YOU ARE HERE: zharth.net / The Roots of Led Zeppelin Project / Houses Of The Holy / Over The Hills And Far Away

Song: Over The Hills And Far Away
Album: Houses of the Holy [released Mar 18, 1973 (US) | Mar 26, 1973 (UK)]
Single: Over The Hills And Far Away/Dancing Days [May 24, 1973]
Credited to: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Related Songs: N/A

Lyrics:

Hey, lady, you got the love I need
Maybe more than enough
Oh, darlin', darlin', darlin', walk a while with me
Oh, you got so much, so much, so much

Many have I loved, many times been bitten
Many times I've gazed along the open road

Many times I've lied and many times I've listened
Many times I've wondered how much there is to know

Many dreams come true, and some have silver linings
I live for my dream and a pocketful of gold

(Guitar Solo)

Mellow is the man who knows what he's been missin'
Many, many men can't see the open road

Many is a word that only leaves you guessin'
Guessin' 'bout a thing you really oughta know, hoh, oh, oh, oh
Really oughta know, oh, oh
I really oughta know, oh
You know I should, you know I should, you know I should know

Influences: It seems that the phrase "over the hills and far away" is rather common, and has appeared countless times in poetry pre-dating this song. A piece by WH Auden (titled Good-Bye to the Mezzogiorno) also mentions an 'open road', and though there is no evidence for direct connection, it does leave you guessing.

It is nonsense: the Myth of an Open Road
Which runs past the orchard gate and beckons
Three brothers in turn to set out over the hills
And far away, is an invention