A mountain man, apparently.
That’s the way I’ve always heard it, too, but could be a mondegreen. Why would a man living in the mountains care if the levee broke?
Another thing about this song is that it has the most sampled drums in the whole wide world.
It was recorded in an old country house near where I grew up and the drums were put at the bottom of the stairwell and the mikes at the top.
Here’s where it happened:
http://www.johnowensmith.co.uk/headley/grange.htm
[Spinal tap] Dont’t look for it now - it’s not there anymore [/spinal tap]
If you’re looking for an album that covers all aspects of Zep then you can’t go wrong with Physical Graffitti - especially side two.
Not forgetting The Ocean
Nah nah, na-na-na nah
Nah nah, na-na na-na nah
Nah nah, na-na-na nah
Nah-nah na-na na-na na-na nah
And what’s that bit from In My Time of Dying?
Oh my Jeebus
Oh my Jeebus
Oh my Jeeee–ee-bus
Oh my Jeebus. . .
(something like that anyway).
JoSki Check out **Physical Graffiti ** it has more Levee type stuff on it than Zep2 or Zep4.
I was going to ask, side two of which record… then realized I was dating myself.
I have all the remastered Cds but still think in terms of sides - eg LZ III with the noisy side and the quiet side.
I am proper old.
What I still want to know is:
Where is that confounded bridge?
I had forgotten that the SwanSong vinyl listed sides 1-4, rather than sides 1 and 2 of each. That being the case, I wouldn’t recommend side 2 of PG to JoeSKi to start out. Doesn’t sound so much like what he’s after. Side 4 (Boogie with Stu etc) might be more his speed, and of course the first part of side 1 – hard to go wrong with Custard Pie and The Rover!
They should’ve asked James Brown. His boys took him there every time.
They never find the bridge, which is why the song ends so abruptly. Maybe James Brown stole it.
JoeSki, you really can’t go wrong with any of the Zep albums, if you’re buying your first. However, Led Zeppelin III is an accoustic album (one of the best ever made) and isn’t exactly the default Led Zep sound. Also, stay away from Coda. Just stay away.
Better ask Robert Plant. That’s not how Memphis Minnie originally sang it; her version goes
Mean ol’ levee taught me to weep and moan
Gonna leave my baby and my happy home.
Yep, right before they hit it and quit.
Regarding In My Time of Dying it’s a kick ass song. It may not seem so by today’s standards but the whole Crowleyian homoeroticism in that song regarding wanting to blow Gabriel’s horn was pretty edgy at the time.
Zepplin has got to one of the coolest bands, ever! Gosh!
I seem to remember reading that they brought the original tapes in for mixing and whatnot at the studio, and somehow every track was ruined with the exception of “When the Levee Breaks.” Which was great, because the setup they had going on that one is just incredible. I could be wrong, though, about which track was saved, but I’m pretty sure that was the only one.
Please. Cole Porter did that riff in “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” in the 1930s.
It’s a bit stranger than that. The reason the song is such a weird key (for a guitar based blues song) is that the whole backing track is slowed down – making it sound so massive. I’ll check it out.
It’s older than even that - it’s a straight rip-off lyrically of an old blues song called “make up my dying bed” from the early 20s.
Also - despite looking good on the cover etc avoid the Song Remains the Same album and film (unless you like spinal tappisms). How the west Was Won and the live DVD are miles better.
I still say that side 2 of PG is the bestest thing they ever did - Houses of the Holy, trampled underfoot* and Kashmir. Pretty much perfect.
- if you have trouble with the lyrics to when the levee breaks, you’re in for a treat with Trampled Underfoot.
:eek:
Now Joe, for a house with many walls, would you only buy one Van Gogh? For a library with many shelves, would you only buy one Faulkner? Why only one Zepplin when all have sooooo much to offer and are available in a number of complete, remastered sets?
Trust us on this. It ain’t just the popular, on the radio stuff of theirs that’s worth being exposed to. It’s all good and it’s all worth experiencing… in some of our cases over and over and over again. We think it’s that damn good.
Definitely go with these recos first, but if you like that sort of feel you might do well to check out the first four Aerosmith albums.
Owl, my brain (old as it is), is having trouble bringing up “Trampled Under Foot”. How’s it go?
Ah, the film. That was pretty great. Especially the awe inspiring special effects employed in its making. I heard* that before Titanic came out, it was the most expensive film ever made due to its massive SFX budget. Unbelievable.
Seriously, the movie sucks. And I’m a huge Zep fan.
*Note: I may or may not have actually heard this.
**Note: It may be worth watching for the fantastic view of Robert Plant’s teeth. It gives you hope that someday you too can be a symbol of sex.
I always thought TSRTS movie should have been called “Robert Plant’s Crotch”. Much of the footage of him singing is taken from below the stage, so his crotch ends up displayed prominently in the middle of the screen.