ZepRon Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Did Zep ever write any political songs ? The closest I can think of is maybe "That's the Way" being about ecology. Feel free to move this to a more appropriate forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melcórë Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 I feel like "The Rover" is an attempt to be "political" in a vague way, like some of the Sabbath songs were. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 (edited) Carouselambra. "Take of the fruit, but guard the seed". Misty Mountain Hop is a societal commentary of sorts and references culture and counter-culture through hippies, police, etc. Edited October 19, 2013 by The Dark Lord Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pottedplant Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Carouselambra. "Take of the fruit, but guard the seed". Misty Mountain Hop is a societal commentary of sorts and references culture and counter-culture through hippies, police, etc.Hi, The Dark Lord. I always thought Carouselambra was a song Robert wrote about Jimmy and the band's situation at the time...all that had gone on, etc. "Take of the fruit, but guard the seed" was a reference to taking Robert's talent, but to also guard his heart and feelings. Some not so good things had happened by the time this song was written. Robert was getting his feelings of angst out. At least that is what I have read about this song. I could be absolutely wrong, but it does make sense to me, especially in a Zeppelin historical context.I don't think the band was at all political. Maybe some mentions of social situations of the time, but not political in the true sense of the word. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dark Lord Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 (edited) Hi, The Dark Lord. I always thought Carouselambra was a song Robert wrote about Jimmy and the band's situation at the time...all that had gone on, etc. "Take of the fruit, but guard the seed" was a reference to taking Robert's talent, but to also guard his heart and feelings. Some not so good things had happened by the time this song was written. Robert was getting his feelings of angst out. At least that is what I have read about this song. I could be absolutely wrong, but it does make sense to me, especially in a Zeppelin historical context. I don't think the band was at all political. Maybe some mentions of social situations of the time, but not political in the true sense of the word. JMO Yes, that is true, but I always sensed that the part about Jimmy (where was your helping, where was your bow) was in the context of a bigger societal picture (sisters of the wayside, etc). You are probably right about that. It leads me to wonder if Stairway is a political statement, a societal statement, a personal statement, or all / none of the preceeding (buying a stairway, etc). Edited October 19, 2013 by The Dark Lord Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bayougal65 Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Hi, The Dark Lord. I always thought Carouselambra was a song Robert wrote about Jimmy and the band's situation at the time...all that had gone on, etc. "Take of the fruit, but guard the seed" was a reference to taking Robert's talent, but to also guard his heart and feelings. Some not so good things had happened by the time this song was written. Robert was getting his feelings of angst out. At least that is what I have read about this song. I could be absolutely wrong, but it does make sense to me, especially in a Zeppelin historical context. I don't think the band was at all political. Maybe some mentions of social situations of the time, but not political in the true sense of the word. JMO Hi Potted! I totally agree! I don't think they were political at all either, I believe they were a band all about the music! Robert being their main lyricist his main messages seemed to be more social, life experiences, relationships and love ...carnal, sexual, romantic, lost, wounded, warts and all! Gotta love him! Yes, that is true, but I always sensed that the part about Jimmy was in the context of a bigger societal picture (sisters of the wayside, etc). You are probably right about that. It leads me to wonder if Stairway is a political statement, a societal statement, a personal statement, or all / none of the preceeding (buying a stairway, etc). Hello Dark Lord, Robert has said in interviews he himself doesn't know what all STH is about... I don't personally take the song as a political statement but in certain phrases within the song as more a social commentary about staying true to self and warning against greed and selfishness. But that's just my .02 Peace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pottedplant Posted October 19, 2013 Share Posted October 19, 2013 Hi Potted!I totally agree! I don't think they were political at all either, I believe they were a band all about the music!Robert being their main lyricist his main messages seemed to be more social, life experiences, relationships and love ...carnal, sexual, romantic, lost, wounded, warts and all! Gotta love him! Hello Dark Lord,Robert has said in interviews he himself doesn't know what all STH is about... I don't personally take the song as a political statement but in certain phrases within the song as more a social commentary about staying true to self and warning against greed and selfishness.But that's just my .02 PeaceHi Bayou Gal, where y'at? I agree totally. Stairway was about greed/selfishness and not letting them overtake your soul; follow the piper and he will lead you along the right path. Robert wrote it at the ripe old age of 20 or 21 and he called it a song of hope. Nothing political in it or any other song, as I listen to them. It's all about the music, baby!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Duck Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Did Zep ever write any political songs ? The closest I can think of is maybe "That's the Way" being about ecology. Feel free to move this to a more appropriate forum. I've always assumed That's the Way was about social snobbery. I thought the lyrics told a story about a boy whose mother forbade seeing his friend because she lived on the wrong side of town. Then again, I thought Immigrant Song was about ghosts when I was a kid so who is to say my interpretation of That's the Way is more accurate than ZepRon's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyPhantom Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Night Flight seems to have some political basis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZepRon Posted October 20, 2013 Author Share Posted October 20, 2013 Yep, I agree 100% with the statement that Zep was all about the music: That's what got me to thinking about it. There was no "Ohio", "Fortunate Son", "Saturday Night Special" jumping out at me - that's for sure. Great food for thought / input on the songs (more accurately, works of art) mentioned here. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles J. White Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 Like the Ron dude before me, I view Zeppelin as works of art, if it were overly political, I would just ignore the music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pagefan55 Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 (edited) I agree --Zep was all about the music Edited March 14, 2014 by Pagefan55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea for Tanja Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 There are diffrent reasons why politics were influenced by zeps subconscious power (only). 1st Remember the attacks against their lyrics (Lemon song , Stairway) 2nd. Alot of "political" Rock Idols (fe Hendrix) ended in a strange , mysterios way. Mass media is a force of the Establishment ( minestry of INFORMATION !). Zep was heavily attacked after showing mysteries in TSRTS. Not because of indulgence but media bosses and religios leaders did not want common People to get inspired for these things. Knowing that I always wonder why zep were not stopped Ages ago. There was only one Band in Germany winning agaiinst Media called "Boehse Onkelz". They gave up on the climax of their Publicity. Have a guess why ? !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reswati Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 "Boehse Onkelz". They gave up on the climax of their Publicity. Have a guess why ? !! Weil ander Onkel noch böser waren? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IpMan Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 I believe Night Flight and That's the Way are their most overtly political songs. Than again Battle of Evermore & The Rover are also political depending on ones point of view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cecil. Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 I have never thought of Zeppelin as a political type band, when you can sing about women and lemons.leave the dull stuff to someone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cousinlouie Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 Not Zeppelin Although Freedom Fries, by Plant on Mighty Rearranger seems to be very political, I may have gone off topic, but it is PLANT, LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyPhantom Posted March 15, 2014 Share Posted March 15, 2014 (edited) "Gain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath." sounds pretty political to me, though it's not particularly specific in the song. I think Plant sprinkled it in there, with That's the Way, Night Flight and The Battle of Evermore being the examples. I dont think it was something that they ever concentrated on. Edited March 15, 2014 by FunkyPhantom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea for Tanja Posted March 16, 2014 Share Posted March 16, 2014 Jawoll ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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