Led Zeppelin (1975) Ten Years Gone [Essay]

Where do I begin with this exquisite love ballad from the English hard rock band famous for their raunchy sound. The hidden masterpiece of Physical Grafitti; this is really the hidden gem of the band's entire discography particularly on their grand double album. By the mid 70s Zeppelin got better at creating epic compositions in their expert genres (blues, folk and rock), they often could come up with exciting new sounds. They dabbled with world music, bright eastern textures, progressive melodies and funkified grooves; all elements used in todays gem. Ten Years Gone strays far from any discernible genre and is the greatest gem of a band whose entire track list consisted of 85% underrated/lesser known tunes that were on par with their hits in terms of songwriting and creative ideas.

 Starting when a shaded semi acoustic guitar strums hesitantly back and forth between ragged pauses, John Paul Jones' bass soon enters on the second repeat bringing it in line before breaking out wildly into a truly iconic progression. This central progression is based on descending guitar hammer-ons with a electric sitar twanging away the central note riff over it. This motif is the best use of  Jimmy Page's  mid 70s concept of the 'Guitar Army', as used on Black Dog and Achilles Last Stand to lesser effect, the distorted bed of guitars plays the progression underneath like a majestic orchestra.  Plant then enters on the slow guitar passage as it returns with an 'Avian' metaphor for love over time using the comparison with eagles leaving the nest. It just about works due to his excellent choice of words for 'sound over meaning' fitting the nostalgic, syrupy vibe of the song. Then there is the liquid smooth solo by Jimmy Page; one of his best exemplifying 70's soft rock in a original, triple tracked slide style similar to George Harrison. Then a rocking bridge section thunders along with Plant questioning 'Did you ever really need someone..and need em bad?!' Then follows more flutterings of electric sitar, heavily rolling alongside the Harrisonesque- slide guitar before a return to the quiet verse.

The returning jazzy, semi- acoustic chords seem to present a glorious romance that weaves in and out of the vivid present (chorus) and hazy past (verses). This was of-course all about a past girlfriend of Robert Plant's; exactly ten years before this tune's release, before the fame, in his innocent school days and how he would relate to her again.
 The final riff is another multitracked, slide guitar piece this time played as a hard rock counter point to the earlier descending progression; the storm of emotions about the past rain down with Plant's doubled harmonies of 'Ten Years Gone, Holding On, Ten Years Gone'. The pure passion in the ending as the vocals become shrill and heavily pitched, almost like an angelic choir, Plant on solo lead sings defiantly 'I'm Never Going to Leave You'; you believe he means it too. The re-occurrent hammer ons of the electric sitar progression poke through the mix like a representation of cold reality; always interrupting romance.Or possibly imitating the ticking of a clock counting down on our relationships; Time is Relentless and this song is fascinating!

 At the most simplistic we could call this a power ballad, but that takes away from the sophisticated progressions, refined mix of textures and guitar styles; laidback Jazzy chords, smooth multi-tracked slide guitars weeping away, deep electric sitar motifs etc. In live concert the band would perform this song with JPJ's three necked acoustic guitar and the wah wah drawls of Page's B String Bender Telecaster, though not as refined it is still a startling statement mainly due to Plant and his conviction for his long lost and more importantly quickly fading flame. I'm sure he still thinks about her..