Over the Hills and Far Away (song)
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Not to be confused with the other songs of the same name.
| "Over the Hills and Far Away" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Song by Led Zeppelin | ||
| from the album 'Houses of the Holy' | ||
| Released | 28 March 1973 | |
| Recorded | 1972 | |
| Genre | Hard rock | |
| Length | 4:50 | |
| Label | Atlantic Records | |
| Writer(s) | Page/Plant | |
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Page | |
| 'Houses of the Holy' track listing | ||
| "The Rain Song" (2) |
"Over the Hills and Far Away" (3) |
"The Crunge" (4) |
"Over the Hills and Far Away" is the third track from English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1973 album Houses of the Holy.
The piece starts off with a 6-string acoustic guitar intro from guitarist Jimmy Page; the melody reminiscent of his earlier instrumental work, "White Summer," which Page had recorded with The Yardbirds. Upon the second repetition, Page doubles the figure with a 12-string acoustic guitar.
Robert Plant's vocals come in on the third repetition. Plant tenderly offers himself to the "lady" who's "got the love [he] needs." The acoustic guitars build to a crescendo, when Page crashes in with electric guitars along with drummer John Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones on rhythm accompaniment.
"Over the Hills and Far Away" is yet another fine example of the tight interplay between Jones and Bonham; particularly during the pre-verse interludes and during the instrumental section.
Following the final verse, the rhythm section fades out, gradually replaced by the echo returns from Page's electric guitar.[1]
The song was released as the first single from its parent album in the US and reached #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart . However, the song later became a staple of the Classic Rock format.
"Over the Hills and Far Away" was played frequently at Led Zeppelin concerts, and was one of the songs which the band introduced on stage well ahead of its release on album. It was first played the band's 1972 concert tour of the United States and was retained for each tour up to their shows in 1979, before being dropped for their final tour of Europe in 1980. When performed live, after singing the words "pocket-full of gold," Plant would often sing "Acapulco Gold" (a type of marijuana), as can be heard on the live album How the West Was Won.
[edit] Trivia
- There is a Mother Goose rhyme called "Tom He Was The Piper's Son" which mentions Tom being only able to play a song called "Over The Hills And Far Away", and that he pleased all the girls and boys with his music.
- In the Plan-B Skateboards video Second Hand Smoke, Danny Way's section is to "Over The Hills And Far Away."
- Recently when playing live in their Stadium Arcadium tour, Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has used the intro of this song as an intro to the Chili Peppers song "Wet Sand"
- Among blogging and forum-attending Led Zeppelin fans, the song has gained the acronym OTHAFA.
[edit] External links
- Review: All Music Guide
[edit] Sources
- Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, by Chris Welch, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
- The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, by Dave Lewis, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
| Led Zeppelin |
|---|
| Jimmy Page • Robert Plant • John Paul Jones • John Bonham
Studio albums: Led Zeppelin • Led Zeppelin II • Led Zeppelin III • Live albums: The Song Remains the Same • BBC Sessions • How the West Was Won Compilations: Box Set • Profiled • Remasters • Box Set 2 • Complete Studio Recordings • Early Days: Best of Led Zeppelin Volume One • Latter Days: Best of Led Zeppelin Volume Two • Coda The Song Remains the Same • Led Zeppelin DVD Peter Grant • Richard Cole • Swan Song Records • The Yardbirds • XYZ • The Firm • Page and Plant • Strange Sensation • Bootlegs • Concerts • Songs |
