"Kashmir" is a nine-minute instrumental rock song by Led Zeppelin, included on their sixth studio album, Physical Graffiti, released in 1975. A long-time concert staple for the band, it features a Middle Eastern melodic influence, with Jimmy Page's guitar playing the prominent role.
Musical Composition:
Middle Eastern-influenced melody: The song's main riff is inspired by Middle Eastern music, particularly the music of Moroccan musician Hassan Hakmoun.
Complex and atmospheric instrumentation: The song features a wide range of instruments, including guitars, drums, bass, keyboards, and strings. The instrumentation is used to create a vast and evocative soundscape.
Soraring guitar solos: Jimmy Page's guitar solos are one of the highlights of the song. His playing is both melodic and virtuosic, and he uses a variety of techniques to create a wide range of sounds.
Thunderous drums: John Bonham's drumming is another key element of the song. His powerful and dynamic playing provides a foundation for the rest of the music.
Impssioned vocals: Robert Plant's vocals are full of emotion and passion. He sings with a wide range of vocal techniques, from soaring high notes to gritty growls.
Lyrics:
Cryptic and suggestive: The lyrics are open to interpretation, and have been interpreted in many different ways. Some critics have seen the song as a critique of western materialism, while others have seen it as a celebration of the natural world.
Evocative: Robert Plant's lyrics are rich in imagery and symbolism, and they have been interpreted in many different ways. The song's title refers to the region of Kashmir in India, but it also has broader themes of spirituality, adventure, and the search for meaning.
Cultural Impact:
Popularity: The song was a critical and commercial success, reaching number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has been ranked among the greatest rock songs of all time by numerous publications, including Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
Legacy: "Kashmir" is considered one of Led Zeppelin's greatest songs, and it has been ranked among the best rock songs of all time by various publications. The song's complex composition, epic length, and mystical lyrics have made it a landmark work of rock music. It has been covered by many artists, including Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, and Queen. The song has also been featured in numerous films and television shows.
Interesting facts:
It was one of the band's most popular live songs, and they played it at almost every concert after its release.
A version of the song from Knebworth in 1979 appears on the Led Zeppelin DVD (2003).
The surviving members of Led Zeppelin performed the song at the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert in 1988.
"Kashmir" is a timeless classic that has been enjoyed by fans of Led Zeppelin for generations. It is a testament to the band's creativity and musicianship, and it continues to inspire and amaze listeners around the world.
Lyrics
Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face
And stars fill my dream
I'm a traveler of both time and space
To be where I have been
To sit with elders of the gentle race
This world has seldom seen
They talk of days for which they sit and wait
All will be revealed
Talk in song from tongues of lilting grace
Sounds caress my ear
And not a word I heard could I relate
The story was quite clear
Oh, baby, I been blind
Oh, yeah, mama, there ain't no denyin'
Oh, ooh yes, I been blind
Mama, mama, ain't no denyin', no denyin'
All I see turns to brown
As the sun burns the ground
And my eyes fill with sand
As I scan this wasted land
Try to find, try to find the way I feel
Oh, pilot of the storm who leaves no trace
Like sorts inside a dream
Leave the path that led me to that place
Yellow desert stream
My shangri la beneath the summer moon
I will return again
As the dust that floats high in June
We're moving through Kashmir
Oh, father of the four winds fill my sails
Cross the sea of years
With no provision but an open face
Along the straits of fear
Oh, when I want, when I'm on my way, yeah
And my feet wear my fickle way to stay
Ooh, yeah yeah, oh, yeah yeah,
But I'm down oh, yeah yeah, oh, yeah
Yeah, but I'm down, so down
Ooh, my baby, oh, my baby
Let me take you there
Come on, oh let me take you there
Let me take you there