# Genesis' 'Misunderstanding'/Zeppelin's 'Fool In The Rain' **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [September 10, 2000, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702 "2000-09-10T21:54:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/21 "2016-02-13T17:56:04Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yeah, Purdie’s a fun guy to watch and oozes groove and soul and personality (I’ve watched pretty much all the videos I can of his playing on Youtube.) Porcaro is more, well, he makes it swing in his own way, but it’s different. I wouldn’t call it mechanical–I think it has great groove–but it’s almost too perfect and clean. It’s exactly the kind of groove you might expect for a polished, soft rock, fusionish band of session musicians like Toto. And then you’ve got Bonham’s powerful bombastic bluesy swagger of a groove. Bonzo’s high hat sounds like a fookin’ viper strike. He does everything with so much snap in his wrist. He’s the Barry Bonds or Bruce Lee of drummers - unleashes full force instantly through superfast execution of proper mechanics. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/22 "2017-08-25T21:36:40Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > This is one of those comparisons that when I read it, I think “oh, nonsense.” And then when I go listen to the songs, I think “holy crap!” Now I cannot unhear the similarity and I wonder how I ever missed it. > > My default assumption in any situation like this would be that Led Zeppelin is the thief, but I don’t know if the timing works out for this song. An old thread, but only today did I just realize, while listening to the radio, where the “Misunderstanding” riff came from. Sly and the Family Stone’s [Hot Fun in the Summertime](https://youtu.be/9hCRgsAQxqI?t=51). Wait a few seconds for the bass riff to reappear and repeat. And, sure enough, in the Wikipedia article about “Misunderstanding” it states this was one of the songs Phil Collins was inspired by. ---
**Author:** ![igor\_frankensteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/839c29/32.png) [@igor\_frankensteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/igor_frankensteen)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/23 "2017-08-25T21:51:46Z")
Isn’t there another Zepplin song that was in the news recently for being a rip of a Spirit song? ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/24 "2017-08-25T21:53:43Z")
> [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > Realize this is a zombie, but feel the need to correct this. The guy in _Fool in the Rain_ hasn’t been stood up. He’s been waiting in the wrong place. > > Final verse: > > I’ll run in the rain till I’m breathless > When I’m breathless I’ll run till I drop, hey > The thoughts of a fool’s kind of careless > I’m just a fool waiting on the wrong block, oh yeah > Light of the love that I found… > > _Fool in the Rain_ is my favorite Led Zepplin song. My son and I were discussing it the other and he pointed out this would never happen today since, he would just call her and say, “Hey…I’m here. Where are you?” and she would say, “You idiot, I said meet on 5th not 6th.” Or something to that effect. (Since this thread has been revived) So you’re saying it was a…misunderstanding? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/25 "2017-08-25T22:15:04Z")
> [@igor\_frankensteen](#): > > Isn’t there another Zepplin song that was in the news recently for being a rip of a Spirit song? You mean “Stairway”? That’s a bit of an old story, but was in the news again maybe a year ago. The court found in favor of Zeppelin, as I think in that case they should have. But, yes, in case you don’t know, Zep has plenty of songs that were not properly credited when they were released. They are kind of known for this. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/26 "2017-08-25T22:18:30Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > An old thread, but only today did I just realize, while listening to the radio, where the “Misunderstanding” riff came from. Sly and the Family Stone’s [Hot Fun in the Summertime](https://youtu.be/9hCRgsAQxqI?t=51). Wait a few seconds for the bass riff to reappear and repeat. And, sure enough, in the Wikipedia article about “Misunderstanding” it states this was one of the songs Phil Collins was inspired by. :smack: This was mentioned back in 2013 I just noticed. I even acknowledged it! Doper thread amnesia strikes again! :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/27 "2017-08-25T23:59:45Z")
Now go compare and contrast Trampled Under Foot with the Doobie Brothers’ Long Train Running. Sent from my SPH-L720T using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/28 "2017-08-26T02:00:04Z")
The songs don’t sound similar to me at all, but obviously the lyrical plot in both songs is almost the same: boy waits in the rain for a girl who doesn’t show. But Phil Collins discovers the girl was with another guy, while Plant realizes too late that he got the meeting place wrong! Goofy ending for Zeppelin, sad ending for Genesis. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/29 "2017-08-26T10:44:03Z")
> [@Daddypants](#): > > Now go compare and contrast Trampled Under Foot with the Doobie Brothers’ Long Train Running. Not a lot to compare, to my ear. A chuggy groove and a standard set of blues changes, but not much more. There’s no funk in LTR, while TUF is all about funk. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/30 "2017-08-26T11:27:25Z")
I remember noticing the Doobie Brothers - Zep connection back in eighth grade. Besides the basic funk\* groove (melody and rhythm), there’s the “Talkin’ 'bout love” repeated lyric in each. Not the same song, but noticeably similar. \*I agree that the Doobies don’t actually pull off the funk. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/31 "2017-08-26T11:44:19Z")
Correction: The Doobies’ repeated lyric is “_without_ love.” Still quite similar – both songs are about operating a vehicle (car or train), with a brief refrain to remind us what the song’s REALLY about. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/32 "2017-08-26T11:55:17Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I remember noticing the Doobie Brothers - Zep connection back in eighth grade. Besides the basic funk\* groove (melody and rhythm), there’s the “Talkin’ 'bout love” repeated lyric in each. Not the same song, but noticeably similar. > > \*I agree that the Doobies don’t actually pull off the funk. It’s cool; they aren’t _trying_ to pull off the funk. The LTR groove is a strummy acoustic groove played up the neck, with a drone string going to keep that chug going. The drums behind are a simple rock beat, ISTR. TUF has an organ and guitar, each keeping the G note chugging through the groove, but with Bonzo funking out with John Paul Jones the entire time. It’s the use of a drone tone that makes them sound similar. I hear you about the Lyrics and such, too. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/33 "2017-08-26T14:52:34Z")
🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Reddy\_Mercury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@Reddy\_Mercury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reddy_Mercury)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/34 "2017-08-26T15:46:13Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > This is one of those comparisons that when I read it, I think “oh, nonsense.” And then when I go listen to the songs, I think “holy crap!” Now I cannot unhear the similarity and I wonder how I ever missed it. > > My default assumption in any situation like this would be that **Led Zeppelin is the thief, but I don’t know if the timing works out for this song**. **Fool in the Rain:** Recorded November–December 1978, released August 1979 \*\*Misunderstanding: \*\*Recorded November 1979, released March 1980 ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/35 "2017-08-26T16:04:20Z")
They both ripped-off these guys 😛 (Hall and Oates, “When the Morning Comes”) ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/36 "2017-08-26T17:06:10Z")
> [@Reddy\_Mercury](#): > > **Fool in the Rain:** > Recorded November–December 1978, released August 1979 > > \*\*Misunderstanding: > \*\*Recorded November 1979, released March 1980 Someone said above that Plant and Collins were friends. I wonder if someone said to them, “Each of you guys go write a song with this basic riff about a guy who gets stood up by a girl.” These two songs would be the result! (Total speculation, of course) ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/37 "2017-08-26T20:05:08Z")
Probably irrelevant But Misunderstanding sounds like a solo Collins song that didn’t make the cut on whatever prior album he did. I’m pretty sure that’s absolutely true of “Please Don’t Ask” ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Rock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/art_rock/32/525_2.png) [@Art\_Rock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Rock)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/38 "2017-08-26T20:08:17Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Probably irrelevant But Misunderstanding sounds like a solo Collins song that didn’t make the cut on whatever prior album he did. I’m pretty sure that’s absolutely true of “Please Don’t Ask” His first solo album was in 1981. But style-wise, yes, it could have gone on one of his solo albums. ---
**Author:** ![kazvorpal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kazvorpal/32/7794_2.png) [@kazvorpal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kazvorpal)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/39 "2021-05-03T01:39:58Z")
> You have it backward. Fool in the Rain came out in 1979, on the In Through The Out Door. Genesis’s “Misunderstanding” came out in 1977 or 78 Wrong. _Misunderstanding_ was on Duke, which came out in 1980. _Fool in the Rain_ was on In Through the Out Door, which came out in 1979. It was a single in 1980, but before Duke was recorded. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702/40 "2021-05-03T01:43:14Z")
> [@kazvorpal](#): > > Wrong. _Misunderstanding_ was on Duke, which came out in 1980. > > _Fool in the Rain_ was on In Through the Out Door, which came out in 1979. It was a single in 1980, but before Duke was recorded. Just to note that you’ve revived a zombie thread, and are correcting a post that was made almost 21 years ago, by a poster who hasn’t been seen here since 2005. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/genesis-misunderstanding-zeppelins-fool-in-the-rain/32702.md?page=3)