When it comes to rock bands few were as powerful and seemingly as unified as Led Zeppelin. Fronted by the lion-like Robert Plant, the group included guitarist Jimmy Page, drummer John Bonham, and bassist and multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones.
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Today, the group is still all over the radio waves thanks to classic rock hours and general adoration for the British-born hit-makers. But while the four-piece group wrote many of the band’s songs, some too were written by just its lead singer and guitar player.
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1. “Over the Hills and Far Away“
Written by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
A big theme of this particular list is the presence of Plant and Page as singer and acoustic player, respectively. It’s clearly evident here, you can imagine the two sitting around some elegant room and Page begins to play. Plant pushes him to keep playing as he thinks of what to say and boom, “Over the Hills and Far Away.” Released on Led Zeppelin’s 1973 album Houses of the Holy, this acoustic-driven song was written at the small Welsh cottage known as Bron-Yr-Aur.
Hey lady, you got the love I need
Maybe more than enough
Oh darling, darling, darling
Walk a while with me
Ohh, you’ve got so much, so much, so much
2. “Ramble On“
Written by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
Speaking of rambling, this song, “Ramble On,” which was released on the 1969 album Led Zeppelin II also begins with a lovely, pastoral acoustic guitar as Plant comes in like a dove landing on a lush branch. Similar to the song above, the acoustic gives way to a big rock riff as Jones and Bonham come in, rock’s greatest rhythm section.
Leaves are falling all around
It’s time I was on my way
Thanks to you I’m much obliged
For such a pleasant stay
But now it’s time for me to go
The autumn moon lights my way
For now I smell the rain
And with it pain
And it’s headed my way
3. “Going to California“
Written by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
The band’s 1971 hit from the album Led Zeppelin IV, “Going to California” might be the group’s most beloved acoustic track. It sounds like a type of country sunshine. The wind blows over the hills, sending dandelion spores out into the sky. This is another song you can easily picture Plant and Page writing together in a haze of artistry and giddy friendship.
Spent my days with a woman unkind
Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine
Made up my mind to make a new start
Going to California with an aching in my heart
Someone told me there’s a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair
4. “Stairway to Heaven“
Written by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page
The band’s most famous song, this 1971 track also from Led Zeppelin IV is perhaps the most iconic rock song in history. Written by Page and Plant as a duo, the rock-driven number is about the division between spiritual gains and golden ones. It’s a song many have heard many times, but the raw emotion and the pristine poetry baked into the track make it forever indelible.
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
(Photo by Steve Morley/Redferns/Getty Images)
