Black Dog
Album appeared on: Untitled
Track number: 1
When written: 1970
Composed by: Jones, Page, and Plant
First off, why is this song called 'Black Dog' if there is absolutely no relevancy to a black dog throughout the entire song?! Well, this song was written at Headley Grange, a moblie recording studio Zeppelin frequented. While they were writing it, a black dog kept wandering in and out of the open studio door, so they titled it 'Black Dog' after their canine acquaintance.
The actual idea for the song was devised in the mind of John Paul Jones. Jones was inspired by Muddy Waters' 'Electric Mud' to play 'electric blues with a rolling bass part.'
The 'Black Dog' vocals are copiously influenced from the Fleetwood Mac vocals in, 'Oh Well.' Click here to listen to 'Oh Well' vocal lines. 'Oh Well' was released on the 1969 Fleetwood Mac album Then Play On.
John Bonham's drumming on 'Black Dog' is patterned after Little Richard's 'Keep A-Knocking.' Although Jones plays complicated time signatures, Bonham drums out a steady 4/4 beat. Jones feels that is 'what made it work.'
If one listens closely enough, Jimmy Page is heard warming up his guitar at the beginning of the recording. He calls it, 'waking up the army of guitars.' Four guitar tracks were overdubbed.
Robert Plant laid the vocals down in two takes. These are some of his most memorable vocal performances.
Plant says, 'Not all my stuff is meant to be scrutinized. Things like 'Black Dog' are blatant, let's-do-it-in-the-bath type things, but they make their point just the same.'
Lyrics:
Hey, hey, mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove.
Oh, oh, child, way you shake that thing, gonna make you burn, gonna make you sting.
Hey, hey, baby, when you walk that way, watch your honey drip, can't keep away.
*Ah yeah, ah yeah, ah, ah, ah. Ah yeah, ah yeah, ah, ah, ah.
I gotta roll, can't stand still, got a flame in my heart, can't get my fill.
Eyes that shine burning red, dreams of you all through my head.
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.
Hey, baby, oh, baby, pretty baby, Tell me won't you you do me now.
Didn't take too long 'fore I found out, what people mean my down and out.
Spent my money, took my car, started telling her friends she wants to be a star.
I don't know but I been told, a big-legged woman ain't got no soul.
* Chorus
All I ask for when I pray, steady rollin' woman gonna come my way.
Need a woman gonna hold my hand, won't tell me no lies, make me a happy man.
Download 'Black Dog' as a midi file
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