In The Evening
Æë°ØÁÖ·ÉͧLed Zeppelin Lyrics
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When the day is done
I'm looking for a woman
But the girl don't come
So don't let her
Play you for a fool
She don't show no pity, baby
She don't make no rules
Oh, I need your love
I need your love
Oh, I need your love
I just got to have
So don't you let her
Oh, get under your skin
It's only bad luck and trouble
From the day that you begin
I hear you crying in the darkness,
Don't ask nobody's help
Ain't no pockets full of mercy, baby
'Cause you can only blame yourself
Oh, I need your love
Oh, oh, I need your love
Yeah, I need your love
I just got to have
Oh, it's simple
All the pain that you go through
You can turn away from fortune, fortune, fortune
'Cause that's all that's left to you
Oh, it's lonely at the bottom
Man, it's dizzy at the top
But if you're standing in the middle
Ain't no way you're gonna stop, oh
Oh, I need your love
Oh, oh, I need your love
Oh, oh, I need your love
I just got to have
Ooh, whatever that your days may bring
No use hiding in a corner
'Cause that won't change a thing
If you're dancing in the doldrums
One day soon, it's got to stop, it's got to stop
When you're the master of the off-chance
When you don't expect a lot
Oh, I need your love
Oh, oh, I need your love
Oh yeah, I need your love
I just got to have, I just got to have
The song "In The Evening" by Led Zeppelin talks about the singer's search for love and his warning against letting a woman play one for a fool - someone who won't show any pity and make no rules for herself. The singer needs love and wants it badly, but he's also aware that it could be a double-edged sword where one can easily get under your skin and bring bad luck and trouble from the time it starts. In the dark of night, he can hear someone crying out in distress and realizes there is no pity or mercy to help anyone's case, for they can only blame themselves. He sings of being at the bottom of life's struggles or the top of success, but being stuck in the middle, only determined to persevere.
The song's introductory riff is a stark acknowledgement that it's time for the narrative to let his hair down and take a break from the rough time he's been having, and let the dread of the day's weariness dissolve into the night's soothing touch. There's a sense of smouldering anticipation in the song that builds, particularly the way Robert Plant elongates the syllables on each "oh I need your love." It's worth noting that the song's lyrics mention "dancing in the doldrums" that talks about dealing with a long-term feeling of being stuck, or as Zeppelin put it, "the pain that you go through."
Line by Line Meaning
In the evening
After a long day has ended
When the day is done
Referring to the end of the day
I'm looking for a woman
Searching for a partner
But the girl don't come
The search is unsuccessful
So don't let her
Advice to not let a woman fool you
Play you for a fool
Do not be deceived by a woman
She don't show no pity, baby
The woman does not offer sympathy
She don't make no rules
The woman does not abide by any rules
Oh, I need your love
Expressing a desire for love
I need your love
Emphasizing the need for love
So don't you let her
Further advice against being deceived
Oh, get under your skin
Don't let a woman bother you
It's only bad luck and trouble
Being with the wrong woman leads to problems
From the day that you begin
Starting a relationship on the wrong foot
I hear you crying in the darkness,
Empathizing with someone who is suffering
Don't ask nobody's help
Encouraging self-reliance
Ain't no pockets full of mercy, baby
No one will pity you for your situation
'Cause you can only blame yourself
Taking responsibility for one's own actions
Oh, it's simple
Expressing a simple truth
All the pain that you go through
Acknowledging the difficulties in life
You can turn away from fortune, fortune, fortune
Not seeking wealth or material possessions
'Cause that's all that's left to you
When everything else is gone, love remains
Oh, it's lonely at the bottom
Being unsuccessful can be isolating
Man, it's dizzy at the top
Success can be overwhelming
But if you're standing in the middle
Finding a balance in life
Ain't no way you're gonna stop, oh
Determination to keep going
Ooh, whatever that your days may bring
Whatever happens in life
No use hiding in a corner
No point in hiding from problems
'Cause that won't change a thing
Acknowledging that avoiding problems doesn't solve them
If you're dancing in the doldrums
Being stuck in a rut
One day soon, it's got to stop, it's got to stop
Change will come eventually
When you're the master of the off-chance
Having control in uncertain situations
When you don't expect a lot
Having modest expectations
Oh yeah, I need your love
Emphasizing the need for love once again
I just got to have, I just got to have
Repeating the desire for love
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY PAGE, JOHN PAUL JONES, ROBERT PLANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind