The correct album title is "Houses of the Holy", by the way, not "House of the Holy".
Dyer Maker
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You don't have to go, oh oh oh oh oh
You don't have to go, oh oh oh oh oh
You don't have to go
Ay ay ay ay ay ay
All those tears I cry, ay ay ay ay
All those tears I cry, oh oh ah ay
When I read the letter you wrote me, it made me mad mad mad
When I read the news that it told me, it made me sad sad sad
But I still love you so
I can't let you go
I love you
Oh, baby I love you
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Every breath I take, oh oh oh oh
Oh, every move I make
Oh, baby please don't go
Ay ay ay ay ay ay
You hurt me to my soul, oh oh oh oh
You hurt me to my soul oh, oh
Darling please don't go
When I read the letter you sent me, it made me mad mad mad
When I read the news that it brought me, it made me sad sad sad
But I still love you so
And I can't let you go
I love you
Oh, baby I love you, oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
You don't have to go, oh oh oh oh
You don't have to go, oh oh oh oh
Oh, baby
Babe, please, please, please, please
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, baby
Oh oh, oh I really love you, baby
Led Zeppelin's song "Dyer Maker" is about a man who is in love with a woman who has hurt him deeply. The lyrics express the complexity of his feelings toward her: anger, sadness, and love. The chorus, "You don't have to go," is a plea to the woman to stay with him despite everything that has happened.
The verses begin with him reading a letter or news that has made him upset, but even in this turmoil, he confesses, "I still love you so, I can't let you go." The repetition of "oh oh oh" and "ay ay ay" throughout the song adds a sense of urgency and depth to the emotions being expressed.
The title of the song, "Dyer Maker," is actually a play on words, referencing a British slang pronunciation of "Jamaica." The song's riff was inspired by the reggae music scene in the early 70s, and many speculate that the lyrics are a nod to the Jamaican slang phrase "die for it" or "dire maker," which means "to die for a woman."
Line by Line Meaning
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Repetitive wailing to express strong emotions
You don't have to go, oh oh oh oh oh
Pleading with the subject of the song not to leave
Ay ay ay ay ay ay
More repetitive wailing to express strong emotions
All those tears I cry, ay ay ay ay
Expressing sadness and desperation in the face of a potential separation from a loved one
When I read the letter you wrote me, it made me mad mad mad
Being upset upon receiving a letter from the subject of the song that contained bad news or unpleasant information
When I read the news that it told me, it made me sad sad sad
Feeling deeply saddened by the information contained in the aforementioned letter
But I still love you so
Despite the bad news, the singer still cares for the subject of the song
I can't let you go
The artist is unable to accept the possibility of losing the person they love
I love you
Reiterating their love for the subject of the song
Every breath I take, oh oh oh oh
Expressing how integral the subject of the song is to the artist's life and existence
Oh, every move I make
Further emphasizing the above sentiment
You hurt me to my soul, oh oh oh oh
Admitting that the subject of the song has caused the artist pain and distress
Darling please don't go
Another plea for the subject of the song not to leave
When I read the letter you sent me, it made me mad mad mad
Repeating the earlier sentiment about receiving a letter from the subject of the song that caused the singer anger
When I read the news that it brought me, it made me sad sad sad
Repeating the earlier sentiment about being deeply saddened by the contents of said letter
And I can't let you go
Repeating the sentiment that the artist is unable to accept the possibility of losing their loved one
Oh, baby I love you, oh
Reiterating their love for the subject of the song
Babe, please, please, please, please
A desperate plea for the subject of the song to stay
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, baby
Further supplicating and expressing overwhelming feelings of love and devotion
Oh oh, oh I really love you, baby
Final repetition of the artist's love for the subject of the song
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN BONHAM, JOHN PAUL JONES, JAMES PATRICK (JIMMY) PAGE, ROBERT ANTHONY PLANT
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