Led Zeppelin - Carouselambra Lyrics

Prog-rock keyboards when Prog rock had already been killed by Punk, which was in 1980 dying itself, makes for their least successful, most forgettable song. This is what happens when Pagey's not minding the store. Even Heart were smarter: guitars forward!

One of the most mesmerizing and amazing songs Led Zeppelin ever did. This was always such an overlooked classic. 👍🏻

Ain't life such a fucking Warner Bros./Merry Melodies/Looney Toons cartoon in the realm of unorganized hierarchy/pecking order bullshit?Thank God for alcohol at the end of the day.Dopeheads is another's cartoon.Its very important in life not to give a fuck And if you're incapable of it like me, you're sitting in a good riser seat at the coliseum.

How do you Pro-Nounce the title of this song! I don't think I've said it right a single time in my life

Bonham!

Love this song! :)

Who is listening to this right now that bought the In Through The Out Door LP in '79, and remembers the unique packaging?  For anyone who doesn't know about this, there were six different album covers, all of the same barroom scene but from the different POV from each person's perspective in the scene.  You didn't know which one you were getting until you removed the shrink-wrap and took it out of the plain brown "paper bag" packaging sleeve.  

Also, the inner sleeve had this kind of black and white line artwork of a closeup of the bar top, and if you wet it, it became permanently colored.  It had to have been an expensive undertaking, but then again so was Led Zep III and Physical Graffiti's cover designs.
That's one of the things that has been lost with the times; the 12" LP record packaging was really cool, large enough that you could read all the text, and set a mood for the album's contents.  Wow, I just had a flashback remembering the scent of the vinyl record store.

Live - https://youtu.be/NECfRohWNWw

just unreal, never heard anything like this. the musical spaces it explores by the end of it, unparalleled.

The mix on this song is horrible, they had a chance to fix it on the remaster and chose not to. Vocals are buried, drums sound flat and too low in the mix, synth is too loud .

Bonzo Lives Forever

My favourite song of the album.

I gotta be honest...I thought this album was weak for a zep album...I was a junior in High School when this came out and the only other song on this album I liked was In the Evening. I thought they were going to break up like all the other 70s bands. But John dying made sure they were over with. What the hell can you say??? Life has seemed to be a big disappointment for my age group. We got our memories though.

My all-time favorite Zeppelin song. It's so epic and I love their take on the whole synth rock thing. This song is like a genre unto itself. Love all the different sections, epic synthesizer lines, epic guitar lines, intense drumming, and Plant's medieval lyrics. Such a monster of a track.

The middle guitar section is very Jimmy Page but sounds ahead of it's time.

It’s amazing how tight the bass and drums were in this band
It must have been awesome to play with a drummer as competent and creative as Bonham

I love this album!!

Another Egg Foo Young day. I am relying on this to get the Led out.

If this song was 4 minutes...it would be played once a day on FM radio. That 1st 3rd is their best work...by far

That break right about 4:21, fuckin' A.

I don`t know why, but first impression that I get listening to this magnificent song is maturity. And this goes with every song on this album.

WEVE GOT A GROUP OF MUSICIANS FOR YOU.....LISTEN TO THIS.....ASHLEY TISDALE VOCALS GARRY HIXON GUITAR SANDRA BULLOCK BASS TINA MAJORINO KEYBOARD HANNAH WELTON DRUMS LYRICS BY TINA MAJORINO

Music changes through the decades Zeppelin started in 69 has the years went by the musical approach was change by the decades but Zeppelin cahnge has well AND keep the same sound.thats what you call genuine talent.

Carouselamba. In through the outdoor. 1979. Led Zeppelin final studio album. Only Plant n Jones we're in the studio @ the time. Jimmy was in rehab 4 heroin. Bonham in Alcohol anonymous. So sorry. Greatest frickin band ever. Rock n roll

I once heard this in a pub near where Page has a house. Its not bad at all.

Thee best zep song period! Bad ass bass...

https://youtu.be/NECfRohWNWw Carouselambra Cover Music Video Live !!!

Bonzo got to where he bloody hated touring and when they were just about to go back on the road in Autumn, 1980...well, John Henry Bonham had enough of touring..so...

U can hear the Real Instruments, John Paul Jones is amazing on keyboards , As always ( Bonzo doing his Killing on the Skins )

My favorite Zepp album to date .

"Side two consists of three of the least effective songs the band has ever recorded. “Carouselambra,” the opener, is built on an extremely lame keyboard riff and clocks in at an absurd 10:28. Repetition to weave a hypnotic effect has always been part of the Zeppelin sound, but what they are repeating here is not worth the effort." - Rolling Stone Magazine

Incredible song.

Whole lotta genius going on here!

Bery best of the world!!!

Las piernas mas bonitaas😎

LED ZEPPELIN............ASHLEY TISDALE VOCALS GARRY HIXON GUITAR SANDRA BULLOCK BASS TINA MAJORINO KEYS HANNAH WELTON DRUMS

Ya the representation of new land dream.

Still listening in year 2019! Give me another shot!

I’m surprised we don’t hear more about this song. It’s very good and unique with beautiful chords , sound changes & time changes

Beautiful as always.

great tune, abysmal production

This was the Zep album that jumped out at me & I willingly jumped on board, religiously floating on that vessel for the following 15 years, before moving on.
Zepplin has always been among those at the top of the list though.

How can they not be?
The were other-worldly.

If No Quarter was for stoners, then this is aimed at stimulants - and stoners! Amazing textures in this song.

In through the OUT door. Zepplin we still LOVE you!

It was a lot of page too but this is their best album indeed

The Gizmotron was used on this song at 3:27. It was also used on “In the Evening”.

one of the best songs ever !

BRILLIANT. A Progressive Masterpiece. 100% ZEPPELIN.

The mighty Zepp and burning this fatty with my wife first thing this morning. Great way to start the day.

10 minute epic

Is it just me or does this song sound like an 80's or 90's hockey video game theme

It's just you...

@DYLAN CHANGED EVERYTHING FOREVER thank you for taking the time to ask everyone on the internet for their opinion and then informing me. You have changed my entire outlook on life, I will dedicate my existence to you for making me a better person

@Kenboy0001AVery good son. Lotta ignorant losers out there. Good to know that at least SOME of you ignorant "fans" who mislabel a progressive rock masterpiece with slight funk influences as "disco" or as in your case, akin to a video game theme--lol lol lol-- well there IS hope for y'all yet! Some of you anyway.
Go and sin no more.

Unfortunately the pigs responsible for all the lies of the ancient empire that still rules the deaf, dumb and blind injured all our children with their quasi government corporations' heath destruction scams.

KLIPSCHORNS AND TEQUILA

I don't understand how anyone could hate this fucking song. It's a goddamn masterpiece!!

INDEED. It's epic, +way too progressive for those double digit IQ "fans" who have the intelligence and attention spans of a housefly.

Their most underrated song

Exactly. There -unfortunately- many shallow music+Zeppelin fans who aren't intelligent enough to understand a sectional, progressive masterpiece. They have the intelligence and attention span of a house fly.

Pure gold from the gods themselves.

A monster... an assault on the drums by Bonham... damn

So glad they were able to get him sober enough to finish recording these tracks.

The best Hortolândia, octber 2019

Wow this album mostly consists of piano keyboards synthesizers organs from john paul jones

When I'm high and it slows down I really can feel the music. ASMR from head to toe.

Drive fast.

Zep epic. Just wonder why they insisted on burying Plant's voice on a large portion of this track...

Most people won't listen to the whole song, it's ok........I Will !

It seems that we just can't get enough of the legendary great Led Zeppelin!

This band never stop surprising me. They made the iron maiden sound before they existed (Achilles last stand) and now I discover that they made an 80s song in 1979!!!

AND JB.

What is caroulesamba?

It sounds like Zep giving it a balls-out shot but not quite pulling it off....a fascinating song all the same with so much to admire....maybe its the mix. The vocals are too up in the mix and the keys too while Bonzo seems to be too low.....with Page sounding a bit like he dialed his part in.

“Hard is the journey , long is the way” .... Ain’t THAT the truth!!!!!

Sounds like something Yoda would say

Sisters of the way-side bide their time in quiet peace
Await their place within the ring of calm
Still stand to turn in seconds of release
Await the call they know may never come
In times of lightness, no intruder dared upon
To jeopardize the course, upset the run
And all was joy and hands were raised toward the sun
As love in the halls of plenty overrun
Uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh
Still in their bliss unchallenged mighty feast
Unending dances shadowed on the day
Within their walls, their daunting formless keep
Preserved their joy and kept their doubts at bay
Faceless legions stood in readiness to weep
Just turn a coin, bring order to the fray
And everything is soon no sooner thought than deed
But no one seemed to question in anyway
Uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh
How keen the storied hunter's eye prevails upon the land
To seek the unsuspecting and the weak
And powerless the fabled sat, too smug to lift a hand
Toward the foe that threatened from the deep
Who cares to dry the cheeks of those who saddened stand
Adrift upon a sea of futile speech?
And to fall to fate and make the 'status plan'
But no one there had heaven within their reach
Singing uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh, uh-uh
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh
Oh
Where was your word, where did you go?
Where was your helping, where was your bow? Bow
Bow
Dull is the armour, cold is the day
Hard was the journey, dark was the way, way
I heard the word, I couldn't stay, oh
I couldn't stand it another day, another day
Another day, another day
Touched by the timely coming
Roused from the keeper's sleep
Release the grip, throw down the key
Held now within the knowing
Rest now within the peace
Take of the fruit, but guard the seed
They had to stay
Held now within the knowing
Rest now within the peace
Take off the fruit, but guard the seed
Take off the fruit, but guard the seed
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Paul Jones / Jimmy Page / Robert Plant
Carouselambra lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Brilliant. Too brilliant and poetic for many.

Ths song and album were pretty underrated. ALways found this and trampled under foot to be my favorite songs by them. Not the quentessential rock tunes. But they show the bands versatiliy. God/Jesus bless and save all that read this.

Deep lyrics her!

Bonzo's last stand.

Superstar record producer Eddie Kramer once said that the only guitar player who had greater, laser-like focus and concentration in the studio than Jimi Hendrix was Jimmy Page...just sayin'.

Im liking everyones comments

This song ,as was the rest of the album featured the Yamaha GX-1 synthesizer...a $60,000 three tiered behemoth(over $300,000 in today's money) that Stevie Wonder coined "the dream machine"(featured on Songs in the Key of Life)...ELP used one towards the end of their run(Fanfare for the Common Man)....as well as a lot of ABBA hits.....very unique analogue sound.....hard to duplicate.....only 10 or so made....

For me a major highlight of In Through The Out Door - Like most I do wish Plant's vocals were more upfront and the keyboards less intrusive early on.


All three sections work well together and Page's under-rated playing is a satisfying counterpoint to Jones' sweeping synths (particularly in the final minutes.)

LEZZA GIBBONS VOCALS GARRY HXON GUITAR SANDRA BULLOCK BASS TAYLOR SWIFT KEYS HANNAH WELTON DRUMS

🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠🎠

I can't fathom the dudes on here saying these tunes are evidence of John Bonham's "rockstar malaise" in comparison to Plant and Jones. This is one of the best rhythm tracks of the band's catalog and massively fun to listen to just for the drums.

Love this song. Always imagined a Roman legion marching into Rome after a conquest. Jubilant, & triumphant.

Most Mortals Dont know what they are missing~

Zeppelin if they continued into the 80s

Lyrics:
Carouselambra

Sisters of the way-side biding time in quiet peace
await their place within the ring of calm, ah-ah
Still stand to turn in seconds of release
Await the call they know may never come
In times of lightness, no intruder dared upon
to jeopardize the course, upset the run, ah-ah
All was joy and hands were raised towards the sun
as love in the halls of plenty overrun

Ah-ahh, ah-ahh-ah-ah, ah-ahh, ah-ahh-ah-ah

Still in their bliss unchallenged
mighty feasts, unending dances shadowed on the day, ah-ah
Within the wall, their daunting, formless keep
preserved the joy that kept their doubts at bay
Faceless legions stood in readiness to weep
Just turn a coin, bring order to the fray, ah-ah
and everything is soon no sooner thought than deed
but no one seemed to question in any way

Ah-ahh, ah-ahh-ah-ah, ah-ahh, ah-ahh-ah-ah

How keen the storied hunter's eye prevails upon the land
to seek the unsuspecting and the weak, ah-ah
and powerless the fabled sat, too smug to lift a hand
toward the foe that threatened them from the deep
Who cares to dry the cheeks of those who saddened stand
adrift upon a sea of futile speech, ah-ah
and throw the bane and make a stage as planned
There's no fair memory we cannot reach

I'm singin', ah-ahh, ah-ahh-ah-ah, ah-ahh, ah-ahh-ah-ah
Oh-whoa, oh-whoa, oh-whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh

Where was your word, where did you go
Where was your helping, where was your bow, bow
Dulled is the armor, cold is the day
Hard was the journey, dark was the way, way
I heard the word, I couldn't stay, oh-hoh
I couldn't stand it an-another day, another day-ay-ay
Another day, another day

Touched by the timely callin', roused from the keeper's sleep
Release the grip, throw down the key
Held now within the knowing, rest now within the beat
Take of the fruit but guard the seed
Baby, I couldn't stay

Held now within the knowing, rest now within the beat
Take of the fruit but guard the seed
Oh, take of the fruit but guard the seed

Ahhhh....foggy memories of sitting in my bed at night staring at a lava lamp and listening to this song!!!!

LOVE ZEPP. THIS NEVER RECEIVED THE Acknowledgemnt it so rightly Deserved. Truly Unique! Brilliant! 👌✌🤘👍🎸🎼🎵🎹

What 80s Led Zeppelin would probably have sounded like, had Bonham been more fortunate and LZ stuck around for a while longer. Not sure if I like this particular direction, though, tbqh.

Here is a bit of apocrypha about Zeppelin. I actually read about this in one of the Zep ripoff magazines in 1980. The story goes that Jimmy met some sort of "power" while doing an occult ritual. It promised him that Zep would be the biggest band around if James would agree to pay later. Jim said ok and Zep skyrocketed. During the recording of this record the power returned and wanted payment. Jimmy scrapped the original album cover, which was pure black-no writing, and opted to hide the album in a brown paper bag. This song, the legend says, was originally called Siembamba, the dance of death, and began with the drum opening of In the evening. The band changed the song into the current version. However, the power took John as payment, instead of Jimmy-just to torment him. This is the kind of shit that made Zeppelin the most legendary band ever.

Philip Dallmayr Do you believe that story?

@Dave L No, but who knows?

@Philip Dallmayr I don't want to believe it, but Jimmy Page was obviously into some weird shit.

The best song on this album, period!

If Beethoven was resurrected he would be impressed to say the least...

Awesome just like Achilles Last Stand and others you rarely hear on the radio.

Carouselambra"

Sisters of the way-side bide their time in quiet peace, 
Await their place within the ring of calm; 
Still stand to turn in seconds of release, 
Await the call they know may never come. 
In times of lightness, no intruder dared upon 
To jeopardize the course, upset the run; 
And all was joy and hands were raised toward the sun 
As love in the halls of plenty overrun. 

Still in their bliss unchallenged mighty feast, 
Unending dances shadowed on the day. 
Within their walls, their daunting formless keep, 
Preserved their joy and kept their doubts at bay. 
Faceless legions stood in readiness to weep, 
Just turn a coin, bring order to the fray; 
And everything is soon no sooner thought than deed, 
But no one seemed to question in anyway. 

How keen the storied hunter's eye prevails upon the land 
To seek the unsuspecting and the weak; 
And powerless the fabled sat, too smug to lift a hand 
Toward the foe that threatened from the deep. 
Who cares to dry the cheeks of those who saddened stand 
Adrift upon a sea of futile speech? 
And to fall to fate and make the 'status plan' 
Where was your word, where did you go? 
Where was your helping, where was your bow? Bow. 
Dull is the armour, cold is the day. 
Hard was the journey, dark was the way. Way. 
I heard the word; I couldn't stay. Oh. 
I couldn't stand it another day, another day, 
Another day, another day. 

Touched by the timely coming, 
Roused from the keeper's sleep, 
Release the grip, throw down the key. 

Held now within the knowing, 
Rest now within the peace. 
Take of the fruit, but guard the seed. 

They had to stay! 

Held now within the knowing, 
Rest now within the beat. 
Take of the fruit, but guard the seed...

Alice cooper

History will remember Jimmy Page as one of the very very greatest ever guitarists. In my opinion, he was the worst producer and engineer of sound and music in the entire world. Cue social media slaughter......

@VivaZeBone "When The Levee Breaks"?

@Matt Polzkill hmmm. Most of that album is pretty good to be fair. I just find it all a bit cluttered from physical graffiti onwards. And this album was the worst. For me anyway.

@VivaZeBone Yeah, "pretty good" sounds on that album. Goodbye, silly person.

@Matt Polzkill don't take it so personally when someone disagrees with you matty.... 🙄

@VivaZeBone You just disagreed with yourself, nitwit. No one takes lame trolls personally, get over yourself already, as I have said from the start.

I love this song .brings me back to 1979... Just a17 yr old dreamer.!!

This song manages to be the heaviest, proggiest, and most New Wave-ish, song on the album!

Perfect description: heaviest proggiest+new waviest and Zeppelin hit it out of the park. Love the last 45 second fade and the whole epic composition!

@DYLAN CHANGED EVERYTHING FOREVER: Thanks! It's great, isn't it? They were said to be considering it for inclusion at the O2 show 12 years ago. Maybe next time!

in many ways this is zeppelin's swan song.... the final masterpiece