In 2004, the song was ranked number 75 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and in March 2005, Q magazine placed "Whole Lotta Love" at number three in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. It was placed 11 on a similar list by Rolling Stone. In 2009 it was named the third greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1. The guitar solo is ranked number 38. on Guitar World's "100 Greatest Guitar Solos".
"Whole Lotta Love" was recorded at various studios in New York and Los Angeles during the band's second concert tour of the United States and assembled by Jimmy Page at Olympic Studios in London. Already part of their live repertoire, it saw its first official release on the LP Led Zeppelin II on 22 October 1969 (Atlantic LP #8236).
The song has been widely covered by many artists. It was famous in the United Kingdom for having been the theme music for the long-running television programme Top of the Pops during the 1970s and 1980s. It also featured in the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on 24 August 2008, in a rewritten version with Jimmy Page on guitar and Leona Lewis providing the vocals. Both Lewis and the organizers requested that some of the lyrics be changed, notably "I'm gonna give you every inch of my love". Lewis felt that the line made little sense coming from a female singer.
Whole Lotta Love
Led Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, I'm not fooling
I'm gonna send ya
Back to schooling
Way down inside
A-honey you need it
I'm gonna give you my love
I'm gonna give you my love, oh
Want a whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
You've been learning
Um baby, I been learning
All them good times baby, baby
I've been yea-yearning
A-way, way down inside
A-honey you need-ah
I'm gonna give you my love, ah
I'm gonna give you my love, ah oh
Whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
You've been cooling
And baby I've been drooling
All the good times, baby
I've been misusing
A-way, way down inside
I'm gonna give ya my love
I'm gonna give ya every inch of my love
I'm gonna give ya my love
Yeah!
Alright! Let's go!
Want a whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
Want a whole lotta love
Way down inside
Woman, you need, yeah
Love
My, my, my, my
My, my, my, my
Lord
Shake for me girl
I wanna be your backdoor man
Hey, oh
Hey, oh, hey, oh
Ooh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Who my, my baby?
Keep it cooling, baby
A-keep it cooling, baby-baby
Ah-keep it cooling, baby
Ah-keep it cooling, baby
Ah-ah-oh
The lyrics to Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" are about the desire to give and receive love. The song's opening line, "You need cooling, baby, I'm not fooling," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is trying to convince his lover that he can give her what she needs, and that he's not just making empty promises. He is willing to send her "back to schooling" to get what she needs, which could be interpreted as him being willing to teach or guide her in love.
The chorus of "Want a whole lotta love" is repeated over and over, emphasizing the intensity of the desire for love. It's clear that the singer believes they have been "misusing" their good times and that they need to give each other their love "way, way down inside." This could be interpreted as going deeper emotionally and connecting on a more profound level.
The lyrics in the final verse are more sexually suggestive, with the singer asking his lover to "shake for me girl" and stating that he wants to be her "backdoor man." The sexual aspect of the song is a common theme found in many of Led Zeppelin's songs.
Overall, the lyrics to "Whole Lotta Love" convey a message of intense desire for connection, both emotionally and sexually.
Line by Line Meaning
You need cooling
You need some space to chill and relax
Baby, I'm not fooling
Don't think I'm joking, I'm serious
I'm gonna send ya
I'm going to make you go through a tough time for your own betterment
Back to schooling
Back to the basics, starting again from the ground up
Way down inside
Deep within you
A-honey you need it
Honey, you require it
I'm gonna give you my love
I'm going to show you affection and care
Want a whole lotta love
I want a lot of love
You've been learning
You have been developing your skills and knowledge
Um baby, I been learning
I, too, have been gaining knowledge and improving myself
All them good times baby, baby
All the pleasant moments that we experienced, my dear
I've been yea-yearning
I've been eagerly looking forward to something
A-honey you need-ah
Beloved, you need it more than anyone else
I'm gonna give you my love, ah
I'm going to shower you with my love
Whole lotta love
A great amount of love
You've been cooling
You have been reserved and distant
And baby I've been drooling
And I have been excitedly waiting and wanting something
I've been misusing
I've been taking things for granted
I'm gonna give ya every inch of my love
I'm going to give you all my love and attention
Yeah!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Alright! Let's go!
Showing eagerness and readiness to start
Way down inside
Deep within
Woman, you need, yeah
Woman, you need it, yeah
Love
Affection, care, and compassion
My, my, my, my
Expressing surprise or awe
Lord
An exclamation used to express strong feeling or emotion
Shake for me girl
Dance or move to the music
I wanna be your backdoor man
I want to be the secret person you rely on
Hey, oh
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Ooh
Expressing pleasure, awe or excitement
Who my, my baby?
Who's my baby?
Keep it cooling, baby
Stay calm and reserved, my love
A-keep it cooling, baby-baby
Keep your cool, baby
Ah-keep it cooling, baby
Ah-keep your cool, baby
Ah-ah-oh
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Robert Anthony Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, James Patrick Page
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@v4mp.sky7
Anyone in 2024??
@6ryan_60mez
Im here learning the solo 🤙🏻😅🎼🎼
@CaptaIn_JS1
Yessss
@lbl9066
Yes, I’m 66 y.o., here…
@KarenFawcett-ue4ed
Yes me with the goose pimples
@valtonburns8556
👊 62 still loving rock. 🎸
@nesfan8
One of those rare bands where every member is the best member of the band
@linalangemark2652
*the only
@robertstevens4697
I worked for radio north sea international in the early 70s The government wasn't very happy but nobody else complained when I played led zeppelin If you don't remember radio north sea Google it
@hihi2667
Lina Langemark Rush is easily comparable, as long as your unbiased.