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Song: Ramble On
Album: Led Zeppelin II [released Oct 22, 1969 (US) | Oct 31, 1969 (UK)]
Single: N/A
Credited to: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Related Songs: N/A


Lyrics:

Leaves are fallin' all around, time I was on my way
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged, for such a pleasant stay
But now it's time for me to go, the autumn moon lights my way
For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it's headin' my way

Aw, sometimes I grow so tired
But I know I've got one thing I got to do

Ramble on, now's the time, the time is now
Sing my song, I'm goin' 'round the world, I gotta find my girl
On my way, I've been this way ten years to the day
Ramble on, gotta find the queen of all my dreams

Got no time for spreadin' roots, the time has come to be gone
And though our health we drank a thousand times, it's time to ramble on

Ramble on, now's the time, the time is now
Sing my song, I'm goin' 'round the world, I've gotta find my girl
On my way, I've been this way ten years to the day
I gotta ramble on, I gotta find the queen of all my dreams

(I ain't tellin' no lie)

Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear
How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air
'Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair
But Gollum, and the evil one, crept up and slipped away with her, her, her, yeah

And ain't nothing I can do, no
I guess I'll keep on

Ramblin', I'm gonna
Sing my song, I've gotta find my baby
I'm gonna ramble on, sing my song, gonna work my way, goin' 'round the world
Ramble on

(Vocal Improvisation)

I can't stop this feelin' in my heart
Everytime I feel I will leave, I really got to part

Gotta keep searchin' for my baby
I've gotta keep a-searchin' for my baby

I can't find my bluebird
I'd listen to my bluebird sing, but I
I can't find my bluebird


Personal notes: This is a cool song. It's never been one of my favorites, but I really like the lyrics in this one. The idea of rambling on, being a bit of a wanderer, going from place to place, never staying in one spot for too long, really appeals to me. Plus, the imagery of autumn, falling leaves, and the bright moon on a crisp, clear night, are all very vivid for me. Though not one of my favorites, I do know a guitarist who says this is one of his favorite Zeppelin songs. Not only that, but the band he's in does a really good cover of this song. Hearing a song performed live, even if it's not by the original artist (as long as it's an effective cover), really gives you a new appreciation for songs. I'm still mesmerized by how exciting it was to hear a local band play Tom Petty's song Mary Jane's Last Dance. With experiences like that, the song can't help but become a part of you.


Influences: I have heard some pretty convincing arguments about this song in particular being heavily inspired by specific characters and events from The Lord of the Rings (in addition to the obvious references to Gollum and Mordor), but in the end there's really no way to tell for sure if that's the story these lyrics are telling.