In the 1970s, Led Zeppelin stood as pioneers of musical innovation, blending blues roots with a hard rock sound that would shape generations. Formed in 1968, the band quickly skyrocketed to fame, and by 1971, they released one of their most defining tracks, “Stairway to Heaven.” While the song became an anthem for fans worldwide and helped cement their legacy, not all of Zeppelin’s members held onto the same affection for it over time—particularly lead vocalist Robert Plant.
Despite Zeppelin’s massive success and a loyal fanbase that made them one of the highest-selling bands ever, Plant later confessed that some of their most beloved songs became tiresome or even embarrassing to him. In 1988, Plant spoke to Q magazine, expressing his frustration with “Stairway to Heaven,” calling it “pompous.” He added, “If you absolutely hated ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ no one can blame you for that.”
With its blend of folk and progressive rock influences, “Stairway to Heaven” is a sprawling track of nearly eight minutes, featuring intricate instrumental transitions and an epic build-up to its climax. For many, it encapsulates Zeppelin’s genius, but for Plant, his lyrics didn’t age well. Reflecting on the song’s lyrical content, he admitted, “Lyrically, now, I can’t relate to it because it was so long ago. I would have no intention ever to write along those abstract lines anymore.”
He also once explained, “My contribution was to write lyrics and to sing a song about fate and something very British, almost abstract, but coming out of the mind of a 23-year-old guy. It landed in the years of the era of 23-year-old guys.” The lyrics, steeped in fantasy elements and youthful idealism, no longer resonated with him as he matured.
Beyond “Stairway,” Plant has mixed feelings about another track from Led Zeppelin IV: “The Battle of Evermore.” While fans adore its rich allusions to epic fantasy, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, Plant eventually found it “embarrassing.”
Reflecting on his inspirations, he said, “I was living in a dream then, talking about C.S. Lewis and Tolkien.” He added, “By 1980…the thing about ‘Evermore’ is… I said to Alison [Krauss], ‘I’m embarrassed by this.’”
Krauss reminded him that it represented a certain time in his life, a young artist’s enthusiasm for fantasy.
Despite his embarrassment, Plant still performed “The Battle of Evermore” during his 2008 tour with Krauss, indicating that he didn’t completely abandon it. However, like “Stairway,” he found himself distancing from its lyrics over time.
Of all Zeppelin’s tracks, “Stairway to Heaven” remains the one Plant feels most strongly about. Reportedly, he even paid a radio station $10,000 to avoid playing it, suggesting he believes the song has reached its limit.
