Led Zeppelin’s rock sound may seem straightforward at first glance, but it is filled with remarkable intricacies. Take the song ‘Black Dog’ as an example—it's a vibrant blues rocker with lively lyrics that features numerous twists and turns. Frontman Robert Plant noted that it illustrated “what we were capable of.”
The song serves as a key track on ‘Led Zeppelin IV’—which is famously untitled, prompting fans to refer to it using Roman numerals to differentiate it from their first album. Recorded at the grand Headley Grange, the album went on to become one of the most successful in rock history, selling over 36 million copies.
This album showcases their strengths, as evident in ‘Black Dog’. The song was initially inspired by bassist John Paul Jones, who drew from the contemporary sounds of Chicago blues legends Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.
“I composed ‘Black Dog’ on a train,” Jones recalled in the February 08 issue of Bass Player. “My father taught me how to notate music without manuscript paper—just using numbers and note values—and I created that riff on the back of a train ticket on my way back from a rehearsal at Jimmy Page’s house.”
With John Bonham’s thunderous drumming as a foundation, Jimmy Page elevated the guitar parts. The lyrics were inspired by a real Black Labrador that would vanish at night and return tired in the morning.
The slight tempo changes throughout the song aren’t errors—they were deliberately included, showcasing the band’s dedication to their art, despite being a challenge for beginner musicians.
“It was initially all in 3/16 time,” Jones shared with Classic Rock, “but no one could keep up.”
Robert Plant was an admirer of the song from the start, enjoying the story of a man who “got a flaming heart can’t get my fill” and “a big-legged woman ain’t got no soul.”
The song became a staple in the band's legendary live performances, featured in the film The Song Remains the Same, and made a return during Led Zeppelin’s historic Knebworth concert.
The intriguing tempo variations remained present all the way to their unexpected reunion in 2007 at the O2 Arena.
In an interview, Robert Plant once mentioned: “My daughter’s boyfriend, who played in a psychobilly band, claimed that one part of Black Dog was incorrect because there’s a section in 5/4 amidst the other sections in 4/4. This irked me, so I pulled out the record, played it, and said: Listen, midget, this isn’t a mistake; it demonstrates what we were capable of!”
Listen to ‘Black Dog’ below.
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Led Zeppelin's rock sound may appear straightforward at first, yet it is filled with remarkable intricacies. Consider 'Black Dog' - a passionate blues rock track that features a