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Ten Years Gone
View on Wikipedia| "Ten Years Gone" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Led Zeppelin | |
| from the album Physical Graffiti | |
| Released | 24 February 1975 |
| Recorded | 1974 |
| Studio |
|
| Genre | Hard rock[1][2] |
| Length | 6:37[a] |
| Label | Swan Song |
| Songwriters | |
| Producer | Jimmy Page |
"Ten Years Gone" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. Record producer Rick Rubin has described the song as, "A deep, reflective piece with hypnotic, interweaving riffs. Light and dark, shadow and glare. It sounds like nature coming through the speakers."[5]
Recording and production
[edit]Jimmy Page had originally intended the song to be an instrumental piece; he recorded around 14 guitar tracks to overdub the harmony section.[6] Robert Plant later added lyrics, which are dedicated to an old girlfriend who, ten years earlier, had made him choose either her or his music. Plant explained this in an interview in 1975:
Let me tell you a little story behind the song "Ten Years Gone" on our new album. I was working my ass off before joining Zeppelin. A lady I really dearly loved said, "Right. It's me or your fans." Not that I had fans, but I said, "I can't stop, I've got to keep going." She's quite content these days, I imagine. She's got a washing machine that works by itself and a little sports car. We wouldn't have anything to say anymore. I could probably relate to her, but she couldn't relate to me. I'd be smiling too much. Ten years gone, I'm afraid. Anyway, there's a gamble for you.[7]
Live performances
[edit]Live versions of this song were performed on Led Zeppelin's 1977 concert tour of the United States and at the first Knebworth show in 1979. John Paul Jones originally played the melody on an acoustic guitar before introducing a custom triple-necked instrument created by Andy Manson, that included six-string and twelve-string guitars, a mandolin, and bass pedals.[6]
Page also performed this song on his tour with the Black Crowes in 1999. In an interview he later gave to National Public Radio, Page commented on this collaboration with the Black Crowes:
We did "Ten Years Gone" and all of a sudden I heard all of the guitar parts that I had never heard apart from on record. We could never do all those guitar parts with just the one guitar with Led Zeppelin. It was fantastic.[8]
One version is included on Live at the Greek (2000).[9] It peaked at number 33 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.[10]
Reception
[edit]In a contemporary review of Physical Graffiti, Jim Miller of Rolling Stone described "Ten Years Gone" as having a progression reminiscent of the Beatles' "Dear Prudence" that "resolves in a beautifully waddling refrain."[11] Miller also believed Plant sounded like Rod Stewart on the track, with Page "scooping broad and fuzzy chords" behind him.[11]
In a retrospective review of Physical Graffiti (Deluxe Edition), Jon Hadusek of Consequence of Sound called "Ten Years Gone" one of Page/Plant's "most sincere compositions".[12] In another retrospective review of Physical Graffiti (Deluxe Edition), Brice Ezell of PopMatters gave "Ten Years Gone" an extremely positive review, stating the track was one of Physical Graffiti's highlights along with having some of Page's "most enrapturing guitar work, particularly in the way he layers multiple riffs on top of each other."[13] Ezell continued, calling the song's main riff "lovely and echoey" and "over the course of six and a half minutes [the song] ebbs and flows, trading off sky-gazing moments of reflection with bursts of euphoria."[13]
See also
[edit]Footnotes
[edit]- ^ The 1975 Physical Graffiti LP lists the running time as 6:55,[3] while the 1993 Complete Studio Recordings shows 6:31.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Guesdon, Jean-Michel; Margotin, Philippe (2018). Led Zeppelin All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Running Press. p. 485. ISBN 9780316418034.
- ^ Linhardt, Alex (23 June 2004). "Top 100 Albums of the 1970s". Pitchfork. Retrieved 17 February 2025.
The tracklist is like the Ten Commandments of hard rock, wielding "Custard Pie," "The Wanton Song," "Trampled Under Foot," "Ten Years Gone," and "Kashmir."
- ^ Physical Graffiti (LP record notes). Swan Song Records. 1974. Side Three label. SSK 89400.
- ^ The Complete Studio Recordings (Boxed set notes). Atlantic Records. 1993. Physical Graffiti sleeve.
- ^ The Playlist Special: Fifty Artists Pick Their Personal Top 10s Archived 2010-12-11 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2 January 2011.
- ^ a b Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ^ "Interview with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, January 1975". Archived from the original on 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- ^ National Public Radio, Guitar Legend Jimmy Page, June 2, 2003.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Live at the Greek". AllMusic.
- ^ "Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks - 2 September 2000". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 9, 2015. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ a b Miller, Jim (27 March 1975). "Physical Graffiti". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ Hadusek, Jon (19 February 2015). "Led Zeppelin – Physical Graffiti (Reissue)". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
- ^ a b Ezell, Brice (27 February 2015). "Led Zeppelin: Physical Graffiti (Deluxe Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
External links
[edit]Ten Years Gone
View on GrokipediaBackground and composition
Inspiration and writing
The song "Ten Years Gone" originated from Robert Plant's reflections on a formative relationship from his teenage years. In a 1975 interview, Plant explained that the lyrics were inspired by a girlfriend he dated around age 16 or 17 in the mid-1960s, who presented him with an ultimatum to choose between their romance and his burgeoning music career; he ultimately selected music, leading to the relationship's end.[4] By 1974, a decade later, Plant drew on these memories during the writing process, capturing the lingering nostalgia and sacrifices involved in pursuing his path as a musician.[8] The title "Ten Years Gone" directly emerged from Plant's reminiscences of that decade-old decision, framing the song as a poignant look back at what might have been.[4] Plant penned the lyrics amid the creative momentum of Led Zeppelin's sessions for their double album Physical Graffiti, infusing the track with autobiographical depth that contrasted the band's high-energy output.[9] Jimmy Page played a pivotal role in the song's musical foundation, developing its intricate guitar riff and overall structure during the early rehearsals for Physical Graffiti at Headley Grange in late 1973 and early 1974.[5] Page prepared initial demo sketches of the guitar orchestration at the rural Hampshire estate, bringing a fully conceived instrumental framework—including layered guitar parts—to the band sessions, which allowed for Plant's vocals and lyrics to integrate seamlessly.[5] These contributions at Headley Grange, starting in November 1973, marked the song's evolution from sketch to a complex arrangement blending acoustic and electric elements.[10]Musical structure
"Ten Years Gone" has a duration of 6:39 and is primarily in A Mixolydian, incorporating modal shifts that add depth to its emotional landscape. The tempo hovers around 77 BPM, with rubato elements lending a fluid, expressive quality to the intro.[11] The song follows a verse-chorus form, beginning with an intro featuring layered guitars that establish a lush, atmospheric texture. This leads into verses and choruses that build tension through Plant's soaring vocal delivery, which adapts seamlessly to the evolving dynamics. An extended solo section follows, showcasing intricate guitar interplay, before resolving into a fade-out coda that gradually dissipates the intensity.[12][13] Instrumentation centers on Jimmy Page's multi-tracked guitars, reaching up to 14 layers that blend acoustic and electric elements to create a symphonic-like density. John Bonham's dynamic drumming incorporates tribal rhythms, providing a propulsive foundation that underscores the song's rhythmic drive. John Paul Jones contributes bass lines and Mellotron strings, enhancing the harmonic richness and textural variety.[14][13][15] The harmonic progression relies on suspended chords and pedal points, fostering an emotional build-up that propels the arrangement forward and evokes a sense of longing and resolution.[12]Recording and production
Studio sessions
The recording of "Ten Years Gone" commenced in October 1973 at Headley Grange, a remote country house in Hampshire, England, as part of the initial sessions for the album Physical Graffiti, utilizing Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio parked outside. The song originated during time spent at this location, where guitarist Jimmy Page had already developed its core guitar parts before bringing it to the band.[16] Core band tracking occurred primarily in early 1974, with further sessions in January and February at Headley Grange, though progress was frequently interrupted by band members' personal issues, including substance abuse—particularly John Bonham's use of Mandrax—and rising interpersonal tensions within the group.[10] These disruptions, compounded by a roadie's accidental crash of Bonham's BMW during the sessions, halted work for several weeks.[10] Basic tracks for "Ten Years Gone" were completed by summer 1974, ahead of subsequent overdubs at other facilities.[17] The sessions encountered various challenges at Headley Grange, including equipment issues stemming from the use of the more affordable Ronnie Lane mobile unit and the harsh winter environment.[18] Drummer John Bonham set up his kit in the house's cavernous fireplace room to leverage its natural reverb for the track's rhythm section.[10]Overdubs and mixing
Jimmy Page had developed the intricate guitar orchestration for "Ten Years Gone" at his home studio in Plumpton prior to the Headley Grange sessions, where he pre-recorded initial layers to achieve the song's rich harmonic texture.[5] Following the basic tracks at Headley Grange, Page meticulously overdubbed up to 14 separate guitar tracks for the harmony sections, creating a dense, orchestral-like arrangement that showcased his innovative multi-tracking approach.[8] Overdubs and final mixing took place at Olympic Studios in 1974, engineered by Keith Harwood, who captured Page's vision of a "wall of sound" through careful layering and dynamic balance.[19] This production emphasized the interplay of guitars, resulting in a stereo panorama where individual overdubs separated to form a cohesive, immersive sonic landscape.[20] Harwood's work ensured the track's meditative build-up and explosive solo maintained clarity amid the complexity, solidifying "Ten Years Gone" as a pinnacle of Led Zeppelin's studio craftsmanship.[5]Lyrics and themes
Lyrical content
The lyrics of "Ten Years Gone", written by Robert Plant, are presented across five verses, an instrumental guitar solo and bridge, and an outro, forming a song that lasts 6 minutes and 55 seconds.[21]Opening Reminiscence (Verse 1)
Then, as it was, then again it will beAnd though the course may change sometimes, rivers always reach the sea
Flying skies of fortune, each a separate way
On the wings of maybe, downing birds of prey
Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn’t have to go
But as the eagle leaves the nest, got so far to go [21]
Verse 2
Changes fill my time, baby, that's all right with meIn the midst I think of you, and how it used to be [21] [Followed by guitar solo]
Verse 3
Did you ever really need somebodyAnd 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 [21] [Followed by instrumental bridge]
Verse 4
Through the eyes and I sparkle, senses growing keenTaste your love along the way, see your feathers preen
Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn’t have to grow
We are eagles of one nest, the nest is in our soul [21]
Verse 5
Vixen in my dreams, with great surprise to meNever thought I'd see your face the way it used to be
Oh, darlin', oh, darlin'
Oh, oh, darlin', oh yeah, oh, darlin' [21]
Outro (Chorus)
I'm never going to leave youI'm never going to leave
Holding on, ten years gone
Ten years gone, holding on, ten years gone
I'm never, I'm never, I'm never
Oh yeah [21] The lyrics incorporate the "rivers always reach the sea" motif to evoke persistence, alongside imagery of natural elements like eagles, skies, and feathers that highlight themes of journey and transformation.[21]
