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Song: Communication Breakdown
Album: Led Zeppelin [released Jan 12, 1969 (US) | Mar 28, 1969 (UK)]
Single: Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown [Mar 10, 1969]
Credited to: Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones
Related Songs:
Nervous Breakdown - Eddie Cochran (?)

Lyrics:

Hey, girl, stop what you're doin'
Hey, girl, you'll drive me to ruin
I don't know what it is I like about you, but I like it a lot
Won't you let me hold you, let me feel your lovin' touch

Chorus:
Communication breakdown, it's always the same
Havin' a nervous breakdown, drive me insane

Hey, girl, I got something I think you oughta know
Hey, babe, I wanna tell you that I love you so
I wanna hold you in my arms, yeah
I'm never gonna let you go, 'cause I like your charm

(Chorus)

(Guitar Solo)

(Chorus)

(Communication breakdown)
I want you to love me all night, I want you to love me all night
(Communication breakdown)
I want, hey, I want, yeah
(Communication breakdown)
I want you to love me, I want you to love, babe
(Communication breakdown)
I want you to love, yeah, I want you to love
(Communication breakdown)
hey, I want you to love, yeah, I want you to

Personal notes: This is a simple, but hard-driving rock and roll song. That's all there is to it. Robert Plant's scream at 1:54 into the song is absolutely incredible. Definitely one of the greatest vocal moments ever recorded. There's just something so raw and so powerful about this song. I still think new modern Philly band Silvertide should cover this song. They've got the right kind of energy. Anyway, I think this song is about when you really wanna tell someone how you feel about them, but you can't say anything because just being in their presence gives you a nervous breakdown.

Influences: This song may have been inspired by Eddie Cochran's Nervous Breakdown, which features a similar title and guitar riff. The lyrics are original, however.



Nervous Breakdown - Eddie Cochran

I'm a-havin' a nervous breakdown
A mental shakedown
See my hands, how they shiver
See my knees, how they quiver
My whole body's in a jitter
I'm a-havin' a nervous breakdown

Well, I went to see my doctor just the other day
& I've got to tell you what the man had to say
Well, he said, "Hey, boy, you just gotta slow down
You can't keep a-traipsin' all over town
After givin' you a physical check
I've come to the conclusion you're a total wreck