Ten Years Gone - Led Zeppelin

Artist: Led Zeppelin
Song: Ten Years Gone
Year: 1975
Album: Physical Graffiti

This song was originally intended to be an instrumental, but Robert Plant added lyrics about a girlfriend that made him choose between her and his music, ten years earlier. Some say this is just a variation on an unreleased song called "Swan Song", and is not a separate song.

Most of the songs on this album run together for me. Probably because this album is very hard to digest at once and the songs are of great length. The songs sound all in a similar vein to me, but that is just my opinion. I know the songs well, but if I am listening to the songs in the background, I can tell it's only from this album until I put my concentration on the particular song.

I was finally able to see this song performed live, when I saw Jimmy Page play with the Black Crowes. It was spectacular to see it performed live. The Black Crowes did an amazing job playing along side Jimmy Page. I say Page tour with Robert Plant and they left this song off the set list.

I never got to see Led Zeppelin tour. I can see video of it, but it's just not the same. To experience the full brunt of Zeppelin's force, you must see them live. Sadly, this will never be. It came close in recent years with Jason Bonham filling in for his father, but without Robert Plant touring, it will just be another pale comparison.

Lyrics:
Then, as it was, then again it will be
and though the course may change sometimes
rivers always reach the sea

Blind skies of fortune, each have separate ways
On the wings of maybe, downing birds of prey
Kinda makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go
but as the eagle leaves the nest, he's got so far to go

Changes fill my time
Baby, that's alright with me
In the midst, I think of you and how it used to be

Did you ever really need somebody and really need 'em bad
Did you ever really want somebody, the best love you ever had
Do you ever remember me, baby, did it feel so good
'cause it was just the first time, and you knew you would

Do the eyes not sparkle, senses growing keen
Taste the love along the way, see your feathers preen
Kinda makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go
We are eagles of one lair, the nest is in our soul

Vixen in my dreams, with great surprise to me
Never thought I'd see your face the way it used to be
Oh, darlin', oh, darlin', oh, oh darlin', hey-yeah, oh darlin'
I'm never gonna leave ya
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone
I'm never gonna leave ya
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone
Ten years gone, holdin' on, yeah, yeah
I said
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone
I said, I'm never, I'm never, I'm never, oh, woo, yeah, yeah