Jimmy Page and Robert Plant originally constructed the song in 1970 at Bron-Yr-Aur, a small cottage in Wales where they stayed after completing a gruelling North American concert tour.
Page plays a six-string acoustic guitar introduction with a melody reminiscent of "White Summer". Page repeats the theme with 12-string acoustic guitar in unison.
Plant's vocals enter on the next repetition. He tenderly offers himself to the "lady" who's "got the love [he] need(s)." The acoustic guitars build in a crescendo toward the abrupt infusion of Page's electric guitars along with drummer John Bonham's and bass guitarist John Paul Jones' rhythm accompaniment.
Through the pre-verse interludes and instrumental bridge, "Over the Hills and Far Away" stands out as an example of Jones and Bonham's tight interplay. Following the final verse, the rhythm section fades out, gradually replaced by the echo returns from Page's electric guitar and a few chords played by Jones on harpsichord. In the final 8 bars, Page executes a linearly descending/ascending sequence and then concludes with the idiomatic V-I tag on pedal steel guitar.
The song was released as Houses of the Holy's first US single, reaching #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, later becoming a staple of the Classic rock radio format.
Set lists from Led Zeppelin concerts frequently contained "Over the Hills and Far Away", the song being one that the band introduced on stage well ahead of its studio release. The group first played it during their 1972 concert tour of the United States and retained it consistently through 1979, before omitting it from their final tour of Europe in 1980. In singing the song live, Plant commonly followed the words "pocket-full of gold" with "Acapulco Gold" (a type of marijuana), as can be heard on the live album How the West Was Won. Also, at concerts guitarist Jimmy Page performed an extended guitar solo, which essentially consisted of the rhythm and lead guitar parts of the album version split into two separate pieces. This extended solo made the live renditions last almost or more than seven minutes.
Plant had problems with singing the song live - he struggled to sing it at the Oxford show at the UK 1972/1973 tour and changed to melody of the song to a lower register on all the future tours.
Archive footage of this track being performed live at Seattle in 1977 and at Knebworth in 1979 was used for an officially distributed video of the song, used to promote the 1990 Led Zeppelin Remasters release. The video accompanied a CD single which was released following the successful "Travelling Riverside Blues" release.
The song was first called "Many, Many Times", as shown on a picture of the original master on the Led Zeppelin website. Among blogging and forum-attending Led Zeppelin fans, the song has gained the abbreviation OTHAFA.
Over the Hills and Far Away
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maybe more than enough
Oh darling, darling, darling
Walk a while with me
Ohh, you've got so much, so much, so much
Many have I loved, and many times been bitten
Many times I've gazed along the open road
Many times I've lied, and many times I've listened
Many times I've wondered how much there is to know
Many dreams come true, and some have silver linings
I live for my dream, and a pocket full of gold
Mellow is the man who knows what he's been missing
Many, many men can't see the open road
Many is a word that only leaves you guessing
Guessing 'bout a thing you really ought to know, oh, oh, oh, oh
Really ought to know (oh, oh, oh)
I really ought to know
Oh
You know I should, you know I should, you know I should, you know I should
Over the Hills and Far Away by Led Zeppelin is a song that celebrates love and adventure as two key aspects of life; the singer is searching for a partner to share his journeys with. At the beginning of the song, he says that the lady he’s addressing has the love he needs, and that he needs her to walk with him. He then praises her for how much she’s got, implying that she’s got all the physical and emotional qualities it takes to be his partner in adventures. The intrigue and excitement of the open road seem to be calling him, as he declares that he’s looked down many of them, and that he’s lied and listened many times. He’s also expressed how he’s wondered how much there is to know on his travels. The song has an upbeat tempo that makes you feel like the journey is the destination and that having someone you love by your side is all you need to take on whatever adventures the world has to offer.
The second half of the song speaks about how the man singing is unlike many other men, who can’t see the open road. He describes himself as ‘mellow’ and satisfied with his life, since he lives for his dreams and has a pocketful of gold. He implies that his perspective is different from many others since he’s been able to actualize his dreams and make his ideas work, even when others doubted him. But he’s also aware that there are many things to learn about the world and the people in it, and many aspects of life that people don’t understand; which the word ‘many’ only teases us with. He concludes by stating that he really ought to know some of those things, indicating that he won’t stop exploring and growing until he’s found some answers.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey lady, you got the love I need
The singer is addressing a woman, saying that she possesses the type of love he requires.
Maybe more than enough
The woman's love may surpass what the singer requires.
Oh darling, darling, darling
The singer is expressing affection towards the woman.
Walk a while with me
The artist is requesting the woman to accompany him for a period.
Ohh, you've got so much, so much, so much
The artist is praising the woman for the abundance of the qualities she possesses.
Many have I loved, and many times been bitten
The singer has loved many times before and has been hurt by it on many occasions.
Many times I've gazed along the open road
The singer has often looked at the empty, continuous road that lies ahead of him.
Many times I've lied, and many times I've listened
The artist has lied and listened on numerous occasions.
Many times I've wondered how much there is to know
The artist has frequently thought about how much knowledge there is to gain.
Many dreams come true, and some have silver linings
Some dream realizations have positive outcomes while others have negative aspects.
I live for my dream, and a pocket full of gold
The singer lives for his dreams and values personal satisfaction over riches.
Mellow is the man who knows what he's been missing
A person who is aware of what they have been lacking is content and serene.
Many, many men can't see the open road
Numerous individuals are unable to perceive the opportunities that lie ahead.
Many is a word that only leaves you guessing
The word 'many' is vague and does not provide a reliable quantity or indication.
Guessing 'bout a thing you really ought to know, oh, oh, oh, oh
Speculating about something that one needs to understand completely.
Really ought to know (oh, oh, oh)
It is crucial to acquire accurate information or knowledge.
I really ought to know
The artist realizes that he needs to have precise and thorough comprehension of a subject.
Oh
An exclamation used to emphasize a point or express emotion.
You know I should, you know I should, you know I should, you know I should
The singer repeatedly acknowledges the importance of learning and understanding.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, O/B/O DistroKid, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@funnyman0072
(lyrics)
Hey lady, you got the love I need
Maybe more than enough
Oh darling, darling, darling
Walk a while with me
Ohh, you've got so much, so much, so much
Many have I loved, and many times been bitten
Many times I've gazed along the open road
Many times I've lied, and many times I've listened
Many times I've wondered how much there is to know
Many dreams come true, and some have silver linings
I live for my dream, and a pocket full of gold
Mellow is the man who knows what he's been missing
Many, many men can't see the open road
Many is a word that only leaves you guessing
Guessing 'bout a thing you really ought to know, oh, oh, oh, oh
Really ought to know (oh, oh, oh)
I really ought to know
Oh
You know I should, you know I should, you know I should, you know I should
@nicholasclark6678
My dad, born in ‘49, loved Zeppelin. It was the first band he turned me onto as a preteen. I asked for an electric guitar, and he made me promise to learn Stairway all the way through if he bought it for me. We both made good on our deal.
It wasn’t until I was turning 18 and the US had just invaded Iraq (March 10, 2003), and he told me that he was adamant I don’t join the armed service. Any other public service, he said, not the military, not now.
He was in Vietnam as a GI in the jungle from ‘67-69. He saw combat as an M60 gunner. He earned two Purple Hearts during his combat tour. When he got out, he looked for a more peaceful life in the US and found himself wandering Alaska and Hawaii then eventually California. Zeppelin was his soundtrack for his attempt to join a normal life after what he saw and did.
Ten years ago he lost his final battle to chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer recognized by the VA and DOD as being caused by exposure to agent orange herbicide in the jungles and waters of Vietnam. It was his third injury for which he was never recognized. I miss him dearly everyday. Zeppelin, among others, are a beautiful reminder to me that the human spirit is one resilient m-f’er.
Miss you, Pop.
@clubedanarrativa5603
Hey lady, you got the love I need
Maybe more than enough
Oh darling, darling, darling
Walk a while with me
Ohh, you've got so much, so much, so much
Many have I loved, and many times been bitten
Many times I've gazed along the open road
Many times I've lied, and many times I've listened
Many times I've wondered how much there is to know
Many dreams come true, and some have silver linings
I live for my dream, and a pocket full of gold
Mellow is the man who knows what he's been missing
Many, many men can't see the open road
Many is a word that only leaves you guessing
Guessing 'bout a thing you really ought to know, oh, oh, oh, oh
Really ought to know
I really ought to know
Oh
You know I should, you know I should, you know I should, you know I should
@MrHandsomeferny
Lyrics
Hey lady--you got the love I need
Maybe more than enough.
Oh Darling... walk a while with me
You've got so much...
Many have I loved - Many times been bitten
Many times I've gazed along the open road.
Many times I've lied - Many times I've listened
Many times I've wondered how much there is to know.
Many dreams come true and some have silver linings
I live for my dream and a pocketful of gold.
Mellow is the man who knows what he's been missing
Many many men can't see the open road.
Many is a word that only leaves you guessing
Guessing 'bout a thing you really ought to know, ooh!
You really ought to know...
@batmanwayne7831
Has anybody else noticed that every Led Zeppelin song is great?
@uncooldispatch5438
👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸😘😘🙏🙏
@lucasdeoliveira1821
Oh boy, for sure! 🍃✌🏼💥
@jeffstewart3342
I hope Im not the only one.
@villainousappetite8841
Unlike one particular band I guess you all know.
@jeffstewart3342
@Talorc MacAllan yes but Zep fans are not average
@hilarymutongwizo3062
Led Zeppelin was not a band . They are music wizards . 🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼
@J___Valentina___j
Flag of Led Zeppelin 🇬🇧 🏴 🇬🇧🇬🇧
@George-zu4zf
Am from Zim bro a few know this kind of music. Been a rocker for the past 30+years. Had the privilege to watch Def leppard, next is The boss or ac Dc, guns and Roses
@razzledazzle1669
Last song my dad listened on his death bed, with a glass of bourbon and a cigarette in his hand. 🌹🌹🌹 Daddy I miss you, and you showed me great music, among so many other things. R.I.P.