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The Rover Lyrics

I've been to London, seen seven wonders. I know to trip is just to fall
I used to rock it, sometimes I'd roll it. I always knew what it was for.

There can be no denyin' that the wind 'll shake 'em down
And the flat world's flyin'. There's a new plague on the land

If we could just join hands (X3)

Traversed the planet when heaven sent me. I saw the kings who rule them all
Still by the firelight and purple moonlight. I hear the rested rivers call
And the wind is crying, from a love that won't grow cold
My lover, she is lying, on the dark side of the globe

If we could just join hands (X3)

You got me rockin' when I ought to be a-rollin'
Darlin', tell me, darlin', which way to go
You keep me rockin', baby, then you keep me stolen
Won't you tell me, darlin', which way to go... that's right

Oh how I wonder, oh how I worry and I would dearly like to know
I've all this wonder of earthly plunder will it leave us anything to show

And our time is flyin' see the candle burnin' low
Is the new world rising, from the shambles of the old

If we could just join hands.
39 Meanings

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Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

Well as we all know Zep loved to writes songs about mythology and history. I believe this song is about the privateer ship "The Rover" That was commissioned in the year 1800.

"I've been to London, seen seven wonders."

The ship was built in Canada but did see London Egypt India the Amazon among just some of the wonders of the world

It single headedly engaged a French Convoy coming with plunder from Egypt.

it captured three spanish gun boats and the Santa Rita off the coast of Venezuela.

"I've all this wonder of earthly plunder will it leave us anything to show"

"Traversed the planet when heaven sent me. I saw the kings who rule them all "There can be no denyin' that the wind 'll shake 'em down""

the Wind being the changes in the world French revolution the American Revolution. It fought Napoleon and Witnessed the last of the Holy Roman Emperors. Seeing a new world rising from the Napoleonic wars. the Napoleonic wars represent the end of the Old world of Emperors and kings and the beginning of the new World of republics and Democracy.

"Is the new world risin', from the shambles of the old "

The Ship eventually capsized and sank in the West Indies.

"And the wind is crying, from a love that won't grow cold My lover, she is lying, on the dark side of the globe"

the West Indies was originally consider OF THE EDGE OF THE FLAT WORLD in the darkness.

"And the flat world's flyin'. There's a new plague on the land"

As we all know Europeans brought Plague and disease to the west Indies and 70% of the population died from the new plague on the land.

Song Meaning

excellent...i do believe your right!!! its got to be about the rover, wonder if plant or page heard about it in grade school, that guitar riff scares me !

Nice!

@resotst I have always loved Zep.. now I'm trying to understand their lyrics... Robert was very well read.. some of his songs are sexual metaphors and some have very deep meanings.. I love your explanation of this song

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

Whatever the song was supposed to mean, i always thought there was a double meaning -- Robert singing about his.... appendage. "I always knew what it was for!"

My Interpretation

@c204 don't know if about his appendage per se, but could definitely be about sex "I used to rock it, sometimes I'd roll it" ... could easily be translated to rocking the bed, and rolling in the sheets (both euphemism for sex)

That's what I got from "I always knew what it was for" too.

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

HI Zep people! I, myself, am a dedicated enthusiast. The Rover may be my favorite song. It haunts me, gives me goosebumps! It starts off epically, goes into energetic lyrics then breaks into the most beautiful solo I've ever heard - That's right! As the song progresses, the lyrics just get more and more intense (My lover, she is lying on the dark side of the globe, Our time is flying, see the candle burning low. Is the new world rising from the shambles of the old) HOLY SHIT!!! I feel like crying, I feel like conquering, I feel like loving. I feel all despair and all hope at the same time. This song is effed up, off the chart awesome! If you love Zeppelin, I love you!

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

does this song sound like it has a southern rock type sound to it a little bit to anyone else? cuz i think it does.

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

I love this song, i think it has a great message, I love the part especially where they say, "And our time is flying, see the candle burning low, Is the new world rising from the shambles of the old" Great Lyrics right there!

That lyric is epic!

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

I agree RockOn, I also love "My lover she is lying on the darkside of the globe". This is definately my favorite unheard-of-by-anyone-else-I-know. And they call themselves fans. :(

aint no use in turnin on our lovelight babe, im on the darkside of the road.....that goes back to the 1930's and back...black southern expression, I'd hear shit like this from an old boy who owned a store up north here in the 60's- he'd say stuff like that and Plant loved riffin on that jive..she "be makin a change"

Agreed, that lyric is so powerful. Sad and energetic at the same time.

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

I really like this song, it is perhaps my favourite on that particular CD, apart from Kashmir of course. It just makes me feel happy, and i agree the lyrics are quite good. Wow, it's always nice to meet fellow zep fans

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

I've always loved the guitar in this song. From the spastic beginning, to the slurred verse, i may like the guitar here better than on any other zeppelin song.

Well as we all know Zep loved to writes songs about mythology and history. I believe this song is about the privateer ship "The Rover" That was commissioned in the year 1800.

"I've been to London, seen seven wonders."

The ship was built in Canada but did see London Egypt India the Amazon among just some of the wonders of the world

It single handed engaged a French Convoy coming with plunder from Egypt.

it captured three Spanish gun boats and the Santa Rita off the coast of Venezuela.

"I've all this wonder of earthly plunder will...

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

This song has such an amazing guitar solo. One of my favourite lesser known Zeppelin songs.

@Frank N Furter , yes, that solo is as tasty as a solo can be.

Cover art for The Rover lyrics by Led Zeppelin

this is my favourite.

 
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