IzzyBlues Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 (edited) This is a hidden gem in Physical Graffiti, a song that just doesn't get enough attention in my opinion. It's a curious song though, can anybody shed some light on the development/story behind this song? It's such a wonderful tune, I absolutely love Jimmy's guitar in this. All I know about the song is that there was an acoustic version when Plant and Page retired to Bron-Yr-Aur when they were working on Zep III which I have listened to, and that the song was influenced by a Neil Young song "Down By The River". Does anyone know anything more about it? Any quotes by the band members or anything at all would be great. It's been bugging me ever since I first heard this song many years ago and it still is. Edited May 16, 2013 by IzzyBlues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfman Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Here's a little info.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Down_by_the_seaside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackDog71 Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I always thought the song was really good, and used to think that it deserved more mention. But then I came on this site, and realized that the song is more loved and appreciated by people who listen to all of their music. "Down by the Seaside" will always make me feel like I need to ust sit on a boat by the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melcórë Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I love the song, but don't really know anything about it's inspiration or "meaning." I'd hazard a guess that Robert's love of the land is what informed the song -- at least lyrically. The supposed Neil Young influence is really spotty at best, and only inferred by the closeness of their titles. Musically, they are quite dissimilar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honeydrip79 Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 I love that song! I always thought Jimmy's guitar sounded like he is playing underwater. From listening to the lyrics, I think Robert is advocating slowing down and enjoying the beauty the world has to offer us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cousinlouie Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Oh I love that song, and I agree sounds like Jimmy is playing underwater, then especially when the tempo speeds up, and Jimmy and Bonzo, and JPJ start jamming, great moody song, I also love the Robert Plant and Tori Amos cover----- Do you still do the twist? Do you find that you remember things that well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudslider Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 The song is reflective of their times on Puget sound in Seattle being out and about on the water during many beautiful spring and Sumer days. When the song hits full speed with the guitar solo that's got to be when the Mudsharks made there way in to their Edgewater rooms! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggie29 Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 If you can get hold of this it will confirm the Neil Young connection, as told by Dave Lewis and others as they review every song on the album. I love the song, but don't really know anything about it's inspiration or "meaning." I'd hazard a guess that Robert's love of the land is what informed the song -- at least lyrically. The supposed Neil Young influence is really spotty at best, and only inferred by the closeness of their titles. Musically, they are quite dissimilar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Alabaster Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 This would have worked well on IV instead of Four Sticks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IzzyBlues Posted May 17, 2013 Author Share Posted May 17, 2013 This would have worked well on IV instead of Four Sticks. Wow, really? Four Sticks is my favorite track on Zeppelin IV to be honest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melcórë Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 (edited) If you can get hold of this it will confirm the Neil Young connection, as told by Dave Lewis and others as they review every song on the album. ...Or, could you elaborate instead? Does he quote any of the band members as stating such? Edited May 17, 2013 by Melcórë Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggie29 Posted May 17, 2013 Share Posted May 17, 2013 Yes, in great detail. Robert was into Neil Young with After The Goldrush and Harvest his favourite albums back in the day. DBTS has a definite, "Harvest" feel about it. The song was a nod to Down By The River. All four members of Led Zeppelin attended the C,S,N & Y Wembley concert in 1974 and Jimmy Page jammed with them after the show. I highly recommend the DVD. ...Or, could you elaborate instead? Does he quote any of the band members as stating such? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lambeau Leap Posted May 22, 2013 Share Posted May 22, 2013 I think I remember JPJ goofing on this song in an interview years ago and saying it wasn't one of their better songs; I wholeheartedly agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrong-note-rod Posted May 23, 2013 Share Posted May 23, 2013 I like it a lot.. especially the tremolo on Page's guitar. All it needs is Ben Keith playing pedal steel and it would have been right off the Harvest LP.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trapper Posted September 10, 2013 Share Posted September 10, 2013 Love this song, very underrated. And that 'so far away'- section in the middle of the song: could that perhaps be the most mysterious sounding Zeppelin ever?? That could have been the theme for an entire song! (Begs the question: so why didn't they?) - peace all - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sathington Willoughby Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 Pretty self-explanatory IMO, it's about appreciating nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 (edited) Pretty self-explanatory IMO, it's about appreciating nature. ...and appreciating Neil Young. From the beginning when I first dropped the needle on Physical Graffiti, "Down by the Seaside" was one of my favourite songs on the album. It immediately went onto my "Songs I want Led Zeppelin to play in concert" list. Sadly, it never was. The way Jimmy cranks the tremelo/Leslie effect with more and more intensity with each chorus is a delight. And that middle section is absolute aural heaven...so many layers of guitars and drones and Robert going "whoooo" that it puts me in trance. A gem of a song and a perfect bridge between "Bron-Yr-Aur" and "Ten Years Gone". In fact, as much as people rave about the first disc (Sides 1 & 2) of Physical Graffiti, I submit to you that it is Side 3 that is one of the most perfect sides in Led Zeppelin's oeuvre. "In the Light" - "Bron-Yr-Aur" - "Down by the Seaside" - "Ten Years Gone". Side 3 is the emotional crux of Physical Graffiti. Edited April 9, 2015 by Strider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sathington Willoughby Posted April 9, 2015 Share Posted April 9, 2015 ...and appreciating Neil Young. From the beginning when I first dropped the needle on Physical Graffiti, "Down by the Seaside" was one of my favourite songs on the album. It immediately went onto my "Songs I want Led Zeppelin to play in concert" list. Sadly, it never was. The way Jimmy cranks the tremelo/Leslie effect with more and more intensity with each chorus is a delight. And that middle section is absolute aural heaven...so many layers of guitars and drones and Robert going "whoooo" that it puts me in trance. A gem of a song and a perfect bridge between "Bron-Yr-Aur" and "Ten Years Gone". In fact, as much as people rave about the first disc (Sides 1 & 2) of Physical Graffiti, I submit to you that it is Side 3 that is one of the most perfect sides in Led Zeppelin's oeuvre. "In the Light" - "Bron-Yr-Aur" - "Down by the Seaside" - "Ten Years Gone". Side 3 is the emotional crux of Physical Graffiti. I agree, it's a great tune. One of my favs of the new remasters, sounds great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NealR2000 Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 When PG was released in the UK, and went straight to number one on the album charts, BBC's Radio 1, the only really accessible radio station for popular music, would have a weekly chart show, which would end up with them playing a track off the current number one album. PG stayed at number one for several weeks, and the track they always seemed to play was DBTS. I recall one week, they played Night Flight instead. I guess the BBC was restricted by song length, so these two songs were probably good fits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 (edited) This has always been a song that I have held in high esteem, and perhaps one of the more artistic, if not interesting, Zeppelin tunes in their catalogue. Side 3 of Physical Graffiti is my favorite album side of all their albums, with a highly thematic and conceptual approach to its construction. The middle section of DBTSS wildly ramps the intensity before slowly bleeding back down to a sublime recovery, and it is nothing short of brilliant. I have always interpreted the message as a commentary by Robert in which he expresses bewilderment at the hustle and bustle of people who had turned away from, and paid no attention, to the beauty of the seaside, and Mother Nature, that he had been completely captivated by. A truly great piece of work. Edited April 10, 2015 by The Dark Lord Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IpMan Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 Oh yes, what a gem indeed and the idea that side 3 of PG is the emotional crux is spot on...it's been my favorite as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordStanley Posted April 10, 2015 Share Posted April 10, 2015 DBTS has always been one of my favourite Zeppelin songs. I think that the new remastered hi-res version is one of the most improved sounding tracks in the reissues so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stairway is NOT stolen Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 This track is one of the reasons why Physical Graffiti will always be my favorite Led Zeppelin Album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Death Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 I agree with everyone saying how great Down By The Seaside is... always been one of my favorite songs. On my iTunes I have numerous Zeppelin play lists, including solo material from Jimmy and Robert as well as Page/Plant and Coverdale*Page. As Presence is my favorite album, I made a play list that I call Perfection. Now most of you won't like this, and that's fine, it's MY personal choice, but here's the play list in order of songs: Achilles Last Stand For Your Life In The Light Bron-Y-Aur Down By The Seaside Ten Years Gone Nobody's Fault But Mine Candy Store Rock Hots On For Nowhere Tea For One I could have added others, such as Immigrant Song and Going To California, but decided to just add side three of Physical Graffiti to Presence, minus Royal Orleans. If you have the chance to put those songs in that order on your iTunes or on a CD, I guarantee that you will be blown away!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTM Posted April 11, 2015 Share Posted April 11, 2015 ^^^ No need to shout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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