A Led Zep/Blues Question

Subject: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: mousethief
Date: 22 Jul 01 - 01:26 AM

It is common knowledge, apparently, that Led Zeppelin "stole" a lot of their licks, lyrics, whole songs, etc. from the great blues artists of the previous generation. (Well, "stole" is a very strong word, but then again they were sued over it more than once!)

Anyway, does anybody know if the song "Hey Hey What Can I Do" or "I've Got a Woman who wont' be true" or whatever it's called has any analogues in earlier blues material? It sounds SO very Robert Johnsonny, but I have the collected works of and there's nothing analogous there.

And hey, this is a BLUES question so it's not off-topic, so Pbbbbbth to anybody who wants to flame me about it.

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warning: explicit lyrics

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Hey Hey What Can I Do
(Bonham/Jones/Page/Plant)

Wanna tell you about the girl I love
My she looks so fine
She's the only one that I been dreamin' of
Maybe someday she will be all mine
I wanna tell her that I love her so
I thrill with her every touch
I need to tell her she's the only one I really love

I got a woman, wanna ball all day
I got a woman, she won't be true, no
I got a woman, stay drunk all the time
I said I got a little woman and she won't be true

Sunday morning when we go down to church
See the menfolk standin' in line
I said they come to pray to the Lord
With my little girl, looks so fine
In the evening when the sun is sinkin' low
Everybody's with the one they love
I walk the town, Keep a-searchin' all around
Lookin' for my street corner girl

I got a woman, wanna ball all day
I got a woman, she won't be true, no no
I got a woman, stay drunk all the time
I said I got a little woman and she won't be true

In the bars, with the men who play guitars
Singin', drinkin' and rememberin' the times
My little lover does a midnight shift
She followed around all the time
I guess there's just one thing a-left for me to do
Gonna pack my bags and move on my way
Cause I got a worried mind
Sharin' what I thought was mine
Gonna leave her where the guitars play

I got a woman, she won't be true, no no
I got a woman, wanna ball all day
I got a woman, stay drunk all the time
I got a little woman and she won't be true

(Hey hey what can I do)

I said she won't be true

(Hey Hey, What can I say?)

Hey hey, what can I do
I got a woman, she won't be true
Lord, hear what I say
I got a woman, wanna ball all day

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Alex

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: Allan C.
Date: 22 Jul 01 - 03:26 PM

These lyrics are (to me) as much like Robert Johnson's as a piece of salt-water taffy is like a praline. Both are sweet. Both are good. Both were contrived by someone who knew the medium. But they are very different. I think that you or I could easily concoct lyrics that have the same level of similarity to R. J.'s style.

I guess what I am saying is that, no, I don't think these lyrics are directly derivative. I could be wrong, though.

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: Les from Hull
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 11:32 AM

Sorry I can't help you with your question, Alex, but by way of refreshing it I will mention that it wasn't only bluesmen who were 'imitated' by the otherwise excellent Led Zep. Listen to Black Mountain Side. Now listen to Blackwaterside by Bert Jansch.

Anyway I've got my own back by doing Stairway to Heaven on the melodeon.

Les

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: mousethief
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 12:18 PM

Actually the part that sounds like RJ to me is the melody. I just put the lyrics up so people could see 'em.

Alex

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: RWilhelm
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 01:16 PM

I'm trying to imagine what Robert Johnson song sounds like "Hey Hey What Can I Do" The reason they almost got away with ripping off people like Willie Dixon is they made the tunes and rhythms so caucasian.

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: mousethief
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 01:18 PM

Earl, that almost sounds racist. What is a "caucasian" tune?

Alex

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: RWilhelm
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 01:27 PM

White men have sung the blues almost from the beginning. Some of it is pretty good but, like it or not, there is always a profound difference between white blues and black blues. In the case of Led Zepplin its not even blues, its some kind of fusion thing.

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 03:01 PM

I know Willie Dixon gets credit for a song on Led Zepplin I. The lyrics and tunes would have to be practically identical to win a plagerism case for a 12 bar blues. Thousands of people using the same few chord progression's and the same few themes for what? about 70 years now?

I don't know about "caucasian" tunes and words. Aren't East Indian, Arabs, Italians and Scandinavians also caucasians. We don't exactly all have common music or poetry. Jimmy Page had someone to copy. So did Muddy Waters (though maybe Muddy had more people copy him). Music is music and people are people. Race is irrelevent.

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: RWilhelm
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 04:07 PM

The court was convinced and so was I:

You Need Love
Wille Dixon

You've got yearnin' and I got burnin'
Baby you look so sweet and cunning
Baby way down inside, woman you need love
Woman you need love, you've got to have some love
I'm gonna give you some love, I know you need love
You just gotta have love, you make me feel so good
You make me feel all right, you're so nice, you're so nice

You're frettin', and I'm petting
A lot of good things you ain't getting
Baby, way down inside, you need love

You need to be hugged and squeezed real tight,
by the light of the moon on some summer night
You need love and kissing too,
all these things are good for you

I ain't foolin' you need schoolin'
Baby you know you need coolin'
Baby, way down inside, woman you need love

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 04:44 PM

Whole Lotta Love?

Point well taken. I haven't heard the tune as done by Dixon, but based upon the lyrics, it would still be a judgement call. The tone is a little different from "I'm gonna give you every inch of my love. The Zepplin song is almost a parody.

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: RWilhelm
Date: 23 Jul 01 - 06:36 PM

JTS, I think if you heard the Muddy Waters version you would have no doubt its the same song even with differences in lyrics. The point is if they gave the same treatment to a song like "Summertime" they would still have to credit Gershwin. Willie Dixon was alive when the recording was made, he should have been paid.

Subject: RE: A Led Zep/Blues Question
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 24 Jul 01 - 10:14 AM

Yes, there is no doubt that a lot of the old blues greats didn't get the credit they deserved.