Led Zeppelin Blow The Doors Off Madison Square Garden With “Rock And Roll”

The Song Remains The Same

If ever a band existed that embodied all things rock and roll, it would be Led Zeppelin. Known for explosive live shows paired with the best brand of rock and roll the world’s ever seen (or will ever see again!), Led Zeppelin blew the doors off of New York’s Madison Square Garden when their 1973 North American Tour saw them performing for three consecutive nights, immortalized on their concert film The Song Remains The Same. For a band that was just wrapping up a massive two-leg tour, you’d never know how tired they were judging by this spectacular performance of “Rock And Roll” – in fact, the boys look as fresh as they did on the first night of the tour, if not better!

It’s impossible not to share in the excitement and heady brew of good old fashioned rock and roll mixed with the knowledge that you’re watching history unfold when John Bonham starts things off with that killer little drum intro, and for the next 4 minutes nothing else mattered to the crowd of dancing Led Zeppelin fans but golden god Robert Plant swanning about onstage, flanked by a dancing Jimmy Page and meticulous rhythm keeper John Paul Jones.

Fun Fact: As the title suggests, the song is based on one of the most popular structures in rock and roll; namely, the 12 bar blues progression (in A).

The only difference this rendition of “Rock And Roll” really has is the fact that Robert Plant took his vocals down an octave or two, delivering a performance that’s less stress and strain on his vocal chords yet still impossibly powerful. Gone are the days when bands gave soul deep, high energy performances like Led Zeppelin did in The Song Remains The Same – but thankfully, we can revisit some of the best days of rock and roll with this classic!

+ Rock And Roll lyrics +

It’s been a long time since I rock and rolled
It’s been a long time since I did the stroll
Ooh, let me get it back, let me get it back, let me get it back
Mmm baby, where I come from

It’s been a long time, been a long time
Been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
Yes, it has

It’s been a long time since the book of love
I can’t count the tears of a life with no love
Carry me back, carry me back, carry me back
Mmm baby, where I come from, whoa whoa

It’s been a long time, been a long time
Been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time
Ah, ah, ah
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Oh, it seems so long since we walked in the moonlight
Makin’ vows that just couldn’t work right
Haw yeah, open your arms, open your arms, open your arms
Baby, let my love come running in, yeah

It’s been a long time, been a long time
Been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time

Yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey, yeah hey
Ooh yeah, ooh ooh yeah, ooh yeah, ooh ooh yeah
It’s been a long time, been a long time
Been a long, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely time