 Led Zeppelin IV (1971) [ larger cover art ] |
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If it keeps on rainin', levee's going to break
If it keeps on rainin', levee's going to break
And when the levee breaks, have no place to stay
Mean old levee, taught me to weep and moan, moan
Mean old levee, taught me to weep and moan
It's got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home
Oh, well, oh, well, oh, well-a, ooh-ooh
A-don't it make ya feel bad
When you're tryin' to find your way home?
You don't know which way to go
If you're goin' down south and there's no work to do
Then ya go north to Chicago, aaah, aaah, aaah, hey
Cryin' won't help ya, prayin' won't do ya no good, no
Cryin' won't help ya, prayin' won't do ya no good
A-when the levee breaks, mama, you got to move, a-woo-hoo
All last night, I sat on the levee and moaned
All last night, sat on the levee and moaned
Thinkin' 'bout my baby and my happy home, oh-hoh
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ha
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ha
Oh, oh
Goin', I'm goin' to Chicago, goin' to Chicago
Sorry, but I can't take you
Goin' down, goin' down, now, goin' down, a-goin' down, now
Goin' down, goin' down, goin' down, goin' down, yeahh
Goin' down, goin' down, now, goin' down, goin' down, now
Goin' down, goin' down, now, goin' down
Goin' down, down, down, down, down
Ooh-woo-ooh, ooh-woo-ooh
| Derecho (A Land Without Traffic Lights) | Posted: May 16, 2013 - 08:22 I pushed the volume all the way up for this one. After it was over I went to turn the volume down and the slider was missing.  I guess I turned it up and broke the knob off, as radio stations used to suggest?  |
| lemmoth (NYC) | Posted: Mar 14, 2013 - 14:30 In my growing up years the Big 4 gods of rock and roll were of course The Beatles, The Stones, The Who & Zeppelin. My being an American and them English meant nothing . I've loved hundreds of bands and solo artists since then and a number have moved past Zep on my all time last. But.....being immersed in this as so many of my generation, this song and other evoke so much in me. Love hearing it when I'm not expecting it. Awesome RP |
| Spiderwoman (Lake Chelan, North Central Washington) | Posted: Mar 14, 2013 - 14:24 GENIUS But I can't decide which is my favorite: When The Levee Breaks or Ten Years Gone ? |
| Toke (Bournemouth UK) | Posted: Feb 11, 2013 - 05:51 aspicer wrote: ...for whatever reason I'm in the midst of a Zeppelin immersion period these days - been long enough I can appreciate it again now - it's almost fresh even - simply BRILLIANT! This is one of the all time best for sure. Yes I fully agree aspicer ... those were the days of passion in presentation... |
| clickfaster | Posted: Feb 11, 2013 - 05:51  |
| Propayne (Richmond VA) | Posted: Feb 11, 2013 - 05:48 Good lord, the way Bonzo plays just behind the beat. Love it. |
| aspicer (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Dec 10, 2012 - 12:23 ...for whatever reason I'm in the midst of a Zeppelin immersion period these days - been long enough I can appreciate it again now - it's almost fresh even - simply BRILLIANT! This is one of the all time best for sure. |
| oilydwarf | Posted: Nov 09, 2012 - 03:51 Man that's good! No, I take that back, it's GODLIKE!!! |
| Stingray | Posted: Oct 08, 2012 - 18:53 idiot_wind wrote: No one but no one drums like Bonham. It dominates this song. He and Keith Moon were the freakin best. Ask Bill Bruford, Clive Deamer (Plant Band) and at least 50 others! I always thought Keith Moon was great - but.... |
| Dave_K (Waterbury, CT) | Posted: Sep 07, 2012 - 05:35 Stingray wrote: I wonder if Eugene on the cover-photo shares body language with the prototypical male RP listener? The man is on his way home ready to play old FLOYD records - I bet! What else - Ummagumma is no longer an option for his generation. Am I funny...? a little funny.....this time. |
| idiot_wind | Posted: Jul 06, 2012 - 07:38 No one but no one drums like Bonham. It dominates this song. He and Keith Moon were the freakin best. |
| aelfheld | Posted: Jul 06, 2012 - 07:37 40 years on and it still raises goosebumps. |
| LowPhreak (United Corporate States of Neo-Feudal Amurika, Inc.) | Posted: Aug 16, 2011 - 04:17  |
| westslope (BC coast) | Posted: Jul 19, 2011 - 16:13 tdturner wrote: Greetings from Vancouver. ;-) Yes tdturner. You would not doubt be an authority on rain! |
| westslope (BC coast) | Posted: Jul 19, 2011 - 16:12 fredriley wrote: I do a lot of mountain walking in Scotland, and in summer and autumn the mountains are snow-free - the torrents and burns are filled by the plentiful rain the region enjoys. Now there is a man after my own heart. Ran/mostly hiked 10km of rather wet trail in North Vancouver Sunday. We have both a good snow pack and lots of rain in the Coastal mountains this summer. |
| Tippster (Washington, DC) | Posted: Jul 15, 2011 - 19:26 Plants Harmonica work is so underrated. I cant decide which I enjoy more between it and Bonzo's amazing drumming. |
| tdturner (Vancouver) | Posted: Jul 15, 2011 - 19:20 Greetings from Vancouver. ;-) |
| Ag3nt0rang3 (Canada) | Posted: Jul 04, 2011 - 12:34 Stingray wrote: Is there any other mountain water....? Um, how about rain? |
| aelfheld | Posted: Jul 04, 2011 - 12:33 Stingray wrote: Am I funny...? No. |
| scrubbrush (Sea of Calm) | Posted: Jun 29, 2011 - 08:41 Stingray wrote: I wonder if Eugene on the cover-photo shares body language with the prototypical male RP listener? The man is on his way home ready to play old FLOYD records - I bet! What else - Ummagumma is no longer an option for his generation. Am I funny...? The question is: do you even make sense to yourself? |
| ScottishWillie (The Scottish Lowlands) | Posted: Jun 14, 2011 - 03:12 Stingray wrote: I wonder if Eugene on the cover-photo shares body language with the prototypical male RP listener? The man is on his way home ready to play old FLOYD records - I bet! What else - Ummagumma is no longer an option for his generation. Am I funny...? |
| Businessgypsy (Deepest, Darkest Florida) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:27 fredriley wrote: This is sort of appropriate right now, as I read in the papers yesterday that floodgates on the Mississipi have been opened to save New Orleans from flooding because of high volumes of mountain meltwater, with the serious side-effect that many communities in Louisiana will be wiped out by the overflow. See the BBC news story. Fred, glad to know the BBC is as overblown as I assumed. I grew up in the Atchafalaya Basin, and was front and center for the 1973 Morganza Spillway opening. The Bonne Carre spillway has been opened eight times in seven decades."Many" communities won't be affected, because there's not many communities in this natural floodplain. As far as being "wiped out"? Well, Cajuns were originally distributed throughout this region after banishment from Nova Scotia by means of water transport. The culture has stayed in close tune with water and pretty much rolls with the punches come flood time. Some houses will be lost, and some fortunes diminished - no doubt. Acadiana and it's resilient people, however, will continue and thrive. Come on down, I'll meet you there for some catfish courtbullion and cochon de lait. The music is amazing! All of this is to make sure the levee doesn't break. That would indeed be a cataclysm. |
| Stingray (Support JULIAN - not NWO) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:26 I wonder if Eugene on the cover-photo shares body language with the prototypical male RP listener? The man is on his way home ready to play old FLOYD records - I bet! What else - Ummagumma is no longer an option for his generation. Am I funny...? |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:21 Stingray wrote: Is there any other mountain water....? Yep - rainwater. I do a lot of mountain walking in Scotland, and in summer and autumn the mountains are snow-free - the torrents and burns are filled by the plentiful rain the region enjoys. |
| Stingray (Support JULIAN - not NWO) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:15 fredriley wrote: mountain meltwater Is there any other mountain water....? |
| Stingray (Support JULIAN - not NWO) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:13 Very close to a 10...! |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:13 BrokenArrow wrote: The drums on this track make the song That's true for several of their tunes. NTTAWWT |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:13 This is sort of appropriate right now, as I read in the papers yesterday that floodgates on the Mississipi have been opened to save New Orleans from flooding because of high volumes of mountain meltwater, with the serious side-effect that many communities in Louisiana will be wiped out by the overflow. See the BBC news story. |
| Dana_Montroy | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:12 My thoughts and prayers are with all those folks who are watching the waters rise from the overflowing Mississippi River right now threatening their homes and livelihoods with the flood from the levies. |
| On_The_Beach (Vancouver BC, Bud) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:10 farley wrote: the legend that is John Bonham xxx No question he left his mark on this puppy. As subtle as a bull in a china shop . . . Love it! |
| akaike (Mississippi - in the State, on the River) | Posted: May 17, 2011 - 09:09 Tough song to hear while sitting in Vicksburg, MS right about now...but I guess that's why the blues were born here in the Delta. |
| PA1749 (Jim Thorpe) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:22 I always get this cartoon image of big fat gangster in a zoot suit pimp strolling with his cane when I hear this. |
| sirdroseph (Yes) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:22 10 duh.  |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:22 I can't play it too loudly, because I have cheap speakers on my computer.  But - I have it cranked as loudly as I can on this glorious Friday afternoon. I've been up since 5:30 this morning, accomplishing stuff. This song is a welcome break from my whole work day. And I'm sunburned. (Dubious icing on the cake that is me, but I'll take it.)I LOVE this whole CD/album/cassette (yes, I have all three.) Perfect for this very-welcome sunny day. Thanks, Bill and Rebecca/Rebecca and Bill - you always come through when it's most needed. I'd marry you two if you weren't already married.  |
| djengs | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:22 spigolli wrote: I always hit skip when this one comes on the 8-track and end up on the Battle of Evermore and then I feel alright. Oh hell, I wore this 8-track out long long ago (and far away, for that matter). Have actually moved on to more recent technology. You might consider doing the same. |
| greenlake | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:21 the 2nd album i bought when i was 14! classic jammin soul! my first -dsm...rocker iam |
| farley (Bushey, UK) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:21 the legend that is John Bonham xxx |
| Det (Lower Saxony Germany) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:19  kind of a blues - isn_t it? |
| PA1749 (Jim Thorpe) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:19 Also my favorite Led Zep song! It Rocks! |
| blueice7 (NYC) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:17 My absolute fav Zep song!  |
| rdo (DC) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:16 Stingray wrote: are you kidding us...? There hasn't been a better drummer since Keith, except me...  |
| radioparadisehead (The Dirty Dirty) | Posted: May 13, 2011 - 12:16 Quite a song to play today as most everyone I know is about to have their entire homes go underwater resulting from water overtopping the levees. But, as long as the levees don't break, it'll be all right. If they do, you can expect damage far worse than Katrina. |
| myersei (Denver, CO) | Posted: Apr 15, 2011 - 22:58 One cannot play this song too loud. It is perfect. It goes to 11. |
| rickhoran (Eastern PA) | Posted: Mar 15, 2011 - 08:45 fingerpin wrote: Either a '1' or a '10'. Don't be assigning any of this middle of the road '5' bullshit to a song like this! For me, oh yeah, it's a 10.  for me its a 1. but i can't give a led zep song a 1. |
| fingerpin (oHIo) | Posted: Mar 15, 2011 - 08:44 Either a '1' or a '10'. Don't be assigning any of this middle of the road '5' bullshit to a song like this! For me, oh yeah, it's a 10. |
| SinisterDexter | Posted: Mar 15, 2011 - 08:42 Awesome! Bonham always sounds like he's going to pound those drums into dust. |
| BrokenArrow (Green Mountains) | Posted: Mar 15, 2011 - 08:42 The drums on this track make the song |
| gabrielle7nt (halfway up the Left Coast) | Posted: Mar 15, 2011 - 08:41 Dave_Mack wrote: When the levee breaks...I need some coffee. You don't know how bad I need some. |
| nicolewe | Posted: Mar 15, 2011 - 08:37 Believe it or not, this is my favorite Zeppelin song...rockin' that this mornin'.      |
| Ahnyer_Keester (Chicago Il) | Posted: Mar 15, 2011 - 08:36 Nice to hear Led Zeppelin where they don't get over played and ground to death like on those "classic rock" stations. Thanks for keepin it real RP! |