I was There
Robert Plant Lyrics


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I was reaching for the future
Slowly floating in the blue
When I was a boy
I dreamed a dream of you

I danced upon the tree top
I drifted with the stream
When I was a child
I held you in my dreams

Oh-oh-oh oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh oh
Oh

Once I was a soldier
In my castle strong
Oh I stood so tall then
I could do no wrong
Innocence and slumber
When I was a boy

I was walking with a stranger
He left without a trace
When I was a boy
I slept at Heaven's gate

Once I was a soldier
In my castle strong
Oh I stood so tall then
I could do no wrong
Innocence and slumber
When I was a boy

Once I was a soldier
In my castle strong
Oh I stood so tall then
I could do no wrong
Innocence and slumber
Oh, when I was, when I was, when I was
When I was, when I was, when I was, oh oh oh oh, ooh yeah

Once I was a soldier
In my castle strong
Oh I stood so tall then
I could do no wrong
Innocence and slumber
When I was a boy

Yes, you know and so I wonder
through it grows and grows
when i was a boy




I was a boy
I was a boy

Overall Meaning

The song "I Was There" by Robert Plant is a nostalgic and reflective track that takes the listener on a journey through the singer's memories of his childhood, adolescence, and beyond. The opening verse speaks of reaching for the future and dreaming of someone special in his boyhood, possibly a first love or a deep crush. The imagery of floating in the blue and dancing on treetops evokes a sense of freedom and innocence that often characterizes childhood. The chorus reinforces this theme of dreaming and longing for something beyond one's reach, as the singer repeats the phrase "When I was a boy" with a sense of wistfulness.


The second verse introduces the motif of the soldier and his castle, a classic trope of masculinity and power. The lyrics suggest a loss of innocence and a descent into the harsh realities of adulthood. The line "I could do no wrong" is an ironic commentary on the hubris and arrogance that often accompany youthful vigor. The third verse is more enigmatic and surreal, with the image of a mysterious stranger and an imagined encounter with heaven's gate. The repetition of the line "I was a boy" reinforces the theme of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time.


Overall, the song seems to be a meditation on the passage of time and the loss of youthful innocence and wonder. The chorus, which repeats several times throughout the song, serves as a kind of refrain or mantra, emphasizing the dreamlike quality of the memories being recounted. Plant's signature voice adds a haunting and ethereal quality to the song, perfectly complementing the introspective lyrics and introspective mood.


Line by Line Meaning

I was reaching for the future
As a young person, I was full of hope for what lay ahead in life.


Slowly floating in the blue
I felt free and weightless like I was floating in water.


When I was a boy
Referring to a time in my youth when my imagination was most active.


I dreamed a dream of you
You were the subject of my most cherished dreams.


I danced upon the tree top
I felt carefree and uninhibited like a child when climbing a tree.


I drifted with the stream
I felt like I was going along with the flow of life, without any clear direction.


I held you in my dreams
You were a constant presence in my mind and thoughts.


Oh-oh-oh oh-oh
A repetitive vocalization that doesn't have a specific meaning.


Once I was a soldier
In another phase of my life, I served as a soldier.


In my castle strong
I had a sense of security and invincibility during this time.


Oh I stood so tall then
I had a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities.


I could do no wrong
I felt like I was always right and infallible.


Innocence and slumber
During this period, I enjoyed the peacefulness of sleep and the simplicity of life.


I was walking with a stranger
I befriended someone who I didn't know well.


He left without a trace
This person disappeared suddenly and without explanation.


I slept at Heaven's gate
I felt like I was close to reaching a desired outcome, whether it was a goal or an afterlife.


Yes, you know and so I wonder
I have questions about life and I hope you can help me find answers.


through it grows and grows
Even as I get older and more experienced, my curiosity and desire for understanding continue to expand.


when i was a boy
Reflecting on an important time in my life, when I felt unburdened and full of possibility.


I was a boy
Reiterating the feeling of youth and innocence that I experienced during this time.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES PATRICK PAGE, MICHAEL PEARSON, ROBERT PLANT, STEPHEN CHARLES JONES

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

alison hurst

Embrace Another Fall Lyrics.....Robert Plant

Oh I often think of you
The hour before it rains
Across the broken days
That brought me home again
You walked into my life
Awoke my spirit soul
You saved me from my deep
Farewell my wondrous home
Oh! The life upon your lips
Your heart could not foresee
Tangle I became
That brings me home again
Embrace another fall
My year is worn and cold
To you I bare my soul
My summer's almost gone
Oh, so blue must turn to grey
And out upon the shire
All through the frost and rain
I make my home
Mi glydwais fod yr 'hedydd
Wedi marw ar y mynydd
Pe gwyddwn i mai gwir y geiriau
Awn a gyrr o wyr ac arfau
I gyrchu corff yr 'hedydd adre
I gyrchu corff yr 'hedydd adre

Songwriters: David Smith / John Baggott / Juldeh Camara / Justin Adams / Liam Tyson / Robert Plant / William Fuller
Embrace Another Fall lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc



All comments from YouTube:

Stewart Nicol as BILLY CONNOLLY

Robert Plant - one of the extremely few musicians who did not sit back and say "I was huge in the past" - Robert kept his desire to create long after many of his peers had decided to rest on their laurels. This is the proof of that.......BTW His voice is - well, really no comment, Robert's voice is unique.

Lori Deatherage

My absolute favorite song. Hauntingly beautiful. It makes me feel as if I am out in those misty mountains of Wales.❤

alison hurst

Embrace Another Fall Lyrics.....Robert Plant

Oh I often think of you
The hour before it rains
Across the broken days
That brought me home again
You walked into my life
Awoke my spirit soul
You saved me from my deep
Farewell my wondrous home
Oh! The life upon your lips
Your heart could not foresee
Tangle I became
That brings me home again
Embrace another fall
My year is worn and cold
To you I bare my soul
My summer's almost gone
Oh, so blue must turn to grey
And out upon the shire
All through the frost and rain
I make my home
Mi glydwais fod yr 'hedydd
Wedi marw ar y mynydd
Pe gwyddwn i mai gwir y geiriau
Awn a gyrr o wyr ac arfau
I gyrchu corff yr 'hedydd adre
I gyrchu corff yr 'hedydd adre

Songwriters: David Smith / John Baggott / Juldeh Camara / Justin Adams / Liam Tyson / Robert Plant / William Fuller
Embrace Another Fall lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

Ela Lamblin

The guitar solo rips...I wander what mystical journey Plant is on...he's somewhere in a strange surreal headspace.

Bobby Somolon

I'm with ya Man!

Kaykatniss G

"I often think of you....Embrace another fall." This is an incredibly beautiful song.

anass farah

im listening to this album with tears in my eyes , im soooo happyy you did this <3 <3
looove youu

Pam Adams

I was most fortunate to see Robert Plant in concert for the first time a few weeks after this album became available. He performed this and many others from the album along with 6 Zep songs. The man is simply magical and magnificent and this album still blows me away. 🌺

Simone Devlin

She brought the conch shell back from the white sands of Muri Beach.The Rarotongan summoned the creatures from the deep. Her old friend the green horned bill turtle swam to shore to reminisce about the magical ride they shared in Punalu'u. Sirène wanted to tell him about the rainbow she had seen above the brick wall facing the lava flow. It was an upside down one which glowed over the new black sand beach.Her wise friend warned her of the Fijian sharks heading their way and to summon the shark caller. It was time to return to her silver lined oyster shell bed. Her adventures had brought her so close to Atlantis. It was the call from the deep which compelled her back at high tide. Another day closer to the love castle she had always longed for. One more try could bring everlasting happiness sealed with a "stolen kiss".

onebluedoveforpeace

Excellent song!! So heartfelt.. Lullaby..... and the Ceaseless ROAR!!! amazing !!!!! <3 !

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