The Roots of Led Zeppelin Project - Led Zeppelin II

YOU ARE HERE: zharth.net / The Roots of Led Zeppelin Project / Led Zeppelin II / Thank You

Song: Thank You
Album: Led Zeppelin II [released Oct 22, 1969 (US) | Oct 31, 1969 (UK)]
Single: N/A
Credited to: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Related Songs:
If 6 Was 9 - Jimi Hendrix (reference?)
Stand By Me - Ben E. King (reference?)
Dear Mr. Fantasy - Traffic (music?)

Lyrics:

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you
When mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me

Kind woman, I give you my all
Kind woman, nothing more

Little drops of rain whisper of the pain
Tears of loves lost in the days gone by
My love is strong, with you there is no wrong
Together we shall go until we die, my my my
An inspiration's what you are to me
Inspiration, look, see

And so, today, my world, it smiles
Your hand in mine, we walk the miles
Thanks to you, it will be done
For you to me are the only one
Happiness, no more be sad
Happiness, I'm glad

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be lovin' you
Mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me

Personal notes: This is a pretty song. Excellent organ work by John Paul Jones, especially on the live versions of this song Led Zeppelin performed during their early years. Of course, when it comes to Jones showing off, I prefer No Quarter, but that's a completely different song. Amidst all the 'baby you done me wrong' songs that Zeppelin have, this one's got a more positive spin. Although, personally, I like the 'baby you done me wrong' lyrics better, but that's just me. It's good to know that Zeppelin could also do songs like this.

Influences: One is inclined to notice the similarities to the sun/mountains lyric in this song to those in the song If 6 Was 9 by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, released on their 1967 album Axis: Bold As Love. This lyric also bears a strong similarity to one found in the 1961 song Stand By Me by Ben E. King.

If 6 Was 9 - Jimi Hendrix Experience

If the sun refused to shine
I don’t mind, I don’t mind
If the mountains fell in the sea
Let it be, it ain’t me

Got my own world to live through
And I ain’t gonna copy you

Now if six turned out to be nine
I don’t mind, I don’t mind
If all the hippies cut off all their hair
I don’t care, I don’t care, dig

'Cause I’ve got my own world to live through
And I ain’t gonna copy you

White collar conservative flashinEdown the street
PointinEtheir plastic finger at me
They’re hopinEsoon my kind will drop and die, but uh
I’m gonna wave my freak flag high, high, woah!

Wave on, wave on

Fall mountains, just don’t fall on me
Go ahead on, mister business man, you can’t dress like me

Don’t nobody know what I’m talkinEabout
I’ve got my own life to live
I’m the one that’s got to die when it’s time for me to die
So let me live my life the way I want to
Sing on, brother, play on, drummer

Stand By Me (Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller)

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No, I won't be afraid
No, I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me

Chorus:
So darling, darling
Stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Oh, stand
Stand by me
Stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
Or the mountains should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me

(Chorus)

(Chorus)

Unsolved Mysteries: (Please contact me if you have any information about the following)

Led Zeppelin covering Stand By Me
Rumour: Jimmy Page played guitar as a session player on the song Dear Mr. Fantasy by Traffic (released on Traffic's debut album in 1967), which has some chordal similarities to Thank You [according to the IFMTL]