Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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 stand 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 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, yeah
To be a rock and not to roll
And she's buying a stairway to Heaven
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 stand 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 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, yeah
To be a rock and not to roll
And she's buying a stairway to Heaven
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by Mellow_Harsher, Teampeeta254, jackson109, dylansuppiah, TheHylian, sokorny, LHGL
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Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction

When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.

American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.

Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.

Somewhere Only We Know
Keane
Keane
Per the FAQ on Keane's website, Keane's drummer Richard Hughes, stated the following:
"We've been asked whether "Somewhere Only We Know" is about a specific place, and Tim has been saying that, for him, or us as individuals, it might be about a geographical space, or a feeling; it can mean something individual to each person, and they can interpret it to a memory of theirs... It's perhaps more of a theme rather than a specific message... Feelings that may be universal, without necessarily being totally specific to us, or a place, or a time..."
With the nostalgic sentiment and the overall tone of the song, I think Keane is attempting to express a Portuguese term known as 'saudade', which does not have a direct English translation but roughly means "that which we remember because it is gone."
Publisher block? I think not. Here are the 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, 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 stand 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 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.
@GeoJoe1000 It's about a woman junky trying to score some heroin for God sake. Simple as!!!
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We interpreted this song in my senior English class, and what I took from it is "the lady who's sure" has based her life on the material things. When she's on her way to heaven, she doesn't believe the signs that say she can't get in once she reaches the gates because her life lacks a spiritual base. That's why her stairway is unstable/false and lies on a foundation of "whispering wind." Throughout the song, the lady's experience is paralleled to the band's reflection on what they've done in life and wondering if they'll one day end up on a similar stairway. (Hence, "there's a feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving"- they fear they've left their spiritual path to travel down a road of materialism.) At first they believe they can simply change their fate and walk down the right path when they need to, but as their shadows grow long, they realize they may have been too late. This was the first Led Zeppelin song I ever heard and I've been a fan ever since.
Haha! You're right. And she's BUYING a stairway to heaven.
@Briseyfish69 You interpreted this in your english lesson? You're lucky.
@Briseyfish69 profound ! Thank you
@Briseyfish69 --- I sorta thought it was about drug, maybe particulary cocaine addiction, but I see how "when i look to the west" could be a metaphor to western materialism
@Briseyfish69 It's about a woman junky trying to score some heroin for God sake. Simple as!!!
Neat interpretation... I'm not sure if that's what it means. It could be that she was always on a journey towards heaven as she's still turning everything to "Gold" & shining a "white light," both metaphors for heaven. Looking to the west is also a metaphor for hope, not necessarily civilization, but going west for free land & a new life. Robert Plant also introduced the song as a song of "hope," not as cynicism towards a culture.
@Briseyfish69 bra I. Know this thread is almost 16 years old... my god I can’t believe I’m saying that, it seems like yesterday... But I made this account just to tell you I thought that was a vety WELL PUT and listener / reader friendly interpretation of the song!
@Briseyfish69 my interpretation of “look to the West” was he was also chasing the gold. leaving spiritual foundation for a more materialistic base that would prove more fulfilling.
StH is about the Teletubbies possessing the bodies of people that build escalators and taking over the world. "All that glitters is gold" represents Tinky Winky and his purse.
i agree!!! it's about a metaphorical stairway the teletubbies tell of to reach the baby sun-god!
Nice man nice....I think ill join up with that theory man....
I've been trying to explain this to people for years. It's all so obvious.
teletubbies are you kidding me? i really hope you are joking. If you are serious than you are probably super stoned and disrespecting one of the greatest songs and band of all time.
seriously, what kind of crap/crack are you on?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Tella-fkn-Tubbies???? REALLY???<br /> ----The post I'm referring to is 12yrs old..this idiot may never see this comment- but, I just had to say; wtf: tella damned tubbies???<br /> Whatta nutbag!
guys chill the fk out he's obviously joking rofl
@cheshireranch182 <br /> Your interpretation kind of explains the line "If there's a buzzer in your hedgehog, don't be alarmed now" that never made sense to me... until now.
@cheshireranch182 I'm not one for Occam's razor. I tend to believe that the most absurd thing is true. Therefore, you just might be onto something. lolz.<br /> <br /> Come to think of it, "and the forests will echo with laughter" is definitely referencing clumsy Po who always falls down, causing the other teletubbies to say, "uh, oh, Po!"
@cheshireranch182 At last! A definitive answer that puts to rest the drugs vs materialism vs Lord of the Rings allusion!
I'm laughing hardest at the comments from people who cant take a joke.
This may be similar to others' interpretations (with like 10 pages of them, I can't be sure I've read them all). I think I'm just pulling from my own thoughts and imagination and stuff. Trying to make sense in my head of something that probably defies one single explanation.
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.
The Catholic Church of the middle ages was given to selling indulgences, commonly perceived to allow the faithful to buy out (through monetary donations to the Church) of purgatory time for themselves or loved ones and into 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.
I'm thinking that the "sign on the wall" could also be the writing on the wall, perhaps biblical in nature, that can be interpreted in many ways. It makes lots of folks wonder about it.
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, it really makes me wonder.
The coming of the Enlightenment - the mass exodus from the Church (as well as other established institutions) and its teachings and rites?
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, And the voices of those who stand looking. It makes me wonder.
A musing in particular about the election of the pope and the signal of such by means of smoke - and its effect on the masses.....
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.
Again about enlightenment, about the replacement of Church teachings and superstition with Man's own ability to reason.
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.
The second part of the stanza as a direct address to the Lady (the Church) as a warning that Her time is about to end, it's about to be blown away with the winds of time.
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 is one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll.
And she's buying a stairway to heaven....
To me this is a plea to look beyond the Lady (Church) to one's own sense of reason and morality to get to some higher place - "the tune will come to you at last" and you'll be the "rock" of your own faith, of your own reason,(as Jesus' claim to Peter) and not depend upon any other earthly entity to inform you of right and wrong.
This is sheer brilliance. <br /> <br /> Sola Scriptura! Long live the Reformation. Wish I had had this insight. <br /> <br /> God Bless you.
excellent analysis! I'm VERY impressed. :)
No...100% wrong. Plant has explained it many times. It has nothing to do with religion. It's about greed and disrespect for the planet
It's unclear if 'the Lady' is the individual or the Church. Robert Plant has always been reluctant to say exactly what the lyrics mean, but prefers to leave this as an existential piece where each of of us find his or her own meaning in it. I would like to believe it reflects how early Christianity defined heaven; rejecting the material and finding spiritual peace by living in perfect union with each other and God
Why have dissenting opinions by others been flagged?<br /> <br /> The analysis is flawed but thought provoking.<br />
@42 steps that’s quite a biased one sided version of the reformation
@Ragdoll2004 Yeah? You think? Go read my interpretation of Along Comes Mary, that should really run afoul of your approval.
Disclaimer: This is my fairly dark interpretation of the song. If you accept it as its intended meaning, you may wish you hadn't heard it. You've been warned.
My Interpretation:
In the first verse, the lady represents the naive soul of a person, believing that everything will work out, believing that she can simply ask for something and receive it, and in the end she will reach heaven for being good.
In the second verse, it says that "there's a sign on the wall". I believe this represents the fact that we don't know for sure what to believe, but there is a religious authority which gives us a standard answer. However, the woman looks deeper because there may be more than one simple meaning.
"In a tree by the brook",(using more natural and mystical language than the "sign") a songbird hints that our entire perception about the world around us may be wrong. I believe the songbird represents the wondering of our mind.
Then, "Ooh, it makes me wonder"
Third Verse. Here it begins to get a little bit dark. "There's a feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving." Something is pulling at my soul to look for something else and leave what I know behind. "In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, and the voices of those who stand looking." The trees represent the "forest" of the mind, and rings of smoke has to mean that something inside the mind is trying to communicate something, which is rather spooky. The voices looking are his thoughts in response to the "smoke rings".
"Ooh, it makes me wonder."
Fourth Verse
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 we all call the tune and follow the whisperings of our mind, "the Piper" will lead us to see things differently. The result being that we will leave way we knew behind and live in a new way of splendor and freedom.
The drums start, as does this new vision of existence.
Fifth Verse
"If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now. It's just a spring clean for the May Queen."
A hedgerow is a bush, this is imagery depicting a bush shaking from the inside, but refers to wary feelings in the mind. The "May Queen" is an occultist reference. It says that while you may be alarmed at first, she is simply cleaning out your old ways of thought.
"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."
It's not too late. You still can go down either path if you want, but in the long run this occultist enlightenment will always be at arms' length.
Sixth Verse "Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know, The Piper's calling you to join him."
You're wary and anxious about it but you won't go unless you decide to surrender yourself to it, meanwhile "The Piper" is calling you on.
"Dear Lady can you hear the wind blow, and did you know, Your stairway lies on the whispering wind."
The Lady is the pure soul. He asks, don't you hear the whisperings of your mind, and do you know that the way to your paradise is through following those deepest thoughts and wants?
Then, a sudden strange and abrupt change in music. The solo seems to communicate its own particular message without words. This transition seems to represent the crossing over from innocence and falling into the rich, mournful truth.
Then:
And as we wind on down the road
Our Shadows taller than our soul (Our desires overcoming our potential for goodness)
There walks a Lady we all know of (We are all familiar with the intimacy of our souls)
Who shines bright light and wants to show (She is figuratively radiant from the new knowledge)
How everything still turns to gold (In this new vision, things turn to gold, as opposed to the naive optimism earlier of believing all glittering things were gold)
And if you listen very hard (Listen!)
The truth will come to you at last (Promising the thing everybody is searching for)
When all is one and one is all
(The belief that everything is for you and for your purpose. Everything is you and you are everything. The central ideal in satanism. Robert Plant has yelled "That's what HE is!" quickly after this line in concert.)
To be a rock and not to roll. (To be the unmoveable center of your universe)
In summation, I believe it's satanic, and I find it rather disturbing, but that's what Jimmy Page and Robert Plant were into and I think that this very close to the ever-elusive intended meaning behind the song.
I believe that your interpretation is absolutely brilliant, but from a slightly deeper perspective, I believe that it reflects the deepest teachings of Christ. <br /> <br /> I've copied and pasted everything you wrote below, and then added my comments below each paragraph:<br /> ----<br /> In the first verse, the lady represents the naive soul of a person, believing that everything will work out, believing that she can simply ask for something and receive it, and in the end she will reach heaven for being good.<br /> <br /> Erik: I totally agree with this 100%. <br /> <br /> In the second verse, it says that "there's a sign on the wall". I believe this represents the fact that we don't know for sure what to believe, but there is a religious authority which gives us a standard answer. However, the woman looks deeper because there may be more than one simple meaning.<br /> <br /> Erik: Yes, from a Christian perspective, the religious authority could be likened to the "scribes and Pharisees" who, while teaching the "letter of the law", often miss the "Spirit of the law" which requires one to look deeper and listen to the Holy Spirit within.<br /> <br /> "In a tree by the brook",(using more natural and mystical language than the "sign") a songbird hints that our entire perception about the world around us may be wrong. I believe the songbird represents the wondering of our mind.<br /> <br /> Erik: Yes, this is referenced in Paul's letter to the Corinthians' in which he says that we are like children looking through a "darkened glass". Our perception of the world is distorted because our hearts aren't pure, and only through the "renewing of the mind" which he talks about in his letter to the Romans.<br /> <br /> Then, "Ooh, it makes me wonder"<br /> <br /> Third Verse. Here it begins to get a little bit dark. "There's a feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving." Something is pulling at my soul to look for something else and leave what I know behind. "In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, and the voices of those who stand looking." The trees represent the "forest" of the mind, and rings of smoke has to mean that something inside the mind is trying to communicate something, which is rather spooky. The voices looking are his thoughts in response to the "smoke rings".<br /> <br /> Erik: Yes, the mind has become distorted due to selfish thinking and now seems to be stuck in a forest of impure thoughts. Yet, the Holy Spirit is still there sending up smoke signals, offering relief to the mind that is willing to look for Him.<br /> <br /> "Ooh, it makes me wonder."<br /> <br /> Fourth Verse<br /> <br /> And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune<br /> Then the piper will lead us to reason.<br /> And a new day will dawn for those who stand long<br /> And the forests will echo with laughter.<br /> <br /> If we all call the tune and follow the whisperings of our mind, "the Piper" will lead us to see things differently. The result being that we will leave way we knew behind and live in a new way of splendor and freedom.<br /> <br /> Erik: Yes, the "Piper" is the Holy Spirit, Who is Calling us to this new and better way.<br /> <br /> The drums start, as does this new vision of existence.<br /> <br /> Fifth Verse<br /> <br /> "If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now.<br /> It's just a spring clean for the May Queen." <br /> <br /> A hedgerow is a bush, this is imagery depicting a bush shaking from the inside, but refers to wary feelings in the mind. The "May Queen" is an occultist reference. It says that while you may be alarmed at first, she is simply cleaning out your old ways of thought.<br /> <br /> Erik: When you start to listen to the Holy Spirit and follow Christ, it will feel as though you are being shaken up on the inside. The old self will rage inside, as it feels that it is having to sacrifice control, and the temptation to go back to the old ways will be very strong in the beginning. That's why we must be vigilant. The May Queen, in my perspective anyway, is another way of referring to the Holy Spirit, Who's job it is to clean out the altar of our mind so that we may serve Christ and Christ alone.<br /> <br /> "Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run<br /> There's still time to change the road you're on."<br /> <br /> It's not too late. You still can go down either path if you want, but in the long run this occultist enlightenment will always be at arms' length.<br /> <br /> Erik: The two ways are the way of Christ, and the way of satan. We've all been on the path of satan (i.e. selfishness), but there's still time to change the road we've been on.<br /> <br /> Sixth Verse<br /> "Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,<br /> The Piper's calling you to join him."<br /> <br /> You're wary and anxious about it but you won't go unless you decide to surrender yourself to it, meanwhile "The Piper" is calling you on.<br /> <br /> Erik: When you are still "on the fence" about which of the two roads you will walk on, it will feel as though your head is "humming" with a splitting headache. The split will not be healed until we answer the Holy Spirit's (the Piper's) Call to join Him.<br /> <br /> "Dear Lady can you hear the wind blow, and did you know,<br /> Your stairway lies on the whispering wind."<br /> <br /> The Lady is the pure soul. He asks, don't you hear the whisperings of your mind, and do you know that the way to your paradise is through following those deepest thoughts and wants?<br /> <br /> Erik: Yes, the DEEPEST thoughts and wants of our mind are those which come from True Inspiration, i.e. those which are Given to us BY the Holy Spirit for our healing and joy. "Your Stairway lies on the whispering wind" is a metaphorical way of saying that you will get to Heaven by listening to the "small, still Voice within", which can seem like the whispering wind because it's so quiet and pure.<br /> <br /> Then, a sudden strange and abrupt change in music. The solo seems to communicate its own particular message without words. This transition seems to represent the crossing over from innocence and falling into the rich, mournful truth.<br /> <br /> Erik: Yes, it's a transition from the false innocence of just believing that everything is "hunky-dory" to the fact that there is a cosmic war going on in my mind for possession of it, and that I need to start becoming highly vigilant for the Truth and ONLY for the Truth.<br /> <br /> Then:<br /> <br /> And as we wind on down the road<br /> <br /> Our Shadows taller than our soul (Our desires overcoming our potential for goodness)<br /> <br /> There walks a Lady we all know of (We are all familiar with the intimacy of our souls)<br /> <br /> Erik: I think that the Lady in this case could also be thought of as the part of our Soul that HAS chosen Light over darkness, and now wants nothing more than but to extend and share this Light with everyone.<br /> <br /> Who shines bright light and wants to show (She is figuratively radiant from the new knowledge)<br /> <br /> How everything still turns to gold <br /> (In this new vision, things turn to gold, as opposed to the naive optimism earlier of believing all glittering things were gold)<br /> <br /> Erik: Yes, when you are letting the Light of Christ shine THROUGH you, then everything lights up and is seen as beautiful, like gold. And yes, this IS in stark contrast to the earlier naivety of seeking for pleasure in the world and believing that "all that glitters is gold".<br /> <br /> And if you listen very hard (Listen!)<br /> <br /> The truth will come to you at last (Promising the thing everybody is searching for)<br /> <br /> When all is one and one is all <br /> <br /> (The belief that everything is for you and for your purpose. Everything is you and you are everything. The central ideal in satanism. Robert Plant has yelled "That's what HE is!" quickly after this line in concert.)<br /> <br /> Erik: I wouldn't attribute the idea of Perfect Oneness to satan, but to Christ. We are all one in Christ, as Christ is one with God. <br /> <br /> To be a rock and not to roll. (To be the unmoveable center of your universe)<br /> <br /> Erik: Or like a rock in the sense of being totally steadfast and unmovable in one's pure devotion to Christ.<br /> <br /> Lots of Love to you!<br /> Erik
I think this is a great attempt at explanation, and none of us will probably ever get it all. But would like to put in my halfpence worth.<br /> <br /> "When all is one and one is all"<br /> This is clearly and only and totally a buddhist belief. <br /> Working this into satanism or christianity is illogical. Theistic Satanism requires a god enemy (twoness), and vice versa. Not to mention the pythonesque holy trinity (threeness). Atheistic satanism is just atheism. Although many religions are currently trying to be all things to all men nowadays (even african witchcraft is becoming buddhist), we need to look at their origins and scriptures, not just at how we can twist them to fit.<br /> <br /> And as we wind on down the road (as we get older)<br /> Our Shadows taller ... (our past becoming larger) <br /> than our soul (overcoming our essentialness)<br /> (as we lose touch with who we are/were)<br /> what is a soul ? The I that inhabits us all. sense of Self. Unfortunately the concept has been completely hijacked by christianity.<br /> <br /> To be a rock and not to roll (To be certain in ones beliefs, no more doubts)<br /> <br /> PS whilst we are all getting mystically carried away<br /> Plant's own explanation of the lyrics was that it "was some cynical aside about a woman getting everything she wanted all the time without giving back any thought or consideration.<br /> <br /> hope this creates some reponse
@Heyuhmaybe Try this take on for size. <br /> I first heard this song in when it came out in 1971. This song came out around the same time as Jethro Tull's My God. <br /> To me both songs speak of God and His realm in a way that's different from what is traditionally taught and believed. "My God" exposes ritualistic religion as shallow and disconnected from the real truth about God. <br /> "Stairway" alludes to a God - the piper, the May queen - who will clear away the falsehoods that surround people's understanding of what He ultimately has in store for the people created in His image. The line "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." is a statement of the purpose of Jesus' sacrifice, a second chance for humanity. <br /> The final phrase promising what the tune will reveal to the diligent listener: "When all are one and one is all", echoes what Jesus asked His Father for on the night He was betrayed, (John 17:20-21) "I pray also for those who will believe in me through their [His disciple's] message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." <br /> No rock musicians are not theologians but the Spirit that inspired the Bible is the one Ian Anderson reminds us of in My God. <br /> If you're a little curious you can also discover that the Old Testament prophet Daniel had something to say about people shining brightly and wanting others to know why in Daniel 12:3, check it out. <br />
I mostly agree with your interpretation of this song. I definitely agree that it has a Satanic message. It is well known that Jimmy Page was interested in the occult. He lived in an estate which had been owned by Aleister Crowley and had been used by him for occult ceremonies. Also, the song "Houses of the Holy" contains the lyrics "From the door comes Satan's daughter....Will you heed the master's call Oh...Satan and man". It has been claimed that if you play Stairway to Heaven backward, it contains Satanic messages. Some people dismiss that claim, but the lyrics played forward also seem to have Satanic implications ("the piper is calling you to join him"), and the lyrics also suggest that there is a hidden message in the song. For example "You know sometimes words have two meanings" (one meaning when played forward and another meaning when played backward), and "And if you listen very hard, the tune will come to you at last" (you need to listen to the song very carefully to understand its meaning).
@Heyuhmaybe It's about a woman junky trying to score some heroin for God sake. Simple as!!!
@Heyuhmaybe That's a very interesting interpretation, thank you. It's just I still wonder how in the name of G-d is it Satanic? When all is one and one is all?
@Heyuhmaybe so I have about 50 different Zeppelin shows I have never heard him say " That's what HE is" quickly after this line in concert. Don't know where you get that from but it puts a little hole in your theory. the way I see it.
@Heyuhmaybe I think it's neither Christian, Satanist or Buddhist, but Neopagan.<br /> <br /> The figure of the Piper living in the woods makes me think of Pan, the half-man, half-goat Greek deity of nature, fertility and spring (May is right in the midddle of spring season). This figure is heavily associated with Neopaganism and is always depicted playing a windpipe and is a symbol of man's connection with Mother Nature, which is essential for human understanding of oneself.<br /> <br /> Speaking of mothers, both the Lady and the May Queen seem to represent yet another key figure of Paganism: the Goddess. The divinity in every woman, a representation of the female sex as the one capable of creating life, which can be found in religions all across human history since the Venus of Willendorf workshipped by the first humanoids to modern religions such as Wicca. She's also associated with the Moon ("Who shines bright light and wants to show"). This figure is often divided in three, the Maiden (virgin and innocent), the Mother (powerful and nurturing) and the Crone (enlightened and wise), and the Lady in the song seems to go through all three stages in her path from naiveté to wisdom.
@Heyuhmaybe
So sad you would be so limited in that interpratation! One man's curiousity does not the whole band sway, and it was a trist at best! I would look at the colledge background of Bobby first befor you get too personal with internalizing your hopes for the song inspired by a 16th centurie melody!<br />
Allow me, a song enthusiast and occult analyzer, to state my opinion on the matter. <br /> <br /> First off, let's start with the interpretation of the song. I personally think there are many possible valid interpretations. Unlike what Heyuhmaybe says, I don't think that his/her intepretation is anywhere close to the "intended meaning behind the song", and presisely because Stairway was meant to be interpreted in many ways, even if some interpretations clash, like Heyuhmaybe's and erikarcibo's.<br /> <br /> Regarding "Everything is you and you are everything [is] the central ideal in satanism", I have no reliable evidence to support this. There are two major satanist ideologies; theistic satanism, where satan is worshipped as a deity (what everyone thinks of by the term), and LaVeyanism, which treats Satan as a concept rather than a entity, and, to my knowledge, does not require worship elements.<br /> <br /> Regarding "That's what HE is", I am unable to find any reliable evidence for this happening in any Led Zeppelin concert.<br /> <br /> Regarding darkoff's comment: Although it is true that Jimmp Page once occupied the Boleskine House (which was a former Crowley property), there are two important things to keep in mind.<br />
@Heyuhmaybe, I believe your interpretation has validity, whether or not 100% accurate. However, anyone seeing Christian themes in this song is very misguided... why would a group of pagans be promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Sorry, that’s just plain nutty.
I think its about ignorant materialism
I agree. its like wanting material things in greed, but when u have it, its like nothing... and a part of u gets lost into the evil things in the world. This song is amazing.. the music and the words. It takes my breath everytime i hear it.
I agree with you I feel this song is all about materialism.
on the surface definitely<br /> <br />
I always thought it was sorta about a woman who's buying her way to heaven, because she was horrible to people throughout her life, and the only way she could get to heaven was by buying her way there. think that makes nay sense?
@Temujin It's about a woman junky trying to score some heroin for God sake. Simple as!!!
@Temujin Well said. Says it all. Of course it would be short song.
been a zeppelin fan for a long time. i like to know the meanings to songs if im going to listen to them. to me this song means lots of differnt things. one is the paths. we can travel on two paths, one the road to heaven and the other the road to hell. our paths change all the time in our own lifes. the piper is god, and he wants us to "join him." this song is also about death. the lady is dying. shes buying the stairway with her life. at the begining, it says that "shes sure all the glitters are gold" this means that she already sees the light, and shes dying. the sign and the song bird are just there because it begins to paint a picture of heaven. the narrator or singer is looking to the west, and "his spirit is crying for leaving" his soul as left already and he has died too. but his soul his remorse ful or sad for leaving the world. if we ask the piper, being god will help, sort of like a prayer, and god will help you through an other day. two roads you can go by, and before you die, you can change the road you are curently on. "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." this is god calling you, and your death. it comes like a wind, it happens that fast. "as we wind on down the road, our shadwos taller than our souls". shadows are tall when the sun is setting, and this is meaning that the sun is setting as we walk down the road, our lifes are coming to an end. and the lady from the begining is in white light, like an angel. "listen very hard the tune will come to you at last." this means everyone will die. we are all as one and to be a rock and not roll is impossible, all of our lifes will come to an end. this song as a lot of symbolism in it, i hope you all see what im saying. the cool thing about symbolism, is there is no wrong or right answer. long live zeppelin.
@acryczek Rubbish!!! It's about a woman junky trying to score some heroin for God sake. Simple as!!!
It reflects a woman's pursuit of what she thinks will offer her the most satisfaction and happiness possible. Although the lyrics imply that true happiness might not be found in these things, she thinks that having wealth and material possessions will help her get closer to her goal. The song also explores spiritual themes and the search for life's purpose.
Along the way, the woman experiences challenges, including a sign that reminds her to make wise life choices. There are always opportunities to alter ways, so the song's lyrics encourage listeners to think carefully about their choices and make use of their time. The song also speaks to a feeling of restlessness and a desire for something more, symbolized by looking to the west.
The lyrics imply the possibility of a collective journey to a better future that would be assisted by a piper who could lead everyone to reason. It also mentions that there are two possible paths in life and that it is never too late to change direction.
The words "And did you know, your stairway lies on the whispering wind?" indicate that the path to enlightenment and salvation is a spiritual one that may be reached by listening to your inner voice and being in tune with the world around you rather than through material possessions.
There are several possible interpretations for the song's final lines, "When all are one and one is all, to be a rock and not to roll, and she's buying a stairway to heaven." The desire to transcend and unite with the universe, to become a steady and unshakable force in the face of difficulties in life, or to find salvation through faith and spiritual enlightenment may be implied by this. The song ends with a moving message that inspires wonder and introspection in the listener.
I see quite a bit about the Lord of the Rings in this song. The Lady mentioned I believe is symbolic of the elven woman Galadriel, and she is trying to bring light to middle earth. One verse mentions 'looking to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving,' which is most likely Frodo before his trip into Mordor, looking west towards the Shire one last time before the trials ahead...
Of course, there are probably 20 other things the band put in there while stoned and don't even realize themselves even now, this song is definitely one of the best, ever.
@mykothopea lol ... i'm also stoned now, ther's a link in here
i dont agree with nietzsche, cuz i love to have a deeper meaning of a song. but what i dont like is how ppl just comment on how led zeppelin is the greatest band and this is the best or most overrated song ever.
personally, i feel its about a woman one of the band member loves or knows that is doing drugs, and shes buying her way to death, and everything seems like its good for her (glitters to gold) and she doesnt want to stop, "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." - meaning that even though it may be hard to stop addiction, you can always come back and choose another path, meaning the straight edge appraoch to drugs...
my 2 cents, hope someone found it intelligable