anonymous 2007-03-23 18:41:33    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I want to start off by denouncing all claims about drugs and satanism. Those were QUITE probably fuelled by association and self-projection.

Also, I support the opinion that the interpretation is indeed subjective. There is no MESSAGE in this song, but there IS a meaning. It was about Erma Rees Gwyn. Reference:

http://www.michaelklassen.com/understanding-stairway-to-heaven/

Although some of the religious interpretations have been insightful, I'm gonna go with this interpretation. It makes perfect sense. I want to remind you all that this song was written in a style called "stream-consciousness" and those familiar with that type of literature will recognize the pattern. The technique itself denounces any "deeper meaning" as it is like a dream - random thoughts and memories of a particular event evoking SUBJECTIVE emotions and experiences.

Artists usually write things people can connect with even if they have no clue about what inspired the song. That's probably why Page/Plant refused to discuss the inspiration - it's what it means to US that matters. Because we have nothing to do with Erma nor do we care - this is why it was written while deliberately not referencing the inspiration directly. It would ruin the value of the song.

This way, "And a new day will dawn for those who stand long, and the forests will echo with laughter" means something completely different - to me. It reminds me of a particular memory. It is simply an expression of hope, nothing more. Interpretation aside, the experience of those same lyrics is what makes it really stand out. You have no idea what runs through my head while I listen to those words, nor how it makes me feel. This is the sole PURPOSE and MEANING of the song. To make us feel that way, with the calming beautiful music, and the powerful words.

At least that's my point of view. Just as life itself simply has no meaning on its own - we search for it.

anonymous 2007-04-25 03:58:44    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Dude, it's about druuuuuugs man!

anonymous 2007-05-05 22:05:08    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I personally believe, in a quick analysis, that this song is about cheating ones way through life. There are some people who go through life through instinct and hard work. And then there are some who just get other people to do their work for them, and use money to sway others. They pay people to lead them in the 'right direction', they don't think for themselves, their money does the thinking for them. The people who cheat through life still see themselves as great people even though they have done nothing of significance, simply bought their way to success. This song is reflecting upon that matter.

anonymous 2007-05-06 11:15:50    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I wish I could shoot all of the stupid bible thumpers that ruin Stairway to Heaven with their sick fundamentalist interpretations. Or the other people that claim that Led Zeppelin is a servant of the devil. Although, congratulations, you make me want to be an atheist.

anonymous 2007-05-10 22:14:25    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I think that it's about a woamn who tries to buy her own salvation. It's stated in the first line of the song " There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold, and she's buying a stairway to heaven."

HollyHeartsGuitar 2007-05-16 23:06:17    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I was just sitting around, pondering the meaning of the figure 'she' and I realized, she is deception. Deception and lies are finding their way into parts of our lives that are supposed to be sacred, these parts of our lives are 'heaven'. oh man brain overload. I'll explain more in depth later.

anonymous 2007-05-25 00:25:57    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

This song is influenced by the Lord of the Rings...It tells the story of the elven maiden from years past who gave up her immortal life for man and by doing so she bought her stairway to heaven. Its a little known fact that Led Zeppelin was influenced by JRR Tolkien...

anonymous 2007-05-27 02:32:48    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

This song is about whatever you want it to be about. People shouldn't argue about what a song is about. No one except Robert Plant, knows why this song was written. Songs have many different meanings depending on your perspective, whether you're religious, or a drug user. No one is really wrong when they say what a song is about because it's all about opinion.

anonymous 2007-05-29 15:35:17    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I live in the same town in California where Robert Plant has a house. If I see him in Pappy and Harriets again, I'll just go ask him! (Jeeze, I turn 50 June 3rd, and I've been wondering what this song means since I was 14! ) And I still love it.
Some songs remain immortal.

anonymous 2007-06-07 11:10:22    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

First off, it would be ridiculous, even for a powerful angelic intellect like the devil, to mask lyrics backwards in music. In what way would this effect the human soul? According to theology, sin is only possible if one knowingly sins. Now if it were ostensibly a hymn to the devil, in the lyrics played forward, then that would be a problem. Or if you say that the supposed backwards messages, which are mumbled, entered the soul via the subconscious, still, what mechanism in the subconscious is accustomed to reverse sounds and interpret them? The whole notion is absurd.

The song is meant to be interpreted by the listener for his own use. I could say, for example, that the stairway is a medievalism, often depicted in medieval art, where the christian must climb to Heavan by degrees of sanctity, meanwhile the devil tries to dislodge him. Lady refers to the blessed mother, who constantly intercedes for the saints. She knows that the stores (ie the storehouses of grace) are closed or not, because she is the purveyor of all graces. With a word she can get what she came for because she is powerful with God. The tree by the brook is the tree planted by flowing waters in the psalms, which represents the just soul, and the song bird is the devil, who sometimes enters within the mind and sings of our misgivings (lack of faith). Rings of smoke through the trees is the smoke of satan that has entered the sacred grove (ie. The Church) in these end times. The voices of those who stand looking are the looking because they are lost and cannot see the light. The forests will echo with laughter only after the return of justice to the earth. Our shadows are taller than our souls, in this life, because, as in LOTR, the powers of darkness seem larger than they really are, from human perspective. One listens very hard, to the God-spell, To be a rock and not to roll means to learn to become like the saints, like saint Peter, the Rock, who had to learn to become solid in his faith and not run away like he did when the savior was in his passion.

anonymous 2007-06-07 11:32:45    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

(Continued-) the may queen is the ancient pagan version of the virgin, who assumed her role in folk-christianity. According to scripture one can "always change the road your on", ie. That its never too late to repent, or to choose damnation...and who's the piper? Of course the devil. That is, the greek god pan with his pipes, The ALL, a personification of Nature, upon whom medieval depictions of the devil, who fell by his pride in music like Melkor (Tolkein-Silmarrilion) are modeled. He is the Natural life as opposed to the supernatural, for the flesh constantly wars with the spirit, constantly tempts the believer, making his head keep humming with tempting sounds of carnal delight. The wind, of course, is the Holy Spirit, where the stairway is found, "The whispering wind" (LOTR) who constantly whispers the promises of God to us when we are tempted by the scream of the flesh.
The lady walks because she is certain of the triumph of her Church, which seeks to change everything into what is pleasing to God, ie. gold,because in medieval symbolism gold is the metal/color of heavan. Turning to gold represents sanctification of souls, which is the will of Almighty God.
This interpretation makes the most sense, not only because the language of the song is the language of Tolkien, but also because the writing of Tolkein is repleat with medieval symbolism and medieval Catholic theology.

anonymous 2007-06-07 23:13:18    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I've heard way too many interpretations of this song. They are so contradictory (ranging from prophecy, to drugs, to PMS, to religion, to a woman who wants to buy a stairway to heaven) that I have come to one conclusion:

This song isn't about anything. The lyrics are produced solely to sound good. And hey, they *do* sound good, so the lyrics did their job. Maybe in fragments there is some meaning, but they are meant, not with some specific plot in mind, but to work along with the tune to convey something more abstract, like an emotion. What emotion, you ask? What do *you* feel when you hear it?
"This song is overplayed" doesn't count.

anonymous 2007-06-28 10:51:01    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

This song, and its meaning is sealed. We will never be able to pick out its infused meaning because unfortunately either, we are too neurotic, or the writer was writing this on some heavvvvy shit. But this is why it was made so popular, the sheer mystery.

But, because the big picture and details or disoriented, that leaves us with the plain message, and what that leaves us is our imagination.

anonymous 2007-07-06 22:27:07    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I think this song is supposed to have no meaning...or each listener should think of their own personal meaning behind the words. It's not religion..or drugs.. or anything really

also I have a live version - before they perform the song he says "this is a song of hope"

just saying.

anonymous 2007-07-17 22:34:35    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I have no real interpretation, but I enjoyed reading all these. The song can be about whatever you think it is. Don't be swayed by others opinions or thoughts if you don't see it that way. I can see how you see drugs in this song clearly.It's a bitchin' song, let's leave it at that.
Thanks

YourFan 2007-07-19 15:34:15    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I love this song.

I think for me, it's about a lady who finds a way to salvation and goes to heaven, but then again the other parts of the song don't fit in with that.

I seriously doubt this song has anything to do with Satanism, although Jimmy Paige was fascinated with black magic.

anonymous 2007-08-09 15:55:58    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Honestly, I don't care too much about what this song is about. It's an incredible work of music, and thinking too hard about it, at least for me, spoils it. Though I do applaud a lot of you for your thoughts and feelings about it.

hillmen14 2007-08-27 20:43:52    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

OK, there are way to many crazy ideas about this song. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but holy crap guys. Page wrote a majority of this song in about 20-30 min. If you guys are pulling out bible verses and shit there is no way that much thinking went into this song. Same thing with the OMG its a work of SATAN. Not true. Also if you think it's about drugs you're wrong. I'll give you my opinion. It's quite simple. Who would've thought something could be simple and you wouldn't have to do hours of research. Just listen to this song a million times and don't read books just think what you feel from it.

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

This explains how a materialistic woman (someone who only puts value on money and objects) thinks only gold can glitter meaning only tangible things are worth anything.( It's also a reference to Tolkein's quote not all that glitters is gold Zeppelin especially Page were Lord of the Rings fans) The lady thinks she can just buy her way to heaven.

When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.

Again she thinks she can just buy whatever she wants even if the stores are closed cause she's rich as hell. In my opinion I believe the word is money.

There's a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.

This just tells people when you see something don't make up your mind right away because there could be more to it or less. BE OPENED MINDED.

In a tree by the brook, there's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiving.

The first line just saying some bird is singing but the second line states that remember sometimes our thoughts are wrong don't stay set on one thought you may find out something completely different.

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

The looking to the west is meaning that the sun sets in the west. It's a beautiful thing but the person here wants to be rid of the world and its bullshit. He wants to be in higher beautiful place. He may be having suicidal thoughts

In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who standing looking

Rings of smoke in the trees, again in my opinion, is saying there is a fire (which is bad) and he sees the people talking about him who know him after he kills himself.

Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

This basically states he's just thinking deeply about life

And it's whispered that soon if we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.

Something inside us is telling us that the tune (referring to the songbird about our thoughts being misgiven) then we will understand life and the piper (something intangible, just our thoughts) will make us realize that life rocks HARD

And a new day will dawn for those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.

We will see things in a new light for those who stick things out and life will be good.
The forest isn't significant just a place of beauty where people are at but the laughter means we realize that life is fun and there is happiness and pleasure in it.

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.

This just states if some messed up shit happens in your life don't panic or lose your sanity deal with it it will pass because may is the end of spring so the may queen cleaning in spring just means it will pass.

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.

This just states you can make the wrong or right choices but you can always change your ways. DON'T LOSE HOPE

And it makes me wonder.

Again just thinking about life

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

You're always thinking about life and you can't stop thinking about things in it. The piper is playin that tune about saying don't be too confident with your beliefs because they could be wrong(the piper could be jesus)

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

This is stating about how this lady should listen to the wind because the wind is an intangible force something more that will be her ticket to heaven.

And as we wind on down the road

The farther we go down our path

Our shadows taller than our soul.

Meaning if we went the wrong way our shadows overwhelm us and its hard to change (on a path to hell)

There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show

The lady that is on her way to hell because of her false hope in money. She has realized her wrongs and has white light(white symbolizes purity)

How everything still turns to gold.

I think the still means not moving there, but anyways how eveything still turns to gold means how everything has beauty and money isn't the only thing worth a dollar in our life figuratively speaking.

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

If you really think hard and realize how life is a great thing and how good times are always better than money then you will understand life really has no meaning but to improve it for others and just have a good time.

When all are one and one is all

When everyone gets along and can live in harmony and peace

To be a rock and not to roll.

To be rock means to be solid and stand by what you think is right and don't falter in life. Don't follow others and do evil (roll around) BE YOU.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven

She realizes what it takes in my thoughts

Again my own opinion
May not be right to you because there is no correct meaning.
Remember "Sometimes words have to meanings"
Just thought I would post a logical meaning rather than some fucked up devil bullshit or break down the whole bible to this. You can put almost anything to this if you stretch it enough.

anonymous 2007-09-26 21:55:37    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

It's about the story of beren and luthien in tolkein's the silmarillion

Buying a stairway to heaven refers to luthien traveling back to the western continent to convince mandos/manwe to allow beren to live another lifetime with her

all that glitters with gold might refer to the silmaril jewel she has in her possession.

stairway to heaven refers to either how she made herself mortal(thus allowing her to go to heaven with the rest of humans), or how she retrieved beren from this heaven

with a word she can get what she came for refers to the song of sorrow she sang to convince manwe to let beren come back

manwe offered to erase her of the pain of losing beren, or allow her to become mortal and die with him(two paths)

and two paths also refers to the two paths that the children of illuvatar can choose, and how luthien chose the mortal path of men rather than her natural elven path of immortality

the songbird in the song refers to luthien's translation in the elven language, "nightengale", and beren first met luthien because of her singing and dancing in the forest

the 3rd verse looks like it's about how beren stayed in Mandos's halls when he was supposed to depart for heaven, and how he remembers his trip to morgoth's keep

the 4th verse refers to luthien singing her song at mandos(which was sung there for the rest of eternity) and how mandos (the piper of spirits) allowed beren's spirit to be released because of lluthiens sorrow in the song. after they come back, they live in the forests of ossiriand

the may queen thing might be referring to yavanna, but I'm not sure what that would have to do with the story

and I've already explained the two path thing in the verse after that

the verse after that explains again how she sang the song, and how manwe (the wind) allowed her to change her fate

There walks a lady we all know refers to the fact that she was widely known to be the most beautiful being to ever live, and the silmaril shone white light, and the last part of this verse is admiration at the fact that luthien didn't just give up and say this is my fate

joeshmo 2007-10-08 13:07:22    

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Ok, here's my interp.

First, you have to take the very unpopular viewpoint of the governing elite of this world.

They are all part of a Zionist network.

You should read the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. These evil Jewish leaders govern all the world banks and money supply. They own and operate the media, were behind the 911 tragedy and started many a wars. The Stones wrote about them in "Sympathy for the Devil" They are the JEWS. Not just any Jews, but Zionist leaders like the Rothschilds and Schiffs.

Any time you speak out against them overtly, you get labeled an anti-Semite. So, many rock musicians had to use sublime messages. John Lennon was murdered because of this. In Revolution, he overdubbed the word, "Evil-Jew-tion. Rush spoke about them as the oaks who soak up all the sunlight.

And yes, Zeppelin did too.

The line, "Dear lady (Jewish whore) can you hear the wind blow?
and did JEW know, your stairway lies on the whispering wind." is a sublime anti-Jewish statement. It speaks of their fate. They think they can buy their way into heaven. They are the real Devil, not Satan.

If you listen to the live version of the song from the soundtrack, The Song remains the Same, Robert intentionally does not sing the word, "you" in the same line. He says, "Dear lady can you hear the wind blow, and did ...... know."

These evil leaders fate is written in prophecy, which this song is.
But it's more than a song about their fate. It is a "Wedding Song" as Robert puts it. It is also a song of Hope.

Many songs written are about coming home to Chicago.
Sweet Home Chicago, Graham Nash, Come to Chicago, on and on and on. People from around the world will gather to take shelter from the scorching sun which will soon manifest itself sevenfold. May Zeppelin tunes are about leaving and coming to this place. "When the Levee Breaks, Kasmir, Night Flight, Immigrant Song.

In Stairway, Robert says if you 'listen' very hard the 'tune?' will come to you at last?

Not quite. He says the JUNE will come to you at last.

If you don't believe me listen to the other line where he clearly says it.
If we all call the JUNE, then the Piper will lead us to reason.

Well, most weddings are in June.

At the end of the song he says WHEN all are ONE and ONE is all.
This is signifying the date - JUNE 1st.

Now what year will this happen?

Look at the logo ZOSO.

It is a cryptic interpretation of the year 2008. The Z resembles a 2. The S is an 8 with a line missing, the line has turned to connect the two 0's. In essence the 8 can't roll, it is steady as a rock. Just like the song says. To be a rock and not to roll.

So, the End time date for the world as we know it is June 1, 2008.

If you listen very hard, the last June will come to you, When? the 1st day. What year? ZOSO.

Happy traveling.