After Led Zeppelin disbanded, Page worked on some critically acclaimed solo material, played in supergroups The Honeydrippers and The Firm, recorded two albums with his Led Zeppelin times buddy Robert Plant and worked as a session guitarist.
Page's past experiences both in the studio and with the Yardbirds were very influential in contributing to the success of Led Zeppelin in the 1970s. As a producer, composer, and guitarist he helped make Led Zeppelin a prototype for countless future rock bands, and was one of the major driving forces behind the rock sound of that era, influencing a host of other guitarists. Allmusic states that "just about every rock guitarist from the late '60s/early '70s to the present day has been influenced by Page's work with Led Zeppelin". For example, his sped up, downstroke guitar riff in "Communication Breakdown" is cited as being the inspiration for guitarist Johnny Ramone to develop his punk-defining, strictly downstroke guitar strumming, while Page's landmark guitar solo from the song "Heartbreaker" has been credited by Eddie Van Halen as being the inspiration for his two-hand tapping technique after he had seen Led Zeppelin perform in 1971. Page's solo in the famous epic "Stairway to Heaven" has been voted by readers of various guitar magazines, including Guitar World and Total Guitar, as the greatest guitar solo of all time, and he was named 'Guitarist of the Year' five years straight during the 1970s by Creem magazine. In 2001 he was voted London's greatest guitarist in Total Guitar magazine's poll of the greatest 12 British guitarists. In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine named him number nine on their list of the "100 greatest guitarists of all time".
Blues Anthem
Jimmy Page Lyrics
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If I cannot hold you close, evr'y second that you're here
You must know I can't go on, ev'ry time I sing my song
If I cannot have your love, I'll sing the blues
Every time I'm feeling low and far away
All the time I think of you every second of the day
And you know you hurt my pride but I'd rather be by your side
Sing the blues all my life, I got trouble, I got strife
How can a man expect to be so free
To travel this so lonely road and to carry it's heavy load
Is becoming far too much, too much for me
If I cannot be so happy, then I'm gonna be on my way
The many nights I needed your love, it never worked out that way
For I must have my babe, for I'm feeling extremely sad
If I cannot have your love, I'm gonna play the blues
Sing the blues all my life, so much trouble, so much strife
How can a man expect to be so free
To travel this so lonely road and to carry its heavy load
I rather have your love, than sing the blues
Yes, I rather have your love than sing the blues
Yes, I rather have your love, baby, than sing the blues
The lyrics of Jimmy Page's song Blues Anthem communicate a deeply felt sense of yearning and loss. The singer of the song is unable to find happiness without the presence of the person they love. They describe how their thoughts constantly turn to this person, and how the pain of their absence weighs heavily on them. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to endure the pain of singing the blues, as long as they can continue to feel connected to the person they love. Ultimately, though, they express a desire to be with this person, rather than to continue feeling sad and alone.
The emotions expressed in the lyrics of Blues Anthem are further amplified by the song's musical style. The slow, mournful melody of the blues contributes to the feeling of longing and sadness that the lyrics describe. This combination of lyrics and music creates a deeply moving experience that speaks to the struggles of love and loss that we all face at some point in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
If I cannot be so happy without you, my dear
My happiness completely depends on your presence in my life and without you, I cannot imagine feeling content.
If I cannot hold you close, evr'y second that you're here
I want to cherish every moment spent with you and hold you close in my arms throughout those moments.
You must know I can't go on, ev'ry time I sing my song
Your absence affects me severely and whenever I express myself through music, your presence is sorely missed.
If I cannot have your love, I'll sing the blues
Without your love, I'll feel lost and hopeless, and the only way to express my pain and longing is by playing the blues.
All the time I think of you every second of the day
My thoughts are occupied with the memory of you all the time, every day.
And you know you hurt my pride but I'd rather be by your side
Though you may have hurt my ego, I'd prefer to stay by your side, as my need for you is far greater.
Sing the blues all my life, I got trouble, I got strife
My life has been full of struggles and difficulties, and the blues seems like a fitting genre to convey this constant pain.
How can a man expect to be so free
Freedom seems a distant dream for a man who constantly carries the burden of his troubles and worries.
To travel this so lonely road and to carry it's heavy load
I am walking a lonely path, with the weight of my struggles weighing heavily on my shoulders.
Is becoming far too much, too much for me
The burden of my struggles is becoming unbearable and overwhelming for me.
The many nights I needed your love, it never worked out that way
Despite my desperate yearning for your love on countless nights, my wishes were never granted.
For I must have my babe, for I'm feeling extremely sad
I need your love more than anything, as my sadness and pain are almost unbearable without you.
I rather have your love, than sing the blues
While the blues might express my pain and struggles, having your love and support would make my life infinitely happier and easier.
Yes, I rather have your love than sing the blues
There's no doubt in my mind that having your love is more important to me than playing the blues to express my pain.
Yes, I rather have your love, baby, than sing the blues
Your love means more to me than any genre of music or form of expression - I would choose it any day.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: FARLOWE FARLOWE, JAMES PATRICK (JIMMY) PAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind