Page/ Plant
Записана в 1971 на студии Island Studios, London.
Инженер Энди Джонс (Andy Johns).
Смикширована Энди Джонсом на студии Island Studios, London.
Впервые выпущена 8 ноября 1971 на альбоме «[untitled]» (Atlantic 19129).
Выпускалась также 22 октября 1976 года на концертном альбоме «The Song Remains The Same» (Swan Song) , 6 мая 1990 года на сборнике «Box Set» (Atlantic 82144) , 6 октября 1993 года на сборнике «The Complete Studio Recordings» (Atlantic 82526) , 5 августа 1997 года на сборнике «Remasters» (Atlantic) , 11 ноября 1997 года на сборнике «BBC Sessions» (Atlantic)
и в 1999 году на трибьют-альбоме «Great Zeppelin» (Axekiller) группы Great White.
Заимствование
It has been murmured that there is a vague similarity between the opening notes of this song and those of a song by Johnny Rivers called «Summer Rain». Another suggested source for the introduction chords is The Chocolate Watch Band’s «And She’s Lonely». The solo chords are also similar to the chords of Dylan’s, and Hendrix’s, «All Along The Watchtower», though the chord progression is hardly uncommon and any direct influence is also unlikely.
Содержание
The meaning of this song has to be one of the most enduring musical debates of all time. Australian comedian and tv personality Andrew Denton has throughout his tv career expressed his complete ignorance of the meaning and sought to enlighten himself. He finally gained his chance to ask the man who wrote the words what the phrase «If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow» actually means, and Plant related an idea, after checking with Jimmy to see whether he should pass on the Freudian meaning, and being told not to, which bears a striking resemblance to one aired in «Guitar» magazine several years ago. The winner of a contest in that magazine as to what the meaning was also concerned himself with that particular phrase. The theory had it that a hedgerow can also be defined as a «bush», which is also a slang term for the female genitalia. A bustle is a disturbance or some similar dispruptive activity. Supposedly this refers to a woman’s period. The May Queen, mentioned in the next line of the lyrics, symbolizes a woman’s first period, and thus the two lines taken together relate to a woman’s coming of age. Plant’s reply to the question on «Denton» was, «What it is, it’s the beginning of Spring, it’s when the birds make their nests, when hope and the new year begins. And it’s nothing to do with any of that weird stuff you read about in America!» These two explanations at a stretch can be reconciled, so one part of the song is thus about a woman’s coming of age. Jimmy has also said that one of the original lyrical inspirations was a woman they both knew. This may be so, but the «lady» in the song appears to be some sort of reference to materialism. The song is reportedly based on a number of Celtic myths and also drew on English literature such as «The Faerie Queene» by Edmund Spenser.
Текст
There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold And she's buying a stairway to heaven. When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for. Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven. There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure 'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings, Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven. Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it makes me wonder. There's a feeling I get when I look to the west, And my spirit is crying for leaving. In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, And the voices of those who standing looking. Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it really makes me wonder. And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune Then the piper will lead us to reason. And a new day will dawn for those who stand long And the forests will echo with laughter. If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now, It's just a spring clean for the May queen. Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run There's still time to change the road you're on. And it makes me wonder. Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know, The piper's calling you to join him, Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind. And as we wind on down the road Our shadows taller than our soul. There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How ev'rything still turns to gold. And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last. When all are one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll. And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
Переводы
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Перевод Сергея Аверьянова
Перевод Владимира Бойко
Перевод на украинский Павла Лехновського
Перевод компании Софтел
Перевод Николая Евстигнеева
Перевод Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
