Burning Down One Side
Robert Plant Lyrics


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Slipped through the window by the back door
Caught short in transit with my love
Jumped up, fell back, cut off from romance
How could I fall without a shove?
Tiptoe like thunder on my feelings
You rock me gently with your sighs
My knees are week, my head is reeling
Consumed by fire in your eyes

(Dont'cha know why, goodness no! Why?)
Stepped in and shattered my defenses
Just playin' hookey with my heart
Slipped through the window by the back door
And took the keys to my poor heart

Yes my poor heart
Try as I might, try as I may
Well I'd try anything to make you stay
'cause I need your love, yes I need your love
Ooh I need your love, yes I need your love
I'm lookin' high, I'm lookin' low
Tryin' to find where did my baby go
Gotta find out why she ran away
I don't know where did my baby stay
Try as I might, try as I may
Well I'd try anything to make you stay

Just find that Boulevard d'amour
Shoot through a neon in the night
Hot-foot through alleys, check the doorways
Try that old parking lot on 9th
There's 3-course-kissing in the same way
Oh but that don't help me none no more
I've been away too long and dreaming
Little girl ain't I seen you before?





Oh little girl

Overall Meaning

The song Burning Down One Side by Robert Plant is a love song that explores the singer's tumultuous relationship with his lover. The first line, "Slipped through the window by the back door," sets the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer feels as though he is always being caught off guard in his relationship with his lover. He then goes on to describe how his feelings for her are so strong that he feels consumed by fire in her presence. However, despite his best efforts to keep her, she slips away from him, taking the keys to his heart with her.


Throughout the rest of the song, the singer is searching for his lost love. He describes how he is "lookin' high, lookin' low" trying to find her, and even offers suggestions like looking in the "Boulevard d'amour," "alleys," and "parking lots." The repeated phrase "I need your love" emphasizes the singer's desperation to find his lover and make things right between them.


The use of metaphor, such as comparing the tiptoeing of their feelings to thunder, showcases the depth of emotion in the singer's relationship. The tone of the song is both yearning and urgent, as the singer is desperately trying to find his way back to his lover.


Overall, Burning Down One Side is a complex exploration of the highs and lows of a passionate relationship, as well as the confusion and loss that can come when that relationship ends.


Line by Line Meaning

Slipped through the window by the back door
Entered sneakily, avoiding attention


Caught short in transit with my love
Caught off guard while traveling with my lover


Jumped up, fell back, cut off from romance
Suddenly pushed away, no longer in love


How could I fall without a shove?
Asking how it was possible to lose love with no real cause


Tiptoe like thunder on my feelings
Actions subtle but emotionally powerful


You rock me gently with your sighs
Sighs have a profound effect on me


My knees are week, my head is reeling
Overwhelmed and near collapse from emotional effects


Consumed by fire in your eyes
Overwhelmed by the passion evident in gaze


(Dont'cha know why, goodness no! Why?)
Rhetorical question in disbelief of how things ended


Stepped in and shattered my defenses
Annihilation of personal barriers


Just playin' hookey with my heart
Playing with emotions recklessly and irresponsibly


And took the keys to my poor heart
Stole control of emotions and the heart


Yes my poor heart
Acknowledgement of the heart's weakness and lack of control


Try as I might, try as I may
Attempting to regain control


Well I'd try anything to make you stay
Desperate to hold onto love


'Cause I need your love, yes I need your love
Admitting the depth of need for the departed love


Ooh I need your love, yes I need your love
Repetition of need assertion


I'm lookin' high, I'm lookin' low
Searching in every possible location for the departed love


Tryin' to find where did my baby go
Trying to locate the missing lover


Gotta find out why she ran away
Need to know why the lover left


I don't know where did my baby stay
Uncertainty of lover's location


Just find that Boulevard d'amour
Search for the street of love


Shoot through a neon in the night
Navigate through the city's bright lights in darkness


Hot-foot through alleys, check the doorways
Quickly move through the alleys and check doorways


Try that old parking lot on 9th
Investigate the older parking lot number 9


There's 3-course-kissing in the same way
Seeing reciprocal kissing in a way familiar to themselves


Oh but that don't help me none no more
This is no longer beneficial


I've been away too long and dreaming
Need to awaken and face the new reality


Little girl ain't I seen you before?
Questioning whether or not the love is nearby




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEZZ WOODROFFE, ROBERT BLUNT, ROBERT PLANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@bags5150

I remember when this
Album came out I refused to listen to it because I was
Pissed no jimmy page then my buddy talked
Me
Into listening to the whole album whole
While we get high. I didn’t give his
Album
Back for
Like 2 weeks lmao 🤣 to this day is till love it !!!!!! Those
First two solo albums are still
Amazing !!!!!



@MrSpawnlord

Slipped through the window by the back door
Caught short in transit with my love
Jumped up, fell back, cut off from romance
How could I fall without a shove?
Tiptoe like thunder on my feelings
You rock me gently with your sighs
My knees are week, my head is reeling
Consumed by fire in your eyes

Stepped in and shattered my defenses
Just playin' hookey with my heart
Slipped through the window by the back door
And took the keys to my poor heart

Yes my poor heart
Try as I might, try as I may
Well I'd try anything to make you stay
'cause I need your love, yes I need your love
Ooh I need your love, yes I need your love
I'm lookin' high, I'm lookin' low
Tryin' to find where did my baby go
Gotta find out why she ran away
I don't know where did my baby stay
Try as I might, try as I may
Well I'd try anything to make you stay

Just find that Boulevard d'amour
Shoot through a neon in the night
Hot-foot through alleys, check the doorways
Try that old parking lot on 9th
There's 3-course-kissing in the same way
Oh but that don't help me none no more
I've been away too long and dreaming
Little girl ain't I seen you before?

Oh little girl



@Desdinova69

Slipped through the window by the back door
Caught short in transit with my love
Jumped up, fell back, cut off from romance
How could I fall without a shove?

Tip-toed like thunder on my feeling
You rock me gently with your sighs
My knees are weak; my head is reeling
Consumed by the fire in your eyes

Don'tcha know why?
Goodness no! Why?

Stepped in and shattered my defenses
Just playing hooky with my heart
Slipped through the window by the back door
And took the keys to my poor heart
Yes, my poor heart

Oh!
Try as I might
Try as I may
Yes. I'll try anything to make you stay
'Cause I need your love
Yes, I need you love
Yes, I need your love
Oh, I need you love

I'm looking high, I'm looking low
Can't find where did my baby go
Gotta find out why she ran away
I don't know, where did my baby stay?
Try as I might
Try as I may
I'll try anything to make you stay

Fire down the Boulevard d'Amour
Shot through the neon in the night
Hot foot through alleys check the door ways
Try that old parking lot on Ninth
There's three course kissing in the same place
Oh, but that don't help me out no more
I've been away so long and dreaming
Little girl, ain't I seen you before?
(Oh, little girl)



All comments from YouTube:

@heritage80elite

Robbie Blunt’s guitar work on this album was simply amazing!

@paulcerminara3107

Plant has been doing it since Day 1. Never stopped. He's like the finest wine 🍷.
All his guitar choices brilliant talent and sound. Keep Rocking Robert. You are Loved

@DayBeforeTomorrow

The shortest guitar solo in the history of rock!

@Jake-pw7rj

The first album was killer. Plant modernized his sound just perfectly right for the time.

@chamilton4577

It is, but Principle of Moments is even better!

@robertryan5434

Exactly right

@milesanddizzy

Phil Collins on the killer drums! :-)

@georgemathie8123

Yes absolutely this album rocks

@thomasblersch6839

You can hear elements of that sound on In Through The Out Door (Carouselambra might be the best example, but also in Fool in the Rain and All My Love to some degree). They tend to be overshadowed by Page's heavy blues riffs, though. I always thought the end of Led Zeppelin simply allowed Plant to take his style in the direction he wanted unencumbered (and Page for that matter, if you listen to Outrider).

6 More Replies...

@tedcabana

Robert Plant's voice is just the most beautiful instrument. His vocal tones just resonate like a guitar, or any other instrument.

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