Plant’s attraction and affection to the music of Morocco, the Atlas region and beyond and his lifelong leaning towards the psychedelic indo-rock of West Coast USA, led to a new collision of styles and colours aka Strange Sensation.
Their first album together ‘Dreamland’, received great critical acclaim and two Grammy nominations in January 2003.
In recent times, Plant has recorded with Afro Celt Sound System and along with Skin and Justin Adams, travelled to South Sahara, North of Timbuktu in Mali to participate in the 2nd Festival of the Desert, a gathering of African Saharan and assorted soul musicians including Oumou Sangare, Ali Farka Touré, Tinariwen and Tidawt. This project ultimately became a CD compilation to be found on the Harmonia Mundi label.
2003 saw the prestigious release of the definitive Plant retrospective, ’Sixty Six to Timbuktu’, which included a selection of Plant’s solo work from his first recording date to his appearance in Mali.
As of Oct 2004, Plant has reassembled his Es Paranza label which saw its first release for many years. Robert Plant and Strange Sensation’s album, titled ‘Mighty Rearranger’ is a collection of 12 all new, all original songs released May 2005. A major year long tour has just been completed.
At the close of 2005, the critically acclaimed Mighty Rearranger received 2 Grammy nominations.
2006 will see Robert and the band embark on a new adventure with a string of dates across Europe and beyond. A stopover in Sweden in late May will see Robert receive the prestigious Polar Music Prize along with other members of Led Zeppelin. The prize awarded to ‘Led Zeppelin’ will be presented by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden in the presence of other such dignitaries.
Tin Pan Alley
Robert Plant And The Strange Sensation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I live on former glory, so long ago and gone
I'm turning down the talk shows, the humor and the couch
I'm moving up to higher ground, I've found a new way out
There's parasols and barbecues and loungers by the pool
The late night conversations filled with 20th century cool
My peers may flirt with cabaret, some fake the rebel yell
Let me suspend my thirst for knowledge in your powder, sweat and sighs
A grudge of Christian women, a stain of spotless wives
A perfect destination inside a perfect world
I take the bottle to the baby, you take the hammer to the pearl
Like this
Every day's like Sunday, down here on memory lane
Salad days and no good ways drive me quite insane
A cocktail clouded troubadour attempts to speak in tongues
He's said enough, I'm through the door I'm moving right along
Like this
The opening two lines of “Tin Pan Alley” set the tone for the entire song when Robert Plant declares in his signature howl, “I come from Tin Pan Valley and I’m moving right along / I live on former glory, so long ago and gone.” The song is about Plant’s disillusionment with the music industry, as he finds himself surrounded by the washed-up and the sold-out. He rejects the idea of selling out and “turning down the talk shows, the humor and the couch” to instead “move up to higher ground.” However, Plant does not reveal exactly where this higher ground is, leaving listeners with an air of mystery as to what his actual plan for the future is.
The second verse of “Tin Pan Alley” takes a sharp turn in tone from the first. Instead of reflecting on his own disillusionment, Plant turns his flowery lyricism to the societal expectations of women as wife and mother. He sings, “Let me suspend my thirst for knowledge in your powder, sweat and sighs / A grudge of Christian women, a stain of spotless wives / A perfect destination inside a perfect world / I take the bottle to the baby, you take the hammer to the pearl.” It’s difficult to say what Plant means by these lyrics specifically, but he seems to be commenting on the oppressive standards society puts on women while men are free to chase their own dreams and escape.
Line by Line Meaning
I come from Tin Pan Valley and I'm moving right along
I am leaving my old life behind and moving on from my past in Tin Pan Valley.
I live on former glory, so long ago and gone
I am living in the past, relying on my past successes instead of creating new ones.
I'm turning down the talk shows, the humor and the couch
I am refusing to be a part of the shallow culture of talk shows and humor that dominates the media.
I'm moving up to higher ground, I've found a new way out
I am elevating myself to a higher level, leaving this old life behind for something better.
There's parasols and barbecues and loungers by the pool
The people around me are living a frivolous lifestyle, full of sun umbrellas, barbecues, and lounging by the pool.
The late night conversations filled with 20th century cool
The conversations I have with others are superficial, filled with references to outdated cultural trends of the 20th century.
My peers may flirt with cabaret, some fake the rebel yell
My peers may try to be edgy by flirting with cabaret or pretending to rebel, but it's all an act.
Me - I'm moving up to higher ground, I must escape this hell
I am determined to leave this lifestyle behind, as it feels like a prison from which I must escape.
Let me suspend my thirst for knowledge in your powder, sweat and sighs
I am willing to put aside my desire to learn and grow in order to indulge in physical pleasure.
A grudge of Christian women, a stain of spotless wives
I have a resentment for the hypocrisy of religious women who put on a facade of perfection.
A perfect destination inside a perfect world
People around me are obsessed with the idea of a perfect world, but it's just an illusion.
I take the bottle to the baby, you take the hammer to the pearl
I will take on the role of comforting those who are vulnerable, while others will destroy precious things for no reason.
Every day's like Sunday, down here on memory lane
Every day feels dull and unfulfilling as I dwell on the past.
Salad days and no good ways drive me quite insane
My youthful, carefree days are gone and I have not found a new path to follow, which is making me feel crazy.
A cocktail clouded troubadour attempts to speak in tongues
A musician is trying to be deep and profound, but their words are irrelevant and lost in a haze of alcohol.
He's said enough, I'm through the door I'm moving right along
I have heard enough of this nonsense and am leaving to continue on my journey.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CLIVE DEAMER, JOHN BAGGOTT, JUSTIN ADAMS, LIAM TYSON, ROBERT PLANT, WILLIAM FULLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@123maryfrances
"Like This..." just saw him in concert July 2--all I can say is thank you, Robert Plant--the best concert I've ever been to! I'm 57 and I've been to countless concerts and I'm serious when I say the best!
@sabretje
ce concert c de la bombe!!! Robert plant n a rien perdu de ces talents!!!
@susannelson7216
Love your little dance !!! Great song ❤🖖🎼🎵🎶😄
@zerowski
Love this album, great vibe!!!!!!
@peteraustinnoto142
Best of rp solo catalog
#1 slow dancer
#2 all those love songs
#1a this version of tin pan alley
As jennifer would say .. nailed it
@jeronimomarcela
que hombre que hace resaltar su profesionalismo!!gracias robert por compartir tu arte!!!
@poohrie09
saw him @ the beacon three times and he is awesome!!!!! he still Rocks the house!! This actually looks like one of the shows!!
@nazno
"Moving up to higher ground"--story of Plant's career.
@Greggwilliams
Heard this on soundstage And instantly liked it ! Robert Plant still kickin butt in my book!!!!!
@eminkurnaz6480
Nefis.Wonderful.