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".
Hummingbird
Jimmy Page Lyrics
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But she soothes me without words
And she comes so sweet and softly
My hummingbird and have you heard
That I thought my life, it had ended
But I find it has just begun
I'll give all I have to give
I'm talking about that hummingbird
Oh she's little and she loves me
It's too much for words to say
When I see her in the morning sleeping
She's little and she loves me, yes she does
It's gonna be my lucky day
Hummingbird, don't fly away
When I'm feeling wild and lonesome
She knows the words, she's gotta know the words to say
And she gives me a little of her understanding
In her special way
And I have to say
In my life I'll love no other
Because she's more, more, more, much more than I deserve
And she gets me where I live
I'll give her all I have to give
I'm talking about, oh, my hummingbird
Oh, she's little and she loves me
Too much for words to say
When I see her in the morning sleeping
She's so little and she loves me, yes she does
This is gonna be my happy day
Hummingbird don't fly away
Oh, she's little and she loves me
Too much for words to say
When I see her in the morning sleeping
She's little and she loves me, yes she does
It's gonna be my lucky day
Hummingbird don't fly away
Hummingbird don't you fly away
Jimmy Page's song Hummingbird is a heart-warming ode to an affectionate little bird who symbolizes unconditional love and constant companionship. The singer reveals that he sometimes feels impatient and restless, but his hummingbird's presence has a soothing effect on him that doesn't require any words. He is grateful for having such a special companion in his life and sees her as a new beginning rather than an end. The hummingbird is described as being tiny and loving, and her mere presence is enough to make the singer's day lucky and happy. When he's feeling lonely or wild, the hummingbird knows how to comfort him and offer him her understanding.
The song's overarching theme is the singer's unconditional love and loyalty to his hummingbird, which he believes surpasses any other love he may experience in his life. The hummingbird is a representation of a stable and unwavering support system that is always by his side, even when he feels lost and lonely. The use of imagery, such as the hummingbird's sweet and soft presence, sleeping in the morning, and the singer's promise to never let her fly away, further emphasizes the song's message of love and appreciation.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes I get a little impatient
At times I lose composure and temper
But she soothes me without words
My hummingbird can pacify and calm me even without speaking
And she comes so sweet and softly
Her arrival is peaceful and delightful
My hummingbird and have you heard
She is my hummingbird, have you heard about her?
That I thought my life, it had ended
I believed my life was over
But I find it has just begun
My life has a new beginning now
Cause she gets me where I live
She can touch my soul or deepest emotions
I'll give all I have to give
I am willing to give everything I have to her (my hummingbird)
I'm talking about that hummingbird
I mean my hummingbird, the one I am discussing
Oh she's little and she loves me
My hummingbird is small and she loves me
It's too much for words to say
It is an intense feeling and hard to put into words
When I see her in the morning sleeping
I feel content watching my hummingbird sleep in the morning
It's gonna be my lucky day
This moment feels like my lucky day
Hummingbird, don't fly away
I don't want my hummingbird to leave
When I'm feeling wild and lonesome
When I feel uncontrolled and lonely
She knows the words, she's gotta know the words to say
My hummingbird knows what to say to comfort me
And she gives me a little of her understanding
Hummingbird gives me some of her empathy
In her special way
In her unique or personal method
And I have to say
I must mention
In my life I'll love no other
I will never love anyone else in my life
Because she's more, more, more, much more than I deserve
I don't deserve my hummingbird's love as she is worth so much more
She's so little and she loves me, yes she does
My hummingbird loves me even though she is small
This is gonna be my happy day
I feel happy that my hummingbird loves me
Hummingbird don't fly away
I don't want my hummingbird to leave
Contributed by Eli V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.