Led Zeppelin and Lord of the Rings

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SUMMARY

The discussion explores the connections between Led Zeppelin's music and J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" (LOTR) series. Participants highlight specific songs, such as "Battle of Evermore" and "Misty Mountain Hop," which reference elements from Middle Earth, including Gollum and the Misty Mountains. The conversation also touches on the cultural phenomenon of reverse messages in music, with a humorous nod to the myth surrounding them. Overall, the forum members share their appreciation for the intertwining of music and literature, particularly in the context of Zeppelin's influence.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with Led Zeppelin's discography, particularly "Battle of Evermore" and "Misty Mountain Hop."
  • Understanding of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" and its characters.
  • Knowledge of music analysis concepts, including reverse messages in songs.
  • Awareness of cultural references in music and literature.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the lyrical themes in Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore" and their connections to LOTR.
  • Explore the significance of Gollum and the Misty Mountains in Tolkien's works.
  • Investigate the phenomenon of reverse messages in rock music, including examples from other artists.
  • Analyze the impact of literary influences on rock music, focusing on other bands inspired by Tolkien.
USEFUL FOR

Music enthusiasts, Tolkien fans, and cultural analysts interested in the intersections of rock music and literature will benefit from this discussion.

quantumdude
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Hey folks,

I've been watching the first two LOTR movies a lot, in anticipation of the 3rd one to come out in December. Lately I've been noticing all the imagery that Led Zeppelin borrows from that trilogy, and I am now listening to "Battle of Evermore", which mentions the ringwraiths. That prompted me to do some Googling, and this is what I turned up:

Zeppelin and Tolkein Relations Page

Someone with much more time on his hands found more connections. I thought they were kind of cool.

Enjoy,
 
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In the darkest depths of mordor i met a girl so fair...
 
But Gollum, and the eeevil one

crept up and stole away with hee-eer hee-eer hee-eer yeah.

<- is done singing

<- isn't going to quit his day job
 
...crept up and slipped away with hee-eer hee-eer hee-eer yeah.
:wink:
 
Ramble On!

Yeah, Zeppelin and Tolkien have a lot of connections.

Let's see... Misty Mountain Hop has some references to Middle Earth (if I remember my Tolkien correctly).

Watch the Song Remains the Same. Plant's scene sort of goes for that mythical atmosphere.
 
Originally posted by Sting
Let's see... Misty Mountain Hop has some references to Middle Earth (if I remember my Tolkien correctly).

Yes, I remember watching Fellowship of the Ring, and when Galadriel said that Gollum took the ring deep into the Misty Mountains, that power riff was sounding off in my head.
 
Someone with much more time on his hands found more connections. I thought they were kind of cool.
Speaking of having time on someone’s hands, I once reworked an auto-reversing cassette deck so it would play a tape either forwards or backwards. This made it easy to listen to a song in either direction. The Zeppelin band had quite a few things to say about Satan.
I thought it was kind of cool, hehe.
 
Originally posted by BoulderHead
Speaking of having time on someone’s hands, I once reworked an auto-reversing cassette deck so it would play a tape either forwards or backwards. This made it easy to listen to a song in either direction. The Zeppelin band had quite a few things to say about Satan.
I thought it was kind of cool, hehe.

nahh.. you got it all wrong... Chicago has the good stuff:wink:
 
Saw Return of the King again last weekend. That's 5 times now!

I need help.
 
  • #10
Tom Mattson said:
Saw Return of the King again last weekend. That's 5 times now!

I need help.

Holy cow, I only saw it twice and it was too much for me.
 
  • #11
Boulderhead, Zantra! NO JOKE?? I'd always heard about that reverse message thing but I thought it was a myth. (Somebody call Mythbusters! :wink: ) I never knew anyone who actually HEARD it themselves. That's so weird! Then it's true? Zantra, Chicago? Really? Get OUT! CHICAGO? :frown: really? Jeez... :frown:
 
  • #12
interesting, but its not pink floyd/wizard of oz. :D
 
  • #13
chief said:
interesting, but its not pink floyd/wizard of oz. :D
True. :biggrin: Isn't that WEIRD?? I just love watching/listening to that. :wink:
 
  • #14
BoulderHead said:
Speaking of having time on someone’s hands, I once reworked an auto-reversing cassette deck so it would play a tape either forwards or backwards. This made it easy to listen to a song in either direction. The Zeppelin band had quite a few things to say about Satan.
I thought it was kind of cool, hehe.

Meh, you hear what you want to here. I remember a friend of mine convincing someone that a rage song, "born of a broken man", actually, said "pinapple pumkin man", just by saying so, and playing the song for him.
 

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