Zep's main writers reformed on 17 Apr 94, as a part of the Alexis Korner Blues Show at Buxton, England. On 25 & 26 Aug', they taped performances in London, Wales & Morocco, with Egyptian & Moroccan orchestration of several Zep' tunes along with four new songs, backed by Farouk el Safi. The performances aired on October 12, and were so successful commercially and artistically that the two coordinated a tour which kicked off in February, 1995. The Unplugged performance was released as an album in November, 1994 as No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded.
It's rumored that John Paul Jones was excluded due to a feud between him and Plant, dating from the mid-80's.
Their tour took them across the world with a lineup including Charlie Jones playing bass and percussion, Michael Lee on drums, Porl Thompson performing guitar and banjo, Najma Akhtar providing backup vocals, Jim Sutherland on mandolin and bodhrán, Nigel Eaton hurdy gurdy, and Ed Shearmur playing Hammond organ with orchestral arrangements. Afterwards, they entered the studio with legendary engineer Steve Albini to record Walking into Clarksdale, an album of entirely new material. This album was not as commercially successful as Unledded had been, and the Page/Plant reunion slowly dissolved, with both members going on to perform with other side projects.
BURNING UP
Page & Plant Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my way is dark as night
Back on the hill, the wind it moans
And big black clouds fly by
The rain fell down, it drowned my heart
It raged inside my soul
The pain that tore the skies apart
Oh, I'm burning up
Oh, I'm burning up
Ooh, I'm burning up
Oh oh oh
This lovely road that I must walk
All these tears that burn my eyes
In emptiness, my torment roars
In my silent loveless life
Oh oh,I'm burning up
Ah, I'm burning up
Ah, I'm burning up
Ohhh
Oh oh, can you hear me, hear me calling
Across a thousand years
Oh! Oh! Would you love me, if I die die
A thousand times
Like a volcano
Oh, I'm burning up
Like a volcano
I'm burning up
Like a volcano
Oh, I'm burning up
Like a volcano
Yeah, I'm burning up
Like a volcano
Like a volcano
oh oh oh, no yeah
Like a volcano
no yeah no yeah
Like a volcano
Like a volcano
Burn burn burn burn burn
Like a volcano
burn burn burn, ohhh
The lyrics of Page & Plant's song "Burning Up" tell the story of a person who is struggling with intense emotions and feelings of isolation. The opening lines suggest that the person's mind is "cracked" and that they feel alone in their darkness. As they look out at the natural world around them, they see that the wind is moaning and big black clouds are flying by, adding to the sense of foreboding.
The second verse speaks to the pain and turmoil that the person is feeling internally. The rain falls down, drowning their heart and raging inside their soul. The pain is so intense that it feels like it tears the skies apart. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I'm burning up," which can be interpreted as a reference to the heat of their emotions or the burning pain they are experiencing.
In the third verse, the person reflects on their life and the difficult path they must walk. They are overwhelmed by tears and emptiness, with torment roaring in their heart. They wonder if anyone can hear their voice calling out across the years and if someone would love them even if they died a thousand times. The repeated refrain of "like a volcano" suggests that the person's emotions are building up and could erupt at any moment.
Line by Line Meaning
My mind is cracked, I stand alone
My sanity is waning and I feel isolated
And my way is dark as night
My path ahead seems bleak and uncertain
Back on the hill, the wind it moans
I'm reminded of a desolate place where the sounds of nature evoke sadness
And big black clouds fly by
A metaphor for my somber, dark thoughts rushing by
The rain fell down, it drowned my heart
I felt immense pain and suffering from an emotional wound
It raged inside my soul
I was tormented internally by this pain
The pain that tore the skies apart
The agony was strong enough to feel like it was affecting the outside world
The twisted night unfolds
The darkness and despair continue to spread and manifest
Oh, I'm burning up
I'm overwhelmed, consumed, and all-encompassed by my pain
This lovely road that I must walk
My journey through life, even though there is beauty, is a source of pain for me
All these tears that burn my eyes
Constant sorrow and grief express themselves through my tears like a painful sting
In emptiness, my torment roars
In the hollowness of my life, my agony fills the void like a roar
In my silent loveless life
I live a life devoid of love and companionship, resulting in more pain and loneliness
Oh oh,I'm burning up
I'm completely consumed by my suffering
Ah, I'm burning up
My pain is so intense that it feels physical and not just emotional
Ohhh, I'm burning up
I can't escape the pain or find a way to release it
Oh oh, can you hear me, hear me calling
I'm reaching out to someone for help and maybe even love
Across a thousand years
Communicating my pain and loneliness transcends time and space
Oh! Oh! Would you love me, if I die die
I'm asking for unconditional love to comfort and heal me from my suffering
A thousand times
My pain is never-ending and has recurred innumerable times
Like a volcano, Oh, I'm burning up
My emotional state can be likened to a volcanic eruption that's consuming everything around me
Yeah, I'm burning up
The pain is still with me and showing no signs of subsiding
Burn burn burn burn burn
I'm still consumed and tormented by my pain and there seems to be no end to my turmoil
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SARA SAKURAI, STEVEN LEE, PETE BARRINGER, PAUL ANTHONY LEE DREW, GREIG DAVID WATTS, JORGE MHONDERA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martkent8210
Most underrated album ever
@jamedlee1011
They (Page & Plant) need to come up with a new album soon! Good classic late 90's stuff here thpugh
@leelitif7187
a ferocious great track off a very good overlooked cd and of course live it slays
@santinowilson1846
That guitar tone. It rules.
@mthomas1973
Thought the same thing.
Heavy Page
@benjaminenriquez1102
3:30 the majesty mastery and artistry of one James Patrick Page. Jimmy and Robert Plant got it right on for this underrated rocker from the late 1990s. Need this to be re-released for sure
@aitechnasus1041
Burning Up Is A Great Song And Wonderful Masterpiece By Jimmy Page And Robert Plant.
@patking3435
This song feels like I have a lot of distance left to travel so I fix on the beauty of the landscape, the clouds and the sunset. I guess it always has.
@mikemaxwell3050
Probably the best rocker on the album. Great rhythm section here.
@jackjc1447
best track on the album!!