razerroy March 22nd, 2006 12:27PM  
I'd just like to point out the fact that the lyrics within Stairway To Heaven repeatedly refers to how words can have two meanings, and having two paths to go by. Brilliantly, the reverse lyrics within the song contain references to Satan -- The song is not about Satan, and the band is not praising Satan, but rather the result of taking the "other" path (the Stairway to Hell?)

anonymous March 24th, 2006 02:43PM  
To interpret an artists work in a song is like trying to interpret an artists painting. I could paint a picture witht he sole intent of making an aesthetic work of art, with no meaning whatsoever. but, when someone attempts to place a meaning behind it, does that make the meaning wrong? perhaps page and plant were telling the truth, maybe they meant no hidden meaning whatsoever, maybe the words just sounded good. so to say there was a hidden meaning that they TRIED to convey would be wrong. but, if a song means something to you, then that is what it means. as for what page and plant meant by their lyrics.. Is it so hard to believe that they had no intent on creating a "double meaning" song? perhaps we should just trust THEIR (the writers of the song) interpretation.

*as a side note, i'd like to say something about backmasking--
someone said they had listened to the backmasking (as have i) and they thought it was too unlikely to just be a coincidence. if you think about it.. How many songs are there? just for arguments sake, lets say 1000000..(very low estimate) on that site (and yes, I am sure there are more) there were about 7 songs that were seemingly not backmasked on purpose.. That's a 7/1000000 chance that a song has a (somewhat) distinguishable backmask. so stairway is a song with a backmask, pretty low chance of that happening eh? but then ask yourself, would stairway have been such a hot topic had it not been for the accidental backmask?

anonymous April 3rd, 2006 02:28PM  
Who cares what it's about, man. It just a rockin' tune. Now,why doesn't everybody just stop trying to disect the song and just sit back and enjoy the music. Hey, crack open a beer or smoke a bong, whatever makes you happy. Just feel the music.

anonymous April 5th, 2006 11:38PM  
A lot of you raise some good points, but at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what anyone thinks the song is about- the band doesn't even know what the real meaning is behind it. They've publically admitted that they were so drugged up while writing it that they don't even remember a) what its about, and b) even writing the piece. Its meant to mean a different thing to every unique person that listens to it- just like any other piece of music. No one's analysis is going to be exactly identical.

anonymous April 15th, 2006 01:10PM  
Okay the band memebers said there's no meaning. The song says there's no meaning "sometimes words have no meanings," why can't there ever be no meaning? The song isn't about drugs or some rich chick. It's just a good song. I heard that they wrote it in like a hour.

Binny April 17th, 2006 06:58PM  
Okay, this is so simple.
First of all, it is CLEARLY about getting into either Heaven or Hell.

"There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying the 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 the stairway to heaven."

-- There is a woman who is rich and stuck up and she thinks she can get into heaven by just stating "I believe in Jesus." One word- believe, can get her into heaven, although she is greedy which is a sin. She most likely also donates money to the church and thinks that will get her into heaven as well. This also plays into Christians in general and how Jesus forgives for their sins as long as they believe in him. She can be rich and snobby and greedy and she knows that Jesus forgives her because she believes in him. OR she could be very conceded and just assume that she is rich and powerful and doesn't need redemption from her sins and that she has a guaranteed spot in 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. "

---This refers to the bible. The bible states you should not be greedy, but she doesn't want to give up her money just for heaven. She assumes her belief will get her in regardless of her sins. She's in denial that her being greedy is a sin. She also is unsure if her belief is enough to get her into heaven despite her sins. Also, misgiven means 'To arouse suspicion or apprehension in (one's mind or heart, for example).' Therefore, it is also referring to people in general in the fact that EVERYONE has sins yet with Jesus they are forgiven. The greedy rich woman is an example.
Also, although the word brook used in this context means a small body of water or whatever, it also means 'To put up with; tolerate' Jesus tolerates sins as long as people believe in him. Therefore, the songbird sings, or praises, Jesus because Jesus has forgiven it's sins and it knows it's okay. Then that ties in with the all thoughts are misgiven line. [songbird could symbolize a person]

"There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving."

---West most ALWAYS resembles death. When he looks in the future towards his death, his spirit is begging for forgiveness to Jesus because he has sinned and knows now he must be forgiven or he will not go to Heaven.

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.

---Smoke can symbolize many things. It could possibly resemble drug use in which is a sin and he wants to be forgiven for it or it could resemble all his sins in general. The voices of those who stand looking is either his conscience telling him he's done many bad things and needs to redeem himself or the devil telling him to continue doing those things which are sinful.

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.

--Whisper is a very silent, sometimes a hidden, message. As in we can not actually HEAR the voice of Jesus but we know the word of God. It could resemble that he's read and heard about God's word and to not sin yet it's never actually been said by God himself which could show deep down he's confused on what to believe about God and religion. It also means that if you ask for forgiveness, Jesus [the piper] will lead you to heaven and reason. He's heard in church and from the bible that if we all "call the tune", as in state our devotion to Jesus, then we will be saved. And once you've stood by Jesus until you've died, then you will go to heaven- a new day will dawn. Forests could resemble all the dark places he's been in his life, or Satan himself. An echo is something that repeats itself and eventually dies away, as in the devil pushing him to sin [laughing] and finally, after he finds Jesus, will die away and he will be saved.

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.

---The bustle in your hedgerow part isn't very symbolic. It could just point out that you have sins in your life, but not to be alarmed because you can save yourself and your sins will be forgotten.
Two paths to go by means you can either choose- Heaven or Hell. That's an easy line to interpret. And the next line obviously means you can always choose Heaven, no matter what you've done; As long as you ask for forgiveness from Jesus and God. All of this makes him wonder. Everything the bible states makes him wonder, he isn't sure what to believe.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,

---Your head addresses to all the sinners out there in the world. Head is humming because of the devil and Jesus both fighting to either save you or condemn you, it's a battle for everyone to choose to sin or not to sin, to ask forgiveness or not to. The piper [Jesus] is calling people to join him and believe in him. Although, drawings of the devil sometimes resemble him with horns and horse legs with him playing the piper. Therefore, if the piper resembles the devil, then it could mean the devil is CONSTANTLY calling him and everyone to join him in Hell and to commit sins. It's a constant battle between Jesus and the devil. They are both calling people to join them.

"Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind."

---He's speaking to the lady, and to all sinners, that the gateway to heaven is to ask for forgiveness. He's trying to solve the battle in everyone's and his own head, to believe in Jesus. AGAIN with the whispering. The whisper is the soft words of the bible and he's telling himself and all other sinners that your stairway to heaven lies in the bible and the words of God through the bible- and to just believe in even though you can't actually SEE or HEAR Jesus and God, They are there.


"And as we wind on down the road"
--As we go on through life

"Our shadows taller than our soul."
--This is the best line. Our shadows resemble the end of our life and all of what we have done in our life- good or bad. He is also saying you have to do good things and even though your belief in Jesus can save you, you must do God's will and spread love and such and whatnot. The good things people have done are more important than just believing, you have to act out in a good way to prove your belief in Jesus.
It could also being saying that all the sins we love doing such as sex, drugs, and everything are more important to people than being saved therefore they do them anyway expecting to just get into heaven with their belief in Jesus.

"There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold."

--This lady comes off as saved because she goes to church and does things to show her belief in Jesus yet deep down, she's still a greedy sinful broad. She still wears all these expensive things and shows off her stuff and thinks she's hot shit yet she believes this of little importance because hey, she believes in God, so she thinks this belief alone will get her into heaven.

And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.

--Eventually all sinners will come to realize they need to do better for Jesus and it's not all about believing you have to prove you know the word of god by being good christians.

"When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll."

--He says you have to be strong in your belief in Jesus and try your friggin hardest not to roll away and commit sins and listen to Satan. Once everyone comes together and believes in Jesus they will have won the battle against Satan.

And she's buying the stairway to heaven.

blah blah.

BASICALLY
the song means that you can get into heaven by just believing in Jesus and saying you want your sins to be forgiven, but you must also try not to commit sins and be a good Christian or you'll go to Hell.
it's simple.

Yeah, I know I'm right.

<33 BINNY the dog.
Oh yeah, I have my own religion, join ittt. www.myspace.com/binnyy

Ssheska77 April 21st, 2006 06:41PM  
I think (key word "think") that this song is about life. Making decisions, looking at whats around and making decisions. Good or bad. There is beauty in everything. I like to take a simpler approach to music, this song is beautiful, but also thought provoking. I am an artist, but you may interpret what I draw or paint the way you like, that is the beauty of it. It's not bad aor good it is just art. Musicians are also artists, the composing of music and compiling of words is a great art. You may interperate it the way you want, there is no right or wrong....

bill_clinton69er April 29th, 2006 04:48AM  
This song is about a women who inherits allot of money and finds out that she cannot buy her way into heaven.

When this song is backmasked there is a satanic message which is talking about how he sold his sole to get into heaven.

anonymous May 9th, 2006 06:11PM  
Side note on backmasking: get audio editing software and play the part backwards... you WILL hear the alleged message.. as to whether or not the message is on purpose: take just the part that says "satan" and re-reverse it(play it forwards).. you will find that it could not be on purpose.. because the word satan is not even a word when played forwards, it is a note on a guitar.

anonymous May 9th, 2006 06:35PM  
I'd like to start out by saying that it seems a little silly to go on and on about what this song means, as a general rule I don't think bands try and give every song a specific deep meaning, as for speculating on whether led zepplin was secretly very religious and trying to influence people in a christian manner, that's sort of ridiculous, there are plenty of christian bands, if you want to tell people about christianity you don't generally go on about may queens and pipers and rings of smoke through the trees etc. I don't think.
in response to this satanic idea there just isn't logically any evidence, why would you secretly put a message backwards into a song on the off chance that it would become a fad by religious people to play rock music backwards and try to find "evil" references just so they could label rock music an evil bad influence etc. etc. besides that, the so called "message" doesn't make any sense if you want to "worship satan" why not throw in some hail satans or I eat childrens what the heck: heres to satan whose power is satan??? hell give you 666? there was a little toolshed where he made us suffer (and that's why we *obviously* like him so much) its a random coincidence guys, get over it, it only sounds vaguely like the word satan a few times and gibberish between unless you have the words in front of you. further, I think most of you are confused as to what satanism really is, you're probably thinking that the goth kid you were afraid of at the store the other day is satanic and is likely to sacrifice a couple of your children if they get too close, the truth is that its more likely to be your " free-thinking" neighbor, satanism only refers to satan in passing and they really don't do anything "evil" so who cares; go read up on some world religions before you start spouting off on whos this or that or what that denotes.
the idea of the "streams of conscious" writing seems to make sense, I've done similar writings in english classes and it usually ends up like an odd story that doesn't make much sense unless you explain what you were referring to, so in my opinion he may have written it like that but I doubt he was trying to get out a message about building his deck he probably just wanted it as a stand alone story.
so listen to the song because its beautiful, leave interpretation to how you're feeling at the moment and stop over-analyzing everything and trying to throw everything into categories of satanism vs. me and my awesome godliness

ssorry for the long-windedness and the grammatical inclarity

-True

dupuis_j June 12th, 2006 08:43PM  
The song is basically about drugs and that's about it however the song contains some hidden lines when the song is played in reverse. These lines are as follows:
Oh heres to my sweet satan, whos little path would make me sad whos powere is satan. and those who are with him give them 666. In there little toolshed where he made us suffer sad satan... or something like that. but that's it it's about drugs.

maddhatter June 15th, 2006 09:22PM  
This song is not about drugs, or satan. As with A LOT of Led Zepplin's songs it is about The Lord of the Rings. "The land of Mordor," and other Tolkien refrences are all over the place, if you cane to look at the lyrics. Page was into Tolkien, and therefore he made plenty of refrence to his masterpiece.
The fact is, whatever you want this song to be about is what it is about for you. However, as well as many others, this song is refering to The Lord of the Rings.
**Hint: Take a look at the pictures, and drawing that are in the box set. I see a lot of Gandolf...**

anonymous July 8th, 2006 10:00PM  
This song is just about a girl ODing on drugs and buying herself a stairway to heaven, which means that she is probably scuicidal. It states many things but ends up being just about this girl who Jimmy Page or Robert plant new... But I could be wrong on that part. I think the 'piper' who is going to lead us to reason is leading 'us' on the right parth and if you don't the piper will ask you to join him on the stairway to heaven. At the end of the song if you read the lyrics it states "And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last." think about it

anonymous July 10th, 2006 04:03PM  
I think the meaning to Stairway to Heaven is the complicated structure and the divine presence that heals everybody. It changed the world. In a certain magnetic and silly way.

anonymous July 13th, 2006 01:15PM  
Now I'm a suspicious kinda gal, so I did a little test.
I tried it on my mum, who didn't know anything about this whole 'backwards message' thing.
She couldn't hear anything at first. or second.
Then she could make out a very few words.
Then I told her what the words were alleged to be...
I hope it doesn't surprise anybody that *having been told what the words were* they were suddenly a lot clearer.

Check out some of the 'misheard lyrics' websites, sometime and see how people manage to mangle what they hear.

FWIW, the idea that 'If there's a bustle in your hedgerow - don't be alarmed now. It's just a springclean for the May Queen' doesn't make much sense - and the alleged message *does* is just... Stupid. Sorry. But it is.

As for meaning... well, I have a theory that it's about Mornington Crescent, and as soon as I've worked it out, I'll post it.

anonymous July 16th, 2006 01:26AM  
Hi.

I suspect this song does have a spiritual meaning, but not one as simple and exact as a lot of people seem to think, particularly one focusing on a single situation/religion, like Christianity. It's very ambiguous, which stops it from being didactic, and thus why it is one of the world's favourite songs. It's left open for many interpretations, even the unfortunately-simple ones such as it being all about drugs or Satan. I wouldn't doubt the allusions to LOTR are slightly intentional, and I wouldn't be all that surprised if the backwards stuff was put in intentionally (and it almost seems encouraged by the whole "'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.") but overall I think we're supposed to take this at face value. If the backwards message was intentional though, then kudos are in order, because Zeppelin managed to hide yet another meaning in here to anyone who looks hard enough for it.

The way I see it, Stairway to Heaven is a look at spirituality and how it's shared between people.

//"There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven."//
-We are shown a Lady who believes in her ideals of heaven. But as she is working towards those ideals, like they are some price tags of devotion, she is buying her way into heaven. In a religious context, you could allude to following the Bible dogmatically as an example of this.

//"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. "//
-She feels her beliefs are right, and better than everyone else's. (think of a movie star having stores opened just for them at the snap of their fingers.)

//"There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. "//
-The guidelines are clear (e.g. The Ten Commandments) but the words sometimes have different interpretations.

//"
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. "//
-This part seems to me to be the beginning of where the story strays from the Lady to the speaker. The "songbird who sings" part seems to almost be a play at the line before it of words having two meanings, because you could interpret this line MANY different ways. The second line "Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven" seems to show the speaker's uncertainty/unconformity with what the Lady preaches.

//"There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving."//
-A feeling when the speaker thinks about the unknown/death. (eference to LOTR in my part here, possibly also in Zeppelin's)
//"In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who stand looking. "//
-A feeling like he's not alone, and spirits beyond what can be seen are watching. ("Through the trees" being just out of sight from reality. Just my interpretation of this part. But I think this general idea is given to most people)

//"And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason. "//
-It's rumored that if everybody follows one belief, then a revolution will come. However, it's hinted that this revolution may nto be a good thing, what with the "piper" being a reference to the Pied Piper of Hamelin, which has two meanings:
1. A person who offers others strong yet delusive enticements.
2. One, such as a leader, who makes irresponsible promises.
(Wikipedia)
//"And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter. "//
-the revolution spoken of - though the "laughter" could either be these spirits laughing at the living because of the bad results of this revolution, or the living becoming these spirits (led to heaven perhaps) and thus it is happy 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. "//
-If you haven't led your life by these beliefs of the Lady, don't worry, because she will easilly turn you around onto the 'true path'. "Bustle in your hedgerow" meaning an impurity, and "May Queen" meaning purifier (as per Wikipedia).

//"Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him, "//
-so many choices of how to live life, with the Piper and the Lady encouraging you to follow their beliefs.

//"Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind. "//
-The speaker's first big stray from the crowd, saying that the Lady's beliefs are just that, and are no more true than anything else. They aren't tangible/provable, just like the wind. The speaker says how one can only follow on faith, not on fact.

//"And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul."//
-road of life, shadows=bad things/sins
//"There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold."//
-The Lady still thinks she can put you on the right path, and make everything beautiful and golden again.
//"And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last. "//
-And if you follow her carefully, then you'll understand and share this belief.
//"When all are one and one is all"//
-At the end of all things. I.e. death.
//"To be a rock and not to roll."//
-To be like a rock and follow these rules. It reminds me of "And the meek shall inherit the Earth"
//"And she's buying a stairway to heaven."//
-Outlines the still dominant feeling that even if everything the Lady is doing is right, she's still just following the instruction booklet, earning her way into heaven, instead of genuinely deserving it.


The whole song, to me at least, is a delightfully ambiguous look at spirituality which leaves interpretations from most religious sects/ideals (even satanism if you listen to it backwards lol). It seems to basically outline man's struggle with faith, outlining that it can't be tangible ("Your stairway lies on the whispering wind"), thus you can never know for sure if it's right or not, you just have to follow those who believe it (The Piper, the Lady). And no matter what, in the end the choice to follow them is just as disatisfyingly simple as following the intruction booklet/earning your way into heaven, essentially just buying your way there through devotion.
I think the beauty in this song is how it doesn't choose any side in this whole arguement, but just outlines everything and leaves it up to the listener to derive their own interpretation of the lyrics. It doesn't denounce nor promote faith, it simply shows all there is to show.
I'll bet this is one of those songs that everyone can relate to if they look at it one way or another.

YoungRocker July 22nd, 2006 10:12PM  
Ok first of all I'm sick of people saying that this song refers to satan. Ive read many interviews on this topic and page always denies being a satanist...And think about this if he truly was a satanist y would he deny it....Would you ever deny your religion to god. Thats my point. Plus robert plant is a poet pretty much all the words in there are great. The song can have soooo many meanings to it. That would probably be y its refered to the greatest rock song of all time. So think about this. Nobody in zeppelin is a satanist, plus the day robert plant herd people were believeing that there was a satanic backwards message in stairway to heaven he was very angry because he takes great pride in his lyrics. So please everyone quit jumping to pointless conclusions when you have nothing to back it up with

anonymous July 31st, 2006 03:35PM  
I have always thought this song sounds like the "end times" through a satanic view point.

"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."

this woman is trying to earn her way to heaven.
All the stores used to close on sunday for church, she goes to church and asks for forgiveness.

"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."

the woman's faith is filled with doubt, and is unsure of the bible's meaning.

"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."

unsurity of life after death.

"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."

the false prophet will offer answer's she wants to hear, but will not follow him.
Those that follow the false prophet will rise up.

"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."

this part makes more sense when listened to backwards.
The person speaking is telling you it is never too late to join the false prophet.

"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."

she will be filled with uncertanty and will pressured to join the false prophet.
At any time she could slip and lose her salvation.

"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."

he is saying no one was taken in the rapture.
The lady still has her faith.
She pushes her faith on unbeleivers ,and they push their faith in the false prophet on her.
It is okay to sin because you have a sin nature.

"and she's buying a stairway to heaven."

she is still trying to get to heaven.

The song's goal seems to be to cast doubt about the woman's faith and show that the right way is through satan.

-r4nd0m

anonymous August 3rd, 2006 12:47AM  
Ok.... Everyone shut the hell up and listen to the song. One of the earlier interpretations was perfect. Its poetry. Its words put together, sounding good, giving good intentions, and that's it. Even robert plant said that it doesn't have any particular meaning. And, to that backmasking thing.... Bullshit! Just read this. Http://en.Wikipedia.Org/wiki/hidden_message it will explain it all. Just listen to the song. Thats what the band would want us to do. It'd want us to just listen to the damn song and be happy

anonymous August 5th, 2006 08:00AM  
Wow. From 2005 to 2006 people are still talking about it. Amazing, just like the song.