#14 Led Zeppelin, Ten years Gone - 1975

As my brother reminded me, it was the 50th anniversary of Led Zeppelin’s seminal album “Physical Graffiti” last week. As albums go, you’d be hard pressed to find something as well orchestrated and cohesive as this double album. For all of the 70s rockism and bravado that has somewhat browned around the edges, especially in these modern times, Physical Graffiti represents the collective talent of a band at the peak of their musical powers. “Rock Gods’ aside, when all of the dust settles, you are ultimately left with the collective musical contribution of a truly great band and it is indisputable how important Led Zeppelin are.

Before I continue on to my song choice, I would also encourage any would-be Led Zeppelin fans to look beyond your usual “Whole Lotta Loves” and “Stairway To Heavens” that are totally overplayed and frankly overhyped! Whilst I quite like both songs, they are merely orderves to some of the music Led Zeppelin have written: songs like “Achilles Last Stand”, “In My Time Of Dying” and “Kashmir” are some of the most powerful and intensive compositions by any band. “Achilles Last Stand” is an onslaught, “Kashmir” sounds like the musical equivalent of a mighty army marching to smash down the walls of Babylon! Please check these songs out -to the letter! You’ll be richer for it!

I could have picked any number of tracks from this album, however Ten Years Gone holds a very special place in my heart and in my opinion illustrates the true musical integrity of Led Zeppelin and their collective talent. As much as I have all the time in the world for the Jimmy Page/John Bonham’s axis, this song feels like an impassioned reflection on a loss of sorts. It feels like the band are solely delivering for the song, leaning into this mood, putting aside any sense of instrumental ego and bravado that purveys so much music of the 1970s.

The opening lyrics are a perfect place to start describing a song describing past love, the passage of time and reflections of ones place in the world: “Then as it was, then again it will be. And though the course may change sometimes, rivers always reach the sea.”

Robert Plant expresses what many of us experience in life, with such eloquent phrasing and metaphorical prose. It feels like a totally unguarded and honest performance, about what could have been, and what he must fulfil within himself. The introspection is delivered without bombast, bravado and pretence. He clearly loves the person desccribed very much, but knows he must move on and press ahead with the journey in front of him. It’s not a righteous path, but a rather melancholic realisation of his life and the complex feelings he has for what he is leaving behind. A man coming to terms with his place in the world and its winding and troubled journey along the way.

In my opinion, the song is instrumentally perfect in every way. The more I have listened to this, the more I realise just how impassioned and heartfelt Jimmy Page’s guitar playing is, particularly towards the end, as his rich harmony lines sing. The guitar feels like a voice crying out and expressing this inner turmoil of something that has clearly been lost along the way. I think this is Jimmy Page at his best. The main guitar riff is totally inspired - melancholic, heartfelt, brooding, slightly abrasive and abrupt, but charged with this emotive feeling. It’s telling a story before a single word is sung.

The drumming is brilliant, John Bonham leaning into the song and delivering with as much flair as needed for a more subtle piece such as this. He rolls with the guitar riff, backing it up and never over extending at any point. 

I am taken away by this piece of music. The lyrics are brilliant, the music is inspired. The song to me feels like an old illustrated picture book, full of ancient fairytales, painted in rich colours with loads of gothic writing. I’m visualising emotions, scenes and thoughts as much as I am listening to whats being expressed. This is a perfect song. You never feel like any one entity is out of balance in relation the rest and I think this is easily one of the best things Led Zeppelin ever did.

I realise I am maybe slightly too close to this song, as I am the album, to give a 100% objective opinion, but the fact that it seems to resonate with some of the closest people in my life means a great deal to me too.