just re-read the Cameron Crowe interview Rolling Stone #182: Led Zeppelin – The Uncool - The Official Site for Everything Cameron Crowe it's funny how he said "She’s got a washing machine that works by itself and a little sports car. " like he wanted her to know he still thinks about her. Clearly this was not a random story he told here

Sorry to bump this old thread... never really liked this song before... but now I do , and wanted to know more about the lyrics; so I ended up here ... Thanks dpat for starting this topic; and your intrepretation of the song Talking about alternate wordings the "official" (?) lyrics on Apple Music say it's indeed "Then , as it was..." but also "Dewy eyes now sparkle" which kinda make more sense than "do the eyes not sparkle" I've also read the story behind this song as told by Plant himself in the 1975 Rolling stone interview (by Cameron Crowe). Thank God he ditched that girl, whomever she was! Can you imagine what we'd missed if he had said yes to her request? . And anyway, just my 2cts, true love is not about making this kind of ultimatum , but on the opposite valueing the other's freedom, aspirations and boundaries. If you're not OK with them, just say bye, don't say "It's ME or...". So, here's my own attempt at interpreting the lyrics... Then as it was, then again it will be An' though the course may change sometimes Rivers always reach the sea --> those love stories tend to repeat themselves; with the same person or with someone else; but in the end it doesnt really matter , he'll "reach the sea" (death, heaven, peace, wisdom... not quite sure, maybe all that) Blind stars of fortune, each have several rays On the wings of maybe, downing birds of prey Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to grow But as the eagle leaves the nest, it's got so far to go --> there are several ways life can blindly unfold , but being too hesitant may kill the "bird of prey" inside . It's tempting to choose safety and stagnation, but you gotta let your inner eagle fly Changes fill my time, baby, that's alright with me In the midst I think of you, and how it used to be Did you ever really need somebody, And really need 'em bad Did you ever really want somebody, The best love you ever had Do you ever remember me, baby, did it feel so good 'Cause it was just the first time, And you knew you would --> he likes changes, but he can't help reminiscing about her . maybe he has doubts about whether she really needed/wanted him that strongly (because if so she would not have made those demands on him?) , he's not so sure now about what she felt about him and their relationship, if she even remembers him... after all it was "JUST the first time" (meaning she did not have experience and maybe felt it was not as deep as what he felt ... maybe the "you knew you would" part means she would have done it anyway, with him or another?) Dewy eyes now sparkle, Senses growing keen Taste your love along the way, See your feathers preen Kind of makes makes me feel sometimes, Didn't have to grow We are eagles of one nest, The nest is in our soul --> he cried but is happy now, having fun elsewhere... . OR he's still meeting her from time to time , tasting HER love and seeing HER feathers preen? Not sure who is the "you" he refers to here. If it's the second option (that she remained somehow in his life) then the "kind of makes me feel sometimes, didnt have to grow " part makes sense. Or it's just about keeping that relationship at soul level only . This part is rather obscure and probably he wanted it that way Vixen in my dreams, with great surprise to me Never thought I'd see your face the way it used to be --> he saw her in his dreams again, which surprised him . And in those dreams she had the same face as when they were together Oh darlin', oh darlin' I'm never gonna leave you. I never gonna leave Holdin' on, ten years gone Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone --> as dpat mentioned in his first post, this is completely contradictory with the rest (unless there is an ambiguity about whether they really are through with their relationship... by the way it could fit the Shirley hypothesis, as apparently he was with her before Maureen and obviously had to see her from time to time later, as part of the family now) . On a less personal plan, it probably means that some relationships may have ended in real life but still remains very vivid in the soul , and those memories cannot be extinguished...