Most artists grow over time, and Robert Plant is no exception. The one-time golden god has used his solo years wisely, moving beyond the bombast of Led Zeppelin to fully unpack his interest in global music forms. A harsh critic of his own work, the frontman one labelled a Led Zeppelin classic “horrific”.
It’s part of a pattern from the vocalist, who has often expressed unease at some of his earlier work – including some now-iconic rock texts. Led Zeppelin’s debut album ranks with their most formidable releases, and the making of the release occupies a segment of new documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin.
Guitarist Jimmy Page took his version of the folk classic ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’ into those first rehearsals, even playing it during his first fateful meeting with Robert Plant. Page once reflected: “I used to do the song in the days of sitting in the darkness playing my six-string behind Marianne Faithfull.”
Allowing the song to mutate, Led Zeppelin blended supple folk textures with hard rock aspects, putting their own spin on the core material.
Robert Plant expressed regret over his approach to the vocal. “I realised that tough, manly approach to singing I’d begun… wasn’t really what it was all about at all. Songs like [Led Zeppelin I’s] Babe I’m Going To Leave You’… I find my vocals on there horrific now. I really should have shut the fuck up!”
It didn’t stop Robert Plant revisiting the song in later years – the 90s endeavour Page & Plant included a nine-minute version of the song in their live sets; he’s also performed the song with his bands Strange Sensation and the Sensational Space Shifters.
Perhaps he protests a little too much…
Revisit Led Zeppelin’s ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’ below.
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