Led Zeppelin, “The Lemon Song” | Outlandish Rock 🎸🤘

In the 14^th edition of Outlandish Rock 🎸🤘, we explore the outlandishness behind the song “The Lemon Song” performed by Led Zeppelin.  

Bring on the outlandishness! Outlandish Rock 🎸🤘 provides background information and insight into rock and metal songs that raise eyebrows and stir the pot.  The records featured on Outlandish Rock 🎸🤘 can be classic or brand new. In the 14^th edition of Outlandish Rock 🎸🤘 (2022), we explore 🎵 “The Lemon Song” performed by 🎙 Led Zeppelin.

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“I should have quit you long time ago / Oh, yeah, long time ago.” Woo! Now that’s a mic-drop moment, 🎙 Robert Plant! In all honesty, isn’t any and everything that 🎙 Led Zeppelin do – among the greatest bands of all time – a mic-drop moment? In their 1969 album, 💿 Led Zeppelin II, they absolutely kill it on the epic, six-minute-plus 🎵 “The Lemon Song.” In addition to Plant’s autopilot vocals, it’s hard not to be wowed by the incredibly robust bass line of 🎙 John Paul Jones.  It’s lit 🔥! But, of course, 🎙 Jimmy Page is electrifying on guitar, and 🎙 John Bonham’s pummeling drums provide a serious anchor to this blues rock gem, like BOOM, BOOM, POW!!!

Plant’s regret to quit her ranks among the most memorable lines.  That said, the second verse might yield an even more memorable moment: “I should’ve listened, baby, to my second mind.” Oh, snap, is Plant talking about what I think he’s talking about? Thinking with his… thinking within the wrong head? It’s been happening for generations, people! Of course, later, in the fifth verse, there’s no possible way that “Squeeze me, baby, till the juice runs down my leg” is innocent, right? He can’t possibly be talking about lemon juice as opposed to… NEVERMIND! His vocal performance is wildly entertaining and incredibly refreshing north of 50 years after the fact. Besides the energetic, fun lyrics and assertive vocals, the instrumental break/chorus, with an increase in tempo is utterly sublime.  The musicianship exhibited is absolutely awesome.

Final Thoughts 💭

🎵 “The Lemon Song” is one of those one-in-a-lifetime songs, regardless of musical genre.  Furthermore, Led Zeppelin is one of those once-in-a-lifetime bands, too🤘. “The Lemon Song” is a classic, and with its innuendo, an outlandish one at that!

🎙 Led Zeppelin • 💿 Led Zeppelin II • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 1969

Led Zeppelin, “The Lemon Song”: Outlandish Rock 🎸🤘 No. 14 (2022) [📷: Atlantic, Brent Faulkner, Conna Lee, Madelin Berry, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Sebastian Ervi, Vinícius Caricatte]