Stairway to heaven is in fact a hard song to decipher at first, because it speaks about one thing a lot of us can be ignorant about as human beings. I agree with you Cecil, there is a relation with Quantum Mechanics and not only rock songs, but rock artists because it is not hard to believe that they tend to do the unthinkable. Also, figuratively through their lyrics and preachings, we will never be certain of their next move. But the principle of Heisenberg’s uncertainty only makes life that much more interesting. The same with these metaphor induced songs. I wouldn’t say I would be as uncertain about Stairway to Heaven as momentum or time itself, although there is a line in the song stating “cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.” This refers basically to the many parables in the bible because in fact, Stairway to Heaven is a spiritually inspired song (whether you can believe it or not). Robert Plant said at the time, he was going through a spiritual discovery sort of moment, not surprising once we listen to the song. When we speak about the lady buyng her way into heaven, it refers to tithing where she gives money to the church in order to support it and compile of some good deeds. She buys her way into heaven, but doesn’t see that the secret is to earn her way through a pure heart.
“And its whispered that soon
If we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.”
This clearly speaks about the moment of tribulation spoken in the New Testament by Mathew. The piper is Jesus Christ himself (may peace be upon him), and the tune is his message, the whisper is the indirect relation between the whistling noise of a pipe or flute and the hidden whispers in religion we don’t always see. Those hidden whispers are the ways to save our soul, I don’t know about the bible so much, but as a Muslim, we believe it doesn’t matter whether a person is a follower of Jesus Christ or David or Mohammed ( may peace be upon them all), the secret is to be a faithful believer and pure hearted. Because a man or woman can pray and donate but at the same time, lie, cheat, backbite and steal. To me, the lady who buys her way, doesn’t see that it wouldn’t matter how much money she contributes to the works of God, if her heart is pure, she will stand long, such as in the verse, “and a new day will dawn, for those who stand long.” in STH. Besides, would it be fair to say you will be able to go to heaven, only if you help the church or do this and do that? What if you were in the standards of a proletariat and helpless?
“The pipers calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow,
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.”
This also contributes similarly. The piper who is Jesus calls, like in the passage [“Behold, I will stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him and he with me.” 3:20] The most important part is in this verse “Your stairway lies on the whispering wind,” Her stairway doesn’t lie in the money she gives to church or the works she has done only, because she can do all that if she wants but her heart needs to be pure, and hear the whipsers that need to enter her soul.
“Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
Theres still time to change the road you’re on.”
The two paths :Stairway to heaven, or highway to hell. But in the long run, no matter how many wrong turns we have taken in life, there is still time to find a heart in repentance. Its a song of hope and salvation. Who knew these rock n’ rollers would know so much about Christianity, probably more than the average citizens as well. Unthinkable isn’t it?