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Led Zeppelin — Over The Hills And Far Away
Album: Houses of the Holy
Avg rating:
8.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2794








Released: 1973
Length: 4:46
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Hey, lady - you got the love I need
Maybe - more than enough
Oh, darlin', darlin', darlin', walk a while with me
Oh, you've got so much, so much, so much -

Many have I loved
Many times been bitten
Many times I've gazed
Along the open road.

Many times I've lied
And many times I've listened
Many times I've wondered
How much there is to know.

Many dreams come true
And some have silver linings
I live for my dream
And a pocketful of gold.

Mellow is the man
Who knows what he's been missing
Many many men
Can't see the open road.

Many is a word
That only leaves you guessing,
Guessing 'bout a thing
You really ought to know, oh, oh, oh, oh
Really ought to know, oh, ohh
I really ought to know, oh
You know, I should, you know, I should
You know, I should...
Comments (321)add comment
We saw them in Detroit 1976. Wow. Somebody hand painted a giant artwork of this cover and we all bowed reverently.
 SmackDaddy wrote:

This really should be followed by Jane Says.



Says who? 
Was lucky enough to see Robert with Alison Krause at Glastonbury 2022, he's still amazing for his age.
 SmackDaddy wrote:

Creepy ass album cover. Naked children climbing over the Devil's Post Pile. 

https://www.guitarworld.com/ne... Childhood (and adult) innocence was allowed then. We weren't anything like as sexualised then. I wonder if that is what is driving all the gender confusion these days - overload?

 countyman wrote:

And just this week they, the band, were convicted of using the rift from Randy California and Spirit for Stairway To Heaven.

Led Zeppelin was the best cover band in their early days and paid no one for ripping off those musicians whose lyrics and rifts they used.



Wah!
 SmackDaddy wrote:

Creepy ass album cover. Naked children climbing over the Devil's Post Pile. 


Only creepy for those whose minds seem to want to go there.  A look to the mirror?
 scrubbrush wrote:

Well said.
I'm trying to teach my kids to be open to anything and everything musically and, most importantly, don't be embarrassed of or apologize for the music you like (even if your friend named Bruce who only listens to early 90s indie bands like Pavement calls it's "dinosaur rock"... oh wait... that's my friend Bruce).


I'm also a Bruce and I listen to everything so maybe that makes up for your friend.
Caught you, Bill.
Ms. Griffin, then her ex-husband. Quite the trickster you are...
Best,
c.
i never get tired of listening to classic LedZeppelin!
 Webfoot wrote:

You call this dull drumming?

No no no.  
Just quoting what someone else wrote. I think the song is a ten. easy.

I see that the quote is no longer here. My guess is they got embarrassed and took it down.  
Many times I've liked the change-up to top gear after the first verse
An absolute classic, but like so much of the music I loved in the 70's I've just heard it too often. <sigh>
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:
Nowadays, I only listen to music on the basis of how it sounds to me at the moment of listening.

I used to have preconceived notions of what I 'should' or 'shouldn't' like based on my own self imposed restrictions. For instance - Bob Dylan - I don't like Bob Dylan - but once I just listened to everything on its own terms then my perception changed.

Yes, this track has been a part of my life since it was released. But wow, just wow, what an amazing piece of music. 
 
Well said.
I'm trying to teach my kids to be open to anything and everything musically and, most importantly, don't be embarrassed of or apologize for the music you like (even if your friend named Bruce who only listens to early 90s indie bands like Pavement calls it's "dinosaur rock"... oh wait... that's my friend Bruce).
 treatment_bound wrote:
42 years later, and I still can't figure out how they got away with that album cover!
 
I guess you're being ironic. The thought of people finding this album cover objectionable makes me wonder what's in their mind. If anything, that's what is perverse, certainly not the album cover.
This was my fave Zep song for a while. Love that acoustic intro!
Creepy ass album cover. Naked children climbing over the Devil's Post Pile. 
This really should be followed by Jane Says.
 DanFHiggins wrote:
OMG

This still blows me away!!!!!!!

Easy 10

" but becomes dull without that song's torrid guitar solo"

Thank God for that solo!
 
You call this dull drumming?
Truly majestic Zep tune from "Houses of the Holy" 
When will The Zep-Tones ever not be either relevant or inciting to the masses who grooved to their genius for decades? Making a note to have this in my mix tape for staff of the Memory Care wing to play when nothing in my life makes sense anymore. This ought to do it!
To The Best of My Knowledge Jimmy Page did not steal this
Nowadays, I only listen to music on the basis of how it sounds to me at the moment of listening.

I used to have preconceived notions of what I 'should' or 'shouldn't' like based on my own self imposed restrictions. For instance - Bob Dylan - I don't like Bob Dylan - but once I just listened to everything on its own terms then my perception changed.

Yes, this track has been a part of my life since it was released. But wow, just wow, what an amazing piece of music. 
One of those albums I remember exactly where I was when I first heard it.  Can't say that about too many.  
 kingart wrote:
One of the songs — like some by Dylan — in which the title of the song is never in the lyrics. 
 
Yep...but kind'a sort'a implied by the way it echo's with the "oh oh oh" and then fades away...like over the hills and.....?

Highlow
American Net'Zen
Wow, hearing this in the context of such a diverse playlist really reminds me of the special chemistry they had, and just how well crafted each one of their parts were on just about every one of their songs. 
OMG

This still blows me away!!!!!!!

Easy 10

" but becomes dull without that song's torrid guitar solo"

Thank God for that solo!
one of LZ's finest
Sitting in my room building a model airplane listening to local rock station with my headphones on in grade 7 (1979). I hear this song for the first time ever and immediately it blows me away. can clearly remember like it happened yesterday. had similar experiences  with I Shall be Released (BD) and Powderfinger (NY)
Zep's grand anytime but on a Friday afternoon it's the golden ticket. Thanks!
 UGH!!!! Getting the Led out!!!
More LZ anytime. Especially some of their less popular songs.
One of the songs — like some by Dylan — in which the title of the song is never in the lyrics. 
Beautiful and..............Page didn't have to steal it!
Yawn. Would love it if RP chose to play a little less Led Zeppelin. 
Transcripts from the court case were an awesome read.  I think you can find them on RS.  Glad Zep was innocent.
 Hannio wrote:

No. See below.

 

From "Taurus" Wikipedia article:

In May 2014, an attorney hired by Randy California's estate announced plans to file a copyright infringement suit that will seek a co-writing credit for California on "Stairway to Heaven." In April 2016, district judge Gary Klausner ruled that there were sufficient similarities between the songs that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (who is credited as co-writer of "Stairway to Heaven") would stand trial by jury for copyright infringement. The trial began on June 14, 2016. On 15 June 2016, Jimmy Page spent hours on the witness stand testifying. The trial concluded June 23, 2016 with the jury finding that Led Zeppelin was not guilty of plagiarism. 


Thank you for saving me the time and energy looking this up to verify.
Peace, out.
 

CNN just reported the Tralfamadorians have filed suit against zep for copyright infringement.
 NickDanger wrote:
Once upon a time, over the hills and far away, I was a young 14 year-old lad sitting in the back of a school bus during a field trip listening to this "new" Led Zeppelin song on my transistor radio over the AM waves.

 
"Houses of the Holy" was released 44 years ago today.

If that's not depressing enough for you Mr. NickDanger, you're about to get your first AARP notice in the mail within a year.
 aelfheld wrote:
 countyman wrote:

And just this week they, the band, were convicted of using the rift from Randy California and Spirit for Stairway To Heaven.

Led Zeppelin was the best cover band in their early days and paid no one for ripping off those musicians whose lyrics and rifts they used.


You don't know much about law do you?
   
ALSO, it's "RIFF"    NOT  "RIFT"
 


Once upon a time, over the hills and far away, I was a young 14 year-old lad sitting in the back of a school bus during a field trip listening to this "new" Led Zeppelin song on my transistor radio over the AM waves.
Its just soooooo simple.

Hooks, hooks, and hooks in the forms of guitars, drums, vocals, lyrics, bass.

That's why people still get excited to hear these songs. Duh.  
 idiot_wind wrote:
Hey...do I hear riffs from a Mott the Hoople song?

 
All these Johnny come Latelies followed in the footsteps of George Farquhar who used (stole) the original lyrics for his play - "The Recruiting Officer".
It was quite the hit early in 1706, as I recall, when I traveled through London. 
When many of their peers were making overly complex prog rock monstrosities, Led Zep were laying the groundwork for modern rock. They too, at this stage, were producing lengthy concept stuff, the difference being the riffs, the longevity, the rock n roll, just everything.
 countyman wrote:

And just this week they, the band, were convicted of using the rift from Randy California and Spirit for Stairway To Heaven.



 

No. See below.

 

From "Taurus" Wikipedia article:

In May 2014, an attorney hired by Randy California's estate announced plans to file a copyright infringement suit that will seek a co-writing credit for California on "Stairway to Heaven." In April 2016, district judge Gary Klausner ruled that there were sufficient similarities between the songs that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant (who is credited as co-writer of "Stairway to Heaven") would stand trial by jury for copyright infringement. The trial began on June 14, 2016. On 15 June 2016, Jimmy Page spent hours on the witness stand testifying. The trial concluded June 23, 2016 with the jury finding that Led Zeppelin was not guilty of plagiarism. 


 countyman wrote:

And just this week they, the band, were convicted of using the rift from Randy California and Spirit for Stairway To Heaven.

Led Zeppelin was the best cover band in their early days and paid no one for ripping off those musicians whose lyrics and rifts they used.


You don't know much about law do you?
   


 idiot_wind wrote:
Hey...do I hear riffs from a Mott the Hoople song?

 
...no wait... it's the pained cries of dead uncredited blues artists.
Hey...do I hear riffs from a Mott the Hoople song?

And just this week they, the band, were convicted of using the rift from Randy California and Spirit for Stairway To Heaven.

Led Zeppelin was the best cover band in their early days and paid no one for ripping off those musicians whose lyrics and rifts they used.


This song makes me want to ride motorcycles, smoke dope and chase women. Probably in that order?

 I’d think it was a mid life crisis but I this album made me feel the same way when I was 18.


Love JPJ's funky bass riffs in this.

An attempt to illustrate the culmination of Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End. But I think you're right; that cover would not pass muster today. Call it Smell the Glove syndrome. 

treatment_bound
wrote:

42 years later, and I still can't figure out how they got away with that album cover!
 
 


 treatment_bound wrote:
42 years later, and I still can't figure out how they got away with that album cover!

 
Well, it was released quite a while before The Meese Commission was established.
Ya mean there use to be RNR bands that used acoustic and electric guitars in the same song? And had killer drumming? And great vocals? 

And there were hooks, hooks, and more hooks in the form of riffs, percussion, lyrics? And do this all in  3 minutes?

Nah...couldn't be true.   
 shellbella wrote:
Over the Hills and Far Away...

That's where I am in my mind.......{#Daisy}

 
YES  (each and every time it sounds that great : )
 kcar wrote:

{#Roflol}{#Clap} Getting stoned at Boy Scout Camp...a national rite of passage! Everybody did it! 
 
Heh - you too? Not only did I get high for the first time at Scout Camp, I also heard my first dirty joke at camp. My son was totally disinterested in Scouts, but me made up for it at various sports camps he wanted to attend. At one such camp, held on a nearby college campus, his mother and I dropped him off at the dorm he was staying in. He refused all offers of help with his stuff and disappeared into the building, from which came a storm of noise - guys yelling, laughing, TVs and stereos blasting. His mother said "Will he be all right?"

I just said: "Yeah, he may learn a thing or two not on the official curriculum. And that's OK."
 
 scrubbrush wrote:


Berkeley? Mid-80's? Troop 4  or Troop 6? I might've been there with you.

 
{#Roflol}{#Clap} Getting stoned at Boy Scout Camp...a national rite of passage! Everybody did it! 

Not Berkeley...Troop 1 Wayland, MA. Long gone due to lack of adult leadership and kids' perception that Scouts weren't cool. I was Senior Patrol Leader for a disastrous year. The Scoutmaster was a guy deep in the closet who barely spoke and somehow thought that he just had to show up at Scout meetings to make sure we didn't break windows. The two guys my age who were supposed to run the troop with me were a mess: one was perpetually stoned and the other was an Asperger's type who only wanted to read sci-fi...even during troop meetings. The younger kids weren't interested in the Scouting stuff at all. A bitter lesson in how easily good things can fall apart if no one puts in the effort.

It disturbs that the Boy Scout leadership became so conservative. No gays, no atheists, no girls. The morality argument used to defend those recently enacted policies is inexcusable and I'm glad that the idiots in TX running BSA had to back down from some of those positions. Scouting isn't for everyone and I think some of the more formal, semi-military aspects of the group are outdated, but it can be a lot of fun and a great formative experience. 
I'm forever in awe of Plant's vocal range.
42 years later, and I still can't figure out how they got away with that album cover!
 agd3 wrote:
Too bad they couldn't figure out how to do a reunion.
 
They figured it out ok, it was that after the O2 show Plant didn't want to do Zeppelin anymore.
So let it be written; so let it be done.
 agd3 wrote:
Too bad they couldn't figure out how to do a reunion.
 
In 2007 they did a single show (tribute to Atlantic's Ahmet Ertegun) which was better than we had any right to expect. Of course Jimmy was great, but Plant's voice was also in surprisingly good shape, making for a memorable show. Check it out on DVD/blu-ray. https://www.radio1.be/sites/default/files/images/articles/celebrationday.jpg
 kcar wrote:
A dim memory of getting stoned for the first time at Boy Scout camp tumbles forth as this song starts. Absolutely laughed my ass off in the middle of the pitch-dark woods as the weed kicked in and the mosquitoes feasted away. Strange, but we weren't listening to Led Zep at the time...My own little madeleine cake moment. 

I do miss getting stoned, although I've done it less than 10 times in my life...It's been 20+ years now.  

 

Berkeley? Mid-80's? Troop 4  or Troop 6? I might've been there with you.
Went to college. Learned to play this song. Got laid. Not necessarily in that order.
Spin Magazine ranked this #1 of all Zep songs, not that its the "best" but because its representative of all they do...

https://www.spin.com/articles/led-zeppelin-every-song-ranked/ 
Too bad they couldn't figure out how to do a reunion.
 ckcotton wrote:
Rated this an 8 before.... ?

Must have been in a bad mood or something....
 
I just rated it at 8. Checking my mood... No. I'm fine. Might buck it up next time I hear it though.
 kcar wrote:
A dim memory of getting stoned for the first time at Boy Scout camp tumbles forth as this song starts. Absolutely laughed my ass off in the middle of the pitch-dark woods as the weed kicked in and the mosquitoes feasted away. Strange, but we weren't listening to Led Zep at the time...My own little madeleine cake moment. 

I do miss getting stoned, although I've done it less than 10 times in my life...It's been 20+ years now.  

 
Growing up ain't for wimps.
Rated this an 8 before.... ?

Must have been in a bad mood or something....

 
Exit, stage left.
I think I have to go back and change all my other 10s to something lower now. 
such a simple, beautiful song! I am definitely going to scurry along the wet stones of the causeway, maybe wearing tinted sunglasses for that psychedelic color scheme
A dim memory of getting stoned for the first time at Boy Scout camp tumbles forth as this song starts. Absolutely laughed my ass off in the middle of the pitch-dark woods as the weed kicked in and the mosquitoes feasted away. Strange, but we weren't listening to Led Zep at the time...My own little madeleine cake moment. 

I do miss getting stoned, although I've done it less than 10 times in my life...It's been 20+ years now.  
Ahhhhhh ZEP!

Sooo sweet 
I think I dig Zep's acoustic stuff more than the straight electric. Even better when they blend the two sounds like this.
Over the Hills and Far Away...

That's where I am in my mind.......{#Daisy}
Yeah, I guess these guys are all right.
...everybody at my desk is hungry...

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
Gorgeous!!! {#Daisy}
Yup, WE BE SMOKIN' UP HERE!
this volume control doesn't go high enough... oh joy, oooooh the great sounds
Hearing LZ on a radio makes me smile everytime. Such a perfect song to enlighten the mood in the room.
 socalhol wrote:
Yeah.....Village of the Damned children go to Stonehenge?!? 

 

Not Stonehenge. It's the Giant's Causeway in N. Ireland.
Great. From a life long fan of all that is Led Zep. One of the first bands I ever saw live at the Empire in Liverpool.                      
Outstanding
 lshinkawa wrote:
Love this!! Another entry in the creepy album art collection, though.
  Yeah.....Village of the Damned children go to Stonehenge?!? 

Love this!! Another entry in the creepy album art collection, though.
Whew....this certainly helped wash Dolly Parton's cover of "Shine" out of my ears........
 aelfheld wrote:

If you were talking about The Rain Song or Ten Years Gone, I wouldn't argue.

This one though doesn't really qualify as 'one of the most beautiful and touching songs of all time.'  Or even of the last half hour.

 
Well, in my opinion, it does. Do you even like this song?

 musicluver77 wrote:
How can anything think that this song is a "duffer"? IMO, this is one of the most beautiful and touching songs of all time. Simply put, this is my absolute favourite song of all time, by Led Zeppelin or otherwise.
 
If you were talking about The Rain Song or Ten Years Gone, I wouldn't argue.

This one though doesn't really qualify as 'one of the most beautiful and touching songs of all time.'  Or even of the last half hour.

So glad to hear how much of a favorite this song is. The opening guitar riff is so comforting because its an instant reminder of how awesome the next 4 minutes will be.
I <3 Zeppelin. More please!
Gosh, it's not far off my favourite of all time!
 musicluver77 wrote:
How can anything think that this song is a "duffer"? IMO, this is one of the most beautiful and touching songs of all time. Simply put, this is my absolute favourite song of all time, by Led Zeppelin or otherwise.
 
I'm with you musicluver. I can't say this is my favourite song of all time but it sure as hell is no duffer!

 unclehud wrote:
This song's good, but come on:  No Quarter, The Rain Song, The Ocean? 

This could be the best Zep album ever.  Except for maybe LZ 1.  And maybe LZ 2.  And myabe Zoso (LZ 4) now that I think about it.  And let's not forget that LZ 3 was a killer folksy album, and a dramatic break from their previous heavy-duty rock albums.

Are we clear about all that now?
 

What's wrong with Physical Graffiti? 
How can anything think that this song is a "duffer"? IMO, this is one of the most beautiful and touching songs of all time. Simply put, this is my absolute favourite song of all time, by Led Zeppelin or otherwise.
 triskele wrote:
i used to be able to play this.....what happened to my chops?
 


Practice, practice,practice!
This song's good, but come on:  No Quarter, The Rain Song, The Ocean? 

This could be the best Zep album ever.  Except for maybe LZ 1.  And maybe LZ 2.  And myabe Zoso (LZ 4) now that I think about it.  And let's not forget that LZ 3 was a killer folksy album, and a dramatic break from their previous heavy-duty rock albums.

Are we clear about all that now?
I have some pretty special memories associated with this group too.
I love Zep for so many reasons. Mostly because it reminds me of the only man I lever loved.
I voted '10' again.
 vandal wrote:
Totally wipes the aural slate clean wrt the previous Enya crap. . .

 

Hey!  I luvs me some Zep too!!

Bob/Jimmy, if you're out there, CALL ME!

E.




That felt so good. {#Sunny}
 vandal wrote:
Totally wipes the aural slate clean wrt the previous Enya and Cranberries crap. . .
 
Hear, hear!
 paloeguevo wrote:
15 people gave this song a 1. RP should not let people rate classics under 8.
  
It depends if you are rating based on how you truly respond to the music, or what the song's reputation is. 
 fredriley wrote:
For all that, Led  Zep did put out some halfway-decent music, but they also had their fair share of duffers, as befits what was for the time an experimental band, and IMO this is one of them.
 
And the ratio of 'halfway-decent' to 'duffers' is.

Comparatively, Zeppelin had fewer 'duffers' than any other band that comes to mind.  Even on a bad day they were better than most everyone else out there - and far and away better than most of what's being released these days.

And this isn't one of my favourite Zeppelin tunes.

i used to be able to play this.....what happened to my chops?
 vandal wrote:
Totally wipes the aural slate clean wrt the previous Enya and Cranberries crap. . .
 
Hahahaha, I just wet myself.
Totally wipes the aural slate clean wrt the previous Enya and Cranberries crap. . .

 countyman wrote:


Except the fact of covering (stealing) tunes and gaining the career they had on other peoples music.

citation needed

 countyman wrote:
Except the fact of covering (stealing) tunes and gaining the career they had on other peoples music.
 
Just like every other band in the history of Rock & Roll?



 h8rhater wrote:

Agreed... nothing is gained from parsing Zeppelin on an album by album basis.  They all were classics (not counting, perhaps, the Coda album which was released after the breakup)

 

Except the fact of covering (stealing) tunes and gaining the career they had on other peoples music.
 paloeguevo wrote:
15 people gave this song a 1. RP should not let people rate classics under 8.
 
Perhaps there are rather too many 'classics' on this station for some folks tastes. Every day brings a heap of Led Zep, Grateful Dead and The Who, to mention but a few 'classic' bands. Perhaps those of a certain vintage (and I'll not see 50 again myself) might wet their knickers over 'golden oldies' but such tastes aren't always shared, and it's not sacrilegious to just plain dislike 'classics', much as it's not sacrilegious to hate Mozart, say. No music is above criticism.

For all that, Led  Zep did put out some halfway-decent music, but they also had their fair share of duffers, as befits what was for the time an experimental band, and IMO this is one of them.


tee hee - I liked that one. Can't fail to be liking the Zep too...

 PFM wrote:

That just means they're under 8'ed.

 


 paloeguevo wrote:
15 people gave this song a 1. RP should not let people rate classics under 8.
 
That just means they're under 8'ed.

Never fails to elicit a "Dayyyummmmm". {#Sunny}