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Song: The Battle Of Evermore
Album: Untitled [released Nov 8, 1971 (US) | Nov 12, 1971 (UK)]
Single: N/A
Credited to: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Related Songs: N/A

Lyrics:

The Queen of Light took her bow, and then she turned to go
The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom, and walked the night alone
(Oh, dance in the dark of night, sing 'till the mornin' light)
The Dark Lord rides in force tonight, and time will tell us all
(Oh, throw down your plow and hoe, rest not to lock your home)
Side by side, we await the might of the darkest of them all

I hear the horses' thunder down in the valley below
I'm waitin' for the angels of Avalon, waitin' for the eastern glow

The apples of the valley hold the seeds of happiness
The ground is rich from tender care, repay, do not forget, no, no
(Oh, dance in the dark of night, sing to the morning light)
The apples turn to brown and black, the tyrant's face is red
(War is the common cry, pick up your swords and fly)
The sky is filled with good and bad, mortals never know

Oh, well, the night is long, the beads of time pass slow
Tired eyes on the sunrise, waitin' for the eastern glow

The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath
The drums will shake the castle wall, the Ringwraiths ride in black, ride on
(Oh, sing as you raise your bow, shoot straighter than before
No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold
(Dance in the dark of night, sing 'till the mornin' light)
The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back, bring it back

At last, the sun is shining, the clouds of blue roll by
With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes

Bring it back, bring it back, bring it back, bring it back
Bring it back, bring it back, bring it back, bring it back
Oh, now, oh, now, oh, now, oh, oh, now, oh, now, oh, now
Bring it back, bring it back, bring it back, bring it back
Whoa, now, oh, now, oh, now, oh, whoa, now, oh, now, oh, now
Bring it, bring it, bring it, bring it
Bring it, bring it, bring it, bring it
Bring it, bring it, bring it, bring it, bring it

Personal notes: After the first two high-energy rock and roll tracks on this album, The Battle Of Evermore is the first song to give you a little rest. This is truly a beautiful song, with some excellent acoustic guitar and mandolin. The lyrics in this song are awesome, telling tales of a great battle between light and dark. Some of the lines were obviously influenced by Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, and for me this song conjures images of the siege of Gondor in The Return of the King, however it's likely that Robert Plant was drawing on imagery from other sources as well, including the King Arthur legends (angels of Avalon), and ancient battles from the history of our world.

Interesting facts: Sandy Denny, of folk band Fairport Convention, offers some beautiful accompanying vocals on this track. As the story goes, Led Zeppelin really pushed Sandy to her limits, and for her efforts, they went so far as to give her her very own symbol on the album (the three pyramids).

Influences: None found.