Though Led Zeppelin are typically regarded as an album-oriented group, "Immigrant Song" is one of the band's several hit singles. The song's popularity has led to its inclusion in such compilation albums as Led Zeppelin Remasters and Early Days: The Best of Led Zeppelin, Vol. 1.
"Immigrant Song" was written during Led Zeppelin's tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany in the summer of 1970. The opening date of this tour took place in Reykjavík, Iceland, which inspired Plant to write the lyrics. He explained in an interview:
"We weren't being pompous ... We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be cancelled. The university prepared a concert hall for us and it was phenomenal. The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time. 'Immigrant Song' was about that trip and it was the opening track on the album that was intended to be incredibly different."
Six days after Led Zeppelin's appearance in Reykjavik, the band performed the song for the first time in concert during the Bath Festival.
A phrase from the song was used as the title of Stephen Davis' biography of the band, Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga. The lyrics also did much to inspire the classic heavy metal myth, of Viking-esque figures on an adventure, themes which have been adopted in the look and music of bands such as Iron Maiden, Saxon, Manowar and Amon Amarth.
It was issued in the United States on 5 November 1970 by Atlantic Records and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. First pressings of the US single have a quote from Aleister Crowley inscribed in dead wax by the run-out groove: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." The Japanese single included "Out on the Tiles" as the B-side.
In a contemporary review of Led Zeppelin III, Lester Bangs of Rolling Stone described "Immigrant Song" as the closest to being as classic as "Whole Lotta Love", praising the song's "bulldozer rhythms and Plant's double-tracked wordless vocal crossings echoing behind the main vocal like some cannibal chorus wailing in the infernal light of a savage fertility rite."
Cash Box described the song as "filling the aural spectrum once again with wall to wall power," stating that the song has "biting vocals and an unmatched instrumental impact."
"Immigrant Song" was used to open Led Zeppelin concerts from 1970 to 1972. On the second half of their 1972 concert tour of the United States, it was introduced by a short piece of music known as "LA Drone", designed to heighten the sense of anticipation and expectation amongst the concert audience. By 1973, "Immigrant Song" was occasionally being used as an encore, but was then removed from their live set. Live versions of the song can be heard on the Led Zeppelin albums How the West Was Won (featuring a performance at Long Beach Arena in 1972) and the Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions (a version from the Paris Theatre in London in 1971). When the song was played live, Page included a lengthy guitar solo, which was absent on the recorded Led Zeppelin III version. "Immigrant Song" was played as part of the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Jeff Beck by both Page and Beck.
Led Zeppelin originally denied Richard Linklater permission to use "Immigrant Song" in School of Rock, but star Jack Black was able to convince them by making a video of himself performing the song. A cover of "Immigrant Song", produced by Atticus Ross and Nine Inch Nails member Trent Reznor with vocals from Yeah Yeah Yeahs' lead singer Karen O, plays in the trailer and throughout the title sequence of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. "Immigrant Song" was included in both the trailer for Thor: Ragnarok and twice in the film itself, due to director Taika Waititi's suggestion of the song from the time of his first involvement with the film and to the persistent efforts of the movie's music supervisor Dave Jordan.
Inmigrant Song
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah-ah, ah!
We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow
Hammer of the Gods
Will drive our ships to new land
To fight the horde and sing and cry
On we sweep with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the Western shore
Ah-ah, ah!
Ah-ah, ah!
We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow
How soft your fields so green
Can whisper tales of gore
Of how we calmed the tides of war
We are your overlords
On we sweep with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the Western shore
So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins
For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ahh, ah
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
The song Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin is believed to be inspired by Norse mythology and Viking history. The opening lines, "We come from the land of the ice and snow, from the midnight sun where the hot springs flow," are thought to refer to the Scandinavian countries. The song talks about the voyage of the Vikings in their ships, driven by the hammer of the gods, to new lands to fight the horde.
The lyrics also talk about Valhalla, the mythical hall in Norse mythology where slain warriors go to after death. The Vikings were known for their fierce fighting skills, and the song boasts about how they would fight and sing and cry to reach Valhalla.
The final lines of the song are interesting, as they call for the people to stop fighting and rebuild their ruins. This could be an ode to the values of peace and trust, which despite all the losing, could ultimately win the day.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah-ah, ah!
Energetic sound that sets the tone for the song
We come from the land of the ice and snow
We originate from a cold and icy place
From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow
Our home is a place where the sun never sets and there are hot springs
The hammer of the gods
A powerful weapon possessed by a god or gods
W'ell drive our ships to new lands
We will use our ships to explore new territories
To fight the horde, and sing and cry
We will battle an enemy and express our emotions through music
Valhalla, I am coming!
I will go to Valhalla, the afterlife for warriors who died in battle
On we sweep with threshing oar
We continue to travel on our boat with great force
Our only goal will be the western shore
Our destination is the western coast
How soft your fields so green
Your fields may be lush and green
Can whisper tales of gore
They could also serve as a reminder of disturbing events that took place there
Of how we calmed the tides of war
We played a role in bringing an end to a conflict
We are your overlords
We have power and control over you
So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins
It is wise to stop and focus on rebuilding what was destroyed
For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing
Even though you may have lost in the past, peace and trust can ultimately triumph
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Vocalizations that add to the song's energy and intensity
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Vocalizations that add to the song's energy and intensity
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Vocalizations that add to the song's energy and intensity
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Vocalizations that add to the song's energy and intensity
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Vocalizations that add to the song's energy and intensity
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LotofacilLogica
Immigrant Song ( Lyrics 100% accurate)
--------------
Two, three, four
Ah-ah-ahh-ah, ah-ah-ahh-ah
We come from the land of the ice and snow
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde and sing and cry, "Valhalla, I am coming"
On we sweep with, with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore
Ah-ah-ahh-ah, ah-ah-ahh-ah
We come from the land of the ice and snow
from the midnight sun where the hot springs blow
How soft your fields, so green
can whisper tales of gore, of how we calmed the tides of war
We are your overlords
On we sweep with threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore
S-so now you better stop and rebuild all your ruins
for peace and trust can win the day despite of all you're losin'
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ahh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
@marieblue
The “land of ice and snow” is Iceland, where Led Zeppelin performed in June 1970.
Robert Plant explained : “We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived, all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be canceled. The university prepared a concert hall for us and it was phenomenal. The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time. ‘Immigrant Song’ was about that trip and it was the opening track on the album that was intended to be incredibly different.”
The lyric, “Valhalla I am coming” refers to Norse mythology. Valhalla is a hall in Asgard where the souls of fallen warriors are taken by the “Valkyries,” which are spirits of war who carry up heroes who have been slain.
One of the lyrics became part of the band’s lore. The line, “The hammer of the gods / Will drive our ships to new lands” got many fans referring to Zeppelin’s sound as the “HAMMER OF THE GODS.” That phrase was even used by author Stephen Davis as the title of a book (1985) about the English group.
The hiss at the beginning is feedback from an echo unit. It was intentional.
Led Zeppelin opened their live shows with “Immigrant Song” from 1970 to 1972. 💚🎶💜
@dwaynewladyka577
The power of John Bonham's drums is so intense on this track. He was an amazing drummer. May he rest in peace. Cheers!
@erichwashausen4602
His drums mixed with the bass in the song are so great!
@tonymate6664
Let a 54 old drummer just shake your hand...🤝🥁✌🏻
@nicholaslubke355
If im not mistaken the kit is recorded with only 3 microphones (glynn johns method) which is really impressive.
@harbscantina
He truly was a one off. Though I will admit Jason is doing his memory justice :)
@doejon9424
The beginning of Heavy Metal! An absolute staple in anyone's musical library
@Jolie567
Don’t ask who’s here in 2024, we never left.... 🎸🤟🎸
@mrguy9118
ain't goin nowhere either 🤟
@hugejohnson5011
Valhalla I am coming.......
@Gabe_05
If I ever conquer the world I’m listening to this song while I do it