PhxHorn Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 During the '88 tour, Plant sometimes changed the lyrics of Heaven Knows to say "You were pumping iron, I was pumping Ira Gershwin." What was that all about? I was listening to Dimples the other day, and noticed the line "You're my baby, got my eyes on you" was similar to the chorus of Hurting King, which went "All right, I got my eyes on you." Any chance Dimples inspired this lyric? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 During the '88 tour, Plant sometimes changed the lyrics of Heaven Knows to say "You were pumping iron, I was pumping Ira Gershwin." What was that all about? I was listening to Dimples the other day, and noticed the line "You're my baby, got my eyes on you" was similar to the chorus of Hurting King, which went "All right, I got my eyes on you." Any chance Dimples inspired this lyric? I don't think it was about anything other than Robert having a go at the words - he changes lyrics a lot. I thought it was pretty funny the first time I heard him do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 During the '88 tour, Plant sometimes changed the lyrics of Heaven Knows to say "You were pumping iron, I was pumping Ira Gershwin." What was that all about? I was listening to Dimples the other day, and noticed the line "You're my baby, got my eyes on you" was similar to the chorus of Hurting King, which went "All right, I got my eyes on you." Any chance Dimples inspired this lyric? Gershwin of course is one of the most prolific lyricists in the history of American Musical Theater. Don't really know why Robert Plant name-checked him on that tour (he'd been dead five years) unless it's the obvious - Ira sounds similar to the original lyric, irony. Very clever. I know for a fact the 'Big Love' lyrics were influenced by Aerosmith's 'Love In An Elevator', but any connection between 'Hurting King' and 'Dimples' is merely speculative at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquamarine Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 With regard to Ira Gershwin, I'd say it's almost certainly the obvious--words that begin with ir--. The sort of wordplay Plant enjoys. Those particular words in Dimples and Hurting Kind are so generic I don't think there's any point looking for a connection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) Gershwin of course is one of the most prolific lyricists in the history of American Musical Theater. Don't really know why Robert Plant name-checked him on that tour (he'd been dead five years) unless it's the obvious - Ira sounds similar to the original lyric, irony. Very clever. I know for a fact the 'Big Love' lyrics were influenced by Aerosmith's 'Love In An Elevator', but any connection between 'Hurting King' and 'Dimples' is merely speculative at this point. Maybe he was listening to Summertime or Rhapsody in Blue. John Lee Hooker recorded Dimples a long time before Robert Plant issued Hurting Kind. Edited January 21, 2010 by eternal light Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhxHorn Posted January 21, 2010 Author Share Posted January 21, 2010 John Lee Hooker recorded Dimples a long time before Robert Plant issued Hurting Kind. Yes, but Robert sang it a lot of times right before Hurting Kind was written and recorded. I remember hearing the line in Dimples and thinking "I've heard that phrase in another Plant tune....which was it?" And then I remembered Hurting Kind. Of course, the chord progression for that same section of Hurting Kind is identical to the chorus of "Hold On, I'm Coming" by Sam & Dave. Those four chords have been used in a lot of other tunes as well: 'Think' by Aretha (the 'Freedom' section), 'Animal' by Pearl Jam (the chorus), to name two. The chorus to "Love Shack' is similar, also. People just can't seem to get enough of that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhxHorn Posted January 23, 2010 Author Share Posted January 23, 2010 I meant to ask this before....was Robert using a pre-recorded track to do the opening wail on Immigrant Song in '88 to '90? I remember seeing some reference to it by an opening band in a Plant newsletter back then; they had criticized him for doing it that way. I can't find the reference, though, but it may have been from Faith No More. I notice that the wail sounds identical from show to show, and sometimes the volume is different than the rest of his vocals, and so I'm 99% sure it was pre-recorded. Has Robert or a band member ever made a statement about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayban123 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 I know for a fact the 'Big Love' lyrics were influenced by Aerosmith's 'Love In An Elevator', but any connection between 'Hurting King' and 'Dimples' is merely speculative at this point. Steve, Elaborate some more please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 (edited) Steve, Elaborate some more please. Fine, but I'll have to paraphase. Basically, Robert said what he liked about Aerosmith's 'Love In An Elevator' was how it told the tale of an unexpected encounter in unexpected circumstances (love in an elevator) and that song inspired him to write a similar song of his own, Big Love (love in an airplane lavatory). The lyrics to both are below (copied from the net so not guarenteed to be 100% accurate): Love In An Elevator lyrics (Aerosmith) Workin' like a dog fo de boss man Workin' for de company I'm bettin' on the dice I'm tossin' I'm gonna have a fantasy But where am I gonna look? They tell me that love is blind I really need a girl like an open book to read between the lines Love in an elevator Livin' it up when I'm goin' down Love in an elevator Lovin' it up 'til I hit the ground Jacki's in the elevator Lingerie second floor She said 'can I see you later And love you just a little more?' I kinda hope we get stuck nobody gets out alive She said I'll show ya how to fax in the mailroom honey and have you home by five Love in an elevator Livin' it up when I'm goin' down Love in an elevator Lovin' it up 'til I hit the ground In the air, in the air, honey one more time not it ain't fair Love in an elevator Lovin' it up when I'm goin' down Love in an elevator goin' down Love in an elevator Lovin' it up when I'm goin' down Love in an elevator Lovin' it up when I hit the ground Gonna be a penthouse pauper Gonna be a millionaire I'm gonna be a real fast talker and have me a love affair Gotta get my timin' right It's a test that I gotta pass I'll chase you all the way to the stairway honey Kiss your sassafras Love in an elevator Lovin' it up when I'm goin' down Love in an elevator Livin' it up 'til I hit the ground Do you care? Do you care? Honey one more time now it ain't fair. Love in an elevator Livin' it up when I'm goin' down Big Love lyrics (Robert Plant) I hear a far-away voice on the telephone line Tell me what to think to tell it apart Said how about 4,000 miles, and 21 years Do you think that's enough for a start? I'm up to fifteen thousand and holding Pass the time just smiling at you But this seat belt is kind of exposing Putting pressure on my big love for you My big love for you, my big love for you - my big, my big -- My big love for you, my big love for you - my big, my big -- Will the hostess think I'm exploding? Must have finally got this bird off the ground Girl, oh girl, if my tank's overloading She's weighted and she loves to go down She loves to go down, she loves to go down - she loves, she loves -- She loves to go down, she loves to go down - she loves, she loves -- When I fly your friendly skies how I love the big surprise I will fill your cup with fire - just give me your free air miles When I fly her friendly skies [etc repeated] I take myself down the aisle to the bathroom Are you sure that there's room here for two She says: "fifteen thousand and holding" As we talk about my big love for you Yes we talk about my big, we talk about my big We talk about my big love for you How I love your friendly skies I will fill your cup with fire (my big, my big, my big) When I fly her friendly skies how I love her big surprise I will fill your cup with fire (she loves, she loves, she loves) Hello baby, I just love to fly, fly, fly I been five days - I've been saving up all of my free air miles I got nylon stockings - I got chocolate bars I got a nervous criminal in a new Lincoln car One time I saw Las Vegas (She loves, my big, she loves) I stopped in a motel - I slept in the same room as Jimmy Page They just finished remodelling it from the '75 tour I got my free air miles (She loves, she loves, my big) When I fly her friendly skies how I love her big surprise I will fill your cup with fire (she loves, my big, she loves) Free air miles - big love Free air miles - big love -- Edited January 24, 2010 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayban123 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Thanks Steve, Explains everything now. Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhxHorn Posted January 24, 2010 Author Share Posted January 24, 2010 I'm bettin' on the dice I'm tossin' Heh, nice double entendre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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