The Rover Lyrics

Lyric discussion by resotst 

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