It was an April morning when they told us we should go
As I turn to you, you smiled at me
How could we say no?

Oh, the fun to have
To live the dreams we always had
Oh, the songs to sing
When we at last return again

Slipping off a glancing kiss
To those who claim they know
Below the streets that steam and hiss
The devil's in his hole

Oh, to sail away
To sandy lands and other days
Oh, to touch the dream
Hides inside and never seen, yeah

Into the sun, the south, the north
At last the birds have flown
The shackles of commitment fell
In pieces on the ground

Oh, to ride the wind
To tread the air above the din
Oh, to laugh aloud
Dancing as we fought the crowds, yeah

To seek the man whose pointing hand
The giant step unfolds
With guidance from the curving path
That churns up into stone

If one bell should ring
In celebration for a king
So fast the heart should beat
As proud the head with heavy feet, yeah

Days went by when you and I
Bathed in eternal summer's glow
As far away and distant
Our mutual child did grow

Oh the sweet refrain
Soothes the soul and calms the pain
Oh Albion remains
Sleeping now to rise again

Wandering and wandering
What place to rest the search?
The mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth

For the mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth
From the earth

I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh

Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh

For the mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth

Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah


Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by Fredzep, Mellow_Harsher

Achilles Last Stand Lyrics as written by James Patrick Page Robert Anthony Plant

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Achilles Last Stand song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    I listen to this song when I run. Starting slow with that dreamy beginning I feel the anticipation of a good run. Then Bonzo hits that drum shooting me out of a cannon. A team of horses run beside me in time to the galloping drum. Time changes carry me across ever changing terrain. I'm on a trip through lands I'll probably never see. When I get tired and want to give up, that cymbal crash in the middle is a hand on my back pushing me forward and faster. Back to the dreamy end just like the beginning...I feel like I could run forever. This song is not a song, it's an experience. Who gives a shit what it means...it's how it makes me feel. It helped me to keep running when I wanted to give up on the whole thing.

    stefmon69on January 19, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is not about mythology or anything like that. At least not in a entirely. This song is about Robert Plant and his wife Mauren's trip to Morocco in , if memory serves me, 1975. It was spring, hence the mention of April at the beginning, there was no tour scheduled or rather ''no commitment'' so they decided to go on vacation. They had always wanted to go there and they finally had the chance, hence ''to live the dreams we always had". And Atlas is a the tall mountain in Morrocco, and just plain tall period, somewhere around 5,000 meters I believe. So came the lyric ''The mighty arms of Atlas, Hold the heavens from the earth''. I guess he did it make it a little mythological with his metaphors. And of course, the lyric ''I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way'' refers to sight seeing and general touring the Moroccan landscape. It was orginally nicknamed The Wheelchair Song by the band. Well there is Achilles Last Stand explained.

    johnpauljones86on June 20, 2003   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    the solos in this song fucking shred over any other of theirs

    buttholesurfer69on February 17, 2009   Link
  • +3
    Memory

    Still, 35 years later, every time I hear this song and Page goes into that solo, every hair on my body stands up and I get the chills!

    Flashmanon January 20, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i hear that the first time this song was played back to Plant (who was in a wheelchair following a car accident that crushed his heel) after he had done the vocals Plant fell out of his wheelchair he was so impressed with it. Given that he had a broken heel and his superb vocal performance on this song, the title may be more applicable than one might at first realize.

    ramtharon April 16, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love the travelling forward motion in this song- it makes me want to go on an adventure. Definitely a staple song of summer road trips.

    Hip PLumberon March 04, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    THE definitive Led Zeppelin song; all four musicians were at their very best here. Epic. Just epic.

    irongnomeon December 10, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is my favourite Led Zeppelin song!!!! (quietly - OK, equal fave with Dazed and Confused and Stairway to Heaven)

    Bonzo's drumming is so great!

    Aneurysm1985on July 19, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Oh the sweet refrain, Soothes the soul and calms the pain Oh Albion remains, sleeping now to rise again

    just thought id add that Albion is the old, poetic name for england. shakespeare uses it in King Lear.

    motorcycledrivebyeron May 03, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    roadrunners a fucktard, why is it that he relates everything to sataism or witchcraft.

    dwfp99on November 14, 2004   Link

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