The amalgamation of John Paul Jones’ unusually heavy bass riffs, Jimmy Page’s unbelievable guitar solos, Robert Plant’s wailing vocals and Bonham’s raw speed and power on the drums transformed rock music in the most unprecedented manner. It’s no wonder that Led Zeppelin’s music left everyone Dazed and Confused.

But where do they get their lyrics from?

At the peak of their stardom, Plant had developed a keen interest in legends and history. They effortlessly intertwined this with Page’s liking to the occult in their compositions. To quote the famous Jack Black, “They sang songs about love…about Vikings…and about Vikings making love“.

Immigrant Song, draped with Plant’s characteristic howls was heavily inspired by Norse mythology. With a distinct pagan message, it talks about the conquest of Vikings who believe that Thor’s Hammer will lead their ships to new lands. He alludes to Valhalla, the palace which served as the resting place for warriors killed in battle where they feasted with Odin, Thor’s father.

Legend has it that Plant developed a fondness for the Atlas Mountains while touring Morocco. At the same time, he was suffering from a broken leg following a car accident. This underlying condition, mixed with hints of Titan, the God of Endurance lifting the Atlas Mountains formed the lyrics for one of their longest songs: Achilles Last Stand.

Led Zeppelin were also talented at combining elements of mythology and fantasy. The Battle of Evermore features a reference to Celtic mythology. King Arthur went to recover and heal after his final battle in the legendary island of Avalon. Here, the lyrics are probably describing soldiers in the Battle of Pelennor (from the Lord of the Rings), who are ‘waiting for the angels of Avalon’.

Tolkien mythology served as the basis for several other songs such as Ramble On, Misty Mountain Hop, Over the Hills and Far Away. However, the buck doesn’t stop here. Led Zeppelin’s lyrical inspirations comprise an endless list. What’s certainly impressive is how they managed to insert mythical references into their songs whilst maintaining the essence of rock and roll.