Lyric discussion by LivingLovingMaid 

Cover art for When the Levee Breaks lyrics by Led Zeppelin

This song actually has nothing to do with sex at all. I can't judge how you interpret, but that wasn't why it was written. In fact, it is not an original Zeppelin tune at all. It was written by Memphis Minnie in the late 1920's about devastating floods that wiped out cities like Helena, Arkansas.

"The 1927 flood occurred when the Mississippi River broke through levees in seven states (Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee) forcing over 42 major crevasses and inundating an area of approximately 26,000 square miles." -www.deltaculturalceter.com

I had the privelege of visiting West Helena ths year for their annual blues festival. I learned all about the history of this flood and the levees. Survivors of these floods had to live in refugee camps and many people (especially musicians) moved up North.

West Helena, Arkansas and Clarksdale, Mississippi are visited pretty often by Mr. Robert Plant himself. I highly suggest all of you go visit! It's amazing.

also at the that time, many black share croppers were forced to stay behind and work on the levees.. either sandbagging or by adding earth to the tops.