Rock Poetry Line by Line

"Stairway to Heaven": Sometimes Words Have Two Meanings

“Stairway to Heaven,” 1971, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page,

Led Zeppelin, from the untitled album known as

Led Zeppelin IV.

Recently, I received a request on my Wattpad message

 board from a young member requesting that I analyze

“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, her favorite song.

 Everybody knows that song so well, I thought.  Maybe it

 won’t generate much interest in readers.  But this young

member wasn’t even born yet while I was listening to it, hearing

it make history as the greatest Rock song ever written.  So, I

decided to take another listen to the music, review the

lyrics, now with new ears and eyes.  I find that this magnificent

piece of poetry in song can mean something different to every

 listener.  Indeed, as I look today at “Stairway to Heaven,” I

have new thoughts  about it, and realize I didn’t know it at all.

“Stairway to Heaven,” lyrics by Robert Plant.

 There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who stand looking.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune,
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long,
And the forests will echo with laughter.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven

Robert Plant has always been reluctant to discuss his lyrics.  He spoke

of the first line as a criticism of our materialistic society’s mindset

that we can buy our way into anything, even heaven.   Plant and the

other band members were loathe to have their lyrics analyzed,

their beliefs criticized, and built a protective wall around their music

with silence.  However, these lyrics are provided in their entirety on