For other uses of "Stairway to Heaven", see Stairway to Heaven (disambiguation). "Stairway to Heaven" Song by Led Zeppelin From the album     Album released November 8, 1971 Recorded December 1970 Genre Hard Rock Song Length 8:02 Record label Atlantic Producer Jimmy Page The Battle of Evermore Track 3) Stairway to Heaven (Track 4) Misty Mountain Hop (Track 5) "Stairway to Heaven" is a song by the British rock group Led Zeppelin released in 1971 on their fourth studio album, [1] It did, however, appear as a promotional disc in the United States, on an Australian acoustic EP, and in the 1990s as a 20th anniversary promo issue. Contents 1 History 2 Title 3 Lyrics 4 Music 5 Cover versions 5.1 Fake versions 6 Controversy 7 Trivia 8 References 9 External links History The band began to write the song during the sessions for Led Zeppelin III at Bron-Yr-Aur, Wales, but it was completed at Headley Grange, Hampshire, and finally recorded at Island Studios, London, in December 1970. The song was first played live at Belfast's Ulster Hall on March 5, 1971 and it was performed at every subsequent Led Zeppelin concert from 1975 to 1980. "Stairway" was also played at Live Aid in 1985 and the 40th anniversary celebration of Atlantic Records in 1988, and by Jimmy Page as an instrumental version on his solo tours. "Stairway to Heaven" is one of the biggest-selling sheet music publications in rock history. Since 1971, it has sold more than 1.2 million copies. "Stairway to Heaven" continues to top radio lists of the greatest rock songs. Some radio stations that have listed the song as #1 include WNOR (Norfolk), WEBN (Cincinnati), WGRX (Baltimore), WFXF (Indianapolis), KLSK (Albuquerque), WMYG (Pittsburgh), KLSX (Los Angeles), Virgin Radio (London), KRTH (Los Angeles), KGON (Portland), KSAN (Bay Area), WNCX (Cleveland) and WZLX (Boston).[2] Title It is not entirely clear whether the song was inspired by a movie title. The original reference to a stairway to heaven comes from the Bible: Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the Earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. Genesis 28:12 Another possible source for the title was from a castle that Page had recently bought. The castle was in Lelawcge-an-bryn, Wales which at one time Plant had called "heaven." At the time Page was undergoing the building of a stairwell from the ground to a second story deck which took place in the Spring of 1971 which was the same time Plant wrote the lyrics to the song. When the staircase was completed it would be a "stairway to heaven."[3] Lyrics The lyrics, written by Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant next to an evening log fire, were inspired by his search for spiritual perfection. A seminal influence was the book Magic Arts in Celtic Britain by Lewis Spence, which Plant had recently read; it contained references to May Queens, pipers, and "bustling hedgerows." The line, "In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees," could be a reference to William Wordsworth's poem Tintern Abbey: "...and wreaths of smoke / Sent up, in silence, from among the trees!" Music Jimmy Page with his double-neck guitar that he used when playing the song live. The song is a multi-movement suite. A quiet introduction featuring acoustic guitar and wooden flute [4] gradually moves into to a slow electric middle section, before the faster hard rock final section. This style is found in many Zeppelin songs recorded after the release of "Stairway to Heaven". The guitar introduction is one of the most famous pieces ever played on the guitar. It opens with an Am-Fmaj7 chord progression with a chromatic descending bassline A-G#-G-F#-F. John Paul Jones contributed overdubbed wooden bass recorders in the opening section (he used a mellotron, and later, a Yamaha CP70B Grand Piano and Yamaha GX1 to synthesize this arrangement in live performances) and a Rhodes electric piano in the middle section. The extended Jimmy Page guitar solo in the song's final section was played for the recording on a 1958 Fender Telecaster plugged into a Supro amplifier. Three different solos were recorded with Page deciding to keep the one which he felt best suited the theme of the song. The other guitar parts were played using a Harmony acoustic guitar and Fender Electric XII (12-string); both can be heard on the left and right recording channels respectively. For live versions, Page switched to using a Heritage Cherry Gibson EDS-1275 6/12 Doubleneck guitar. Cover versions "The Money or the Gun" "Stairways to Heaven" video tape (25 versions of the song includes the well-known version by Rolf Harris) Although "Stairway to Heaven" is a popular set choice for cover bands throughout the world, the iconic status and unique structure of the song have precluded the recording of many cover versions by established artists. A few attempts at a straightforward cover have been made over the years, notably by glam metal band Great White. The supergroup Far Corporation was the first act to chart with a single release of the song, barely making the charts in the U.S., while becoming a top-10 hit in the UK in October 1985. Frank Zappa recorded an original version of the song during his 1988 world tour, and it appeared on the 1991 live album The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life. The popularity of "Stairway to Heaven" has led to covers in many other genres. Singer Dolly Parton recorded a country-bluegrass version on her 2002 album Halos & Horns. Jazz singer and conservative political figure Pat Boone chose it to close out his 1997 album of heavy metal covers In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy. A cover by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, which includes only the first three verses of the song, begins with a straightforward rendition, and then kicks into an energetic pop 'punk' style. The London Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Peter Scholes, recorded an instrumental version of the song on the album Kashmir: The Symphonic Led Zeppelin. Many other covers are ironic or humorous in intent, notably Dread Zeppelin's reggae/Elvis-inspired version, Pat Boone's and Richard Cheese's lounge takes, and Rolf Harris's wobble board interpretation (which reached number 7 in the UK charts in 1993). Rolf Harris's version was one of several different versions of the song, which were performed live by guest stars on the television program The Money or the Gun - each being a unique version of the song in the style of performance of each guest star, following which the best 25 performances of the song were released on video tape for posterity (Rolf Harris' version would appear to be the only version that people are aware of). Famous jazz guitarist Stanley Jordan recorded an instrumental cover of Stairway to Heaven where he simultaneously played two independent parts on one guitar with no overdubs. The Foo Fighters's lead singer Dave Grohl also recorded a funny version of the song on The Late Show With Craig Kilborn, when he forgot the lyrics, and the audience needed to jump in and help them out. After becoming frustrated, he simply skips ahead to the ending of the song, improvising the guitar solo vocally. Native American singer Jana recorded a techno cover of Stairway to Heaven which won the Native American Music Award (Nammy) for Best Song in 2002. Fake versions One version of the song circulating on the Internet is a supposed "reggae remix" by Jimi Hendrix. In fact, Hendrix died a year before the song was released. The recording is of a performance by Frank Zappa at one of his last live shows. This track is also sometimes attributed to Sublime. Another widely circulated cover version is credited to Pink Floyd. This is most likely the version released by the Frank Farian supergroup Far Corporation on their 1985 album Division One (9 minutes 33 seconds long). Another version can be found on their 1994 album Solitude (8 minutes 46 seconds long). Controversy "Stairway to Heaven (section) (reversed)" (file info) A reversed version of the claimed backmasked section of Stairway to Heaven Problems listening to the file? See media help. Critics of rock and roll songs (and of Led Zeppelin in particular) have alleged[5] that a backward message is recorded into "Stairway to Heaven." The message, which allegedly occurs during the middle section of the song ("If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now..."), is purported to contain Satanic references: Oh here's to my sweet Satan. The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is Satan. He'll give those with him 666. There was a little toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Satan. — Most popular version of the lyrics to Stairway to Heaven played backwards[6] In 1982, a consumer protection committee of the California State Assembly held a hearing on the song. Several "experts" claimed that "Stairway to Heaven," when played backward, contains a similar message[2]: I sing because I live with Satan. The Lord turns me off -- there's no escaping it. Here's to my sweet Satan, whose power is Satan. He will give you 666. I live for Satan. — Alleged lyrics to Stairway to Heaven played backwards, from the 1982 California State Assembly hearing The controversy originated from a prominent Baptist, who, in 1982, preached on the radio that "Stairway to Heaven" contained subliminal backward messages.[7] This theory was later primarily advanced by Michael Mills, Jacob Aranza, and Jeff Godwin, who offered detailed analyses of the hidden meanings of both the "backwards" and actual lyrics. Led Zeppelin has for the most part ignored such claims; for years the only comment came from Swan Song Records which issued the statement: "Our turntables only play in one direction—forwards" Robert Plant expressed frustration with the accusations in an interview: "To me it's very sad, because 'Stairway To Heaven' was written with every best intention, and as far as reversing tapes and putting messages on the end, that's not my idea of making music."[8] Trivia The opening chord progression in "Stairway to Heaven" is similar to that of the 1968 instrumental "Taurus" by the group Spirit. The group opened for Spirit on a 1968 tour. While nobody in the group has ever cited influence from the track, the band was known to cover the Spirit song Fresh Garbage during their early days, and Jimmy Page has said that his use of a theremin was inspired by seeing Randy California use one. It is also quite similar to a very slowed-down version of the opening to the Irish traditional song "The Irish Rover". The 1946 film A Matter of Life and Death was released in the USA under the title Stairway to Heaven. During the 1970s, Stairway to Heaven was regarded as a sacred song as it was anthemic of the transcendentalism movement. The tendency for many aspiring guitar players to learn to play the introduction to the song was spoofed in the 1992 Mike Myers movie Wayne's World, when a "No Stairway to Heaven" regulation is enforced at a music store visited by the title character. When the movie was later released on home video, the producers were unable to reach a licensing agreement with music publishers, so the intro was replaced with the ending riff of We Will Rock You, making the joke incomprehensible. Plant himself referenced the scene's "No Stairway? Denied!" line during a concert appearance with Page in 1995. This was likewise spoofed in Terry Pratchett's Soul Music, where the guitar store owner, after taking advantage of the new guitar craze, tells his assistant to hire a troll and pull the head off of anyone who tries to play "Pathway to Paradise". In the 1980s and 1990s the Camden Rock Shop, a musical instrument store in Camden Town, North London did display a sign listing the fines payable for playing clichéd riffs, concluding with Stairway to Heaven may only be played by prior arrangement. At some high schools, "Stairway to Heaven" is the standard last song at dances, a fact referenced by the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies in their lyrics for "Grade 9": "I've got a red leather tie and pair of rugger pants, I put them on and I went to the high school dance. Dad said I had to be home by eleven -- aw, man, I'm gonna miss Stairway to Heaven." In the early 1990s, each episode of the Australian chat show The Money or the Gun featured a different group performing a cover version of "Stairway to Heaven," usually idiosyncratic. From a diverse range that included Dread Zeppelin, Kate Ceberano, and the Doug Anthony All Stars, the best remembered is Rolf Harris's version (complete with didgeridoo and wobble board), which reached the Top 10 on the UK singles charts. Harris is said to have received death threats from fans of the song for his version of this iconic rock anthem. A compilation album, Stairways to Heaven, was put out on the Atlantic label, featuring versions of the song by The Australian Doors Show, The Beatnix, John Paul Young, Kate Ceberano, Leonard Teale, Sandra Hahn and Michael Turkic (Grand Opera), The Ministry of Fun, Neil Pepper, Pardon Me Boys, Robyne Dunn, The Rock Lobsters, Rolf Harris, Vegimite Reggae and others. A novelty song featuring the music and arrangement of the song combined with the lyrics to the "Theme from Gilligan's Island" (which has a similar chord progression) was recorded by the San Francisco band Little Roger and the Goosebumps and often featured on the Dr. Demento radio program. Singer Plant has described this as his favorite cover version of the song. A heavy metal band Down named their second album A Bustle in Your Hedgerow, which is a quotation from this song. The Butthole Surfers, in an act of parody and/or tribute, released an album in 1988 called Hairway to Steven. On original versions of the song "Tribute" by Tenacious D (as well as on the Tenacious D TV show) one can hear Kyle Gass play the opening to "Stairway to Heaven", and, commonly, during live performances after the song is completed, harmoniously sing "And they're playing the best song in the world", in a manner identical to the ending lyrics of "Stairway to Heaven" ("And she's buy-y-ying a stair-r-way to heav-en"). Many people have suggested that Stairway to Heaven is the song "Tribute" is dedicated to. However, it is said during that song that the greatest song in the world "doesn't sound anything like this song," which may mean that the greatest song in the world was not "Stairway to Heaven." Robert Plant sings the phrase "Stairway to Heaven" only three times in the entire length of the song. In 1991 an Albuquerque, New Mexico radio station kicked off its Classic Rock format by playing "Stairway to Heaven" for 24 hours straight. In 1998 ApologetiX recorded a parody called "Narrow Way to Heaven" on the album Jesus Christ Morningstar. On an episode of South Park, Stan, Kyle, and Cartman hold a talent contest. The winner will replace Kenny as the fourth member of the group. Towelie performs the intro to Stairway To Heaven but messes up after the first few chords. During his hallucination in the Cowboy Bebop episode Mushroom Samba, Spike Spiegel envisions a frog that references the song, saying, "Don't you know this is the Stairway to Heaven?" 30 Seconds to Mars use the lyrics "There's a feeling I get when I look to the left" in the chorus of the song End of the Beginning from their eponymous debut album. References ^ CBC News, Arts and Entertainment. "'Stairway to Heaven' voted best rock song". Retrieved on 2006-06-07. ^ a b " Stairway To Heaven: Is This the Greatest Song of All Time?". Retrieved on 2006-06-07. ^ Klassen, Michael. "Understanding Stairway to Heaven". Retrieved on 2006-06-07. ^ Rolling Stone. Stairway to Heaven. Retrieved on 2006-06-07. ^ Milner, Jeff. Jeff Milner's Backmasking Site. Retrieved on 2006-06-09. ^ Little-Known Rock Facts. Retrieved on 2006-06-21. ^ Oates, David John. Reverse Speech - Stairway to Where?. Retrieved on 2006-06-21. ^ Considine, J.D. Interviews. Retrieved on 2006-06-07. External links "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics, songfacts and guitar tabs Opinions on the meaning of Stairway to Heaven "Stairway to Heaven" lyrics The Straight Dope: What's the story behind Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven?" NPR Fresh Air audio interview with Robert Plant, who comments on various covers of the song, the lyrics and writing it. Web page offering "bustle in your hedgerow" clip backwards Supposed Stairway To Heaven Entire Backwards "Lyrics" 101 cover versions of “Stairway to Heaven” Sold on Song, "Stairway To Heaven" at BBC Radio 2 Live version of Stairway to heaven Led Zeppelin John Bonham · John Paul Jones · Jimmy Page · Robert Plant Discography Studio Albums: Led Zeppelin · II · III · IV) · Houses of the Holy · Physical Graffiti · Presence · In Through the Out Door · Coda 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 · Latter Days Films The Song Remains the Same · Led Zeppelin DVD Other Peter Grant · Swan Song Records · The Yardbirds · XYZ · The Firm · Page and Plant Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stairway_to_Heaven" Categories: Led Zeppelin songs | 1971 songs | Rock songs