Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Zeppelin or Revelation ?

Last Friday I was in drive through lane at the ATM machine and as I was waiting for my turn the Led Zeppelin song "Going to California" came on the radio. As I was listening to this song (which I have heard plenty of times) I was struck by the lyrics which seemed very apocalyptic. I started thinking that this sounded a lot like the Book of Revelation the last book of the Bible in which John reveals the visions given to him of the second coming of Jesus Christ and the judgement of earth. Being curious I started doing some research after I got home.

I read through the entire Book of Revelation (NRSV online) and the lyrics to about 25 Led Zeppeling songs. Here I will present to you my findings in part. Below are quotes from Zeppelin tunes and from the book of revelation. You are to try and guess which is which. Some are easy to figure out and some aren't. I think you may be surprised as I was at exactly how similar these two things are.

There are too many to try and guess so just read them and try and figure out yourself. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments though. I will post the correct answers this afternoon so come back and check them out.


Here goes...... Zeppelin or Revelation:


The sea was red and the sky was grey,I wondered how tomorrow could ever follow.

sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood

The drums will shake the castle wall, the ring wraiths ride in black

The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake as the children of the sun began to awake

And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found

behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering

Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn Try to find a woman who's never been born

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the Earth

To sit with elders of the gentle race, this world has seldom seen They talk of days for which they sit and wait, all will be revealed

And my eyes fill with sand, as I scan this wasted land

From the houses of the holy, we can watch the white doves go From the door comes Satan's daughter

There's an angel on my shoulder, In my hand a sword of gold

The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom and walked the night alone

The Dark Lord rides in force tonight, and time will tell us all

you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve

I hear the horses thunder down in the valley below I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon

all the angels stood - In waiting. Round about the throne

It's a friendship so pure, Angels singing all around

The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath

No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life

Oh, Lord, deliver me All the wrong I've done You can deliver me, Lord

Into the sun the south the north, at last the birds have flown The shackles of commitment fell, in pieces on the ground

I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death

Walking side by side with death The devil mocks their every step
By the fire and smoke and sulfur coming out of their mouths.

The nations raged, but your wrath has come, and is the time for judging the dead

a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet

it had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon

The snow drives back the foot that's slow The dogs of doom are howling

Then the dragon took his stand on the sand of the seashore

With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds.

Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war

Queen of Light took her plow, And then she turned to go

I rule as a queen, and I will never see grief

The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom, And walked the night alone.

The woman clothed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and jewels and pearls

and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more

You are the sunlight in my growing so little warmth I've felt before

So what do you think? Pretty similar aren't they? I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Check back here this afternoon and I will post a link to the "answers"
-Doc

18 comments:

Charlene said...

The poetry of songs is something not noticed if the music is good. I pay attention myself and a good song has to have both the words and the music, to be a favorite.

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The Mountain Cat said...

"Jesus, gonna make up my dyin' bed."

Great list Doc! I recognize most of the Led Zeppelin lyrics. I assume the rest are Revelation.

The Mountain Cat said...

Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God.

The Mountain Cat said...

Being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks.

The Mountain Cat said...

Oh, do you know my name? Do I look the same?

The Mountain Cat said...

The street of the city was pure gold.

The Mountain Cat said...

Sisters of the way-side bide their time in quiet peace,
Await their place within the ring of calm.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

There have been many articles written linking the lyrics of Zepp with the teachings of Black Magician Aleister Crowley and of the satanic, magical cult he founded, the “Argenteum Astrum”

So if you listen to this devil music you will burn in hell forever

bwahahahahahahahahahahaha

sorry, could not help myself...

Doc said...

BTW - I didn't even include any lyrics from Stairway to Heaven. Too easy to recognize.

The Mountain Cat said...

Doc, Can we do the same thing with Justin Bieber lyrics??

schleif said...

"There's an angel standing in the sun, and it's crying with a loud voice, this is the supper of the mighty one." Oh wait, that's actually Genesis (Supper's Ready, 1972)

Jay said...

Had to LOL @ The Mountain Cat's "Justin Bieber" comment.

So much great literature and music follows the same themes as you will find in The Bible.

Doc said...

Funny thing is that I thought that Justin Bieber was a boy... until I heard him/her.

Karen said...

This is way over my head. I'd do better with Bieber lyrics.

Candy Minx said...

What a wonderful set of comparisons, loed this post! lots of fun!

...the original song in this post was written for/about Joni Mitchell as Robert Plant had a crush on her...

Just me... said...

Many great works of art are based on passages from the Bible.. Why would Zeppelin be immune to the same influences?
But, let's be honest... They did spend a great deal of time wicked stoned in hotel rooms that had Gideon's Bibles!! :):)

Anonymous said...

Interesting. Lots of similarities there. I missed 13.