In 1984, Plant formed a short-lived all-star retro rock group with musicians Jimmy Page (also of Led Zeppelin), Jeff Beck, and Phil Collins called The Honeydrippers. The band had a Top Ten hit with their song "Sea of Love", a remake of the Phil Phillips' chestnut. Plant's also notably performed with Page in the outfit Page & Plant.
Plant's love of the music of Morocco led him to a new collaboration called Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation. The band's releases met with critical acclaim and numerous Grammy nominations. They completed a notable 2006 tour of Europe in September.
In 2007, Plant began recording and performing with American bluegrass star Alison Krauss. A duet album, Raising Sand, was released on 23 October 2007 on Rounder Records. The album, recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles and produced by T-Bone Burnett, met with enormous critical and commercial success. Tours have reached devoted audiences in multiple cities.
The year of 2010 proves to be yet another successful year for the lemon squeezer. During the summer, Plant will be reuniting with his old, Pre-Zep group, The Band Of Joy, for a tour of the southern and mid continental tour of the US.
In 2012 Robert Plant starts another band project going by the name Sensational Space Shifters releasing the live album Robert Plant Presents: Sensational Space Shifters. Along with Plant himself the band consists of Liam "Skin" Tyson, Justin Adams, Billy Fuller and John Baggot along with Dave Smith, Juldeh Camara and Patty Griffin.
That's The Way
Robert Plant 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
Gonna let your hair hang down
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day lo-o-o-ong
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, ahh-ohh, ohh-ahh, ahh-ahh, ohh-ohh, don't you know
Mama said, ohh, mama said
That's the way it ought to stay, ohh-hoh
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 matterrs
And all you do is stand and cry
I don't know what to say about it
When all your ears have turned away
But now's the time to look and look again at what you see, ohhh
Is that the way it ought to stay
That's the way
Ohh, that's the way it oughta be, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, no-no-no
Oh, don't you know now
Mama said, oh, mama said that's the way it's gonna stay, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, ohhh
Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh
Ahhh ahhhhh
The lyrics of Robert Plant's song "That's The Way" talk about the singer's dilemma of letting go of a close friend, a boy next door, based on his mother's advice. Though the singer is unsure of how to convey this message to his friend, he says that he cannot continue playing with his friend anymore. The singer's friend has slowly drifted away from him, and he suspects that he has found a new 'game to play.' The singer also imagines that his friend has been hypnotized into oblivion by the world's darkness.
In the next verse, the lyrics seem to suggest a message of hopelessness and existential questioning, where nothing matters, everything that's alive is born to die, and it is only human to stand and cry. In the end, the singer is unhappy with the way things have turned out, and he asks his friend if things are meant to be like this, suggesting that he is seeking some sort of ethical or moral viewpoint.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know how I'm gonna tell you
I'm unsure of how to communicate this message to you
I can't play with you no more
I am unable to entertain your presence any longer
I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me
I am uncertain how to fulfill my mother's expectations
My friend, the boy next door
The individual in question is my neighbor and friend
I can't believe what people saying
I am skeptical of rumors spreading about you
Gonna let your hair hang down
You are taking liberties with your behavior
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day lo-o-o-ong
I am content with my daily routine
You're in the darker side of town
You are in a less reputable part of town
And when I'm out I see you walking
I encounter you while out and about
Why don't your eyes see me
You seem to be ignoring my presence
Could it be you've found another game to play
You may have moved on to a new activity or interest
What did mama say to me
I recall my mother's words regarding our situation
That's the way
This is how it is
Oh, that's the way it ought to be, ahh-ohh, ohh-ahh, ahh-ahh, ohh-ohh, don't you know
This is how things should be, understand and acknowledge it
Mama said, ohh, mama said
My mother advised
That's the way it ought to stay, ohh-hoh
This is how it should remain
And yesterday I saw you standing by the river
Recently, I observed you near the river
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes
It appeared as though you were crying
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying
The fish in the polluted water were dying
Had they got you hypnotized
Were you under a spell or fixation?
And yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers
I witnessed you kissing small flowers
But all that lives is born to die
Death is inevitable for all living beings
And so I say to you that nothing really matterrs
Insignificant matters in the grand scheme of things
And all you do is stand and cry
It seems like you are just standing in place, crying
I don't know what to say about it
I am at a loss for words regarding this situation
When all your ears have turned away
You are being ignored by everyone you know
But now's the time to look and look again at what you see, ohhh
It is important to reexamine your perspective on the situation
Is that the way it ought to stay
Is the current state of affairs acceptable?
Ohh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, no-no-no
Vocal ad-libs
Oh, don't you know now
You should be aware of this by now
Mama said, oh, mama said that's the way it's gonna stay, oh-hoh, oh-hoh, ohhh
My mother's words reinforce the idea that this is how things will remain
Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhhhhh
Vocal ad-libs
Ahhh ahhhhh
Vocal ad-libs
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cyber 101
The sound of Jimmy Page's guitar is just magical. Gorgeous song!
Elaine Goliszeski
Amen!
Rob Cross
I love this song - it reminds me of Summer days. One of of Led Zep's best
vertstang123
Cold chills. Jimmy Page on the 12 string is like magic.
Michael Andrew Taylor
Still shocked that John Paul Jones the Glue of Zeppelin wasn’t included on this endeavor rather sad 😢 would have been even more epic ❤
Steve Trivago
My son loved Led Zeppelin and playing guitar 🎸 5/10/95 — 7/21/2018
Rodrigo Silva
Dude..God bless you !!
Jennifer Sales
@Rodrigo Silva 5
Way Word
Man, that is so sad - I feel for You. I'm sure he is OK now. Maybe take solace in how he loved Zep and that you can always listen to his whisper through their music. 👍✌
Adventure and Family
Jeez, first comment, and a punch in the guts😢
God bless you Steve, stay strong man...🙏🏻