Music Blog

Land of the Ice and Snow

Nancy's Notes šŸ–ŠļøšŸŽ¶

Written for Song Lyric Sunday. This week Jim Adams has asked his
readers to write about a song by a band they wish was still together.

Honestly, I would be very surprised if Iā€™m the only one who chose my featured group and song for Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday theme “Can’t Always Get What You Want”. Thatā€™s ok, though; it just reinforces my thoughts and feelings about this iconic group and the incredible music they recorded over the years.

On January 31, 1969, my then boyfriend/now husband and I went to the concert mecca of the Lower East Side of Manhattan ā€“ the Fillmore East ā€“ where we saw Iron Butterfly perform. The warm-up group was a relatively unknown band from England that totally blew our minds. The name of that band was Adam and the Ants. Wait … I’m kidding! Just checking to see if you’re paying attention.

The name of the band was Led Zeppelin.

Formed in 1968, Led Zeppelin went on to become one of the most influential, innovative, and successful groups in modern music, having sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. The band rose from the ashes of The Yardbirds when Jimmy Page brought in John Bonham, John Paul Jones, and Robert Plant to tour as The New Yardbirds. In 1969, Led Zeppelin released its self-titled debut album, produced by Jimmy Page. It marked the beginning of a 12-year reign during which the group was widely considered to be the biggest and most innovative rock band in the world. In the world; that, my friends, is no small potatoes.

Zeppelin developed their style by drawing from a variety of influences including blues and folk music. 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.

Shortly after the tragic death of the bandā€™s drummer John Bonham in 1980, the group disbanded. In a statement released by the group, they explained that they couldnā€™t go on without their friend. After the break-up, Led Zeppelin had four brief reunions in 1985, 1988, 1995, and 2007. After the gig in 2007, there were rumors about a reunion tour but Robert Plant has continued his touring with American bluegrass-country singer/fiddler/producer Alison Krauss. Plant told the group that he was too busy and they would have to wait. That was 17 years ago. If you’re anticipating a reunion, I wouldn’t hold my breath. But, we can dream.

Led Zeppelinā€™s catalogue is huge and choosing one song was not easy. In the end, I decided to skip the obvious ones and go with one of my favorites.

ā€œImmigrant Songā€ is a classic rock anthem that showcases the bandā€™s signature sound. From the bandā€™s 1970 album Led Zeppelin III, the track has surpassed its original context and now serves as a powerful and evocative anthem for the enduring struggles of mythical conflict. The songā€™s driving riff and powerful lyrics draw inspiration from Norse mythology, with references to Valhalla and war-making. To this day, the song remains a beloved track among fans of Led Zeppelin and rock music in general.

This is ā€œImmigrant Songā€ by Led Zeppelin.

LYRICS

Ah-ah, ah!
Ah-ah, ah!

We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow
The hammer of the gods
Will drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde, sing and cry
Valhalla, I am coming

On we sweep with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore

Ah-ah, ah!
Ah-ah, ah!

We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow
How soft your fields so green
Can whisper tales of gore
Of how we calmed the tides of war
We are your overlords

On we sweep with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore

So now you’d better stop and rebuild all your ruins
For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing

Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ahh, ah
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jimmy Page/Robert Plant
Immigrant Song lyrics Ā© Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Canā€™t Always Get What You Want

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week. Be sure to follow the link and check out Jimā€™s site.

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. šŸ˜Ž

NARĀ©2024

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

44 thoughts on “Land of the Ice and Snow”

    1. It’s a very sad reason for a breakup, isn’t it? Eight years after John Bonham’s death, his son drummer Jason Bonham joined the remaining members of Led Zeppelin for a few performances but the group never got back together.

      I like your terminology, Cindy …. too acidy! šŸ˜Ž

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  6. Excellent choice! This is one of my favorites of theirs, too.

    You mentioned Iron Butterfly. We saw them too, but I don’t remember who was on the ticket with them. I still have my stubs though in my scrap book. šŸ™‚

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  9. A coincidence Nancy, I covered the Yardbirds this week and of course it mentioned the birth of Led Zeppelinn after Jimmy Page left The Ys and Led was born.

    I love your pick for this week and that opening is spine tingling, isn’t it? ā˜ŗļøā¤ļø

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    1. Fabulous, Christine! We are officially rock sisters now!

      I love the Yardbirds; how could a band with Clapton, Beck and Page not last forever?? And like the phoenix rising from the ashes of the Yardbirds, along came Zeppelin.

      We saw them a number of times, up close and personal. Few experiences compare to being sprayed by Robert Plant’s sweat! LOL! What a hottie and still an incredibly sexy man with a great voice. ā¤ļøā€šŸ”„šŸŽ¶šŸ˜Ž

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          1. Wow, I can only imagine. Lucky you!
            On another song Nancy, I wrote an article about ‘Run Around Sue’ where your original article was the focus of attention. You gave it a ‘like’ but I wondered if you read it which entailed excerpts from your amazing pin-point first hand experiences living in that place even if a smidgen after Dion’s time there. Perhaps you felt I borrowed too much from you without your permission, and I’m sorry if that were the case. But your article is the ants pants.

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  12. Great choice as ever Nancy! I love the Zep and have happy memories of being with hubby! I was a newbie apprentice window dresser at department store chain ( well two sister stores a chain is pushing it a bit)

    Anyway one of my seniors on the team who had experience at Harrods took me under his wing he invited Hubby and I to his house where we met his girlfriend and his brother. They introduced hubby and I to Chinese takeaway and the Zep!

    my all time Zep track is Kashmir

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    1. Great memories shared today, Willow!

      We also love Chinese take out and Zep … not necessarily together but they sure do enhance each other!

      I almost went with Kashmir … it was close … but Immigrant Song won out.

      Thanks, luv! šŸŽ¶šŸ„”ā¤ļøšŸ˜Ž

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      1. It was very funny! Itā€™s a great song, isnā€™t it. I did consider Led Zep for my choice but in the end went for a band who are all still with us, in the hope of a reunion!

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