That's The Way
Æë°ØÁÖ·ÉͧLed Zeppelin Lyrics
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I can't play with you no more
I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me
My friend the boy next door
I can't believe what people saying
You're gonna let your hair hang down
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day long
You're in the darker side of town
Why don't your eyes see me
Could it be you've found another game to play,
What did mama say to me
That's the way,
Oh, that's the way it ought to be,
Mama say that's the way it ought to stay, yeah, yeah oh oh
And yesterday I saw you standing by the river,
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes,
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying,
Had they got you hypnotized?
And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers,
But all that lives is born to die
And so I say to you that nothing really matters,
And all you do is stand and cry
I don't know what to say about it,
When all you ears have turned away,
But now's the time to look and look again at what you see,
Is that the way it ought to stay?
That's the way
That's the way it oughtta be
Oh don't you know now
Mama said, mama said, that's the way it's gonna stay, yeah, oh oh
In Led Zeppelin's song "That's The Way," the singer expresses his confusion and confusion about how to deal with a situation regarding his relationship with someone, possibly a lover or a friend. He cannot continue to play with her (or him) anymore. The singer is tormented by the fact that the other person seems to be playing a game and has moved on from him or her, but he would rather sit and work all day long. The singer continues to see the other person walking around but feels invisible to them. The singer asks if the other person has found another game to play as if it were a common occurrence. The singer reminisces about seeing the other person crying by the river and kissing tiny flowers, which alluded to the singer that everything in life eventually dies. The final lines of the first stanza are a reflection of the singer's confusion about what to do next and how to deal with the situation, especially since he does not understand what Mama had said to him.
In the second stanza, the singer acknowledges that the people around him have turned a blind eye to the situation. He suggests that it is time to look once again and assess whether the way things are is how they ought to stay. The repeated line of "That's the way it oughta be" is a reference to Mama's belief that life should follow a certain path, and that everything will work out if one follows that path. However, the singer is unsure if that is the right way for him, as he recognizes that "nothing really matters" in the end.
Overall, "That's The Way" is a complex song that touches upon themes of confusion, loss, and acceptance. The singer is torn between Mama's beliefs and his own feelings regarding the situation, and he is struggling to come to terms with what he should do next.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know how I'm gonna tell you
I am uncertain about expressing my thoughts to you
I can't play with you no more
I cannot engage with you further
I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me
I am unsure how to fulfill my mother's wishes
My friend the boy next door
My acquaintance who lives beside me
I can't believe what people are saying
I am skeptical about rumors that are circulating
You're gonna let your hair hang down
You will relax and let yourself go
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day long
I am content to remain at my occupation for an extended period
You're in the darker side of town
You are in the less desirable area of the city
And when I'm out I see you walking
When I am outside, I observe you walking
Why don't your eyes see me
Why are you not acknowledging my existence
Could it be you've found another game to play
Perhaps you have discovered a new endeavor to pursue
What did mama say to me
What was my mother's advice to me
That's the way
This is the ideal course of action
Oh, that's the way it ought to be
This is precisely how things should be
Mama say that's the way it ought to stay, yeah, yeah oh oh
My mother affirmed that this is the way it should remain
And yesterday I saw you standing by the river
I observed you standing by the river yesterday
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes
Did tears not brim over in your eyes
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying
The fish perishing in polluted water
Had they got you hypnotized?
Were you entranced or spellbound by the sight
And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers
Yesterday you were kissing diminutive blossoms
But all that lives is born to die
Everything that exists will eventually pass away
And so I say to you that nothing really matters
I contend that nothing holds much significance
And all you do is stand and cry
All you do is stay motionless while weeping
I don't know what to say about it
I am unsure how to respond to the circumstance
When all your ears have turned away
When everyone has turned a deaf ear to you
But now's the time to look and look again at what you see
But presently is the moment to perceive with renewed scrutiny
Is that the way it ought to stay?
Is this the most desirable way for things to remain
Oh don't you know now
Say, don't you understand currently
Mama said, mama said, that's the way it's gonna stay, yeah, oh oh
My mother stated specifically that this is how things will persist
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY PAGE, ROBERT PLANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
vinesauce
One of my favorite live versions of any song. Love this.
Sn oW
No one can top this
michael wertzy
At almost the end of the performance, the bass kicks in. Where the heck is that bass coming from?! JPJ is playing the mandolin so great! Oops, he's got his feet doing that bass pedal working at the same time! Life is good! Everyone stay well & safe! Pax
Crimson Skies
Absolutely brilliant
angel williams
@michael wertzy yea you got to watch old jonesy he;s a sneaky little devil doing what he does.
angel williams
i have to have at least 1 to 2 hrs of Zepp a day, no shit. i think i may drive my wife crazy, but if not i will go crazy. thanks LED ZEPPELIN.
Mauiwonderland
My heart is ripping through my chest listening to this version. I lost my Dad unexpectedly 6 months ago to the day & he was the world’s biggest Led Zeppelin fan. He’d seen them live over 10 times back in the 70’s. We share a love of the band that life nor death can ever take away from us. This is the song that reminds me of him the most. Rest in love, my hero.💔❤️🩹
Fun n Run 33
Your Father is Blessed to have seen led zeppelin 10 Times I wish I could seen led zeppelin once but I was born in the 80s I have good taste in music
Kevin Walker
God bless you.
Josh Whitney
I feel you. My dad loved these guys and he passed suddenly. This song takes me to where ever he is.