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".
Everything I Do Is Wrong
Jimmy Page Lyrics
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I see a great big sign on a one way street
Goin' down the wrong way who do I meet
A big policeman walkin' his beat
Everything I do is wrong
Everything I do is wrong on me
I just don't see how I'm gonna get along
'Cause everything I do is wrong
Well I'm busy getting ready for a big date
Rushin' like a mad man to keep from being late
I take a wrong turn and wind up in another state
Everything I do is wrong
Everything I do is wrong on me
Everything I do is wrong
I just don't see how I'm gonna get along
'Cause everything I do is wrong
Well I hate to be the type of a guy who complain
Every time I wash my car it's bound to rain
I take a trip North and catch a South bound train
Everything I do is wrong
Everything I do is wrong for on me
Everything I do is wrong
I just don't see how I'm gonna get along
'Cause everything I do is wrong
Mmm on me
The lyrics to Jimmy Page's "Everything I Do Is Wrong" tell the story of a man who seems to have the worst luck in the world. He can't seem to get anything right, no matter how hard he tries. The first verse sets the scene with the image of a big sign on a one-way street, going the wrong way. The singer then meets a big policeman walking his beat, emphasizing his inability to avoid trouble. The chorus reinforces this theme, with the repeated line "Everything I do is wrong," as the singer expresses his sense of despair and hopelessness.
The second verse continues in the same vein, with the singer rushing to get ready for a big date, but winding up in another state due to taking a wrong turn. This highlights his lack of control over his life and reinforces the idea that his actions always seem to lead to negative consequences. The final verse is perhaps the most poignant, as the singer bemoans his bad luck and expresses his frustration with his situation.
Overall, the song is a humorous yet poignant portrayal of a man who can't seem to catch a break. The lyrics are simple yet effective and the catchy melody accentuates the sense of hopelessness and frustration expressed by the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I see a great big sign on a one way street
I am faced with a sign indicating a one-way street.
Goin' down the wrong way who do I meet
Despite being on the wrong way, I encounter a big policeman walking his beat.
A big policeman walkin' his beat
Encountering a law enforcement officer who is patrolling his designated area.
Everything I do is wrong
I feel like nothing I do is right and I am just failing at everything.
Everything I do is wrong on me
I feel like every mistake or misfortune that happens is a result of my actions.
I just don't see how I'm gonna get along
I am feeling hopeless because I cannot seem to do things right.
Well I'm busy getting ready for a big date
I am preparing for an important romantic encounter.
Rushin' like a mad man to keep from being late
I am in a hurry and doing everything I can to avoid being late.
I take a wrong turn and wind up in another state
As a result of my mistake, I end up in a completely different state from where I intended to be.
Well I hate to be the type of a guy who complain
I do not want to be someone who constantly complains.
Every time I wash my car it's bound to rain
It seems that every time I wash my car, it ends up raining.
I take a trip North and catch a South bound train
I mistakenly get on a train going in the opposite direction of where I intended to go.
Everything I do is wrong for on me
I feel like everything that goes wrong is my fault.
Writer(s): Charlie A. Rich
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.