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Robert Plant — Even This Shall Pass Away
Album: Band of Joy
Avg rating:
5.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 904









Released: 2010
Length: 4:00
Plays (last 30 days): 2
Once in Persia reigned a king,
Who upon his signet ring
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, if held before his eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they,
"Even this shall pass away."

Trains of camels through the sand
Brought him gems from Samarcand;
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to match with these;
But he counted not his gain
Treasures of the mine or main;
"What is wealth?" the king would say;
"Even this shall pass away."

'Mid the revels of his court,
At the zenith of his sport,
When the palms of all his guests
Burned with clapping at his jests,
He, amid his figs and wine,
Cried, "O loving friends of mine;
Pleasures come, but not to stay,
'Even this shall pass away."

Lady, fairest ever seen,
Was the bride he crowned his queen.
Pillowed on his marriage bed,
Softly to his soul he said:
"Though no bridegroom ever pressed
Fairer bosom to his breast,
Mortal flesh must come to clay
Even this shall pass away."

Fighting on a furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield;
Soldiers, with a loud lament,
Bore him bleeding to his tent.
Groaning from his tortured side,
"Pain is hard to bear," he cried;
"But with patience, day by day,
Even this shall pass away."

Towering in the public square,
Twenty cubits in the air,
Rose his statue, carved in stone.
Then the king, disguised, unknown,
Stood before his sculptured name,
Musing meekly: "What is fame?
Fame is but a slow decay,
Even this shall pass away."

Struck with palsy, sore and old,
Waiting at the Gates of Gold,
Said he with his dying breath,
"Life is done, but what is Death?"
Then, in answer to the king,
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
Showing by a heavenly ray,
"Even this shall pass away."
Comments (100)add comment
Clowns..... .... aakk!!. Sorry Robert...PSD pronto ! 
His post-Zep stuff is definitely worth listening 
I wonder what it was about King Solomon that inspired Robert Plant to write a song about him (edit: based on the Tilton poem).  He's always been interested in fantasy, mysticism, history, etc.  

Also, there is an error in the lyrics on RP:

"But he counted not his gain"

Robert Plant sings:

"But he counted little gain"
My thoughts exactly.
Awesome
Gruselig.
Took me a few bars to realise it wasn't Prince, then several more to recognise Robert. Funky!
This shall pass away.
Nice Led Zep feel on this one - maybe "III"...?
Cynaera wrote: Wow - more new Robert Plant! I love what he's doing with Band of Joy - it's not Zep, it's not Allison, it's not solo - it's different from all of that. I think he's aging well - his voice still can hit those police-siren notes, but he doesn't feel the need to "prove" himself anymore, which makes his vocals more comfortable and playful. I'm really enjoying his new work. — I also enjoyed this song!
Image result for kim jong il gif
 hidey wrote:
On the plus side, when Robert Plant does something this underwhelming and unimpressive it reminds you how good he usually is!
 
Alas, this is definitely not his best effort, but I respect the fact that he is always changing it up, trying new things.
Running across a lot of harlequin references lately. Now here's another. Coincidence or ??
Theodore Tilton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Tilton
 
The rock singer Robert Plant has put Tilton's poem "Even This Shall Pass Away" to music in a song of the same name, a recording of which is featured on the  ...

Actually this is a Chuck Berry song from his late 1970's album "Rockit". The original is dark and spooky. This version is an interesting interpretation.


Even This Shall Pass Away reminds me of this...


As I age, my appreciation for Robert Plant grows. That being said...this song is kind of crappy...and the artwork for the CD is poorly done too. Not sure what they were thinking.
 shellbella wrote:
A lot of people think this song really sucks... I'm just not one of them...  {#Jump}
 
I agree.
Ya, NO!
On the plus side, when Robert Plant does something this underwhelming and unimpressive it reminds you how good he usually is!
A lot of people think this song really sucks... I'm just not one of them...  {#Jump}
Pretty cool, I had it on low volume and slowly became entranced with the percussion.  Turned it up, cocked an ear to the speakers and, whoa, it's Robert Plant.  And then the realization I won the album and don't know the song{#Redface}  Interesting stuff.  He's still expanding and exploring.  Cool
PLEASE MAKE IT STOP!!!
  yes it does... it sucks really bad... time to change the station until this passes away!
Bill, do you think you could strech the rating scale donwards to accomodate this song?

TerryS wrote:


No, it don't.
 

Hmmm…this is an interesting side of RP. He has guts doing something this far out there at his age. I'm jealous!
 tutakea wrote:
so i would understand some comments like "not really convinced" or "not the best choice", but "puke" or "this sucks" is ridiculous!
 
Agreed! I don't understand either. Sure it's not the best song ever, but what kind of scale are these folks talking about? A lot of music really sucks, and this song doesn't fit in that category.  Maybe it only "sucks" on the RP scale of music where even the worst is decent. ;)
Upon hearing this now...I'm obliged to lower my rating. This is just plain crappy. C R A P P Y ! 
This can't pass fast enough.
hm... i don´t really get it!
no: this is by no means a masterpiece, and therefore i do not really understand the choice to play THIS song from Robert Plant.
otherwise, if NOT compared to most other stuff RP made, solo and with Led Z, it is a pretty good song on it´s own right. 
so i would understand some comments like "not really convinced" or "not the best choice", but "puke" or "this sucks" is ridiculous!
what an awfull way to start the mornign {#Puke}
Don't care much for Mick or Robert's solo stuff.
 whtahtefcuk wrote:
Not to impressed... and much less impressed by the blatant rip off of George Harrison’s All things must pass... (Fantastic work)
 
The lyrics are a poem written by Theodore Tilton (October 2, 1835 - May 29, 1907).

Well, juanos, I have to agree. Time to change the station....

when Robert stays within the boundaries of his CURRENT range the results are often excellent...
 juanos wrote:
this definitively SUCKS
 

No, it don't.
every time this songs starts... I change station... and post that this song SUCKS!!!! {#Puke}
this definitively SUCKS
How the mighty have fallen.
This is good stuff...I respect Robert Plant even though I'm not a huge fan. Then again...this followed the Rolling Stones and everything sounds wonderful and welcoming after the Stones. Don't care for the album art in the least unfortunately...

I just heard it for the first time, and I like it too!

 
Biscobret wrote:
I don't understand all of the negative comments - I think this song is pretty damned cool!
 


He's still got it!{#Bananajam}
 Cynaera wrote:
Wow - more new Robert Plant!  I love what he's doing with Band of Joy - it's not Zep, it's not Allison, it's not solo - it's different from all of that.

I think he's aging well - his voice still can hit those police-siren notes, but he doesn't feel the need to "prove" himself anymore, which makes his vocals more comfortable and playful. I'm really enjoying his new work. {#Sunny}
 
I felt compelled to bring my comment up because I think it's still valid.  I'm about to spend money again...


Just not my flavor...
This is soooo bad.
I just seen Robert and the band at the Wanne Festival in Live Oak FL. in April 2011 front row center stage. The old guy still has it and the band was great!
This song reeks of an excellence most sweet.
I just caught him on Austin City Limits (PBS) recently. Not such a fan of this song but I was impressed with the performance. Robert is one of those guys who seems to like surrounding himself with good musicians and just having fun. I mean really, what does he have to prove? And I doubt he needs the money. He seemed very content to give the spotlight away and dig what the others were doing.
Is Buddy Miller the new T-Bone Burnett?
 Tree_Hugger wrote:
I'd like to add that this track is not one of the better selections from this release IMO.

Tree_Hugger wrote:
Saw him in Seattle 2 nights ago and it was FANTASTIC.  Highly recommend if you can make it.  The guy obviously loves music, performing and he was very interactive with all of us in the crowd.  I enjoy seeing people who enjoy!
 
 
Agreed - saw RP at the Greek last week and I'd recommend as well. Tight, tight band of great players (including Patty Griffin (!) and Buddy Miller) backing him added to the overall quality. Actually, it's not so much as a backing band as just a band that has as its lead singer Rpbert Plant. He sounds great, too.

I'd like to add that this track is not one of the better selections from this release IMO.

Tree_Hugger wrote:
Saw him in Seattle 2 nights ago and it was FANTASTIC.  Highly recommend if you can make it.  The guy obviously loves music, performing and he was very interactive with all of us in the crowd.  I enjoy seeing people who enjoy!
 


Not to impressed... and much less impressed by the blatant rip off of George Harrison’s All things must pass... (Fantastic work)
Saw him in Seattle 2 nights ago and it was FANTASTIC.  Highly recommend if you can make it.  The guy obviously loves music, performing and he was very interactive with all of us in the crowd.  I enjoy seeing people who enjoy!
 contractor07 wrote:
Garbage
 

If you dig through garbage you will likely find something useful.  Not so with this.
I'm usually a big fan of Robert Plant but this just doesn't work.
So I checked this out of the library and didn't like any other song on the album...at all....so glad we don't have to purchase whole records anymore.
 6-Jags wrote:
I love the drum work on this cut.

 
Excellent point !

Robert Plant just gets better and better with age!
I love the drum work on this cut.

Band of Joy is also the name of a group which Robert Plant helped found pre-Zep.
I was very happy with the remade Zep tunes. I would have been disappointed with an attempt to do them "Zep Style". What I heard was class, creativity, and a great interpretation of some great songs.

 
h8rhater wrote:

You should hear the way RP and The Band of Joy has re-imagined Black Dog, Ramble On, Gallows Pole, Houses of the Holy, and Rock and Roll on tour this year.   Great stuff but waayyyy different than the originals.  They also do a mostly unchanged version of Tangerine.

 


I like this, but it reminds me a lot of a tune he has on his album Now and Zen
What I find most remarkable about this disc, aside from the unusually excellent quality of Plant's vocals, is Buddy Miller's production. He's created as unique a sound for solo Plant as Burnett did for Plant and Krauss. I have often felt that Plant's post-Zep work lacked some measure of emotional commitment. Raising Sand seemed typical in that regard. This disc seems to restore some of the visceral element to Plant's vocals that made his Zep work so compelling.
As good as anything he's done in the past. Very cool!
Though I usually really like Robert Plant I just can't get into his imitation of Prince here...
I wouldn't have selected this track to represent this album.
Garbage
I don't understand all of the negative comments - I think this song is pretty damned cool!
 Cynaera wrote:
Wow - more new Robert Plant!  I love what he's doing with Band of Joy - it's not Zep, it's not Allison, it's not solo - it's different from all of that.

I think he's aging well - his voice still can hit those police-siren notes, but he doesn't feel the need to "prove" himself anymore, which makes his vocals more comfortable and playful. I'm really enjoying his new work. {#Sunny}
 
Couldn't agree more!  Thanks for saying what I was thinking {#Yes}
 steventylersqa wrote:
This is not good for the ears
 
I'm with you mate!
 came to the forum to give it a 2... and I've realized I did it already!!!! 2 —> 1  {#Beat}


 LowPhreak wrote:
The man is 60+ years old now. Do you think one's tastes in music might change over the years? I'd wager Robert has long grown tired of belting out high-powered rock or Zep tunes for the 9 millionth time.
 
You should hear the way RP and The Band of Joy has re-imagined Black Dog, Ramble On, Gallows Pole, Houses of the Holy, and Rock and Roll on tour this year.   Great stuff but waayyyy different than the originals.  They also do a mostly unchanged version of Tangerine.

This is not good for the ears.
The man is 60+ years old now. Do you think one's tastes in music might change over the years? I'd wager Robert has long grown tired of belting out high-powered rock or Zep tunes for the 9 millionth time.
I wish it would pass away
 EssexTex wrote:
Saw him again the other day...wandering round the market...leaving German tourists swooning in his wake.
 
A hobby of his. {#Cowboy}


Robert, everytime I hear a new song from this album it sheds more and more of those fond memories I had of you back in your Zep days.    It's not thats its different, I can respect different, I can't respect a product that hovers somewhere between annoying and bad.  Is this all you have left to give the world?  The king has truly fallen from grace.
Not bad...I didn't realize he had a new band/album.  At first, I thought this was a cut off the page/plant No Quarter album that I had just not paid attention too before. 
Saw him again the other day...wandering round the market...leaving German tourists swooning in his wake.
growing on me............like a fungus{#Sorry}
 Cynaera wrote:
Wow - more new Robert Plant!  I love what he's doing with Band of Joy - it's not Zep, it's not Allison, it's not solo - it's different from all of that.

I think he's aging well - his voice still can hit those police-siren notes, but he doesn't feel the need to "prove" himself anymore, which makes his vocals more comfortable and playful. I'm really enjoying his new work. {#Sunny}
  me too


Count me in as the third person who thought it was World Party!  I thought, "Wow, Karl Wallinger's sounding a lot like Robert Plant in this song." Then I checked the playlist, "...Oh wait, it really IS Robert Plant" ;-)

scarpen wrote:

I thought the same.  What is Karl Wallinger doing these days anyway?
 mattcol99 wrote:
I thought this was World Party  "Is it too late baby... its it too late now...."
 


Wow! Hadn't heard this, so I looked to see whether it was old or new. New! RP just gets better and better. (I meant Robert Plant, but it applies to Radio Paradise too!)  {#Smile}
...this has to be the coolest thing he's done since white, clean, and neat...
Juxtaposed with the previous Quicksilver cut from 1968, it's clear what he's doing here. Thanks for the subtle history lesson, B&R!
once was enough......1
I'm a big fan... but... it's not working for me. Mr. Plant's new work feels so contrived.

I love mr. Plant's voice... this is great. it's definitely more to my liking than the Allison Kraus stuff
Wow - more new Robert Plant!  I love what he's doing with Band of Joy - it's not Zep, it's not Allison, it's not solo - it's different from all of that.

I think he's aging well - his voice still can hit those police-siren notes, but he doesn't feel the need to "prove" himself anymore, which makes his vocals more comfortable and playful. I'm really enjoying his new work. {#Sunny}
Love it! Plant's having fun and it shows. Heard an interview with him recently and he was in great spirits.
YUK is right!  Maybe this song will "even pass away"!
YUK!
 blotto wrote:
Like this better than his Los Lobos cover
 
Me too, but baaaaaaaaaarely!!  Some pretty underwhelming offerings on this one.

Interesting.
Oh Bob, no, please, please, no.
 mattcol99 wrote:
I thought this was World Party  "Is it too late baby... its it too late now...."
 
I thought the same.  What is Karl Wallinger doing these days anyway?

I can't stand his syrupy sweet adult pop.
I thought this was World Party  "Is it too late baby... its it too late now...."
I like it... immediate 7

it suspect it will grow on me too.
 Xstar wrote:
Rated it first!!!!  Commented it first!!!!!  hooray for me!!!!!{#Bananasplit}
 
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Like this better than his Los Lobos cover
Rated it first!!!!  Commented it first!!!!!  hooray for me!!!!!{#Bananasplit}