The Rain Song

My musical experiences with Led Zeppelin have been quite limited until fairly recently. I always thought they were a bit heavy for me. Perhaps my music tastes have matured because as I have recently been reminded, many of their tracks are truly works of art. In fact there is little doubt that they are one of the greatest, most influential rock bands of all time. Apparently their relationship with the press was tenuous and as a result few interviews were ever granted which may explain the mystique that still surrounds the band.

You will know Kashmir even if you don’t think you do. Rock and Roll and Houses of the Holy are examples of their diversity. I don’t often like recommending compilation albums as you tend to miss out on so much of what a band were feeling and doing at the time but I can suggest to you that you get a taste for their amazing work with the double CD - Led Zeppelin Remasters. I really hope you are inspired to look up more of their music.

The Rain Song is from Led Zeppelins 5th album - Houses of the Holy released in 1973. Jimmy Page wrote the melody and Robert Plant, the lyrics for this lush sounding piece.

It is a truly romantic and beautiful song. I think you need to see the lyrics…

This is the springtime of my loving - the second season I am to know
You are the sunlight in my growing - so little warmth I’ve felt before.
It isn’t hard to feel me glowing - I watched the fire that grew so low.

It is the summer of my smiles - flee from me Keepers of the Gloom.
Speak to me only with your eyes. It is to you I give this tune.
Ain’t so hard to recognize - These things are clear to all from
time to time.

Talk Talk - I’ve felt the coldness of my winter
I never thought it would ever go. I cursed the gloom that set upon us…
But I know that I love you so

These are the seasons of emotion and like the winds they rise and fall
This is the wonder of devotion - I see the torch we all must hold.
This is the mystery of the quotient - Upon us all a little rain must fall.

According to the quotable Wikipedia, Record producer Rick Rubin says, “I don’t even know what kind of music this is ["The Rain Song"]. It defies classification. There’s such tasteful, beautiful detail in the guitar, and a triumphant feel when the drums come in — it’s sad and moody and strong, all at the same time. I could listen to this song all day. That would be a good day.”

Just as an aside, the sound on this track is influenced by the tuning of Jimmy Page’s guitar - Standard guitars are tuned E A D G B E (bass / thick strings to treble thin strings). Commonly rock guitarists adopt a drop D tuning i.e. D A D G B E, ( for power chords etc). However Mr Page used another, rarer alternate / very uncommon tuning to get a lusher sound on The Rain Song - D G C G C D. Confused? Just thought it was interesting and shows the lengths (whether in an altered state or not) that artists can go too to achieve brilliance.

 

 

Photos Credits -

• Man with Umbrella - photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/h-k-d/5175511671/”>h.koppdelaney</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/”>cc</a>
• Plant and Page - photo credit: Heinrich Klaffs via photopin cc
• Page double neck guitar - photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/divadivadina/465006376/”>Dina Regine</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/”>cc</a>

 

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