It is often noted that this is guitarist Jimmy Page's least favorite Led Zeppelin song, and was thus never performed in concert, because Jimmy Page's then-girlfriend Charlotte Martin was offended by it and hence Page disliked playing it. Even though the song was never performed, there was a single show in Düsseldorf during which a short segment of the song was played right after the band's song "Heartbreaker" on March 12, 1970, as bootlegs from that date show attest. It was also one of the few Led Zeppelin songs on which Page sang backing vocals. Conversely, singer Robert Plant took a liking to the song, and played it on his 1990 solo tour.
For the recording of this track, Page played on a Vox 12-string guitar.
When heard on the radio it was typically played immediately after their song "Heartbreaker", as it flows seamlessly from the abrupt ending of that song on the original album. Yet the band never played these songs together on stage at Led Zeppelin concerts (something they consistently did, for example from late 1972 to 1975 with "The Song Remains the Same" and "The Rain Song" — the first two tracks from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy). Robert Plant brought the song into his Manic Nirvana US solo tour set in 1990.
Living Loving Maid
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
Missus cool rides out in her aged Cadillac
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
Come on, babe on the round about, ride on the merry-go-round
We all know what your name is, so you better lay your money down
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
When your conscience hits, you knock it back with pills
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
Come on, babe on the round about, ride on the merry-go-round
We all know what your name is, so you better lay your money down
Tellin' tall tales of how it used to be
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
With the butler and the maid and the servants three
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman (ah, I'm kidding man)
Nobody hears a single word you say
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
But you keep on talkin' till your dyin' day
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
Come on, babe on the round about, ride on the merry-go-round
We all know what your name is, so you better lay your money down
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
The lyrics to Led Zeppelin's "Living Loving Maid" portray a woman who enjoys the pleasures of life, with vivid descriptions of her purple umbrella, fifty-cent hat, and aged Cadillac. She is unashamedly living and loving, indulging in pills to quiet her conscience and regaling others with tall tales of her wealth and status. The singer of the song acknowledges these traits, referring to her as "just a woman," but also noting her tendency to throw money around ("you better lay your money down").
The repeated refrain of "Come on, babe on the round about, ride on the merry-go-round" seems to suggest that the woman is caught up in a whirlwind of hedonistic pursuits, with no apparent direction or purpose. Despite this, she appears to be a charismatic figure, with the ability to capture people's attention and keep them listening to her stories until the end.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a commentary on the excesses of the rock-and-roll lifestyle, particularly when it comes to interactions between men and women. The woman in the song is portrayed as something of a caricature, representing the temptation of forbidden pleasures, but also serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing after such pleasures without considering the potential consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
With a purple umbrella and a fifty cent hat
She has a unique and colorful style that she's proud of.
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
She's a human being who lives and loves, just like anyone else.
Missus cool rides out in her aged Cadillac
She drives around in an impressive, vintage car.
Come on, babe on the round about, ride on the merry-go-round
Join in on the fun and excitement of life.
We all know what your name is, so you better lay your money down
Don't try to hide who you are, embrace it and be upfront about it.
Alimony, alimony payin' your bills
She's financially supporting herself, likely due to a divorce settlement.
When your conscience hits, you knock it back with pills
She may struggle with guilt or other negative emotions and uses medication to cope.
Tellin' tall tales of how it used to be
She reminisces about the past and may exaggerate to make it seem better than it was.
With the butler and the maid and the servants three
She imagines herself living the luxurious life of the upper class.
Nobody hears a single word you say
People may not pay attention to her or take her seriously.
But you keep on talkin' till your dyin' day
Despite being ignored, she continues to share her thoughts and opinions.
Livin', lovin', she's just a woman
Summing up, she's a woman who lives and loves like anyone else.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY PAGE, ROBERT PLANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@prajwolgauchan
With a purple umbrella and a fifty cent hat
Living, loving, she's just a woman
Missus cool rides out in her aged Cadillac
Living, loving, she's just a woman
Come on, babe on the roundabout
Ride on the merry-go-round
We all know what your name is
So you better lay your money down
Alimony, alimony paying your bills
Living, loving, she's just a woman
When your conscience hits, you knock it back with pills
Living, loving, she's just a woman
Come on, babe on the roundabout
Ride on the merry-go-round
We all know what your name is
So you better lay your money down
Telling tall tales of how it used to be
Living, loving, she's just a woman
With the butler and the maid and the servantry
Living, loving, she's just a woman
Nobody hears a single word you say
Living, loving, she's just a woman
But you keep on talking till your dying day
Living, loving, she's just a woman
Come on, babe on the roundabout
Ride on the merry-go-round
We all know what your name is
So you better lay your money down
Living, loving, she's just a woman
Living, loving, she's just a woman
Living, loving, she's just a woman
@tylerhackner9731
Couldn’t listen to this one without listening to Heartbreaker first.
@antho9999
And Babe I'm gonna leave you first and maybe your time is gonna come after xD
@siddhanthbhattacharyya4206
Haha, always used to get confused between the 2, when I bought this record for the first time
@davewestner
seriously....although I've been listening to this tune for decades, I think this is the first time I ever heard it on its own
@gkb4401
I cant listen to this without listening to led zep II!
@SandyWolf-
Dude they go so well togeather I couldn't sing one without the other!😁✌
@theduncanfrasersatiricalso7398
More than "Whole Lotta Love", more than "Heartbreaker", this was the track that got people hooked on the album. What a shame the band hated it and never performed it live.
@gordan2423
There's my answer :(
@TyTyGuy34
I agree this is one of my favs
@beatlemaniacwaltdisneyfan4753
What!!? It is a great song!