In 2004, the song was ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and in March 2005, Q magazine placed "Whole Lotta Love" at number three in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It was placed 11 on a similar list by Rolling Stone. In 2009 it was named the third greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. The guitar solo is ranked number 38. on Guitar World's "100 Greatest Guitar Solos".
"Whole Lotta Love" was recorded at various studios in New York and Los Angeles during the band's second concert tour of the United States and assembled by Jimmy Page at Olympic Studios in London. Already part of their live repertoire, it saw its first official release on the LP Led Zeppelin II on 22 October 1969 (Atlantic LP #8236).
The song has been widely covered by many artists. It was famous in the United Kingdom for having been the theme music for the long-running television programme Top of the Pops during the 1970s and 1980s. It also featured in the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on 24 August 2008, in a rewritten version with Jimmy Page on guitar and Leona Lewis providing the vocals. Both Lewis and the organizers requested that some of the lyrics be changed, notably "I'm gonna give you every inch of my love". Lewis felt that the line made little sense coming from a female singer.
01. Whole Lotta love
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby I'm not fooling
I'm gonna send ya
Back to schooling
A-way down inside
A-honey you need it
I'm gonna give you my love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
You've been learning
Um baby I been learning
All them good times baby, baby
I've been year-yearning
A-way, way down inside
A-honey you need-ah
I'm gonna give you my love, ah
I'm gonna give you my love, ah oh
Whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
You've been cooling
And baby I've been drooling
All the good times, baby
I've been misusing
A-way, way down inside
I'm gonna give ya my love
I'm gonna give ya every inch of my love
I'm gonna give ya my love
Hey!
Alright! Let's go!
Whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Way down inside
Woman, you need, yeah
Love
My, my, my, my
My, my, my, my
Lord
Shake for me girl
I wanna be your backdoor man
Hey, oh, hey, oh
Hey, oh, hey, oh
Ooh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Cool, my, my baby
A-keep it cooling baby
A-keep it cooling baby
Ah-keep it cooling baby
Ah-keep it cooling baby
Ah-keep it cooling baby
The lyrics of "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin are a suggestive and sultry invitation for a love affair. The opening lines can be interpreted as the singer offering to educate their partner in the ways of love ("I'm gonna send ya back to schooling"), and the repeated "want to whole lotta love" emphasizes the singer's desire for an intense and all-consuming love affair. The lyrics in the second verse suggest a mutual desire and yearning for one another as the singer notes they have both been "learning" and "yearning."
As the song progresses, the lyrics become even more suggestive and sexual, with the line "I'm gonna give ya every inch of my love" being particularly explicit. The reference to being a "backdoor man" is also a suggestive detail, referencing a lover who is kept secret or comes in through the back door to avoid detection.
Overall, the lyrics of "Whole Lotta Love" are a testament to Led Zeppelin's reputation as a sex-driven, rock 'n' roll band. The lyrics are intentionally provocative and suggestive, appealing to the audience's desires and fantasies.
Line by Line Meaning
You need cooling
You need to cool down and calm your emotions.
Baby I'm not fooling
I am not joking or lying with what I am about to say/do.
I'm gonna send ya
I am going to take an action against you.
Back to schooling
I am going to teach you a lesson in a humiliating way.
A-way down inside
Deep within.
A-honey you need it
Sweetheart, you require it urgently.
I'm gonna give you my love
I am going to show you my affection and care.
Want to whole lotta love
I desire a considerable and intense amount of love.
You've been learning
You have gained experience and knowledge.
Um baby I been learning
I have also been learning, my dear.
All them good times baby, baby
All those enjoyable moments, my dear
I've been year-yearning
I have been longing for it immensely.
A-way, way down inside
Very deep within.
A-honey you need-ah
Sweetheart, you need it.
I'm gonna give you my love, ah
I am going to express my love to you.
Whole lotta love
A lot of love that is pure and intense.
You've been cooling
You have been distancing yourself emotionally.
And baby I've been drooling
I have been eagerly desiring and yearning for you.
All the good times, baby
All those enjoyable experiences, my dear.
I've been misusing
I have been abusing and taking them for granted.
I'm gonna give ya every inch of my love
I am going to give you all of me and leave nothing behind.
Hey! Alright! Let's go!
An exclamation of readiness and eagerness to proceed.
Way down inside
Deep within.
Woman, you need, yeah
You need it, woman.
Love
An intense feeling of affection and care.
My, my, my, my
An expression of amazement and excitement.
Lord
An expression of astonishment and awe.
Shake for me girl
Dance sensually for me, girl.
I wanna be your backdoor man
I want to be your secret lover and fulfill your desires.
Cool, my, my baby
Stay calm and composed, my dear.
A-keep it cooling baby
Keep your emotions under control, my dear.
Ah-keep it cooling baby
Stay calm and composed, my dear.
Ah-keep it cooling baby
Stay calm and composed, my dear.
Ah-keep it cooling baby
Stay calm and composed, my dear.
Ah-keep it cooling baby
Stay calm and composed, my dear.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert Anthony Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, James Patrick Page
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@v4mp.sky7
Anyone in 2024??
@6ryan_60mez
Im here learning the solo 🤙🏻😅🎼🎼
@CaptaIn_JS1
Yessss
@lbl9066
Yes, I’m 66 y.o., here…
@KarenFawcett-ue4ed
Yes me with the goose pimples
@valtonburns8556
👊 62 still loving rock. 🎸
@nesfan8
One of those rare bands where every member is the best member of the band
@linalangemark2652
*the only
@robertstevens4697
I worked for radio north sea international in the early 70s The government wasn't very happy but nobody else complained when I played led zeppelin If you don't remember radio north sea Google it
@hihi2667
Lina Langemark Rush is easily comparable, as long as your unbiased.