Led Zeppelin - Ramble On

Led Zeppelin - Ramble On - Meaning of the song

This is one of Led Zeppelin's most enduring songs, but they never performed it live from start to finish while the band was active. It was in their set when Zeppelin reunited for a one-off concert at the O2 Arena in London on December 10, 2007. John Bonham's son Jason filled in on drums at that show.

Some of Robert Plant's lyrics in this song were inspired by the work of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of The Rings. The references are to the adventures of the Hobbit, Frodo Baggins, as he goes to "the darkest depths of Mordor" and encounters "Gollum and the evil one." Plant later admitted in an audio documentary that he was embarrassed by the Tolkien references, as they don't make all that much sense - a fair maiden wouldn't be found in Mordor, and Gollum would want nothing to do with her anyway, since his only concern is the precious ring.

Ramble on - Lyrics

The leaves are falling all around, time I was on my way Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay But now it's time for me to go, the autumn moon lights my way For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it's headed my way Ah, sometimes I grow so tired But I know I've got one thing I got to do Ramble on, and now's the time, the time is now To sing my song, I'm going 'round the world, I gotta find my girl On my way, I've been this way ten years to the day Ramble on, gotta find the queen of all my dreams Got no time to for spreading roots The time has come to be gone And though "our health" we drank a thousand times It's time to ramble on Ramble on, and now the time, the time is now To sing my song, I'm going 'round the world, I gotta find my girl On my way, I've been this way ten years to the day I gotta ramble on, I gotta find the queen of all my dreams I tell you no lie Mine's a tale that can't be told, my freedom I hold dear How years ago in days of old, when magic filled the air 'Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor, I met a girl so fair But Gollum, and the evil one crept up and slipped away with her Her, her, yeah Ah, there's nothing I can do now I guess I'll keep on Rambling, I'm gonna shake (Sing my song) I gotta find my baby I'm gonna ramble on, sing my song Gonna work my way, going 'round the world Baby, baby (Ramble on) Do do do do do do do do, my baby I can't stop this feeling in my heart Every time I think about my baby I think "we gots to part" Gotta keep on searching for my baby Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby I gotta keep on searching for my baby My, my, my, my, my, my, baby I can't find my bluebird! I listened to what my bluebird said, but I, I can't find my bluebird! I keep rambling, baby

Led Zeppelin - Ramble On - Album track