Music Blog

And It Makes Me Wonder

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Today’s theme at Song Lyric Sunday is all about
songs performed with orchestras and/or choirs.

Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin developed their style by drawing from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music. The band was comprised of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy guitar-driven sound, they are cited as one of the forerunners of hard rock and heavy metal music. Zeppelin has been credited as significantly impacting the nature of the music industry, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock and stadium rock.

Led Zeppelin is one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, with total sales estimated at over 300 million records sold worldwide. The group achieved eight consecutive UK #1 albums and six #1 albums on the US Billboard 200, with five albums certified diamond in the United States. Rolling Stone magazine once described Zeppelin as “the heaviest band of all time”, “the biggest band of the 70s”, and “unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history”. Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museum’s biography of the band states that they were “as influential during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960s”. That’s quite a statement.

There are so many great songs that fit into this category and I changed my mind several times before finally making my decision. For me this is the quintessential presentation of a legendary song which has withstood the test of time over and over again.

The performance I have chosen to feature today is what I consider to be an indelible moment in time. On December 2, 2012, Led Zeppelin received the Kennedy Center Honors; it’s an award bestowed upon those considered to have contributed greatly to American culture. In a world where awards are handed out like lollipops, The Kennedy Center Honors are a big deal. 

Every December, the awards climax with a gala event at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., and in 2012 the show included an emotional performance by Heart’s Ann & Nancy Wilson, with Jason Bonham on drums.

Did I say “emotional”? It’s almost startlingly so. It’s the looks the members of Led Zeppelin give each other during the performance. It’s Robert Plant’s eyes watering as he watches Ann Wilson singing a song he famously has a difficult relationship with. It’s the gospel choir paying tribute to Led Zeppelin’s original drummer John Bonham in the most unexpected way. It’s Jason Bonham lifting his eyes towards the heavens as the song climaxes. It’s extraordinary. 

This is no hype; you’ll know what I mean when you see the reaction from Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones watching from the best seats in the house. The song is one you all know; it has been called “the single-most important and celebrated song Led Zeppelin ever recorded”.

From the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, this is Ann & Nancy Wilson with orchestra and choirs performing the epic “Stairway To Heaven”.

LYRICS

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, 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 stand looking

Ooh, it makes me wonder
Ooh, 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

Oh-oh-oh-oh-whoa

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
Ohh, whoa

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 everything 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

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Jimmy Page / Robert Anthony Plant
Stairway to Heaven lyrics © Succubus Music Ltd., Sons Of Einion Publishing, Flames Of Albion Music, Inc.

Big thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday.

Conducting a Performance

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. 😎

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

41 thoughts on “And It Makes Me Wonder”

  1. I liked the chorus but I think if there’s one thing any rock musician should know, it’s to never try and cover Page, Bonham or Jones because it doesn’t matter who’s with you, you’re going to come up short.

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  3. Led Zeppelin was Mick’s favourite band of all time.

    We went to see Plant and Page in Montreal in October 1995 – our second concert together. Then in 2012, we saw Plant. Oh man. He was so thrilled.

    Though the remainding members of Led Zep were thrilled with Anne and Nancy doing Stairway, I am so sick of this version (though I can appreciate your choice).

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  4. Wow! Thank you – what a ‘find.’

    I have seven Led Zeppelin LPs in my collection and a few CDs too. Their music reminds me so much of my teenage (pre-punk!) years.

    I’d never seen this video, and you’re right – I mean the music is amazing, but when the choir kicks and you see the reaction of the Led Zeppelin members … it’s priceless.

    (I may have to use this video on my ’70s site, now. 🙂 With a wee nod in your direction, of course. 😉 )

    😀

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    1. Wow indeed!

      You’re welcome to it, Cee Tee! It’s one of those gems that needs to be shared with as many people as possible. The orchestra and choirs takes this piece to a whole different level but I have to tell you …. I’ve seen Zeppelin perform live twice in their heyday. This song is by far the best heard in concert. When Plant sings the verse that starts with “And as we wind on down the road…”, it’s the most electrifying sound I’ve ever heard. Magical.

      And the crowd goes wild!

      Thanks so much for your comments. I appreciate them.

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      Reply

  8. That WAS an amazing performance, and no one but Heart could deliver such a ballsy and passionate performance.

    I was also so pleasantly amazed at the sweet & rough mix that Plant and Alison Krauss deliver in their duets!

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  12. One of my favourite songs, by one of my favourite bands. You describe this so well, and I absolutely love this video, which I’ve watched many times. I even wrote a post about it too, many moons ago 😊

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  14. Pingback: Song Lyric Sunday, Les go on Orchestral Manoeuvres. – willowdot21

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