Houses of the Holy

this song isn't as much about good v. evil as everybody thinks. it's really just about a guy trying to get this girl to go with him. and satan's daughter i think just means some girl or something that would tempt him. and all the "can i make your garden grow" type lines i think are just suttle refrences to sex. the music is your master it's just saying follow the beat and do what feels right (at least at the time ;)).

This song is about sex, sex, sex, drugs, rock and roll, drugs and sex once more, all in that order!!! And bass/guitar, damn good guitar!

et me take you to the movies. Can I take you to the show Let me be yours ever truly. Can I make your garden grow SEX

From the houses of the holy, we can watch the white doves go From the door comes Satan's daughter, and it only goes to show. You know. SEX

There's an angel on my shoulder, In my hand a sword of gold Let me wander in your garden. And the seeds of love I'll sow. You know. SEX

So the world is spinning faster. Are you dizzy when you're stoned Let the music be your master. Will you heed the master's call Oh... Satan and man. DRUGS rock and roll

Said there ain't no use in crying. Cause it will only, only drive you mad Does it hurt to hear them lying? Was this the only world you had? Oh-oh DRUGS

So let me take you, take you to the movie. Can I take you, baby, to the show. Why don't you let me be yours ever truly. Can I make your garden grow SEX

I see a man trying to coax a woman into letting go of her fear of this existence, and to place trust in the "big picture". So he is warming up to her at first, saying "let's go there, let's do that, let's have fun, while we watch the unfolding of this tapestry we call life - for why be anything but perfectly happy while this "thing" happens".

Then he tries to succinctly explain some of the mystery: holy houses/white doves = good/all that is good - yet out of "good" is where darkness/evil finds it's birth, and this perplexing juxtaposition is actually proof that there is nothing to worry about... and that she knows this in her core, if she actually examines it further.

So even though there is "evil", it's still OK, because in the big picture, first off, it emerged from good... so in effect, it is more illusionary than a brief glance would detail. Even then, we seem to be some kind of balancing system that is unassailable, with angels at our command, and perfect weapons by our side - all part of the big picture, all part of our purpose here.

So let us not worry about the details, but do what comes naturally.... and boy just wait and see what marvels come from that! Just wait till she finds out the depth of "woman"'s destiny!

So then, if she opens up, and let's go of the fear, well the world will become a very different place, one where she too can be led along gently. If she goes along, she will get to see the immensity of the darkness ahead - yet even still, there is no sense in allowing it to get to you - because of that illusionary essence (much like a moire pattern - yes you can see it, but it's essence is actually rooted in how the brain, and optical system work - it's not really there, and yet it is). Believing that a moire pattern has more substance than it does is the first step in going crazy - so don't let the darkness steer you wrong - by believing in it, and worse fearing it.

And do not be bummed that you you have to deal with all this confusion either. This is only the movie you snuck into... it isn't really happening "to" you - you get to watch, you get to experience, but you don't get to "own" any part of it - it isn't "your" world.

So this guy is saying, don't get so wrapped up in the dream that you bog yourself down, and miss the true purpose for being here - something that he suggests might also be missed if she doesn't connect with someone like himself.

"Houses Of The Holy"

[Let me take you to the movies. Can I take you to the show] [Let me be yours ever truly. Can I make your garden grow]

"Let me take you to the movies", "Can I take you to the show", and "Let me be yours ever truly" are simply metaphors referring to Led Zeppelin's performances on stage and their music. In the phrase "Can I make your garden grow" the use of the word garden refers to the songs a person knows. For instance a garden is a collection of different vegetables as is a garden of songs is a collection of a lot of different songs. When the lyrics ask to make your garden grow they are simply asking you to listen and enjoy their music. Led Zeppelin are entertainers wanting you to listen to their music and come to their shows.

[From the houses of the holy, we can watch the white doves go] [From the door comes Satan's daughter, and it only goes to show. You know.]

From the houses of the holy is metaphorically referring to self righteous religious people who use to condemn rock and roll. Houses meant the "consciousnesses" of the self righteous people. White doves referred to innocent people who would go watch these concerts and when they came back [through the doors of their homes] they would be under the influence of what was referred to satanic music. You know ... simply means you know how the self righteous think. It's simply joking about their absurd views on rock and roll music.

[There's an angel on my shoulder, In my hand a sword of gold] [Let me wander in your garden. And the seeds of love I'll sow. You know.]

There's an angel on my shoulder could have been lyrics inserted by Jimmy Page due to his knowledge of Satanist Aleister Crowley who claimed he had an angel who guided him. It could have been used metaphorically to help express the absurdities of some people's opinions about rock and roll at the time and how people thought it was influenced by satan. In my hand a sword of gold could have been in reference to their musical instruments in which they performed with. *Let me wander in your garden. And the seeds of love I'll sow" simply means let them entertain you and create new and entertaining songs for you to know and enjoy.

[So the world is spinning faster. Are you dizzy when you're stoned] [Let the music be your master. Will you heed the master's call] [Oh... Satan and man.]

So the world is spinning faster. Are you dizzy when you're stoned and Let the music be your master. Will you heed the master's call This refers to the drugs that goes with rock concerts and sitting back and enjoying it despite public opinion from people who viewed rock music as satanic. Oh... Satan and man "Ohhhhhh" is drawn out to represent the crying out of people who strongly oppose rock music and Satan and man is what the crying is referred to [satan mingling with man through music]. The lyrics simply expressing the crying out of people who are against rock and roll and how satan is using music to influence man. The next verse is built on this idea'

[Said there ain't no use in crying. Cause it will only, only drive you mad] [Does it hurt to hear them lying? Was this the only world you had? Oh-oh]

Was this the only world you had means was it these peoples only mission in life was to try and destroy public opinion on rock and roll music? It goes on and says there's no use in crying about it and to not let the idea of rock and roll drive you mad. It's not that bad of a thing. Does it hurt to hear them lying refers to satan and anything satanic. Satan is referred to as "A Liar". Association with rock and roll music is what was refereed to when they said Does it hurt to hear them lying [does it hurt to see people fall for what the self righteous thinks is satan music]?

[So let me take you, take you to the movie. Can I take you, baby, to the show.] [Why don't you let me be yours ever truly. Can I make your garden grow You know. ]

The last 3 verses may be the same as the first 3 verses but what they seem to imply here that the author of this song has proven that the self righteous religious people who view rock and roll music as satanic are just delusional and that the music is okay to enjoy, so now will they let you entertain them and listen to their music. This song is really a song about thumbing your nose at the self righteous religious people who wanted rock and roll to go away. It's meant to be a fun song is is perfectly expressed by Jimmy Page's choice of guitar rifs.

its hard not to like this song. dont the gutars sound nice

I just would like to take this opportunity to Give JPJ some credit. He always stayed in the back and never gets much glory because the other three were charasmatic and all considered one of the best in their 'instrument'. John Paul Jones though plays amazing bass (Lemon Song) and just... so much feeling and stuff (Ramble On). Him and Bonzo were always so tight which let Plant and Page just ride around on top which was HUGELY important to Zeppelin. He also did great keyboards as well as mandolin and a little guitar. Also, he arranged a lot of their music. He is amazing at arranging. Listen to some of the stuff he arranged in session work for a good example. He was the musical, though all musically inclined, genius of the 4

I like to think of this song as a song about hospitality. People who own houses are holy in the eyes of the government. The government and media tell people that it's a dangerous world and they shouldn't go outside because of all the bad things happening like how they talk about on the news. The person in the song invites someone outside into the world and shows them that it isn't as bad as people tell them it is.

I think he just wants to get into her pants and is unapologetic of the fact. He is aware of the real world the evil hook music has on youth, Satan is directly related to music and the buyer of souls. Houses of the Holy would be churches and at the door Satan's daughter we know the pedo link with priests. It's like he was busted and brings his judge down to earth by saying was this unrealistic view of life your only world cause if so it's gonna tumble down around you get used to it the real world is corruption , temptation and lies. Thus the relationship between Satan and man as the line between good and evil runs through the centre of every mans heart. No one is sent to hell we drive out selves there every time we avoke our right to free will. Wisdom if used sees us make good decisions but most do not seek knowledge and thus disrespect the gift of free will by making stupid uneducated decisions that see them meander across that line. We need little help to lead us astray remembering we all.posess the goods to be very evil or very good. God fitted us out with the ability to chose our own destiny hence why we should never judge ou t fellow man as him today and very possibly you tomorrow will err. So not the actions of a smart man to cast judgement on anyone. Go forth and seek knowledge to discern truth from lies and trust in no other man bar yourself and God as all other men will lie to you! As they have done! OH SATAN AND MAN!

FYI - it's are you dizzy when you stall. As in the world moves so fast and at times we all stall and are left behind or confussed!

As I've said so often before, the truest meaning of this song comes from listening to it under the influence of psychedelics. Zeppelin is a creature of the late 60's early 70's acid rock culture and many of the lyrics are metaphors for things that may not be apparent to the unstoned listener. Part of Zeppelin's mystique is their being kind of mysterious and mystical but with a tinge of true evil built in by Crowleyan magical beliefs of the bands mastermind: Jimmy Page.
Many of Zeppelin's tunes are cool, happy, positive, etc. But there's a sadistic and mocking side of Zeppelin that's evidenced in some of their songs like Dazed and Confused, Celebration Day (IMHO), In My Time of Dying, Friends, Gallows Pole, Whole Lotta Love, Since I've been Loving You, No Quarter and even Stairway to Heaven where Robert sings of words having two meanings. Houses of the Holy as seen through the lens of of a tripping Zep fan who's aware of their dark side could interpret the song thusly: The first two lines are Robert saying "let's have some fun tripping". It's entertainment, partying, etc. "Let me take you to the show". Same vibe - lets have some tripping fun with Zep. "Let me be yours ever truly, can I make your garden grow? More of the same vibe like "trust us. we're zeppelin. We'll make your garden grow." Now anybody who's tripped know what Robert means whenever he says "growing". When you trip, everything seems to breathe or "grow" as you stare longer. The breathing/growing will typically get stronger and more extreme as your trip ascends towards peaking. Now here's where it starts to get dicey: "From the houses of the holy, we will watch the white doves go, from the door comes Satan's daughter, and it only goes to show, ya know." A white dove is the symbol of the holy spirit. Why would they flying from or away from the houses of the holy? Because the houses of the holy are really unholy as only Satan's daughter would come forth from such a dwelling. What does this "go to show"? It shows the Zeppelin is singing about or showing something that is unholy. Then we have Robert walking through your "garden" with an angel on his shoulder and a sword of gold in his hand sowing seeds of love. He's saying that his unholy way is right and that he's the master who will make your love "grow" - that is, make you trip harder and presumably more scared as you realize what Zep is up to. This"dove"tails nicely with the next lyrics about the world spinning and being dizzy when your stoned. Let Robert and Zep take over the trip and be your master of your unstable, scared trip. Satan (Zeppelin) is the master and man is the slave. Then Robert says they're ain't no use in crying, cuz it will only drive you mad. He's saying that yes, Zep is revealed as unholy master of the the houses of the holy and are subtly pushing you towards a bad trip and/or an uncomfortable unchristian reality. Yes they are! Once you realize this, "Does it hurt to hear them lying?" Does it hurt to see see Zeppelin as liars now purposefully unmasking themselves as agents of a different force? "Was this the only world you had or planned?" Zep is saying there is more than one reality and now they've shown a different, uncomfortable one to you. So they laugh and say HAHA you want me to wander in your garden and help make it grow now you stupid-ass? Listen to Robert's voice as he sings the last couple line of the song. It's in kind of a vicious scolding mode, saying you thought I was taking you to the movie metaphorically for fun but there's more than one reality, one with which you may be uncomfortable (i.e Zeppelin being agents of a sinister force). Short and sweet. A brilliant song nonetheless pulled off with style and subtlety per usual. Also look at the album cover and inside gatefold. Cover: See all the psychedelic kids (the flower children) ascending to some glowing peak. That's us - the fan. The inside cover shows some sinister guy offering up one of these flower children to some mysterious force emanating from the castle above. WTF is that? Certainly not all rainbows and cupcakes. All will be revealed. Are these the non-sensical ravings of a lunatic mind afflicted by the general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament? Could be. But should you ever find yourself tripping, take a listen and report back. My mind is certainly bent towards mysterious, sinister interpretations of Zeppelin - probably too much so I'm easily suggestible. Jimmy knows this and that's why he's my overlord. If you're really brave, take two hits of acid and listen to the violin bow solo in the middle of the live version of Dazed and Confused on The Song Remains the Same album. Or better still find it on youtube and play the violin bow solo at 25% or 50% speed. That's kind of what it sounds like on acid.