Four Sticks
Led Zeppelin Lyrics


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Oh baby it's cryin' time
Oh baby I got to fly

Got to try to find a way
Got to try to get away

'Cause you know I gotta get away from you babe
Oh baby the river's red, ah baby in my head
There's a funny feelin' goin' on
I don't think I can hold out long

And when the owls cry in the night
Oh baby, baby when the pines begin to cry
Baby, baby, baby how do you feel?
If the river runs dry, baby, how do you feel?

Craze, baby, the rainbow's end, mmm, baby, it's just a den
For those who hide, who hide their love to depths of life
And ruin dreams that we all knew so, babe

And when the owls cry in the night
And baby when the pines begin to cry
Oh baby, baby, how do you feel?
If the river runs dry, baby, how do you feel?

Baby how do you feel?

Ooh yeah, brave I endure
Ooh yeah, strong shields and lore
And they can't hold the wrath of those who walk
An' the boots of those who march
Baby, through the roads of time so long ago

Ooooh, yeah
Ooooh
Oooooh, yeah

Ahhh
Ahhh
Ahhh
Ahhh

Oooooh
Hooooh
Hooooh
Hooooh




Hahhhh
Hoooh hooh hoooh hah hahhh

Overall Meaning

Led Zeppelin's "Four Sticks" is a song that captivates with its memorable opening lyrics, "Oh baby it's cryin' time, Oh baby I got to fly." It speaks volumes about the desire to break free from negativity, turmoil, and pain in one's life. The song directly dives into the singer's effort to find his way out and escape from the difficult situation that he is presently in. The river being red in color in the song appears as a metaphorical representation of pain, hardships, and agony- the murky river of pain that flows through the singer's mind.


The mention of owls crying in the night tells the tale of loneliness, fear, and a dark mood. It is followed by a similar reference to pines crying in the night- the world within has so much conflict, and the singer is not sure how to feel when he is confronted by such emotion. The song ventures to ruins, dreams lost to the depths of life; this possibly speaks about the destruction caused by the pain and agony that one experiences in their life.


Overall, the song Four Sticks presents a poignant and emotional take on the human spirit's resilience and the desire to break free from negativity and pain.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh baby it's cryin' time
I need to leave you now.


Oh baby I got to fly
I must try to find a solution.


Got to try to find a way
I need to come up with a plan.


Got to try to get away
I need to escape from this situation.


'Cause you know I gotta get away from you babe
I need to distance myself from you.


Oh baby the river's red, ah baby in my head
I'm experiencing strong emotions.


There's a funny feelin' goin' on
Something doesn't feel right.


I don't think I can hold out long
I'm not sure how much longer I can handle this.


And when the owls cry in the night
This is a dark time.


Oh baby, baby when the pines begin to cry
Things are falling apart.


Baby, baby, baby how do you feel?
Do you feel the same as I do?


If the river runs dry, baby, how do you feel?
If things don't work out, what will you do?


Craze, baby, the rainbow's end, mmm, baby, it's just a den
Life isn't always what it appears to be.


For those who hide, who hide their love to depths of life
Some hide their feelings to protect themselves.


And ruin dreams that we all knew so, babe
This can be destructive to our hopes and aspirations.


Ooh yeah, brave I endure
I will be strong through this.


Ooh yeah, strong shields and lore
I have the power to overcome.


And they can't hold the wrath of those who walk
Those who persevere can't be stopped.


An' the boots of those who march
I will make progress through action.


Baby, through the roads of time so long ago
This is a journey I must take.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@arnomeeuwisse8017

My first single when i was a kid, Rock and Roll / Four Sticks still so good to hear. 61 years old now but still rocking.

@kendetrick1444

I'm 75 and it's still good

@billybob1723

Arno Meeuwisse - Great taste.

@brianscullion5298

Good on you mate ,I'm 68 and listen to led zeppelin every night best band ever you keep rocking, never see the likes of them again in my life time.

@jamesbrook16

Saw Zep at Knebworth in 1979. So amazing I managed to get tickets for the following weekend.

I’m 63.

@dereksforReal

Rock on brother. Amen

@cafinario

Led Zeppelin IV, a planetary treasure.

@johnbruner8440

No four musicians have ever assembled to make magic like this.

@LucenaYuri

Magick*

@punctiliousd6264

Not sure that's true, but no other rock band sounds like this, or ever will. It's magical.😊

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