![](https://img.radioparadise.com/covers/m/B000002J09.jpg)
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Total ratings: 4788
Length: 7:04
Plays (last 30 days): 2
If it keeps on rainin', levee's going to break
And when the levee breaks, have no place to stay
Mean old levee, taught me to weep and moan, moan
Mean old levee, taught me to weep and moan
It's got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home
Oh, well, oh, well, oh, well-a, ooh-ooh
A-don't it make ya feel bad
When you're tryin' to find your way home?
You don't know which way to go
If you're goin' down south and there's no work to do
Then ya go north to Chicago, aaah, aaah, aaah, hey
Cryin' won't help ya, prayin' won't do ya no good, no
Cryin' won't help ya, prayin' won't do ya no good
A-when the levee breaks, mama, you got to move, a-woo-hoo
All last night, I sat on the levee and moaned
All last night, sat on the levee and moaned
Thinkin' 'bout my baby and my happy home, oh-hoh
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ha
Ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ah, ha
Oh, oh
Goin', I'm goin' to Chicago, goin' to Chicago
Sorry, but I can't take you
Goin' down, goin' down, now, goin' down, a-goin' down, now
Goin' down, goin' down, goin' down, goin' down, yeahh
Goin' down, goin' down, now, goin' down, goin' down, now
Goin' down, goin' down, now, goin' down
Goin' down, down, down, down, down
Ooh-woo-ooh, ooh-woo-ooh
This band seems pretty good but let's see if anyone is still listening to this in 50 years.
Well its been 53+ years by my count and this song still has one of the highest ratings on RP, the definitive place for finding the best music in the world!
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fd/When_the_Levee_Breaks_single_cover.jpg/220px-When_the_Levee_Breaks_single_cover.jpg)
Excerpt from Wiki:
"When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
"When the Levee Breaks" was re-worked by English rock group Led Zeppelin as the last song on their untitled fourth album. Singer Robert Plant used many of the original lyrics and the songwriting is credited to Memphis Minnie and the individual members of Led Zeppelin.[1] Many other artists have performed and recorded versions of the song.
My name is cosmiclint and I endorse this proposed change to the RP ratings system.
Third!
Let's form a club!!
LLRP
I can't speak about those who wrote the song, but I'll give you that this cover version was made by people who weren't sober for people who weren't sober.
![drummer](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_drummer.gif)
![banana jam](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/bananajam.gif)
Four songs in a row from the canon.
Thanks Bill
9 Outstanding
10 Godlike
11 Spinal Tap
My name is cosmiclint and I endorse this proposed change to the RP ratings system.
![](https://media.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExYmVlbXc1NTV3Z2F0NjB2aHRreDJhem85dndmMnI0MWNjd2FlcmF4byZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/e6vk3qw8rd7vCFw5n4/giphy.gif)
9 Outstanding
10 Godlike
11 Spinal Tap
And now we know the identity of the guy with the sticks!
https://www.npr.org/2023/11/09...
What a great find, thanks for sharing!!
The older I get, the more extraordanary Zepplelin's songwriting becomes.
Ummm.....they did not write this
![banana piano](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/bananapiano.gif)
Could '71 be the best year for rock music ever?
lizardking wrote:
I was wondering the same recently, 69, 70, 71 all great, hard to pick just one.
Long Live RP and all the great music created before I was!!
My 2nd reply now, and this is a thought that's been rolling around in my skull for a coupla years now: If I had to choose my favorite span of 7 consecutive years of all musicalrecordings, it would probably be 1967 thru 1973.
Lots great albums including this one!!
LLRP
I think this may arguably be the best rock and roll song of all time...anyone else feel the same way? An 8.6 RP listener rating says a lot.
An argument could be made that this is THE most 'rock'n'roll" song ever.
Allow me... Rock has as its origin, southern blues music. This has been historically documented. Whether you want to call it cultural appropriation, plagiarism, or creative expansion -what you can't debate is rock'n'roll is a different genre of music. The blues elements still remain ever present, but the heavier overtones, vocal delivery, and aggressive drumming create a musical expression all its own.
As a song, WTLB was originally written and recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas City Joe as blues ditty -see below (credit was given on the record). LZ took that ditty and rockified it. The most sampled drum beat of all time by maybe the heaviest drummer of all time. The god tier guitar work on bass and lead. The scream song vocal delivery -a vocal range seldom matched in pop music to this day- adding even more gravitas. All of this add together to create a song that blows the roof off the building -and right or wrong- obliterates the songs origins into a new a powerful rendition. Ladies and gentlemen -Rock'n'Roll.
Critique the events, outcomes, and the motives all you want. Healthy debate elevates us all and adds to the flavor. Either way, Rock'n'roll is what it is and I am here for all of it! I, for one, will rate this as a 10 and turn it up to 11.
I was just wondering where all that good Led Zep was that I used to hear more frequently here... thank you (you can play that one too...).
I saw what you did there.
Great idea, and i 'Thank You' for that
![cheers](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_cheers.gif)
Could '71 be the best year for rock music ever?
I saw LZ in September '71 at Madison Square garden, a month before this album was released. Great show! '71 was a good year! I'm 67yrs old.There is a lot of great music being produced NOW! Keep an open mind. RP is a great place to discover new music. Thank You RP!!
![clap](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_clap.gif)
Behold the next generation. There is still hope for RnR into the future.
Pigtail had written "The most awesome drummer of all time!"
Great drummer but what about Ginger Baker, Keith Moon, Charlie Watts..
I saw Ginger Baker play with Cream in 1967 and with GB's Jazz Confusion shortly before he died, and he was a drum genius. IMHO the most awesome but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
I think this may arguably be the best rock and roll song of all time...anyone else feel the same way? An 8.6 RP listener rating says a lot.
It's a great song - the "Best" not even close - sorry - you must have bought Licensed To Ill before you heard this.
The most awesome drummer of all time!
Behold the next generation. There is still hope for RnR into the future.
Could '71 be the best year for rock music ever?
I was wondering the same recently, 69, 70, 71 all great, hard to pick just one.
Long Live RP and all the great music created before I was!!
I wouldn't want to be tasked with picking the Top 10 Zep songs (too difficult!), or even my personal top 10 Zep faves, but this puppy is definitely gonna be on my list.
9 to 10 today (finally!) - I find hearing this one makes me wish I was alive back in the day, getting to buy this album on day 1, wearing it out within a week or so and buying it again....Long Live RP!!
I remember seeing this LP at the local discount store and trying to guess who it was. It wasn't till later that I heard the album. Takes me back...
Saw LZ Feb 1975 at Philly Spectrum. What a show!
Anymore need said?!
Kashmir was boring? What?
Would have been a lot better at half the duration. After a while it loses its luster ...
I contend that this was written by people who weren't sober, for people who weren't sober.
![](https://media.giphy.com/media/E9kcZyq1L6aYM/giphy.gif)
"I am a golden god..."
AC - I hear ya. Everything sounds like it's whining. The singer, the guitar, it's all whining. Grates on my nerves...
Your ears were busted 18 years ago, probably still are.
I did consider giving it a 10--but I only have about 5 left to hand out before I die.
I believe the beasties sampled it
![eek](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_eek.gif)
Actually, LZ are not composers of the song. They even gave the credit to Memphis Minnie aka Lizzie Douglas. See wikipedia article.
![guitarist](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_guitarist.gif)
![](https://media.giphy.com/media/E9kcZyq1L6aYM/giphy.gif)
![cool](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-cool.gif)
![dance](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_dance.gif)
![banana jam](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/bananajam.gif)
![eek](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_eek.gif)
![wink](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_wink.gif)
They didn't though. Somewhere I saw Page was quoted on why they didn't sue saying something to the effect of 'I guess we took it as a compliment.'
Maybe you're thinking of ACDC suing them. Or someone else. I imagine they got sued quite a bit as they came up during the wild west days of hip hop sampling without even trying to clear anything.
I had, with the writer blaming them of stealing the Zep's sound and songwriting.
I don't know, It's not like the Zep weren't borrowing themselves...
It's all sounds at the end of the day
One that deserves an 11.
Amen!
![drummer](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_drummer.gif)
My rating stays at 8
One that deserves an 11.
![not worthy](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_notworthy.gif)
![{#Notworthy} {#Notworthy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_notworthy.gif)
![{#Notworthy} {#Notworthy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_notworthy.gif)
The most awesome drummer of all time!
Staying at 8
10/10 on the volume control. God help my eardrums!
still true ^^
Or how about Zep doing a thunderous version of "One Way Out"?
Agreed on both accounts...really enjoyed this track. A little before my time but great stuff!
It still has to be one of my desert island disks.
Outstanding.
This is what you get when all the elements of an artists' creation join to render more than just a song. It's pure magic. Genius earns a 10 every time!
Agreed. This one really benefits from the upcrank
![John Bonham John Bonham](https://www.musicroom.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/John_Bonham_Led_Zeppelin.jpg)
![{#Notworthy} {#Notworthy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_notworthy.gif)
This one is pretty beyond reproach.
Led Zep is awesome, but we could use a little variety...
![{#Bananajam} {#Bananajam}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/bananajam.gif)
![{#Dancingbanana_2} {#Dancingbanana_2}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/dancingbanana_2.gif)
![{#Guitarist} {#Guitarist}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_guitarist.gif)
Cryin' won't help ya, prayin' won't do ya no good"
Hmmm.....you'd think he was singin' about the current state of our unhinged politics in this country (USA) wouldn't'cha? Heh!
So it goes.
Highlow
American Net'Zen