How George Harrison Inspired This Iconic Led Zeppelin Song
via J K / YouTube
A Remark Sparks a Classic
Jimmy Page has shared that the inspiration for Led Zeppelin’s 1973 track “The Rain Song” came after hearing that George Harrison once remarked the band didn’t play ballads. Page learned of the comment through mutual connections, believing Harrison probably hadn’t listened to much of their catalog. He considered “The Rain Song” one of the band’s best and even worked in a subtle nod to Harrison’s Beatles hit “Something” in the opening chords.
Page also noted that Led Zeppelin often faced harsh reviews, especially after their third album, but this didn’t deter him from experimenting with different styles. Harrison’s casual observation was all the push he needed to create something unexpected.
View this post on Instagram
From Beatles to Zeppelin
Harrison once told drummer John “Bonzo” Bonham, “The problem with you guys is you never do ballads.” This reached Page, who recounted to biographer Brad Tolinski, “I’ll give him a ballad.” Determined, he began crafting what became one of the most distinctive songs in their catalog.
“I wrote ‘Rain Song’, which appears on Houses of the Holy,” Page explained. “In fact, you’ll notice I even quote ‘Something’ in the song’s first two chords.” He added that the song originally carried the working title “Slush,” a playful hint at its softer tone.
A Shift in Tone
Unlike their heavier, blues-driven tracks, “The Rain Song” offered a more reflective mood. Its wistful arrangement contrasted with the thunderous energy that defined much of Led Zeppelin’s work. Robert Plant later said the shift brought out his finest performance. In a 2005 interview with Rolling Stone, he recalled, “I’d say that on ‘Rain Song’ I sounded best. I’d reached a point where I knew that to get good, I couldn’t repeat myself. The high falsetto screams had become quite a kind of calling card.”
Running 7 minutes and 39 seconds, the song showed the band’s ability to stretch musically. Still, not all of Harrison’s advice was taken to heart. After a three-hour Zeppelin concert, Harrison, a self-proclaimed fan, reportedly exclaimed, “Fuck me! With The Beatles, we were on for 25 minutes and could get off in 15!”
Praise from a Producer
While shorter sets never became part of their style, embracing a softer side paid off. Legendary producer Rick Rubin once told Rolling Stone about “The Rain Song,” “It defies classification. There’s such tasteful, beautiful detail in the guitar and a triumphant feel when the drums come in – it’s sad and moody and strong, all at the same time. I could listen to this song all day.”
