Robert Plant — Song To The Siren
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Total ratings: 969
Length: 5:48
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Long afloat on shipless ocean
I did all my best to smile
Till your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle
''Sail to me, sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you''
Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you hare when I was fox?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks
''Touch me not, touch me not
Oh, come back tomorrow
Oh my heart, oh my heart
Shies from the sorrow''
I am puzzled as a newborn baby
I'm as troubled as the tide
Should I stand amist the breakers?
Or should I lie with Death my bride?
''Swim to me, swim to me
Oh, come and let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you''
I did all my best to smile
Till your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle
''Sail to me, sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you''
Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you hare when I was fox?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks
''Touch me not, touch me not
Oh, come back tomorrow
Oh my heart, oh my heart
Shies from the sorrow''
I am puzzled as a newborn baby
I'm as troubled as the tide
Should I stand amist the breakers?
Or should I lie with Death my bride?
''Swim to me, swim to me
Oh, come and let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you''
Comments (60)add comment
There is homage and just outright theft---this guy is clearly ripping off Led Zeppelin's vocalist.
xkolibuul wrote:
"…one of the very best vocalists who has ever graced our world."
Sorry, but this sounds strained and tortured to me. He's almost tolerable when he's hiding behind Allison Krause, but this, as much of the early Led Zep stuff—though for different reasons—is unlistenable for me.
In 2002, if my math is correct, Plant was 54. Why you would expect him to be still reprising his Led Zep era vocals at that age is beyond me. This is lovely, and a fitting evolution of one of the very best vocalists who has ever graced our world.
"…one of the very best vocalists who has ever graced our world."
Sorry, but this sounds strained and tortured to me. He's almost tolerable when he's hiding behind Allison Krause, but this, as much of the early Led Zep stuff—though for different reasons—is unlistenable for me.
I don't think Tim Buckley's original can ever be surpassed, but I appreciated Plant's restrained effort here. He obviously respects the song.
Xeric wrote:
What is it, Hal?
Blain wants his white fedora back.
What is it, Hal?
Blain wants his white fedora back.
Horrible. Why can't he leave the original as it is.
I like this cover a lot, except for the fact that he clearly sings "let me unfold you" which is amusingly wrong.
This is a deeply magical song filled with melodies and lyrics that make me happy then sad. Happy because of the feelings they evoke, and sad because I know the song is going to end. God really did break the mold after Robert Plant.
rmoore007 wrote:
Agree, Liz Fraser's vocals were outstanding.
Sorry, I'm not buying it....just doesn't compare to the version by This Mortal Coil.
Agree, Liz Fraser's vocals were outstanding.
I’ve now heard 3 versions on RP, Mortal Coil , Sinead and this, and I love them all. Guess that’s the sign of a well written song. Thank you RP!
Just heard Sinead's version for the first time on RP yesterday - this song is getting lot of love from the RP team.
A truly great song and cool that I now know Plant covered it, but would prefer to hear one of the over versions!
Anyway, being elected to from any (print-)media, my early seventy life would have been smaller without him and them!
Just gave this a 9
MysteryMan wrote:
That is the truth! Artist with no comparison and vocalist of great depth in feeling and texture all through his career. His Desert Island Discs shows him to be a man of breadth.
Here's a link to the BBC blurb about the Robert Plant episode of Desert Island Discs . The page also contains a link to the audio, if you would like to listen.
That is the truth! Artist with no comparison and vocalist of great depth in feeling and texture all through his career. His Desert Island Discs shows him to be a man of breadth.
Here's a link to the BBC blurb about the Robert Plant episode of Desert Island Discs . The page also contains a link to the audio, if you would like to listen.
xkolibuul wrote:
It must have been 20 years ago I saw Sir Robert perform this song at the end of his set. Alone on stage, a capella he silenced the entire venue with every breath. My wife a die hard Zep fan was blown away. There were plenty of Zep riffs played that night with his amazing band but this song was a highlight.
In 2002, if my math is correct, Plant was 54. Why you would expect him to be still reprising his Led Zep era vocals at that age is beyond me. This is lovely, and a fitting evolution of one of the very best vocalists who has ever graced our world.
It must have been 20 years ago I saw Sir Robert perform this song at the end of his set. Alone on stage, a capella he silenced the entire venue with every breath. My wife a die hard Zep fan was blown away. There were plenty of Zep riffs played that night with his amazing band but this song was a highlight.
First time I heard Tim Buckley sing this song was on TV at the end of an episode of The Monkees. It took my breath away. While Mr. Plant's voice is an incredible instrument, Tim's version and Elizabeth Frazier's vocals haunt me still.
Sorry, I'm not buying it....just doesn't compare to the version by This Mortal Coil.
Well, everybody should consider listening to the original from Tim Buckley and even more of him.
Never realized this is actually a Tim Buckley song until reading the wikipedia entry today. Very nice cover of a cover!
Xeric wrote:
What is it, Hal?
Just a moment
...
just a moment
....
What is it, Hal?
Just a moment
...
just a moment
....
Make it stop! This one belongs to Liz!
fredriley wrote:
To be fair, almost anything is better when Liz Fraser sings it
.
Not a patch on the This Mortal Coil version, not by a long, long chalk. Stick to rock, Plantie. 3 from the Nottingham jury.
Edit: sorry, make that a 2 - it really gets worse and more offensive as it goes on. Bring on Liz Fraser and her goose-pimple-inducing ethereal voice.
To be fair, almost anything is better when Liz Fraser sings it
.Poor version of This Mortals Coil's classic.
xkolibuul wrote:
That is the truth! Artist with no comparison and vocalist of great depth in feeling and texture all through his career. His Desert Island Discs shows him to be a man of breadth.
In 2002, if my math is correct, Plant was 54. Why you would expect him to be still reprising his Led Zep era vocals at that age is beyond me. This is lovely, and a fitting evolution of one of the very best vocalists who has ever graced our world.
That is the truth! Artist with no comparison and vocalist of great depth in feeling and texture all through his career. His Desert Island Discs shows him to be a man of breadth.
Murdered it.
xkolibuul wrote:
In 1982 I saw Robert fronting The Honeydrippers at Bradford University. Some intellectual in the crowd called for 'Stairway to Heaven.' Despite my having seen Led Zep at Knebworth three years previously I really did not think that Robert should then or should ever be restricted in repertoire. What he has done over the years (lets give him a pass on Now and Zen) has shown he has a voice that can rock and croon with equal melodic quality. I am, and will always be, a fan of the man and not simply the era of Led Zep in which he was a quarter of the whole.
In 2002, if my math is correct, Plant was 54. Why you would expect him to be still reprising his Led Zep era vocals at that age is beyond me. This is lovely, and a fitting evolution of one of the very best vocalists who has ever graced our world.
In 1982 I saw Robert fronting The Honeydrippers at Bradford University. Some intellectual in the crowd called for 'Stairway to Heaven.' Despite my having seen Led Zep at Knebworth three years previously I really did not think that Robert should then or should ever be restricted in repertoire. What he has done over the years (lets give him a pass on Now and Zen) has shown he has a voice that can rock and croon with equal melodic quality. I am, and will always be, a fan of the man and not simply the era of Led Zep in which he was a quarter of the whole.
In 2002, if my math is correct, Plant was 54. Why you would expect him to be still reprising his Led Zep era vocals at that age is beyond me. This is lovely, and a fitting evolution of one of the very best vocalists who has ever graced our world.
fredriley wrote:
Given this is Robert Plant it distresses me enormously to agree with you fredriley
Not a patch on the This Mortal Coil version, not by a long, long chalk. Stick to rock, Plantie. 3 from the Nottingham jury.
Edit: sorry, make that a 2 - it really gets worse and more offensive as it goes on. Bring on Liz Fraser and her goose-pimple-inducing ethereal voice.
Edit: sorry, make that a 2 - it really gets worse and more offensive as it goes on. Bring on Liz Fraser and her goose-pimple-inducing ethereal voice.
Given this is Robert Plant it distresses me enormously to agree with you fredriley
jenakle wrote:
What is it, Hal?
Dave?
What is it, Hal?
Might not be bad if I were trying to relax, but not what I want to hear on a Monday morning. Perhaps everyone listening in parts of the world where it's evening might be enjoying this.
I think that this song iniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinadca;k;ladslcn ofa'd mmmmmmmmmmmm;... OOPS..I nodded off there.
Dave?
...always glad to hear this...
HarrO wrote:
And now that we've heard it, we know why.
Bill hasn't played this tune in the last five and half years??
And now that we've heard it, we know why.
Not a patch on the This Mortal Coil version, not by a long, long chalk. Stick to rock, Plantie. 3 from the Nottingham jury.
Edit: sorry, make that a 2 - it really gets worse and more offensive as it goes on. Bring on Liz Fraser and her goose-pimple-inducing ethereal voice.
Edit: sorry, make that a 2 - it really gets worse and more offensive as it goes on. Bring on Liz Fraser and her goose-pimple-inducing ethereal voice.
Bill hasn't played this tune in the last five and half years??
Originally Posted by BLADERUNNER:
what a horrible song, not worthy of a great singer like Mr. Plant 
I think you'll find it's the singer, not the song. Plant should stick to what he's good at...which is...umm?....umm? :p
i actually fell asleep during this song....oh, Robert, how could you? what a horrible song, not worthy of a great singer like Mr. Plant. how about Immigrant Song, instead?
Originally Posted by Ngoziman:
... but you can't beat the original by Tim Buckley, who wrote it 35(!) years ago.
I'll upload Tim's version - maybe Bill can play the versions head-to-head. No contest.
I'd be up for trying the original... as below.. I agree this is the worst I've heard it.. even the country version is better... yuck! I said *that* word (country) :D
One of my all-time favourites practically ruined. Plant should stick to songs within his vocal range. Elizabeth Fraser did an excellent version with This Mortal Coil, but you can't beat the original by Tim Buckley, who wrote it 35(!) years ago.
I'll upload Tim's version - maybe Bill can play the versions head-to-head. No contest.
Makes me turn off radio paradise ... :(
Rock \'n\' roll/life on the road obviously took its toll. He has lost it, or I\'m not that easily impressed anymore, whatever, it just doesn\'t convince me.
Barf. Pure schmaltz. Might as well be listening to Lawrence Welk.
I think it\'s lovely. Between this and his \"Darkness, Darkness\" cover, I think I need to buy this album.
Hmmm.... :roll:
Ugh... Plant singing a Coil song is pure slumming. He just makes me ill. 
I just can\'t rate it at 5 or above.. I don\'t like how people sing and quiver their voice like it adds some false emotion to their attempt.. can\'t stand it... but the one by.. um.. what\'s her name... anyway.. her nazle twang grates too.. so its 6 or 1/2 dozzen either way you\'d have it. :D
Originally Posted by Hannio:
Boring, schmaltzy, pretentious. I can just imagine Plant singing in a smokey, sleazy lounge. Wearing red lipstick. Where's the barfing smiley?
I forgot to add banal.
Boring, schmaltzy, pretentious. I can just imagine Plant singing in a smokey, sleazy lounge. Wearing red lipstick. Where\'s the barfing smiley?
Originally Posted by Relayer:
Damn...I don't care how old Bob Plant gets....he is still THE MAN!
Agreed! This is terrific , and I'm glad he came back. :D
Damn...I don\'t care how old Bob Plant gets....he is still THE MAN!