Led Zeppelin

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Led Zeppelin was an English rock band active between 1968 and 1980, consisting of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. Many fans believe that lyrics to several Led Zeppelin songs were inspired from Tolkien's works whilst noting that one of Robert Plant's dogs was named Strider.

Songs with alleged Tolkien influence[edit | edit source]

"Misty Mountain Hop"

The lyrics describe an encounter with the police after getting stoned in the park, culminating in a resolution to leave for the Misty Mountains ("I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains / Where the spirits go now").

"Over the Hills and Far Away"

Believed to describe The Hobbit and Bilbo Baggins's discovery of the One Ring.

"The Battle of Evermore"

Mentions the Ringwraiths and the Dark Lord. It also mentions the "Prince of Peace", a messianic figure who could be Frodo or Aragorn, who "embraced the gloom" and "walked the night alone". Also mentions a "Queen of Light," which could allude to Galadriel.

"Ramble On"

Mentions Gollum, the land of Mordor, and "the evil one" (possibly Sauron).

"Stairway to Heaven"

Several ambiguous lines have been interpreted as oblique references to the legendarium.
"There's a lady who's sure / All that glitters is gold" may be a reference to the verse "All that is gold does not glitter" which is repeated several times in the Lord of the Rings.
"There walks a lady we all know / Who shines white light and wants to show / How everything still turns to gold" may refer to Galadriel, though this is disputed.[1]
"There's a feeling I get when I look to the West / And my spirit is crying for leaving" may refer to Frodo's brief time in the Shire after the conclusion of the Quest of the Ring.

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. "Exclusions", The Tolkien Music List (accessed 12 October 2012)