"Achilles Last Stand", at 10 minutes and 25 seconds, is the third longest studio recording released by Led Zeppelin (after "In My Time of Dying" at 11:06 and "Carouselambra" at 10:34). It is famous for John Bonham's powerful drumming, John Paul Jones's galloping bass line (played on a custom-built Alembic eight string bass) and Jimmy Page's overdubbed orchestral guitar arrangement (the dozen or so guitar tracks having been recorded in Munich in a single session). It is also known for its dramatic, epic guitar solo which is considered by many to be among Page's best. The guitarist applied vari-speed during production of this song to speed it up, one of the few times he employed that device in the studio for Led Zeppelin songs. In 1977, he explained:
I'll tell you about doing all the guitar overdubs to "Achilles Last Stand." There were basically two sections to the song when we rehearsed it. I know John Paul Jones didn't think I could succeed in what I was attempting to do. He said I couldn't do a scale over a certain section, that it just wouldn't work. But it did. What I planned to try and get that epic quality into it so it wouldn't just sound like two sections repeated, was to give the piece a totally new identity by orchestrating the guitars, which is something I've been into for quite some time. I knew it had to be jolly good, because the number was so long it just couldn't afford to be half-baked. It was all down to me how to do this. I had a lot of it mapped out in my mind, anyway, but to make a long story short, I did all the overdubs in one night ... I thought as far as I can value tying up that kind of emotion as a package and trying to convey it through two speakers, it was fairly successful.
It has been suggested that the title of the song was originally supposed to be known as "Wheelchair Song" as an acknowledgment of Plant's broken ankle as a result of his car accident, where he believed he would never walk again. Lyrically, the song was inspired by Plant's experiences in Morocco, where he and Page travelled following Led Zeppelin's 1975 Earl's Court concerts. Plant specifically refers to Morocco's Atlas Mountains in the line: "The mighty arms of Atlas hold the heavens from the Earth". This is a double-meaning to imply the Atlas mountains in a physical sense seeming to hold up the sky, as well as the reference to the Titan Atlas and his task to hold up the sky on his shoulders and thus separate it from the Earth. Plant's lyrics were also inspired by some of the poetry he was reading at the time, which includes William Blake. "Albion remains/sleeping now to rise again" is a reference to Blake's engraving The Dance Of Albion. The following is an excerpt from the poem that goes with the song:
Albion rose from where he labour'd at the Mill with Slaves.
Giving himself for the Nations he danc'd the dance of Eternal Death.
Albion is the most ancient name of Great Britain.
The line "Below the streets that steam and hiss / The devil is in his hole" refers to a Victorian tourist attraction the band visited whilst in Saint Mary, Jersey. Named "Devil's Hole", it featured a statue of a devil, in a hole.
Jimmy Page has been quoted as saying that "Achilles Last Stand" is his favorite Led Zeppelin song. Not surprisingly, it became an integral component of almost every Led Zeppelin concert from their 1977 tour of the United States onwards. Though Page initially expected that he would need to use his Gibson EDS-1275 double-necked guitar to play the song live, he realised that it was possible to use the Gibson Les Paul (or occasionally a red Telecaster)] One live version, from Led Zeppelin's performance at Knebworth in 1979, is featured on disc two of the Led Zeppelin DVD.
Page has mentioned that this song, like several others the band recorded which involved guitar overdubs, was quite challenging to adapt for live performances on stage:
"Achilles" is the classic one. When Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards came to hear us play, Keith said, "You ought to get another guitarist; you're rapidly becoming known as the most overworked guitarist in the business." Quite amusing. There are times when I'd just love to get another guitarist on, but it just wouldn't look right to the audience.
"Achilles Last Stand" was used in the film Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001), one of the few times the band allowed a number from its catalogue to be used in a motion picture.
The bridge changes 4/4 time to 5/4 time, and uses triplets.
Achilles Last Stand
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I turn to you, you smiled at me
How could we say no?
Oh, the fun to have
To live the dreams we always had
Oh, the songs to sing
When we at last return again
Slipping off a glancing kiss
To those who claim they know
Below the streets that steam and hiss
The devil's in his hole
Oh, to sail away
To sandy lands and other days
Oh, to touch the dream
Hides inside and never seen, yeah
Into the sun, the south, the north
At last the birds have flown
The shackles of commitment fell
In pieces on the ground
Oh, to ride the wind
To tread the air above the din
Oh, to laugh aloud
Dancing as we fought the crowds, yeah
To seek the man whose pointing hand
The giant step unfolds
With guidance from the curving path
That churns up into stone
If one bell should ring
In celebration for a king
So fast the heart should beat
As proud the head with heavy feet, yeah
Days went by when you and I
Bathed in eternal summer's glow
As far away and distant
Our mutual child did grow
Oh the sweet refrain
Soothes the soul and calms the pain
Oh Albion remains
Sleeping now to rise again
Wandering and wandering
What place to rest the search?
The mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth
For the mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth
From the earth
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
For the mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
The lyrics of Led Zeppelin's song "Achilles Last Stand" are a reflection on the joys and limitless possibilities of youth, as well as a lament for the loss of innocence that comes with age. The opening verse, which references a call to go on a journey, is a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitability of change, as well as a symbol of the youthful desire for adventure and the refusal to accept the limitations of society.
The chorus describes the dreams and songs that are the soundtrack of youth, and which we long to return to once responsibilities have taken over. The idea of slipping off a glancing kiss to those who claim they know is an expression of rebellion against the cultural norms and expectations of their time.
The second verse speaks of the freedom that comes with breaking free from societal constraints and the bitterness that comes with later generations forgetting what was fought for. The line about the shackles of commitment falling in pieces on the ground is an expression of the desire to be free of society's expectations.
The song's ultimate message is one of hope, that even as we all grow older and lose our connection to the past, the sweet refrain of youth remains, a soothing balm for the pain of our lost innocence. It is a call to search for that child within us and to seek out the wisdom of the past that will guide us forward.
Line by Line Meaning
It was an April morning when they told us we should go
The singer is remembering a time when he was told to embark on an adventure
As I turn to you, you smiled at me
The singer had someone special with whom he was enjoying the adventure
How could we say no?
The singer and his companion eagerly accepted the proposed adventure
Oh, the fun to have
To live the dreams we always had
Oh, the songs to sing
When we at last return again
The artist is excited about the adventure they're about to undertake and the memories that will come with it
Slipping off a glancing kiss
To those who claim they know
Below the streets that steam and hiss
The devil's in his hole
The artist is ignoring those who doubt him and venturing into the unknown
Oh, to sail away
To sandy lands and other days
Oh, to touch the dream
Hides inside and never seen, yeah
The singer longs to explore new places and ideas that he's never encountered before
Into the sun, the south, the north
At last the birds have flown
The shackles of commitment fell
In pieces on the ground
The singer and his companion are free from their obligations and restrictions, finally able to take on this new adventure
Oh, to ride the wind
To tread the air above the din
Oh, to laugh aloud
Dancing as we fought the crowds, yeah
The artist relishes the freedom and exhilaration of their adventure
To seek the man whose pointing hand
The giant step unfolds
With guidance from the curving path
That churns up into stone
The artist and his companion have set out to find someone who will lead them down a path to a new discovery or idea
If one bell should ring
In celebration for a king
So fast the heart should beat
As proud the head with heavy feet, yeah
The artist is imagining what it would be like to be applauded and celebrated for the journey they're on
Days went by when you and I
Bathed in eternal summer's glow
As far away and distant
Our mutual child did grow
Time passes as the singer and his companion enjoy the journey, but they can't help feel that they are missing something important
Oh the sweet refrain
Soothes the soul and calms the pain
Oh Albion remains
Sleeping now to rise again
The artist is reminded of his home and the people he has left behind, but takes comfort in knowing that they will still be waiting for him when he returns
Wandering and wandering
What place to rest the search?
The mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth
The singer feels lost and alone, unsure of where to go next, but is inspired by the strength and stability of the mythological figure Atlas
For the mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth
From the earth
Atlas is a metaphor for the strength and endurance that the singer needs to face the challenges that come with his adventure
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way
I know the way, know the way, know the way, know the way
The singer is getting more confident about his intuition and his ability to navigate the challenges he's facing
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh oh
The artist is feeling increasingly hopeful and excited as he faces the obstacles in his journey
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
These sounds are meant to help the listener get lost in the emotion and atmosphere of the song
For the mighty arms of Atlas
Hold the heavens from the earth
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah, ah
The singer is again emphasizing the importance of strength and endurance in the face of difficulty
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert Anthony Plant, James Patrick Page
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Debmeow
on No Quarter
Brilliant, a masterpiece.
robin
on Immigrant Song
i love this
Marie Fenouilliére
on Stairway to Heaven
j'adoreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee