most likely by resident graphic designer George Hardie.

Led Zeppelin Songs - Ozone Baby Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Ozone Baby

Led Zeppelin - Ozone Baby Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Coda
Released: 1982

Ozone Baby Lyrics

Ozone Baby Song Chart

Recorded in 1978 at a studio in Sweden owned by Abba, this was intended for the Led Zeppelin album In Through the Out Door, but it didn't make the cut. It was released on Coda, an album of unreleased tracks put out after John Bonham's death.

The entire band's instrumentals come in right at the opening with Robert Plant's vocals starting in soon after. This was Zeppelin's typical style, a straightforward "get it done" 12-bar-blues attitude without very much pretension. It shows something of their character that they were consistent in doing this on one of the last songs done by the classic lineup.

Another telling sign of Zeppelin's character: How many drummers do most bands go through? Next to the bass, the drummer is usually the most-rotated spot. Not Zeppelin! Lose the drummer, and that's it, the band calls it quits - but to be fair, growing tensions within the band could have broken them up anyway.

A bit of rock history trivia: Led Zeppelin today is remembered as practically having walked on water. One easily forgets that back when these albums were coming out, while they had a huge fan base, rock critics panned them almost unanimously. Rolling Stone raspberried every single Zep album.

Led Zeppelin Songs - Hot Dog Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Hot Dog

Led Zeppelin - Hot Dog Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: In Through The Out Door
Released: 1979

Hot Dog Lyrics

Hot Dog Song Chart

This was influenced by American rockabilly music, which Robert Plant enjoyed. A hot dog is distinctly American cuisine.

Led Zeppelin had some heavy songs, but this was a fun, rollicking tune at a tough time for the band. Plant's 5-year-old son, Karac, died in 1977 and they were all worn out from constant touring and recording.

The lyrics about a girl in Texas who "Took my heart" may have been based on a real woman in Plant's life, but he called this a tribute to Texas and the state of mind of the people in Texas.

A promotional video was shot. This was the closest Led Zeppelin came to a music video.

Led Zeppelin played this live throughout their 1979 and 1980 tours, placed rather awkwardly between "Ten Years Gone" and "The Rain Song." (thanks, Chris - Whitesboro, NY)

On a particularly cold day at a turn of the 20th century New York baseball game, no one was buying concessionaire Harry Stevens' ice cream, so he begun selling sausages and rolls. He started calling out, "Red hot dachshund sausages!" and found they were very popular. Thomas "Tad" Dorgan, a sports cartoonist for The New York Journal, was in the press box and seeing this he attempted to draw a cartoon of a barking sausage steaming in its stretched out roll. He didn't know how to spell "Dachshund," so he wrote "hot dog" instead, a name which immediately caught on. (from the book Food for Thought: Extraordinary Little Chronicles of the World by Ed Pearce)

Led Zeppelin Songs - I'm Gonna Crawl Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - I'm Gonna Crawl

Led Zeppelin - I'm Gonna Crawl Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: In Through The Out Door
Released: 1979

I'm Gonna Crawl Lyrics

I'm Gonna Crawl Song Chart

This was the last song on the last album before drummer John Bonham's death. Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones wrote most of it. The song is likely a tribute to Robert Plant's son, Karac, who had died of a viral stomach infection at the age of five in 1977. This was also why their '77 tour was cut short.

Soul singer Wilson Pickett's music was the inspiration for this.

This is the final track from Led Zeppelin's eighth album In Through the Out Door, so named because after taking a voluntary exile from Great Britain for two years (for financial reasons), they found that getting back into the spotlight in England proved to more difficult than they thought.

This was the last song on the last album that drummer John Bonham played on before his death in 1980.

Led Zeppelin Songs - South Bound Saurez Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - South Bound Saurez

Led Zeppelin - South Bound Saurez Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: In Through The Out Door
Released: 1979

South Bound Saurez Lyrics

South Bound Saurez Song Chart

The title is spelled wrong. It was supposed to be "Suarez," Spanish for party.

John Paul Jones did much of the work writing this. It is centered around his piano.

Jimmy Page made a few minor guitar mistakes, but he left them in. He always preferred a spontaneous feel over a perfect take.

One of the few Zeppelin songs Jimmy Page had no part in writing. It is credited to Jones and Robert Plant. At the time, Page and drummer John Bonham were spending a lot of time together and were rarely at the studio when Plant and Jones started working on songs for In Through The Out Door. Bonham died in 1980 after a drinking binge at Page's house.

Led Zeppelin Songs - Fool In The Rain Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Fool In The Rain

Led Zeppelin - Fool In The Rain Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: In Through The Out Door
Released: 1979

Fool In The Rain Lyrics

Fool In The Rain Song Chart

This song is about a guy who is supposed to meet a woman on a certain corner. When the woman doesn't show up, he thinks he's been stood up. It turns out he was just standing on the WRONG corner, and is now a "fool in the rain." (thanks, Joe - Long Island, NY)

Jimmy Page got the idea for the Samba beat from watching the World Cup soccer tournament in 1978. Argentina was the host country, and he heard a lot of Samba rhythms while watching.

This was the last Led Zeppelin song to chart in the US. The group didn't release many singles, but they pegged this one for popular appeal. Zeppelin retired with six Top 40 hits in America.

This song was never performed live because the group didn't think the sound came off well. The piano was quite necessary in the song, but with John Paul Jones on piano there could be no bass, and the bass is very important in this one. There is also a twelve-string line at one point in the song and the guitar solo that has to be pulled off. The middle section was another issue.

Jimmy Page used regular distortion on this song, as well as an obscure effect called a called a blue box, which is a fuzz/octave pedal. This fuzzes (or distorts) the guitar, then drops it down two whole octaves. James Taylor's bassist has used this effect. (thanks, John - Boca Raton, FL, for above 2)

Mexican rockers Mana recorded this for the Spanish language market edition of the Tribute album Encomium. It's the only officially-released Led Zeppelin cover song in Spanish (thanks, Sergio - San Diego, CA).

Led Zeppelin Songs - Tea For One Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Tea For One

Led Zeppelin - Tea For One Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Presence
Released: 1976

Tea For One Lyrics

Tea For One Song Chart

Lead singer Robert Plant wrote the lyrics to this slow, reflective Blues number about the loneliness he felt being constantly on the road. He found himself in a New York hotel drinking tea for one when he penned the words. One reason the band stayed out of England so often to tour and record: to avoid the taxes.

Led Zeppelin would scrap a song if they thought it sounded too similar to something they already recorded, but they made an exception for this one. According to Jimmy Page, "Tea For One" is similar in mood to the 1970 Zeppelin live favorite "Since I've Been Loving You." He explained in a 1977 Trouser Press interview: "The chordal structure is similar, a minor blues. We just wanted to get a really laid-back blues feeling without blowing out on it at all. We did two takes in the end, one with a guitar solo and one without. I ended up sitting there thinking, 'I've got this guitar solo to do,' because there have been blues guitar solos since Eric (Clapton) on Five Live Yardbirds and everyone's done a good one. I was really a bit frightened of it. I thought, "What's to be done?" I didn't want to blast out the solo like a locomotive or something, because it wasn't conductive to the vibe of the rest of the track. I was extremely aware that you had to do something different than just some B.B. King licks."

This song forms the last track on the band's seventh studio album, Presence. The cover art shows a family of four seated together at a table, apparently at a harbor-side restaurant.

This entire album was recorded in just 18 days Musicland Studios in Germany, with Plant in a wheelchair the whole time from injuries sustained in a car accident.

"Tea For One" is a slow-blues song in C minor; another Zeppelin song of the same form is "Since I've Been Loving You."

A favorite of many Led Zeppelin diehards, this whole song never got played much at concerts; however, sometimes the introductory riff would be included as a lead-in to another song. It finally got its due when Zeppelin played it in full with an orchestra backing in their Japan concert tour in 1996.

Led Zeppelin Songs - Nobody's Fault But Mine Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Nobody's Fault But Mine

Led Zeppelin - Nobody's Fault But Mine Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Presence
Released: 1976

Nobody's Fault But Mine Lyrics

Nobody's Fault But Mine Song Chart

This was inspired by American Blues singer Blind Willie Johnson, who played in the 1920s. In searching for a deeper meaning to the song, fans came up with a few ideas. Some thought it was about Jimmy Page's blossoming heroin addiction. Others thought it was comparable to Robert Johnson's "Hellhound On My Trail," in that it was Plant lamenting Zeppelin's supposed deal with the devil. A third theory is that Plant was apologizing for the song "In My Time Of Dying," which after his car crash he said he would never sing again. (thanks, steven - chesapeake, VA and John - Boca Raton, FL)

Jimmy Page overdubbed his guitar intro 3 times. He played one guitar an octave higher than the others.

Robert Plant was recovering from a car accident and had to record his tracks from a wheelchair.

During the live version of this at Knebworth, Plant repeatedly screamed, "Oh Jimmy!" right before Page went into his solo. This was something Plant commonly did at live shows. (thanks, Adrian - Wilmington, DE)

Page and Plant played an acoustic version on their 1995 No Quarter tour, sometimes swapping it with "When The Levee Breaks." (thanks, Chris - Whitesboro, NY)

The Christian group The 77s recorded this for their 1994 album Drowning with Land in Sight. (thanks, Thomas - Marion, IN)

Led Zeppelin Songs - Candy Store Rock Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Candy Store Rock

Led Zeppelin - Candy Store Rock Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Presence
Released: 1976

Candy Store Rock Lyrics

Candy Store Rock Song Chart

This was inspired by early '50s rock. Robert Plant put the lyrics together from parts of Elvis Presley songs.

The band wrote this in about an hour at a studio in Germany. They were under pressure to finish Presence so the Rolling Stones could use the studio.

Robert Plant considers this one of his favorites.

This was released as a single in America, but it did not chart.

Plant sang this from a wheelchair because he was recovering from a car accident.

Led Zeppelin Songs - Ten Years Gone Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Ten Years Gone

Led Zeppelin - Ten Years Gone Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Physical Graffiti
Released: 1975

Ten Years Gone Lyrics

Ten Years Gone Song Chart

Robert Plant wrote the lyrics about a girlfriend who made him choose between her and his music 10 years earlier. She got the boot. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine (March 13, 1975) the interviewer, Cameron Crowe, asked Robert Plant what gambles he had taken. Plant replied: "Let me tell you a little story behind the song 'Ten Years Gone' on our new album. I was working my ass off before joining Zeppelin. A lady I really dearly loved said, 'Right. It's me or your fans.' Not that I had fans, but I said, 'I can't stop, I've got to keep going.' She's quite content these days, I imagine. She's got a washing machine that works by itself and a little sports-car. We wouldn't have anything to say anymore. I could probably relate to her, but she couldn't relate to me. I'd be smiling too much. Ten years gone, I'm afraid. Anyway, there's a gamble for you."

Jimmy Page used some 14 guitar tracks to overdub the harmony section on this piece, which was originally intended to be an instrumental number. He cites this track as an example of a Led Zeppelin song that wasn't riff-led, relying on orchestrated guitars instead.

John Paul Jones used a strange 3-necked guitar and bass pedals to play this live. It became too much of a chore and they dropped it from concerts in 1977.

Robert Plant: "'Ten Years Gone' has been meticulously assembled from different sections written by Jimmy. After the tremendous focus dedicated to such a song, we played anything to warm ourselves up. This is how 'Trampled Underfoot' and 'Custard Pie' were born." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Led Zeppelin played this when they opened and closed the Knebworth Festival in 1979. (thanks, Marshall - Gallatin, TN)

Led Zeppelin Songs - Kashmir Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Kashmir

Led Zeppelin - Kashmir Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Physical Graffiti
Released: 1975

Kashmir Lyrics

Kashmir Song Chart

All band members agreed this was one of their best musical achievements. Robert Plant said it was "One of my favorites... it was so positive, lyrically." Page has answered the question "What is the greatest Zeppelin riff of all" by citing this song.

Plant wrote the lyrics in 1973 while driving through the Sahara Desert on the way to the National Festival of folklore in Morocco. Kashmir is in Southern Asia; he was nowhere near it. In Mojo magazine, September 2010, Plant explained: "'Kashmir' came from a trip Jimmy and me made down the Moroccan Atlantic coast, from Agadir down to Sidi Ifni. We were just the same as the other hippies really."

The original title was "Driving To Kashmir."

This runs 8:31. Radio stations had no problem playing it, especially after "Stairway To Heaven," which was almost as long, did so well.

Kashmir, also known as Cashmere, is a lush mountain region North of Pakistan. India and Pakistan have disputed control of the area for years. The fabric Cashmere is made from the hair of goats from the region. The area is also famous for growing poppies, from which heroin is made. (thanks, erourke - Raleigh, NC)

Plant thinks John Bonham's drumming is the key to this: "It was what he didn't do that made it work."

The signature guitar riff began as a tuning cycle Jimmy Page had been using for years.

This is one of the few Zeppelin songs to use outside musicians. Session players were brought in for the string and horn sections. Jimmy Page said (Rolling Stone, 2012): "I knew that this wasn't just something guitar-based. All of the guitar parts would be on there. But the orchestra needed to sit there, reflecting those other parts, doing what the guitars were but with the colors of a symphony."

Led Zeppelin played this in every live show from it's debut in 1975 to their last concert in 1980.

Page and Plant recorded this with an orchestra and Moroccan musicians for their 1994 Unledded album.

Puff Daddy (he wasn't Diddy yet) sampled this in 1998 for a song called "Come With Me." He performed it on Saturday Night Live with Page on guitar.

The remaining members of Led Zeppelin performed this at the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary party in 1988 with Jason Bonham on drums. It was a mess - the keyboards got lost in the feed and Plant was bumped by a fan and forgot some of the words. They had more success when they performed the song on December 10, 2007 at a benefit show to raise money for the Ahmet Ertegun education fund.

In the movie Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Mike Damone tells Mark Ratner, "When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin 4. In the next scene, he is on the date with this song playing in the car. Cameron Crowe, who wrote the screenplay, couldn't get the rights to any of the songs on Led Zeppelin 4, so he used "Kashmir" instead. Crowe used Zeppelin's "That's The Way" on his 2001 movie Almost Famous.

Plant said in an audio documentary that he loved this song not only because of its intensity, but also because it was so intense without being considered "Heavy Metal," a label none of the band liked. (thanks, Adrian - Wilmington, DE)

Jimmy Page: "The intensity of 'Kashmir' was such that when we had it completed, we knew there was something really hypnotic to it, we couldn't even describe such a quality. At the beginning, there was only Bonzo [drummer John Bonham] and me in Headley Grange. He played the rhythm on drums, and I found the riff as well as the overdubs which were thereafter duplicated by an orchestra, to bring more life to the track. It sounded so frightening at first..."

Peter Grant: "I remember Bonzo having me listen to the demo of 'Kashmir' with only him and Jimmy. It was fantastic. What's funny is that after a first recording of the song, we found it sounded a bit like a dirge. We were in Paris, we had Atlantic listen to it, and we all thought it really sounded like a dirge. So Richard (Cole) was sent to Southall in London to find a Pakistanese orchestra. Jonesy put it all together and the final result was exactly what was needed. He was an exceptional arranger." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France for above 2)

Led Zeppelin Songs - Bron-yr-Aur Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Bron-yr-Aur

Led Zeppelin - Bron-yr-Aur Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Physical Graffiti
Released: 1975

Bron-yr-Aur Lyrics

Bron-yr-Aur Song Chart

This is a 2-minute acoustic guitar instrumental written by Jimmy Page.

Bron-yr-Aur (pronounced "Bron-rar") is a place in Wales where Page and Plant went after a tough tour in the US. They needed to put another album together, and decided to go there for a change of scenery. They ended up writing many of the songs for Led Zeppelin III on the trip.

Some minor string squeaks and small mistakes were left in to keep the live feel. Jimmy Page liked it that way.

This was recorded in 1970 at the Led Zeppelin III sessions. It was resurrected for Physical Graffiti to fill the double album.

The title is spelled differently from "Bron-y-aur," as in "Bron-y-aur Stomp," another Zeppelin song.

Led Zeppelin played this live during their early to mid 1970 tour to preview the third album, then it was dropped entirely from setlists. (thanks, Chris - Whitesboro, NY)

This song along with "Friends" features Open C tuning by Jimmy Page. The rattling heard in the song is from most of the strings being tuned low. (thanks, JT - Tullahoma, TN)

On the demos recorded at Headley Grange, you can hear Jimmy Page playing this, with young Carmen Plant's laughter in the background! (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Led Zeppelin Songs - Trampled Underfoot Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Trampled Underfoot

Led Zeppelin - Trampled Underfoot Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Physical Graffiti
Released: 1975

Trampled Underfoot Lyrics

Trampled Underfoot Song Chart

The lyrics were based on Robert Johnson's 1936 "Terraplane Blues." A Terraplane is a classic car, and the song uses car parts as metaphors for sex: "pump your gas," "rev all night," etc. (thanks, Kevin - Dover, OH)

This evolved out of a jam session. It became a concert favorite and a popular song on rock radio. When Led Zeppelin played it live, they would often jam on it, extending it with guitar and keyboard solos. (thanks, Donovan Berry - El Dorado, AR)

Regarding the innovative guitar sound on this track, Jimmy Page told Guitar Player magazine: "It's sort of backwards echo and wah-wah. I don't know how responsible I was for new sounds because there were so many good things happening around that point, around the release of the first Zeppelin album, like Hendrix and Clapton."

This is one of Robert Plant's favorite Zeppelin songs. He sang it on his 1988 Now and Zen tour.

Led Zeppelin performed this at Carmen Plant's 21st birthday party in 1989 with Jason Bonham on drums. Carmen is Robert's daughter.

The "Talkin 'bout love" part was most likely nicked from the song "Love" by Curtis Knight and Jimi Hendix. (thanks, Tin Ear - Fullerton, CA)

Led Zeppelin did not release any singles in the UK until 1997 when "Whole Lotta Love" was released 18 years after it was written. There were several pressings made of "Trampled Underfoot," but they were all shelved before being released, and are, today, viewed as highly collectable.

At Earls Court in 1975, Robert Plant introduced the song like this: "If you like the motor cars and the parts of the human body, then sometimes... you can get trrrrrampled under foot!"

"Trampled Underfoot" was probably named after the bassline being a repetitive boom, played with a Moog pedal. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Led Zeppelin Songs - The Wanton Song Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - The Wanton Song

Led Zeppelin - The Wanton Song Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Physical Graffiti
Released: 1975

The Wanton Song Lyrics

The Wanton Song Song Chart

The band developed this song during soundchecks on their 1973 United States tour. Jimmy Page worked up the riff in his Plumpton Place manor house and brought it to the band during the Physical Graffiti sessions. The song went through a number of changes as they worked it up, becoming one of the funkier Zeppelin songs by the time they were done. The credited writers on the track are Page and Robert Plant.

Like "The Lemon Song," this song is dripping with desire, and does not mention the title in the lyrics. "Wanton" can mean willful and deliberate, but also sexually indiscriminate and lacking inhibition, which is probably what Robert Plant had in mind when he wrote the lyric. The "silent woman" he sings about could be a metaphor or a real person; mystery is a hallmark of his songwriting.

Jimmy Page used his "backward echo" on the guitar solo, where the echo is heard before the note.

This is one of Robert Plant's favorites. In 1983 he told Record magazine that putting this song together was one of the highlights of his days recording with Led Zeppelin. "The whole session – it was so electric, so quick and so fruitful," he said.

Led Zeppelin played this live on some of their 1975 American and European dates, but it was soon dropped.

In the February 2006 issue of Guitar World magazine, Jimmy Page was told that Led Zeppelin's biggest hits - "Stairway To Heaven," "Kashmir," "Over The Hills And Far Away" - don't have choruses. Page replied: "As far as I'm concerned, the riff in Led Zeppelin's 'The Wanton Song,' for example, is the chorus. It could go on for a half an hour and I would be completely riveted and satisfied. It's so powerful and concise that it never gets boring." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Led Zeppelin Songs - The Rover Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - The Rover

Led Zeppelin - The Rover Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Physical Graffiti
Released: 1975

The Rover Lyrics

The Rover Song Chart

"Rover" is old British slang for a wanderer. The lyrics are fitting to this definition. (thanks, Mason - Greenville, NC)

This began life as an acoustic piece. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant started writing it in 1970 at Bron-yr-Aur, the cottage in Wales they went to after a brutal US tour. The cottage had no electricity or running water.

Led Zeppelin recorded this at the Houses Of The Holy sessions. They didn't use it on that album, so they remixed it for Physical Graffiti.

Led Zeppelin never played this live, but during their 1977 tour of the United States, the band would often use the opening riff to segue into "Sick Again." (thanks, Chris - Whitesboro, NY)

The intro is very close to the Kinks track "Wicked Annabella" from their Village Green album. (thanks, John - Waterford, Ireland)

Led Zeppelin Songs - Custard Pie Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - Custard Pie

Led Zeppelin - Custard Pie Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Physical Graffiti
Released: 1975

Custard Pie Lyrics

Custard Pie Song Chart

This song is based on various American blues recordings, including Blind Boy Fuller's 1939 "I Want Some Of Your Pie" and Brown McGhee's 1947 "Custard Pie Blues." It's the first song on the double album Physical Graffiti.

Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones played the electric clavinet on this.

This is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs they never played live.

Actual custard pie involves a pie shell filled with custard and other ingredients. You might not think of it this way, but both pumpkin and banana cream are custard pies.

It is speculated that "custard pie" is a euphemism for female sexuality and/or genitalia. Other songs which associate pie and women include The Beatles' "Wild Honey Pie," The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)," and of course Warrant's "Cherry Pie."

Jimmy Page joined The Black Crowes briefly and covered this song on their album Live at the Greek.

This song is from the album Physical Graffiti, which sold 16x platinum for Led Zeppelin... in the US alone.

"Custard Pie" was recorded at Headley Grange, long about January-to-February 1974.

This includes a snippet from "Shake 'em On Down" by the blues musician Bukka White. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Led Zeppelin Songs - No Quarter Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - No Quarter

Led Zeppelin - No Quarter Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Houses Of The Holy
Released: 1973

No Quarter Lyrics

No Quarter Song Chart

"No quarter" is a pirate phrase meaning "no mercy." It could also refer to the US Revolutionary War when Great Britain enforced a policy requiring colonial Americans to house British soldiers and offer them food and a bed during the cold of winter. If this policy was refused to a British soldier, this "No Quarter" policy allowed the British soldier to invoke severe punishment (death, sometimes) on the American who refused him. This was only one of the many ways in which Britain attempted to legitimize their treatment of Americans in their effort to interrupt their recapture of the colonies. (thanks, Andy - Lubbock, TX)

Written by bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant, the song showcases Jones' skills as a pianist. The song became a live favorite, with Jones performing it on piano - one of his few moments in the spotlight during Zep sets.

This song became the title track of the 1994 Page and Plant reunion album No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded, an acoustic set by the duo recorded during their concerts for an MTV special. On the 1995 DVD release, the song "No Quarter" opens the set.

The Unledded project was the first time Page and Plant had collaborated in 14 years, and was the closet they had come to reviving Led Zeppelin.

That they chose to name the project after a song much associated with their erstwhile bassist was not appreciated by John Paul Jones, whose biggest complaint was that he was kept out of the loop. Jones found out from a business associate that Page and Plant were working together, but he assumed they were doing new songs. He was on tour in Germany when he saw the MTV concert and realized that they were doing Led Zeppelin songs. When the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Jones took a jab at Page and Plant, saying during the ceremony: "I'd like to thank my friends for finally remembering my phone number."

Led Zeppelin started working on this song in 1971, recording early versions during the Led Zeppelin IV sessions. The version that made it to the album evolved out of a faster version they recorded earlier at Headley Grange, an old mansion in a remote part of England where they wrote and recorded many of their songs, including "Stairway To Heaven."

Tool covered this on their 2000 album Salival.

Various Led Zeppelin tribute bands called "No Quarter" have surfaced over the years.

Sublime borrowed a riff from this in their song "Smoke Two Joints." The short-lasting similarities can be heard at 1:07 in "No Quarter" and at 1:09 in "Smoke Two Joints." (thanks, Matt - San Antonio, TX)

Led Zeppelin Songs - The Song Remains The Same Lyrics

Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same

Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same Lyrics and Youtube Music Videos

Album: Houses Of The Holy
Released: 1973

The Song Remains The Same Lyrics

The Song Remains The Same Song Chart

The lyrics are based on Robert Plant's belief that music is universal. He told NME in 1973: "Every time I sing that, I just picture the fact that I've been round and round the world, and at the root of it all there's a common denominator for everybody. The common denominator is what makes it good or bad, whether it's a Led Zeppelin or an Alice Cooper."

The title was used for a concert film and soundtrack released in 1976. Footage from three 1973 Madison Square Garden shows was mixed with scenes of the band acting out their "fantasies." The band was not happy with the results.

A live favorite, Led Zeppelin used this to open concerts during their 1977 US tour.

This was an instrumental called "The Overture" before Robert Plant put lyrics to it. Led Zeppelin played it as shows before it was fully formed - Plant introduced it as "The Campaign" before the title was changed.

Plant's vocals were sped-up.

Jimmy Page always used his legendary double-necked guitar to play this live. He used the same guitar on "The Rain Song" which would always directly follow it. (thanks, Adrian - Wilmington, DE)

This is one of Led Zeppelin's songs that contains the most overdubs on guitar. The introduction is quite similar to "Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor" by The Yardbirds, which was also written by Jimmy Page. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

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.

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