LED ZEPPELIN & THE LORD OF THE RINGS CONNECTION

[sbush411]

While Dealing with the Topic of Led Zeppelin, I thought it might be interesting to point out where Their Album released in the 1971, which is normally referred to as the “Led Zeppelin IV” Album (And has such songs as “Stairway To Heaven, “The Battle Of Evermore, etc., on it) was made right after their Lead Singer and Song Writer “Robert Plant” Had just finished Reading “J.R.R. Tolkiens’ Book “Lord of The Rings.”

I have always believed he was so inspired by that Book, that he wrote the majority of those songs, if not all of them, including “Stairway To Heaven,” about various characters and story lines in the Book. I also think this Album might even qualify as a "Concept Album." Although Robert Plant may never have Consciously had it in Mind to do a "concept" Album; inasmuch as his songs on that Album were so hevily inspired by the Book - it may inadvertently be one, even if un-intended. This becomes lucidly discernible by simply examining the following:

In the Song "RAMBLE ON" By Led Zeppelin, you will find the following DIRECT REFERENCE TO THE CHARACTER GOLLUM, and even the LAND OF MORDOR ITSELF, from J.R. Tolkiens "Lord Of The Rings, as follows:

Direct quote from the Song, Ramble On – See Below:

"Twas in the Darkest Depths OF MORDOR, I met a girl so fair.

But GOLLUM AND the EVIL ONE crept up. Ain't nothing I can do."

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Also in the "Battle of Evermore", you find a DIRECT reference to the Black Riders (Also called the RING WRAITHS, in J.R.R. Tolkein’s Book Lord Of The Rings) in the following lines:

"The Pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath

The Dreams will shake the Castle Wall

THE RING WRAITHS RIDE IN BLACK. Ride On"

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Both of these songs are from the same album. So is the song "Stairway To Heaven."

From the Above, the following becomes readily apparent::


"Ramble On" By Led Zeppelin is clearly about the Character known as "Gollum" from J.R.R. Tolkiens Book - "The Lord Of The Rings?"

The "Battle of Evermore" is about the final great Battle where Sauron (The Dark Shadow/Lord) is eventually overthrown - although during the Battle, you might recall it was actually Frodo, while engaged in his own Battle with Gollum at the "Cracks Of Doom" who ends up Destroying The Dark Lord (Shadow); by having his finger bearing the One Ring bitten off by Gollum, who then falls into the "Lake of Fire."

Also, "Stairway to heaven" which is again, FROM THAT VERY SAME ALBUM, is yet another song about that story. For example, in the lines "There is a Lady We all Know, who shines white light and want to show, how everything still turns to gold."

The lady he is referring to is "The Lady Galadriel of the GOLDEN WOOD." You might remember she gives "Frodo a small crystal like object, and tells him - "This is a LIGHT for you when all other LIGHTS go out." You might also remember an even in the Dark Cave, where Frodo and Sam Gamge encounter a Large Spider "Shelob." The Cave is totally pitch Black, until he holds the object Galadriel gave him up high. Suddenly a BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT APPEARS THROUGHOUT THE CAVE; which at first temporarily blinds the Monster Size Spider.

You will again see more of the story in the Lines "And as we wind on down the road. Our Shadow's taller than our soul."

Here, You might remember when Frodo first starts to leave the Shire, he quotes a Book Bilbo had started writing (Ref: The Hobit) where he says "The ROAD goes ever onward, WINDING far from the place where it began."

Also the reference to the "Shadow being Taller than our Soul" is talking about Sauron, "THE DARK SHADOW."

The lines speaking about a Lady "Buying a Stairway To Heaven" is again talking about the Lady Galadriel of the Elves in the Golden Wood. Recall, that at the end of the Story, after the Dark Lord is overthrown, She, along with all the Elves, Dwarfs, Gandalf, and others, proceed to leave Middle Earth for a place that is called "The Grey HEAVENS."

Even the Lines: 'Yes There are 2-Paths you can go by, but in the long run - there's still time to change the road you're on." are referring to the many choices that confront Frodo and Sam on their journey to Mordor. First he tries one way, and when that doesn't work, he takes another path. Also the team of nine, when they first leave Rivendale, end up changing their paths several times to get to their destination.

I never saw the Movie, but I did read the Books. I almost never watch movies; as I would far rather read a book. Movies simply leaves too much out.




Steve B.

[She-Ra Winehouse]

I believe every artist always gets inspiration from all over the place and in this case I thought the gollum line was a very nice one, but it's interesting to see Zeppelin mentions the various names so explicitly.

Lotr is a great piece of art

[sbush411]

I agree Shireen that LOTR is an exceptional piece of Art. Although today, there is a widespread audience because of the Movie - At the Time Robert Plant wrote these songs, LOTR was not popularly known to such a widespread audience throughout the World; as it is today - as it was primarily confined to the Academic World. This makes their efforts all the more remarkable!!

(

Steve B.