Originally named the New Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin signed a deal with Atlantic Records that gave them considerable artistic freedom. Initially unpopular with critics, they achieved significant commercial success with eight studio albums over ten years. Their 1969 debut, Led Zeppelin, was a top-ten album in several countries and featured such tracks as "Good Times Bad Times", "Dazed and Confused" and "Communication Breakdown". Led Zeppelin II (1969) was their first number-one album, and yielded "Ramble On" and "Whole Lotta Love". In 1970, they released Led Zeppelin III which featured "Immigrant Song". Their untitled fourth album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV (1971), is one of the best-selling albums in history with 37 million copies sold. The album includes "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll" and "Stairway to Heaven", with the latter being among the most popular and influential works in rock history. Houses of the Holy (1973) yielded "The Ocean", "Over the Hills and Far Away" and "The Rain Song". Physical Graffiti (1975), a double album, featured "Trampled Under Foot" and "Kashmir".
Page wrote most of Led Zeppelin's music, particularly early in their career, while Plant wrote most of the lyrics. Jones's keyboard-based compositions later became central to their music, which featured increasing experimentation. The latter half of their career saw a series of record-breaking tours that earned the group a reputation for excess and debauchery. Although they remained commercially and critically successful, their touring and output, which included Presence (1976) and In Through the Out Door (1979), grew limited, and the group disbanded following Bonham's death in 1980. Since then, the surviving former members have sporadically collaborated and participated in one-off reunions. The most successful of these was the 2007 Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in London, with Bonham's son Jason Bonham on drums.
Led Zeppelin are one of the best-selling music artists of all time; their total record sales are estimated to be between 200 and 300 million units worldwide. They achieved eight consecutive UK number-one albums and six number-one albums on the US Billboard 200, with five of their albums certified Diamond in the US. Rolling Stone magazine described them as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the Seventies", and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museum's biography of the band states that they were "as influential" during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960s.
Albums
Led Zeppelin (1969)
Led Zeppelin II (1969)
Led Zeppelin III (1970)
Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
Houses of the Holy (1973)
Physical Graffiti (1975)
Presence (1976)
In Through the Out Door (1979)
Coda (1982)
Darlene
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Darlene, oh Darlene, oh Darlene,
Oh oh yeah Darlene, oh oh Darlene, oh oh Darlene
Oh come on baby give me some
When I see you at that dance with your tight dress on
Whatcha got it sure is fine
I want to get me some
Darlene, woo baby baby Darlene, oh be my baby Darlene,
Oh, come on baby be my baby
Come on, come on come oh
Darlene, oh, Darlene, hey hey Darlene, oh oh
Come back and be my sweet little girl
When I see you on the street, it makes my heart go flitter
I see you walkin' with all those guys
It makes me feel so sick
And I don't care what people say
And I don't care what they do
Sweet child I gotta make you mine
You're the only thing that I want: You!
Baby baby when you walk down the block,
See the people behind (?)
Woh child oh ya drive me wild
I gotta do it really gonna try
Oh baby, I got my car
I'll take you as far
I'm gonna take you every place
I'm gonna boogie-woogie-woogie-woogie that's fine
I'm gonna prove it, Darlene
I'm gonna make ya my girl
I'm gonna boogie, Darlene
I'm gonna send ya in another world
'Cause I love Darlene, I gotta love 'er,
Yes I do
I've been savin' all my money I've been workin' all day long
I gotta give it all back to you
Oh but I love Darlene?
'Cause I love, yes I do ?
I've been workin' to, I've been workin' everyday
I've been tryin' to get a hold of you
And I love you Darlene
Yes I love you I do
?
I've been saving all for you
Oh I love ya
In Led Zeppelin's song "Darlene," the singer is infatuated with a woman named Darlene who he sees at a dance wearing a tight dress. He wants to "get some" from her and be her baby, and he doesn't care what anyone else says. When he sees her on the street with other guys, he feels jealous and sick. He promises to take her to all kinds of places in his car and make her his girl. He's been saving money and working hard for her, and he loves her.
The lyrics to "Darlene" are typical of the hypersexualized and male-focused themes of many songs of the time. The singer objectifies Darlene and sees her only as a sexual object to be obtained. He doesn't seem to care about her feelings or what she wants, only what he wants.
The song was originally recorded in 1975 during the sessions for Led Zeppelin's album "Presence," but it was not included on the album. It was later released on the 1982 compilation album "Coda." The song was written by guitarist Jimmy Page, lead singer Robert Plant, and bassist John Paul Jones.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh oh yeah
The song starts with the singer expressing his excitement and enthusiasm.
Darlene, oh Darlene, oh Darlene,
The singer is calling out to Darlene, addressing her with affection.
Oh oh yeah Darlene, oh oh Darlene, oh oh Darlene
The singer repeats Darlene's name, with increasing energy and determination.
Oh come on baby give me some
The singer is asking Darlene to share a romantic moment with him.
When I see you at that dance with your tight dress on
The singer is describing a scene where he sees Darlene looking attractive in a tight dress.
Whatcha got it sure is fine
The singer expresses his admiration for Darlene's beauty.
I want to get me some
The singer desires to have a romantic and intimate relationship with Darlene.
Darlene, woo baby baby Darlene, oh be my baby Darlene,
The singer addresses Darlene with endearing terms and asks her to be his girlfriend.
Oh, come on baby be my baby
The singer continues to appeal to Darlene to enter into a romantic relationship with him.
Come on, come on come oh
The singer is urging Darlene to respond positively to his requests.
Darlene, oh, Darlene, hey hey Darlene, oh oh
The singer is calling out to Darlene once again, expressing his desire for her.
Come back and be my sweet little girl
The singer is asking Darlene to return his affection and be his girlfriend.
When I see you on the street, it makes my heart go flitter
The singer describes the effect Darlene has on him when he sees her in public.
I see you walkin' with all those guys
The singer is jealous of other men who may be interested in Darlene.
It makes me feel so sick
The singer expresses his emotional turmoil and sadness when he sees other men with Darlene.
And I don't care what people say
The singer states that he is not influenced by the opinions of others.
And I don't care what they do
The singer reiterates that he is not concerned with the actions of others.
Sweet child I gotta make you mine
The singer reaffirms his desire to have a romantic relationship with Darlene.
You're the only thing that I want: You!
The singer declares his love for Darlene and states that she is the only person he wants.
Baby baby when you walk down the block,
The singer watches Darlene as she walks down the street.
See the people behind (?)
There may be some confusion in this line, as the lyrics are not clear. It could be referring to onlookers or other men watching Darlene.
Woh child oh ya drive me wild
The singer expresses how Darlene's presence and beauty causes him to become excited and passionate.
I gotta do it really gonna try
The singer is determined to win Darlene's heart and make her his girlfriend.
Oh baby, I got my car
The singer describes his car as a way to transport Darlene to new places.
I'll take you as far
The singer is willing to take Darlene on a journey.
I'm gonna take you every place
The singer wants to show Darlene various experiences and places.
I'm gonna boogie-woogie-woogie-woogie that's fine
The singer is excited about spending time with Darlene and plans to have fun dancing with her.
I'm gonna prove it, Darlene
The singer is determined to prove his love and affection for Darlene.
I'm gonna make ya my girl
The singer is determined to win Darlene's heart and start a romantic relationship.
I'm gonna boogie, Darlene
The singer continues to express his excitement about dancing and having fun with Darlene.
I'm gonna send ya in another world
The singer wants to take Darlene to new experiences and make her feel happy.
'Cause I love Darlene, I gotta love 'er,
The singer expresses his deep love for Darlene.
Yes I do
The singer emphatically confirms his love for Darlene.
I've been savin' all my money I've been workin' all day long
The singer has been working hard and saving up money to impress and woo Darlene.
I gotta give it all back to you
The singer wants to spend his hard-earned money on making Darlene happy.
Oh but I love Darlene?
The singer reiterates his love for Darlene.
'Cause I love, yes I do ?
The singer continues to express his love for Darlene.
I've been workin' to, I've been workin' everyday
The singer emphasizes his commitment to winning over Darlene.
I've been tryin' to get a hold of you
The singer has been trying to get in touch with Darlene to express his love.
And I love you Darlene
The singer is not shy about his feelings and declares his love for Darlene.
Yes I love you I do
The singer emphasizes his love for Darlene.
?
There is a missing line in the lyrics here, so there is no meaning to attribute to this line.
I've been saving all for you
The singer has been actively saving his earnings to woo and impress Darlene.
Oh I love ya
The singer concludes the song by affirming his love for Darlene once again.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY PAGE, ROBERT PLANT, JOHN PAUL JONES, JOHN BONHAM
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