The song was rarely played live at Led Zeppelin concerts in its entirety. In a few instances in 1969, it was used as an introduction to "Communication Breakdown" (as seen in Led Zeppelin (Deluxe Edition)). It also appeared in almost complete form within the "Communication Breakdown" medley performed at the LA Forum on 4 September 1970, where it included a bass solo by Jones (as can be heard on the Led Zeppelin bootleg recording Live on Blueberry Hill), and several "Whole Lotta Love" medleys in 1971. It was also the opening song for Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on 10 December 2007. The version of "Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown" released on 15 April 2014, on iTunes, is from 10 October 1969 in Paris, on the European Tour of Autumn 1969.
In a reassessment of Led Zeppelin in 2016, Andy Greene of Rolling Stone praised "Good Times Bad Times", writing that the song begins the album with a bang: "Jimmy Page's guitar pounces from the speakers, fat with menace; John Bonham's kick drum swings with anvil force; Robert Plant rambles on about the perils of manhood. Hard rock would never be the same."
The American rock band Godsmack covered the song in 2007, for their album, Good Times, Bad Times… Ten Years of Godsmack. Their version reached number eight on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks and number 28 on its Modern Rock Tracks charts in 2007.
Good Times Bad Times
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was told what it means to be a man
Now I've reached that age
I've tried to do all those things the best I can
No matter how I try
I find my way to the same old jam
Good times, bad times
You know I've had my share
When my woman left home
For a brown-eyed man
Well, I still don't seem to care
Sixteen I fell in love
With a girl as sweet as could be
It only took a couple of days
'Til she was rid of me
She swore that she would be all mine
And love me 'til the end
But when I whispered in her ear
I lost another friend
Good times, bad times
You know I've had my share
When my woman left home
For a brown eyed man
Well, I still don't seem to care
Good times, bad times
You know I've had my share
When my woman left home
For a brown eyed man
But, I still don't seem to care
I know what it means to be alone
I sure do wish I was at home
I don't care what the neighbors say
I'm gonna love you each and every day
You can feel the beat within my heart
Realize, sweet babe, we ain't ever gonna part
The song Good Times Bad Times by Led Zeppelin tells the story of a man who is reflecting on his life experiences. The opening lines of the song convey that the singer has come of age and has learned what it means to be a man. He has attempted to do everything to the best of his ability but still finds himself in difficult situations. The refrain, “Good times, bad times, you know I’ve had my share” highlights the ups and downs of the singer’s life.
Later, the singer recounts a failed love story with a woman he fell in love with at the age of sixteen. The woman promised to love him until the end but when he whispered something in her ear, he lost her. The song suggests that the singer experienced many difficult times throughout his life, but when his woman left him for another man, he still doesn’t seem to care.
The song’s overall message is that life has its highs and lows, but one must keep going and appreciate the good times, even when bad times come around.
Line by Line Meaning
In the days of my youth
When I was younger
I was told what it means to be a man
I was taught what is expected of a man
Now I've reached that age
Now that I am older
I've tried to do all those things the best I can
I have attempted to live up to those expectations
No matter how I try
Despite my efforts
I find my way to the same old jam
I end up in the same difficult situation
Good times, bad times
I have experienced both joy and hardship
You know I've had my share
I have had my fair share of both
When my woman left home
When my partner left me
For a brown-eyed man
For someone else
Well, I still don't seem to care
I am not bothered by it
Sixteen I fell in love
When I was sixteen, I fell in love
With a girl as sweet as could be
With a lovely girl
It only took a couple of days
Our relationship ended quickly
'Til she was rid of me
Until she wanted nothing to do with me
She swore that she would be all mine
She promised to love me forever
And love me 'til the end
And to always love me
But when I whispered in her ear
But when I spoke intimately to her
I lost another friend
I lost her affection
I know what it means to be alone
I am familiar with loneliness
I sure do wish I was at home
I wish I was with someone I love
I don't care what the neighbors say
I do not care what others think
I'm gonna love you each and every day
I will love you every day
You can feel the beat within my heart
You can sense my love for you
Realize, sweet babe, we ain't ever gonna part
Understand that we will always be together
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Anthony Plant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LedZeppelinGold
Good Times Bad Times
--------------------
In the days of my youth
I was told what it means to be a man
Now I've reached that age
I've tried to do all those things the best I can
No matter how I try
I find my way to the same old jam
Good times, bad times, you know I've had my share
Well, my woman left home for a brown-eyed man
but I still don't seem to care
Sixteen, I fell in love with a girl as sweet as could be
It only took a couple of days 'till she was rid of me
She swore that she would be all mine and love me 'till the end
but when I whispered in her ear, I lost another friend, oh
Good times, bad times, you know I've had my share
Well, my woman left home for a brown-eyed man
but I still don't seem to care
Good times, bad times, you know I've had my share
Well, my woman left home for a brown-eyed man
but I still don't seem to care
I know what it means to be alone
I sure do wish I was at home
I don't care what the neighbors say
I'm gonna love you each and every day
You can feel the beat within my heart
Realize, sweet babe, we ain't never gonna part
I feel good when i look into your eyes!
---------------
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@Geotubest
Imagine it's January 1969, a friend says, "Hey, check out this new album." And you put that turntable needle to this first song. Wow.
@revoabednegofathoni23
So this song was released in January 1969?
@Geotubest
@@revoabednegofathoni23 I believe so.
@steepcliff6830
Yea it’s so ahead of its time. It feels like I am transported to 1975
@globglobglob1
gonna faint
@LaMusicade4
Exactly , happened to me except my buddy called on the phone and said the same exact words to the tune of communication breakdown I was hooked !
@kenneth-pc7mf
I was 15 years old when Led Zeppelin I was released.I'll be 70 this coming April and I STILL ROCK OUT TO THIS!!!!
@alfredreimann598
Hey hallo, herzlichen Glückwunsch, wir sind ein Jahrgang ( 1953 ) ,mir ging es damals wie dir, ich habe Led Zeppelin ebenfalls im Alter von 15 Jahren zum ersten Mal gehört und bin bis heute ein großer Fan geblieben, auch wenn sich die Band schon lange aufgelöst hat, aber dieser irre Sound bleibt einfach für immer und ewig in meinem Kopf, ich kenne keine andere Gruppe die annähernd an Led Zeppelin heran reicht, einfach gnadenlos grandios 🎸🎸🎸👍
@nancymasi6141
Me too!
@ngabersid4571
still rock, lads!