"Nobody's Fault But Mine" is a traditional blues song covered by Led Zeppel… Read Full Bio ↴"Nobody's Fault But Mine" is a traditional blues song covered by Led Zeppelin, among others, since the late 1960's. The first known recording of this song was recorded by Blind Willie Johnson around the late 1920's.

The Led Zeppelin version of the song was released in their 1976 album "Presence". There are changes in the lyrics, such as"Devil he told me to roll", "brother he showed me the gong" , and "I got a monkey on my back".

Robert Plant adds a harmonica solo, which really helps make this version of the song their own.

Nobody's Fault But Mine
Led Zeppelin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, nobody's fault but mine
Nobody's fault but mine
Trying to save my soul tonight
Oh, it's nobody's fault but mine

The devil he told me to roll
The devil he told me to roll
How to roll the log tonight

Nobody's fault but mine

Brother he showed me the gong?
Brother he showed me the ding dong ding dong
How to keep that gong alive
Oh, it's nobody's fault but mine

Got a monkey on my back
Got a mo, mo, mo, mo, monkey on my back, back, back, back
Gonna change my ways tonight
Nobody's fault but mine

I will get down rollin' tonight
No-no-no-no-no-no-nobody's fault

Overall Meaning

Led Zeppelin's Nobody's Fault But Mine is a song that references religious symbolism and struggle with addiction. The singer is trying to save their soul and take accountability for their actions, acknowledging that their addiction is nobody's fault but their own. The devil is personified as a temptation or a voice in the singer's head that urges them to continue their destructive behavior. The "roll the log" line seems to be a metaphor for drug use, and the indulgence in such behavior is entirely the responsibility of the singer.

However, throughout the song, the singer also makes references to religion and spiritual healing. The "gong" and "ding dong" are both sounds that were often used in religious ceremonies, indicating that the singer is seeking guidance and healing from a higher power rather than relying on drugs to cope. The monkey on their back also references the idea of addiction as a weight that can be lifted through spiritual redemption.

Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on addiction and the need for personal accountability and spiritual growth to overcome it. Rather than blaming external sources for their problems, the singer takes responsibility for their actions and looks inward for solutions.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, nobody's fault but mine
The singer is taking responsibility for their actions.

Trying to save my soul tonight
The singer is attempting to redeem themselves in some way.

The devil he told me to roll
The singer is blaming their actions on temptation and evil influences.

How to roll the log tonight
The artist is referring to committing a sin or indulging in pleasure.

Brother he showed me the gong?
The artist references someone who showed them how to do something (potentially sinful).

Brother he showed me the ding dong ding dong
The singer is referring to learning a skill or technique (potentially sinful).

How to keep that gong alive
The singer is learning how to continue indulging in sin or pleasure.

Got a monkey on my back
The artist is referring to being addicted to something.

Gonna change my ways tonight
The artist is attempting to break their addiction or change their behavior.

I will get down rollin' tonight
The artist is resolving to commit to their addiction or sinful behavior.

No-no-no-no-no-no-nobody's fault
The singer is reiterating that they alone are responsible for their actions.