The Song Remains the Same (song)

   The Song Remains the Same is the first track off of Led Zeppelin's 1973 album Houses of the Holy.
This was Robert Plant's tribute to world music, reflecting his belief that music is universal.

Originally The Song Remains the Same was an instrumental with the working title The Oveture, before Plant put lyrics to it, after which the song became known as The Campaign before Led Zeppelin settled on The Song Remains the Same.

  Zeppelin first performed the song live on their 1972 Japanese Tour Bootlegs from this tour show that the song did not have a settled title to it. Plant even called the song Zep while on stage in Tokyo. From late 1972 to 1975 The Song Remains the Same ( just as on Houses of the Holy) segued into The Rain Song. The Song Remains the Same would be the opening song for the 1977 and 1979 concerts, before being dropped from the set list for the 1980 European tour. The song was also performed at the 2007 Led Zeppelin reunion show at the O2 Arena.

For the album release Robert Plant's vocals were slightly sped up, while Jimmy Page played the overdubs on a Fender Telecaster guitar and a Rickenbacker 12-string guitar. In live performances, however, Jimmy played a Gibson EDS-1275 double neck 12-string.

Video from Earls Court Show in 1975

The Song Remains the Same  

I had a dream. Crazy dream.
Anything I wanted to know, any place I needed to go.

Hear my song. People won't you listen now?
Sing along.
You don't know what your missing now.
Any little song that you know.
Everything that is small has to grow.
And it has to grow.

Na, na, na, na,wow!

California sunlight, Calcutta rain.
Honolulu starbright- the song remains the same.

Sing out Hare hare, dance the Hoochie Koo.
City lights are oh so bright , as we go sliding...sliding...sliding through.