“Stairway to Heaven,” 1971, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page,

Led Zeppelin, from the untitled album known as

Led Zeppelin IV.

Recently, I received a request on my Wattpad message

 board from a young member requesting that I analyze

“Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, her favorite song.

 Everybody knows that song so well, I thought.  Maybe it

 won’t generate much interest in readers.  But this young

member wasn’t even born yet while I was listening to it, hearing

it make history as the greatest Rock song ever written.  So, I

decided to take another listen to the music, review the

lyrics, now with new ears and eyes.  I find that this magnificent

piece of poetry in song can mean something different to every

 listener.  Indeed, as I look today at “Stairway to Heaven,” I

have new thoughts  about it, and realize I didn’t know it at all.

“Stairway to Heaven,” lyrics by Robert Plant.

 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

And she's buying a stairway to heaven

Robert Plant has always been reluctant to discuss his lyrics.  He spoke

of the first line as a criticism of our materialistic society’s mindset

that we can buy our way into anything, even heaven.   Plant and the

other band members were loathe to have their lyrics analyzed,

their beliefs criticized, and built a protective wall around their music

with silence.  However, these lyrics are provided in their entirety on

the inner sleeve of Led Zeppelin IV.

Perhaps the lack of explanation of “Stairway’s” lyrics backfired, as

listeners at the time began to urge the song to be played backwards.

Some of the lines in reverse reportedly mention Satanic imagery,

much to the horror of the band, and especially Plant, who stated:

“‘Stairway to Heaven' was written with every best intention….

It's really sad….I heard it on a news program.  I was absolutely drained

all day.  I walked around, and I couldn't actually believe…people seriously

… could come up with sketches like that. “

Robert Plant never felt quite the same about “Stairway,” limiting live

performances of the song.   Over forty years later, we now look at the

poetry of “Stairway,” line by line.  Does it mean something different to

us now than it did then?  Did we even bother to think of what the words

meant then?

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.

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

.

Some people think money can buy them whatever they desire.

 Money is viewed as a panacea.  But the “stores are all closed”

in heaven.  Words will not do it, nor will money, as salvation is not

for sale.   The lady can’t believe she is not allowed into heaven,

 regardless of the “sign on the wall.” After all, “sometimes words

have two meanings.”  There’s a singing songbird by the brook,

pleasures which can’t be bought.  It makes her wonder, because

sometimes, “our thoughts are misgiven.”

.

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.
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.

.

When he “looks to the west,” thinks about dying, “my spirit is

crying for leaving.”  He’s sad, as he sees “smoke through the trees,”

hears the “voices of those who stand looking.”  The fires of hell loom

in the distance, and people just look on whispering, “if we all call the

tune, then the piper will lead us to reason.”  If we “stand long” and

lead a good life, “a new day will dawn,” and eternal happiness

will be ours in heaven; “the forests will echo with 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.
And it makes me wonder.
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?

.

This is my favorite passage of the song/poem.  It assures us that

 death is a natural part of life, that “there are two paths you can

go by,” and we have the freedom of choice. “There’s still time to

change the road you’re on.”  We still wonder until our heads are

“humming,” but the “piper,” God, is “calling (us) to join him.”

Our “stairway lies on the whispering wind.”  We can change as

 quickly as the wind shifts direction.

.

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.
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

.

The last verse of the song tells us that there are some who will

 never change their materialistic ways.  We “wind on down the road,”

and live life,  knowing  small souls who “shine the white light

 and want to show how everything still turns to gold.”  We must, at

long  last, learn “to be a rock and not to roll,” live a good life, and not

waver.

.

Robert Plant, I’ve loved your beautiful poem all these years, and as I

look at it again now, I appreciate its depth and message more than

ever, and in a different way, for I know  “sometimes words have two

meanings.”