This is based on a centuries old folk song about a maiden begging for someone to buy her freedom from execution and has been covered several times before Zep got to it. Good ear, yes, that is a banjo played by Jimmy. He borrowed it from John Paul Jones, and, even though he'd never played one before, noodled about with it and got this song. In addition to banjo, he plays 12-string and electric guitar while Jones plays bass as well as mandolin. In this, some guy is hoping his friends/family can bribe the executioner to let him go. His friends are too poor, his brother brings silver and gold, and his sister has sex with the executioner only for him to kill him anyway and tells them "Now I laugh, and pull so hard, to see you swinging from the gallows pole." After you know the story, it's a bit of a macabre song as it starts slow then speeds up, sounding jaunty and jolly, before almost moving to a manic speed. The other three bandmembers harmonize on the "ah ha ha has" as the hangman laughs at the condemned man's friends/family and Robert sings "keep-a swinging" and "see-saw, Margery Daw, gonna swing." It's a sly bit of strangeness dressed up as a happy folk song and I love it.
Lol. Yah, it's a bit akin to the darker origins of old nursery rhymes and such. It's also shares some similarities to Stairway in that the drums come in down the line and it also speeds up. Great stuff.
I've seen this assessment of this song many times, and I can't say it's wrong (because Robert Plant has never divulged his intent), but I hear it differently at the end (especially in live performances). While just about every lyric site on-line shows these lyrics, they are all copies and 'unofficial. What I hear is Plant making a tongue-in-cheek reference at the end of the song... when sung live you can clearly hear Plant state "your brother brought me some silver, your sister warmed my soul, now I don't have to pull so hard SHE'S SWINGING ON MY GALLOWS POLE." Now, I will never claim to know for sure, and I'm sure Plant will never tell, but thinking that the hangman released the condemned because the sister was swinging on his 'pole' gives the ending to the song a whole different feel... and it's just the type of line Plant would sing.
@@eddiepotemri1621 - Yup... the 'official' lyrics are, "See you swingin' on the gallows pole". But hearing this song many, many times over the last half century, I've only ever been able to hear Plant say, "She's swingin' on the gallows pole".
"Your brother brought me silver Your sister warmed my soul But now I laugh and pull so hard And see you swinging on the gallows pole." Talk about cold blooded. Definitely a hidden gem. I love how by the end they are in full hoedown mode, playing everything but the kitchen sink. This song speeds up subtly, just like another song on the next album, Stairway to Heaven.
Zep take a common folk song written between 1720 and 1820, and make magic with it as Folk Rock. Oh yeah- they can do anything, any genre, any style. Peace from Canada.
I've always loved this song. I love the super sad sounding intro on the solo acoustic guitar, I love the way it builds as more instruments come in, particularly when it really kicks in when the drums start creating the urgent tension as the desperate man hopes his siblings can save him, then that interplay between the vocals and the soloing guitar. And as for that soloing, by Jimmy...wow. That might be the best, smoothest playing, he ever put down on tape. What a fantastic track.
Robert Plant is a blues singer, but his folk side is absolutely amazing! I saw him live two days ago, and when he pulled out his harmonica and sang this as an encore, I was astonished: he is now 75 and he can still sing and play! That concert made me buy a harmonica and start learning how to play!
i saw him june 22 in charlotte...he was incredible with AK; they did a fantastic cover of "When the Levee Breaks" which Plant just destroyed vocally...and, of course, the harmonica...!!! Amazing...
Being very old I had the good fortune to be able to see Led Zep live at Earls Court London. I really enjoy seeing young people discovering this band for the first time, they were so influential.
This band could do it all… Delta blues ,folk,reggae,acid blues,middle eastern influenced music . Zeppelin knew no boundaries always pushing the envelope , never satisfied with the mundane or what was hip at the time .
Another one of my favourite Zep songs ❤️ It is an old folk song. Rock had many influences folk, jazz, blues, Medieval and classical music. I mentioned the band Rush in another comment, another band is Jethro Tull I think you would enjoy. Cheers
Jones on mandolin and bass, Page on banjo, 6-string acoustic and 12-string electric guitars. Lots of layering. They performed this song live only two or three times but not with acoustic instruments, only electric. If one wants to enjoy the acoustic version, the studio version is the only way to do that. Glad you liked it, great reaction. :) This is an example of why I suggest always listening to the studio version, then the live. It wasn't possible to hear the layering in live performances (they're only four guys), and sometimes they played a particular song with instruments different from the studio version. Doesn't make one version better than the other, just different. Who doesn't love to hear LZ live? But to get the full experience of their music, both versions are a must. Nothing wrong with that. Double the pleasure. ;)
Not with the full band but there are many live acoustic versions with Page and Plant, here's a couple with Jimmy on 12 string guitar...th-cam.com/video/muGN_1N_ykIv/w-d-xo.htmlersions. and th-cam.com/video/X9DuDgzGjtE/w-d-xo.html They also recorded a version for 'No Quarter', available on that album and concert DVD. th-cam.com/video/9HrV8IbREWI/w-d-xo.html
"WILD MOUNTAIN HONEY" by Steve Miller Band has a very soft psychedelic feel with interesting sounds youd dig. And Jethro Tull is a folk prog rock juggernaut. Ever wondered what flute in a rock band would sound like ?
From a 16th century folk song. Many versions under different name. I remember the folk song was taught in my music class, way before Zeppelin got round to it. After learning it at school I started hearing it all over the place. Most notably by Leadbelly, under the title "Gallis Pole". The spelling due to an engineer, who misheard the title, and mislabelled the recording. A couple of years later, after I originally learnt the song, Led Zeppelin came up with this version. I always wondered if the song was part of the national schools curriculum, and Jimmy had heard it in a music lesson like I had.
Traditional means this song has no origins so there's no original artist that have written this song it's traditional which means many people have done different variations
I laugh at the fools who have only heard Whole Lotta Love by them or some of their heavy rock song and label them a heavy metal band when they are not and they even want to argue with me about it because they have never been a heavy metal band and Jimmy in particular hates that term....what they were was the most diverse and greatest band ever...🎸🐉♑
Zep could be as heavy as any of the classic "metal bands," (Sabbath, Purple), but they could also be light, and play any genre of music, unlike those bands. They were multi-talented musicians with diverse musical tastes and the ability to improvise. That puts them miles beyond most other bands they are often compared to.
This is based, I believe, on an old traditional English folk song. The theme is a common one……the poor and powerless trying to save a loved one by giving all they have, including a woman’s virtue, to no avail.
I said LZ 3 is my fav already but I am not saying it is the best one, you cannot really choose a best LZ album ,but 3 is best when you want to have a few shots and 2 to 24 beers and listening to a mix of styles LZ has on this ..It fits it all just right
You are becoming my favorite reactor. Every morning when I go on the computer I look forward to hearing Led Zeppelin. I'm going to be honest, the very last song is probably the one I like least out of all their music, but it's very very different and I understand why. They try to cover all genres. If you keep going on this journey you will hear a lot of great music.
Tangerine next is one of my personal favorites. Although it might be one that grows on you. The other great part is as you thought their albums there will continue to things that will surprise you but you won’t question it’s them. They had a lot of influences and tried to make them their own while still not missing the essence. Enjoy man
This "name-that-sub-genre" game is a fairly recent development. Music had categories in the early 70's, but not so many. it's not like somebody walked into the studio saying "I've got a folk-rock tune that came to me last night" just to have a band member reject it as being pop -- not folk-rock. Although, they might say "We're anarcho-syndicalists, man. We can't play that." Things were more simple and yet weirder back then.
You have to listen to these songs on a good system and loudly, so you can hear so many musical nuances and not underestimate the subtleties. The remastered versions also sound surprisingly good from the internet. Above all, you get to hear a different musical side, unfortunately the banjo fadeout.
LOL, No One thinks Zep 3 is their favorite. Mostly because to me, every song after this one can be skipped. But thats just me. And also Zeppelin 4 is when they became rock GODS! Most people say 2, 4 or Physical is their favorite. Zep 4 is basically the blue print for every classic rock album to come. Houses, they shift again. Houses is hard for me to describe. Dreamy at points. Epic somewhat. Experimental. Light hearted. It's a very good album but when you have three other albums that are considered top tier of all time it's just not as good to me. Physical. Wow. Just so different. Sort of Funky. Even grungy at times. Plants voice is often gravely sounding at times. Which I actually like. It's a 2 album set and the first album EVERY song is just wow. But different levels of wow. The second album is more mellow but almost as good. Consider definitely doing "In my Time of Dying." Live. And Trampled Underfoot as well live. But Trampled live and studio I like equally as well but in a different way. And then there is Kashmir. Seeing your tastes, I wouldn't be surprised if Kashmir isn't your favorite Zep song. Prescence is almost progressive. Underrated album that will grow on you the more you listen to it. In through the outdoor. Hmm, When it came out shortly before the drummer died, most Zeppelin fans were like, what were they thinking? Most often voted least favorite Zeppelin album and their last. It's just so unZep like. But as the years have past, I actually like this album now. Maybe even better than Zep 3.
You would be wise to stop trying to fit Led Zep or any of their songs into tidy genre categories! Their diversity is part of the magic, and part of what gives them such a timeless appeal.
I believe it was first recorded by "Ledbelly" under the title of "Gallis Pole" and was an old prison song. th-cam.com/video/ye2N_2ce3QE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=XOoAJhumJKk7N0T0
As far as being diverse, Led Zeppelin certainly get kudos for that but tbh gallows pole along with other of their acoustic stuff wasn’t really appealing to me. I find myself often skipping such tracks. Cool reaction tho, keep em coming.
![โรงเรียนห้ามรัก โดนจับได้ตาย...!! [เอิร์นไดเม่]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4u02Sbr556Q/mqdefault.jpg)
No other band can match their diversity, always at 10/10. GOAT.
Ummm idk man, Queen could pretty much play any genre seamlessly.
This is based on a centuries old folk song about a maiden begging for someone to buy her freedom from execution and has been covered several times before Zep got to it. Good ear, yes, that is a banjo played by Jimmy. He borrowed it from John Paul Jones, and, even though he'd never played one before, noodled about with it and got this song. In addition to banjo, he plays 12-string and electric guitar while Jones plays bass as well as mandolin. In this, some guy is hoping his friends/family can bribe the executioner to let him go. His friends are too poor, his brother brings silver and gold, and his sister has sex with the executioner only for him to kill him anyway and tells them "Now I laugh, and pull so hard, to see you swinging from the gallows pole." After you know the story, it's a bit of a macabre song as it starts slow then speeds up, sounding jaunty and jolly, before almost moving to a manic speed. The other three bandmembers harmonize on the "ah ha ha has" as the hangman laughs at the condemned man's friends/family and Robert sings "keep-a swinging" and "see-saw, Margery Daw, gonna swing." It's a sly bit of strangeness dressed up as a happy folk song and I love it.
Lol. Yah, it's a bit akin to the darker origins of old nursery rhymes and such. It's also shares some similarities to Stairway in that the drums come in down the line and it also speeds up. Great stuff.
I've seen this assessment of this song many times, and I can't say it's wrong (because Robert Plant has never divulged his intent), but I hear it differently at the end (especially in live performances). While just about every lyric site on-line shows these lyrics, they are all copies and 'unofficial. What I hear is Plant making a tongue-in-cheek reference at the end of the song... when sung live you can clearly hear Plant state "your brother brought me some silver, your sister warmed my soul, now I don't have to pull so hard SHE'S SWINGING ON MY GALLOWS POLE." Now, I will never claim to know for sure, and I'm sure Plant will never tell, but thinking that the hangman released the condemned because the sister was swinging on his 'pole' gives the ending to the song a whole different feel... and it's just the type of line Plant would sing.
@@eddiepotemri1621 - Yup... the 'official' lyrics are, "See you swingin' on the gallows pole". But hearing this song many, many times over the last half century, I've only ever been able to hear Plant say, "She's swingin' on the gallows pole".
It's Led Zeppelin...every song is fantastic!! Every album is different!
Led Zeppelin : It's your favorite till you hear the next one.
There's not enough superlatives to describe how good this band were!!☘
Their entire catalog is incredible. BEST BAND EVER!!!
"Your brother brought me silver
Your sister warmed my soul
But now I laugh and pull so hard
And see you swinging on the gallows pole."
Talk about cold blooded. Definitely a hidden gem. I love how by the end they are in full hoedown mode, playing everything but the kitchen sink. This song speeds up subtly, just like another song on the next album, Stairway to Heaven.
Zep take a common folk song written between 1720 and 1820, and make magic with it as Folk Rock. Oh yeah- they can do anything, any genre, any style. Peace from Canada.
I've always loved this song. I love the super sad sounding intro on the solo acoustic guitar, I love the way it builds as more instruments come in, particularly when it really kicks in when the drums start creating the urgent tension as the desperate man hopes his siblings can save him, then that interplay between the vocals and the soloing guitar.
And as for that soloing, by Jimmy...wow. That might be the best, smoothest playing, he ever put down on tape.
What a fantastic track.
Robert Plant is a blues singer, but his folk side is absolutely amazing! I saw him live two days ago, and when he pulled out his harmonica and sang this as an encore, I was astonished: he is now 75 and he can still sing and play! That concert made me buy a harmonica and start learning how to play!
i saw him june 22 in charlotte...he was incredible with AK; they did a fantastic cover of "When the Levee Breaks" which Plant just destroyed vocally...and, of course, the harmonica...!!! Amazing...
I'm enjoying all your Zeppelin reactions. Next up is 'Tangerine' and I really love that song.
Funny…..one of my least favorite. It would be so boring if we all liked the same things…
The live version from the Page/Plant tours in the mid-1990s is fabulous....it actually became popular on MTV with the younger crowd.
I've put this album on for "Zeppelin Fans" who didn't know most of this album. One of my favorites.
Possibly my favourite led zeppelin song and the start of my favourite run of tracks on any of their albums.
Oh and *Tangerine* being next, B O O M .! One of my absolute favs.... so many memories tied to that song.! Be lookin tomorrow.....
Being very old I had the good fortune to be able to see Led Zep live at Earls Court London. I really enjoy seeing young people discovering this band for the first time, they were so influential.
Fantastic!!
Yes its a banjo, jimmy had never played 1 before, picked it up and did this lol
Jimmy and JPJ...pure geniuses!!
@@juliemanarin4127 they all are and you know it julie lol
I got into this at about 12 now I’m 57! My dad bought some stuff from an auction in a box and loads of lp s were on it so thanks to my dad x
Madolin is also used in this song!
They were able to and would do anything, and did do the most variety of music I’ve ever heard.
In my top 10 top Zeppelin songs.
Another track i LOVE.
*And we march on* Excellent.!
Yes! You've cracked my Zepplin Top 5!
This band could do it all… Delta blues ,folk,reggae,acid blues,middle eastern influenced music . Zeppelin knew no boundaries always pushing the envelope , never satisfied with the mundane or what was hip at the time .
Something really different. Love this
Another one of my favourite Zep songs ❤️ It is an old folk song. Rock had many influences folk, jazz, blues, Medieval and classical music. I mentioned the band Rush in another comment, another band is Jethro Tull I think you would enjoy. Cheers
Of all the LZ albums this album is definitely in my top 10.
" Now I laugh and pull so hard, See ya swinging from the gallows pole" A little twist in the story at the end.
This is Zep's cover of a Ledbelly song that he penned... Gallis Pole.
Love both versions.
Leadbelly's version was one of many versions of a song from 16th century england
Jones on mandolin and bass, Page on banjo, 6-string acoustic and 12-string electric guitars. Lots of layering. They performed this song live only two or three times but not with acoustic instruments, only electric. If one wants to enjoy the acoustic version, the studio version is the only way to do that. Glad you liked it, great reaction. :)
This is an example of why I suggest always listening to the studio version, then the live. It wasn't possible to hear the layering in live performances (they're only four guys), and sometimes they played a particular song with instruments different from the studio version. Doesn't make one version better than the other, just different. Who doesn't love to hear LZ live? But to get the full experience of their music, both versions are a must. Nothing wrong with that. Double the pleasure. ;)
Not with the full band but there are many live acoustic versions with Page and Plant, here's a couple with Jimmy on 12 string guitar...th-cam.com/video/muGN_1N_ykIv/w-d-xo.htmlersions. and th-cam.com/video/X9DuDgzGjtE/w-d-xo.html
They also recorded a version for 'No Quarter', available on that album and concert DVD. th-cam.com/video/9HrV8IbREWI/w-d-xo.html
Exactly!!
@@MrDiddyDee Thanks!
A brilliant song!
"WILD MOUNTAIN HONEY" by Steve Miller Band has a very soft psychedelic feel with interesting sounds youd dig. And Jethro Tull is a folk prog rock juggernaut. Ever wondered what flute in a rock band would sound like ?
This one will sneak you right into a ticket goin’ down the freeway$$$
From a 16th century folk song. Many versions under different name. I remember the folk song was taught in my music class, way before Zeppelin got round to it. After learning it at school I started hearing it all over the place. Most notably by Leadbelly, under the title "Gallis Pole". The spelling due to an engineer, who misheard the title, and mislabelled the recording. A couple of years later, after I originally learnt the song, Led Zeppelin came up with this version. I always wondered if the song was part of the national schools curriculum, and Jimmy had heard it in a music lesson like I had.
Wicked…New Englander?? It’s your favorite until you hear the next one. Great ear btw picking up on the banjo !!!
…one of my favourites- reminds me of the hot English summer of ‘76 …
Traditional means this song has no origins so there's no original artist that have written this song it's traditional which means many people have done different variations
Once in a millennia talent, perhaps from a different galaxy.
Love love this song ❤🎉
I laugh at the fools who have only heard Whole Lotta Love by them or some of their heavy rock song and label them a heavy metal band when they are not and they even want to argue with me about it because they have never been a heavy metal band and Jimmy in particular hates that term....what they were was the most diverse and greatest band ever...🎸🐉♑
Zep could be as heavy as any of the classic "metal bands," (Sabbath, Purple), but they could also be light, and play any genre of music, unlike those bands. They were multi-talented musicians with diverse musical tastes and the ability to improvise. That puts them miles beyond most other bands they are often compared to.
@@tektoniks_architects 👏🏻
This is based, I believe, on an old traditional English folk song. The theme is a common one……the poor and powerless trying to save a loved one by giving all they have, including a woman’s virtue, to no avail.
I said LZ 3 is my fav already but I am not saying it is the best one, you cannot really choose a best LZ album ,but 3 is best when you want to have a few shots and 2 to 24 beers and listening to a mix of styles LZ has on this ..It fits it all just right
You are becoming my favorite reactor. Every morning when I go on the computer I look forward to hearing Led Zeppelin. I'm going to be honest, the very last song is probably the one I like least out of all their music, but it's very very different and I understand why. They try to cover all genres. If you keep going on this journey you will hear a lot of great music.
Me too!
Tangerine next is one of my personal favorites. Although it might be one that grows on you. The other great part is as you thought their albums there will continue to things that will surprise you but you won’t question it’s them. They had a lot of influences and tried to make them their own while still not missing the essence. Enjoy man
SG,diggin' your LZ reactions!Thanks!
This song is classified as…Led Zeppelin! See-saw rocka my thor, see-saw swing!
You must do Friends, my friend. I predict it will be your favorite LZ song.
This "name-that-sub-genre" game is a fairly recent development. Music had categories in the early 70's, but not so many. it's not like somebody walked into the studio saying "I've got a folk-rock tune that came to me last night" just to have a band member reject it as being pop -- not folk-rock. Although, they might say "We're anarcho-syndicalists, man. We can't play that." Things were more simple and yet weirder back then.
You have to listen to these songs on a good system and loudly, so you can hear so many musical nuances and not underestimate the subtleties. The remastered versions also sound surprisingly good from the internet. Above all, you get to hear a different musical side, unfortunately the banjo fadeout.
it's based off an old prison chin gang song. has no official author
LOL, No One thinks Zep 3 is their favorite. Mostly because to me, every song after this one can be skipped. But thats just me. And also Zeppelin 4 is when they became rock GODS! Most people say 2, 4 or Physical is their favorite. Zep 4 is basically the blue print for every classic rock album to come. Houses, they shift again. Houses is hard for me to describe. Dreamy at points. Epic somewhat. Experimental. Light hearted. It's a very good album but when you have three other albums that are considered top tier of all time it's just not as good to me. Physical. Wow. Just so different. Sort of Funky. Even grungy at times. Plants voice is often gravely sounding at times. Which I actually like. It's a 2 album set and the first album EVERY song is just wow. But different levels of wow. The second album is more mellow but almost as good. Consider definitely doing "In my Time of Dying." Live. And Trampled Underfoot as well live. But Trampled live and studio I like equally as well but in a different way. And then there is Kashmir. Seeing your tastes, I wouldn't be surprised if Kashmir isn't your favorite Zep song. Prescence is almost progressive. Underrated album that will grow on you the more you listen to it. In through the outdoor. Hmm, When it came out shortly before the drummer died, most Zeppelin fans were like, what were they thinking? Most often voted least favorite Zeppelin album and their last. It's just so unZep like. But as the years have past, I actually like this album now. Maybe even better than Zep 3.
You would be wise to stop trying to fit Led Zep or any of their songs into tidy genre categories! Their diversity is part of the magic, and part of what gives them such a timeless appeal.
Exactly 👍👍😎😎
This is one of the few covers that are superior to the original imo
I believe it was first recorded by "Ledbelly" under the title of "Gallis Pole" and was an old prison song.
th-cam.com/video/ye2N_2ce3QE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=XOoAJhumJKk7N0T0
As far as being diverse, Led Zeppelin certainly get kudos for that but tbh gallows pole along with other of their acoustic stuff wasn’t really appealing to me. I find myself often skipping such tracks. Cool reaction tho, keep em coming.
Banjo...don’t be so obtuse! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
He SAID a banjo…….so he’s NOT obtuse.
Zeppelin never used banjos