Originally named the New Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin signed a deal with Atlantic Records that gave them considerable artistic freedom. Initially unpopular with critics, they achieved significant commercial success with eight studio albums over ten years. Their 1969 debut, Led Zeppelin, was a top-ten album in several countries and featured such tracks as "Good Times Bad Times", "Dazed and Confused" and "Communication Breakdown". Led Zeppelin II (1969) was their first number-one album, and yielded "Ramble On" and "Whole Lotta Love". In 1970, they released Led Zeppelin III which featured "Immigrant Song". Their untitled fourth album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV (1971), is one of the best-selling albums in history with 37 million copies sold. The album includes "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll" and "Stairway to Heaven", with the latter being among the most popular and influential works in rock history. Houses of the Holy (1973) yielded "The Ocean", "Over the Hills and Far Away" and "The Rain Song". Physical Graffiti (1975), a double album, featured "Trampled Under Foot" and "Kashmir".
Page wrote most of Led Zeppelin's music, particularly early in their career, while Plant wrote most of the lyrics. Jones's keyboard-based compositions later became central to their music, which featured increasing experimentation. The latter half of their career saw a series of record-breaking tours that earned the group a reputation for excess and debauchery. Although they remained commercially and critically successful, their touring and output, which included Presence (1976) and In Through the Out Door (1979), grew limited, and the group disbanded following Bonham's death in 1980. Since then, the surviving former members have sporadically collaborated and participated in one-off reunions. The most successful of these was the 2007 Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in London, with Bonham's son Jason Bonham on drums.
Led Zeppelin are one of the best-selling music artists of all time; their total record sales are estimated to be between 200 and 300 million units worldwide. They achieved eight consecutive UK number-one albums and six number-one albums on the US Billboard 200, with five of their albums certified Diamond in the US. Rolling Stone magazine described them as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the Seventies", and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museum's biography of the band states that they were "as influential" during the 1970s as the Beatles were during the 1960s.
Albums
Led Zeppelin (1969)
Led Zeppelin II (1969)
Led Zeppelin III (1970)
Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
Houses of the Holy (1973)
Physical Graffiti (1975)
Presence (1976)
In Through the Out Door (1979)
Coda (1982)
THAT
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't play with you no more
I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me
My friend the boy next door
I can't believe what people saying
You're gonna let your hair hang down
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day long
You're in the darker side of town
Why don't your eyes see me
Could it be you've found another game to play,
What did mama say to me
That's the way,
Oh, that's the way it ought to be,
Mama say that's the way it ought to stay, yeah, yeah oh oh
And yesterday I saw you standing by the river,
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes,
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying,
Had they got you hypnotized?
And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers,
But all that lives is born to die
And so I say to you that nothing really matters,
And all you do is stand and cry
I don't know what to say about it,
When all you ears have turned away,
But now's the time to look and look again at what you see,
Is that the way it ought to stay?
That's the way
That's the way it oughtta be
Oh don't you know now
Mama said, mama said, that's the way it's gonna stay, yeah, oh oh
Led Zeppelin's "That's The Way" is a poignant and introspective song that explores the uncertainty and darkness that comes with life's unpredictable twists and turns. The singer of the song seems to be struggling with the realization that he cannot continue to play with someone (presumably a close friend or lover) and is haunted by the words of his mother. He cannot believe what people are saying about this person and feels like they have found a new game to play. The singer sees this person walking around but they never seem to acknowledge him, leading him to question if they have truly found happiness elsewhere.
The second verse takes on a more surreal and dreamlike quality, with imagery of tears, fish in dirty water, and tiny flowers that evoke a sense of sadness and desperation. The singer seems to be urging the person to take a second look at their lives and question if this is the way things should be. The song ends on a somber note, with the singer admitting he doesn't know what to say and all ears have turned away, but insisting that his mother said "that's the way it's gonna stay."
Overall, "That's The Way" is a powerful and emotionally honest song that explores themes of longing, regret, and the fleeting nature of life. It showcases Led Zeppelin's talent for poignant lyricism and haunting melodies.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know how I'm gonna tell you
I am uncertain about how to express something to you
I can't play with you no more
I cannot continue to engage in activities with you
I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me
I am unsure how to follow my mother's instructions
My friend the boy next door
I am referring to the male person living adjacent to me
I can't believe what people saying
I am unable to accept the rumors I have heard
You're gonna let your hair hang down
You are going to let loose and relax
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day long
I am content to spend my day laboring here
You're in the darker side of town
You are situated in the less affluent area of the locality
And when I'm out I see you walking
I observe you walking when I am outdoors
Why don't your eyes see me
Why don't you acknowledge my presence
Could it be you've found another game to play,
Is it possible that you have found another pursuit to engage in
What did mama say to me
What instruction did my mother give to me
That's the way,
That's the suitable approach
Oh, that's the way it ought to be,
That is the appropriate manner in which things should exist
Mama say that's the way it ought to stay, yeah, yeah oh oh
My mother asserts that things should remain in that state
And yesterday I saw you standing by the river,
The day before today, I saw you standing beside the water channel
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes,
Weren't drops of saline liquid occupying your visual organ
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying,
All the aquatic animals present in the contaminated liquid are passing away
Had they got you hypnotized?
Did they put you in a trance-like state
And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers,
The day before today, I saw you placing your lips on little blooming plants
But all that lives is born to die
Every living organism is destined to perish
And so I say to you that nothing really matters,
Thus I express to you that nothing truly holds importance
And all you do is stand and cry
And you merely stand without movement whilst shedding tears
I don't know what to say about it,
I am uncertain with regards to how to react to the situation
When all your ears have turned away,
When everyone has ceased to listen to you
But now's the time to look and look again at what you see,
However, this is currently the time to analyze and reexamine what is visible to you
Is that the way it ought to stay?
Is that the way things should remain
Oh don't you know now
Oh, aren’t you aware at the moment
Mama said, mama said, that's the way it's gonna stay, yeah, oh oh
My mother has explicitly stated that things will persist in that manner
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMY PAGE, ROBERT PLANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@petrosgenikis5141
I don't know how I'm gonna tell you
I can't play with you no more
I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me
My friend the boy next door
I can't believe what people saying
You're gonna let your hair hang down
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day long
You're in the darker side of town
And when I'm out I see you walking
Why don't your eyes see me
Could it be you've found another game to play,
What did mama say to me
That's the way,
Oh, that's the way it ought to be,
Mama say that's the way it ought to stay, yeah, yeah oh oh
And yesterday I saw you standing by the river,
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes,
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying,
Had they got you hypnotized?
And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers,
But all that lives is born to die
And so I say to you that nothing really matters,
And all you do is stand and cry
I don't know what to say about it,
When all you ears have turned away,
But now's the time to look and look again at what you see,
Is that the way it ought to stay?
That's the way
That's the way it oughtta be
Oh don't you know now
Mama said, mama said, that's the way it's gonna stay, yeah, oh oh
@faiscacapoeira5
1973, I was four years old, my dad used to play this album, and in particular this song to me and my sister. We didn't have a TV, and dad used to have a handful of records we used to listen to and dance to.
2012, this was played at my dad's funeral, he was only 62 when he died. I love you dad, choking up listening to this now but remembering simpler, happier times x
@dw-qv7pi
<3
@scottingram7634
I choked up just reading your post. You have my sympathy. Those memories will keep your dad's memory alive and carry you to your final day.
@donnawinchester6041
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying, have they got you hypnotized?
@ambercirkovic9017
🥺❤️
@jimmorrison3830
🙏👪 breathtaking
@johngardner1290
I'm 67, this was the most significant song for me at 15. It still carries with me today.
@allansmith6715
Such a special song. I'm 56 now.when I was 14 it just touched me and still does as much as ever. It's musical greatness and perfection.
@TheJoshuamooney
I’m but a lad of 60, but I can say just the same!
@danielgerald4551
I’m 43 and I concur. My fav zepp tune.