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Led Zeppelin — Black Dog
Album: Led Zeppelin IV
Avg rating:
8.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1270









Released: 1971
Length: 4:47
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Hey, hey, Mama, said, the way you move
Gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove
Ah-ah, 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

Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Ah, ah, ah
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Ah, ah, ah

I gotta roll, can't stand still
Got a flamin' heart, can't get my fill
With eyes that shine burnin' red
Dreams of you all through my head
Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah, ah

Hey, baby, whoah, baby, pretty baby
Looba dobba dooba dow
Hey, baby, oh, baby, pretty baby
Looba dobba dooba dow

Didn't take too long 'fore I found out
What people mean by "down and out"
Spent my money, took my car
Started tellin' her friends she gonna be a star
I don't know, but I been told
A big-leg woman ain't got no soul

Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Ah, ah, ah
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah
Ah, ah, ah (yeah)

All I ask for, all 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
Ah ah, ah ah, ah ah, ah ah
Ah ah, ah ah, ah

Ah

Oo, oo-wah, yeah, oh, yeah, gotta move
Yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
Gotta move you, now, babe, babe, move, you move, yeah
Push, push, babe, push, babe, push, babe
Push it, now, push, baby, push, baby, push, move, move
Oo, yeah, oo, move
Well, done
I'm gonna get ya groovin', now, gonna get ya groovin', now
Comments (70)add comment
As I get older, I don't listen to Led Zeppelin as much as I used to, but when I hear it, I always love it. This was one of their best.
Posted 1 month ago by bob0301    [ Reply ]
 physicsgenius wrote:

I have never understood the popularity of this song. They can't keep a beat to save their lives and meter is consequently forced over and over. It's jarring and awful.


Yes. Thats exactly why this song has an unconventional meter. Because ‘they can’t keep a beat to save their lives’. C’mon dude.
Posted 1 month ago by RickRickerson    [ Reply ]
 kcar wrote:

gif of Jack Nicholson nodding creepily


is this from The Departed? damn, it's mesmerizing.
Posted 1 year ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
i was 15, on weeds, when i first heard this. never knew led zep then. it changed my ears.
Posted 1 year ago by bhaltazarjabaq    [ Reply ]
This has been my ring time for 15 years. Never fails to get a giggle when it goes off in a crowd.
Posted 2 years ago by tryallmusic    [ Reply ]
GREAT TUNE!!!  I saw them in Madison Square Garden on September 3rd, 1971, just prior to the release of this album. When they played this song (2nd song), the crowd went nuts!!!. Nobody had heard it before.
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
Hey, baby, oh, baby, pretty baby
Looba dobba dooba dow

Now I know.

Posted 3 years ago by merobreno    [ Reply ]
 fab4fan wrote:
n4ku wrote: But somehow The Who,Jimi Hendrix,The Rolling Stones and The Beatles all managed to make rock, even hard rock tuneful with creative sounding quality to it not just banging around loud noise with no creative quality and a vocalist who often instead of singing screams and screaches like a retarted monkey!
Led Zeppelin did the same as the others you mention - ever listen to "The Rain Song"? But they did "this" as well. 

Posted 3 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Time for a sundowner on National Caesar Day. Doubles now for sure 😋
Posted 3 years ago by mach-hog    [ Reply ]
BRAVO RP!!!


Posted 3 years ago by salupi    [ Reply ]
 hayduke2 wrote:
GODLIKE.

 
gif of Jack Nicholson nodding creepily
Posted 9 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
GODLIKE.
Posted 9 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
n4ku wrote:
Rock and Roll isn't supposed to be pretty. If you want pretty, listen to Kenny G or Yanni.
But somehow The Who,Jimi Hendrix,The Rolling Stones and The Beatles all managed to make rock, even hard rock tuneful with creative sounding quality to it not just banging around loud noise with no creative quality and a vocalist who often instead of singing screams and screaches like a retarted monkey!
Posted 16 years ago by fab4fan    [ Reply ]
littleblueriver7 wrote:
hey hey mamma said the way you move gonna make you sweat gonna make you groove and he sure did!! too bad the zep is pretty hateful on women, minus ten points for that...
Just another good reason besides their awful sound to hate them!
Posted 16 years ago by fab4fan    [ Reply ]
matt832 wrote:
2. Funny, I only rate a song if I really like it or find it really annoying. This is close to really annoying so I gave it a 2. In my area of the country (USA) we have 2 or 3 "Dinosaur" rock stations per city that play this stuff continuously, I'd be happy never to hear it again, that is why I listed to RP. Retire this already.
Led Zeppelin Dred Craplin are AWFUL!!!!
Posted 16 years ago by fab4fan    [ Reply ]
Zep wrote:
Why, thank you!
They always get a deserving 1 from me! I have always totally hated Led Zeppelin they truly sound like one of the worst groups or any "music" I have had the misfortune of ever hearing! They along with Queen and Pink Floyd are the only 3 groups I have to get up off of my chair even if I'm very tired and turn off immediately! The Who,The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix are a Million times better! And The Beatles are a *ZILLION* Times Better!!!! Heck even Van Halen sounds much better and I'm not even a fan of theirs! I have found many other people on music boards saying the same things that they hate Led Zeppelin and that they think they are one of the worst bands ever even some people on heavy metal boards! And many people say that not only is most of Dred Craplin's "music" loud banging around noise with no creative quality to it,and they say that they stole a lot from old blues songs,and Robert Plant's common screaming and screaching like a retarted monkey,but that his lyrics are simple,ordinary and like a horny teenage boy wrote them!
Posted 16 years ago by fab4fan    [ Reply ]
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Sweet, I will have to take your cue as soon as this track is over. ...Assuming my coworkers can lay off the emails and IM!
That's the problem I am having. RP and coworkers wont let me leave!
Posted 17 years ago by GChevy410    [ Reply ]
Atomic Dog...Black Dog...*sigh* There's question to be asked here, but it's so obvious I can't bring myself to make the joke.
Posted 17 years ago by dsrtfalcon    [ Reply ]
GChevy410 wrote:
Led Zeppelin - Black Dog George Clinton - Atomic Dog Modest Mouse - Dashboard Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out Best set to walk out of the office to EVER!
Sweet, I will have to take your cue as soon as this track is over. ...Assuming my coworkers can lay off the emails and IM!
Posted 17 years ago by ArbiterOfGoodTaste    [ Reply ]
Led Zeppelin - Black Dog George Clinton - Atomic Dog Modest Mouse - Dashboard Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out Best set to walk out of the office to EVER!
Posted 17 years ago by GChevy410    [ Reply ]
I like this dog much better than George Clinton's dog.
Posted 17 years ago by youngj    [ Reply ]
bronorb wrote:
The soundtrack of my youth. Zep gets a 10...always!
Why, thank you!
Posted 17 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Timeless.
Posted 17 years ago by robco1    [ Reply ]
oldsinger wrote:
I can't even rate this 'cause I'm numb from hearing this 'way too often. I think I used to really like it.
Back in 8th grade. Now it just grates.
Posted 17 years ago by iTuner    [ Reply ]
This song is so damn much fun to sing...
Posted 17 years ago by aquadonia    [ Reply ]
Wizzuvv_oz wrote:
"..playing around with...."? I love LZ, but they (and lots of others) stripped Little Richard to the bone. Now _that_ is a guy who didn't get enough money for his music contribution.
In Hail Hail Rock 'n Roll it's subtly suggested a lot of Chuck Berry's signature guitar style was "borrowed" from the piano player in his first band. Everyone "borrows."
Posted 17 years ago by cosmiclint    [ Reply ]
One of the all-time rockinest, rollinest tunes ever.
Posted 17 years ago by Rickvee    [ Reply ]
Takes me back to my college days!
Posted 17 years ago by ginniet    [ Reply ]
gopre wrote:
Black Dog. When they were recording the song in the castle where the band was rehearsing, a stray black who'd hung around the area was in the studio. Thus the name. Also the song originated from Jimmy's playing around with Little Richard songs. Listen closely to the first few notes of his guitar riff and it's "You Keep a Knocking (but you can't come in)". Genius.
"..playing around with...."? I love LZ, but they (and lots of others) stripped Little Richard to the bone. Now there is a guy who didn't get enough money for his music contribution.
Posted 17 years ago by Wizzuvvoz    [ Reply ]
There is a fairly new DVD release of some live Zep. Watching John Bonham is 10..."Godlike".
Posted 17 years ago by DrCyKosis    [ Reply ]
Hey, it's Robert Plant's cat!
Posted 17 years ago by nate917    [ Reply ]
Zepplock wrote:
It's blues ;-)
Um, yeah, sort of. :shrug:
Posted 17 years ago by dionysius    [ Reply ]
ooh you need to play this one from the How the West was Won live album... it's really nice.
Posted 17 years ago by Fredrikson    [ Reply ]
ladybinnath wrote:
This song, beaten to death by NYC area rock radio in my youth (and probably still to this day), is the reason I refused to listen to these guys for years. Is there a melody here? No wonder my mom used to call it noise.
It's blues ;-)
Posted 17 years ago by Zepplock    [ Reply ]
That transition from Muse made me laugh out loud. Not sure why.
Posted 17 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
Black Dog. When they were recording the song in the castle where the band was rehearsing, a stray black who'd hung around the area was in the studio. Thus the name. Also the song originated from Jimmy's playing around with Little Richard songs. Listen closely to the first few notes of his guitar riff and it's "You Keep a Knocking (but you can't come in)". Genius.
Posted 17 years ago by gopre    [ Reply ]
Matts wrote:
Here is a link for Jimmy Page when he was 14 (click here) interesting enough he was planning to do biological research for his future career. I am sure glad he changed his mind
He may not have made it his profession but from what I've read Mr Page and the boys did a fair bit of amateur biological research when they were on the road.
Posted 17 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
Hello, For me, it is the bass and drums that make this song so good. Neil
Posted 17 years ago by NeilBlanchard    [ Reply ]
I can't even rate this 'cause I'm numb from hearing this 'way too often. I think I used to really like it.
Posted 17 years ago by oldsinger    [ Reply ]
The soundtrack of my youth. Zep gets a 10...always!
Posted 17 years ago by bronorb    [ Reply ]
it's a 10 of course!!!
Posted 17 years ago by hctim_53    [ Reply ]
Here is a link for Jimmy Page when he was 14 (click here) interesting enough he was planning to do biological research for his future career. I am sure glad he changed his mind
Posted 17 years ago by Matts    [ Reply ]
Wow, this really drives home how lame that preceding track from Muse was. Ouch!
Posted 17 years ago by kazuma    [ Reply ]
I wonder if this song is about Winston Churchill in some way? He used to refer to his bouts with depression as "the black dog".
Posted 18 years ago by Exit2Eden    [ Reply ]
This song, beaten to death by NYC area rock radio in my youth (and probably still to this day), is the reason I refused to listen to these guys for years. Is there a melody here? No wonder my mom used to call it noise.
Posted 18 years ago by ladybinnath    [ Reply ]
2. Funny, I only rate a song if I really like it or find it really annoying. This is close to really annoying so I gave it a 2. In my area of the country (USA) we have 2 or 3 "Dinosaur" rock stations per city that play this stuff continuously, I'd be happy never to hear it again, that is why I listed to RP. Retire this already.
Posted 19 years ago by matt832    [ Reply ]
Been listening to this song forever and still love it. Wish I was in a place where I could really turn the volume up. :)
Posted 19 years ago by blinkblink    [ Reply ]
When will I be bored of this ? not today...
Posted 19 years ago by ColdBear    [ Reply ]
What a brilliant way to start the morning! Hooray!
Posted 19 years ago by schecki    [ Reply ]
Baby_M wrote:
Haven't seen the usage anywhere else, save this song.
Sir Winston Churchill, Britain's WW2 Prime Minister, used to suffer from spells of deep depression, which he called his 'Black Dog'. Not sure if he first coined the expression.
Posted 19 years ago by NikkD    [ Reply ]
ten
Posted 19 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
n4ku wrote:
Rock and Roll isn't supposed to be pretty. If you want pretty, listen to Kenny G or Yanni.
Amen Brother....
Posted 19 years ago by stevo_b    [ Reply ]
n4ku wrote:
Rock and Roll isn't supposed to be pretty. If you want pretty, listen to Kenny G or Yanni.
Posted 19 years ago by Red_Dragon    [ Reply ]
Re wrote:
How about some Dread Zeppelin?
YEAH! Tort Elvis Rules
Posted 19 years ago by cptbuz    [ Reply ]
TheLoneIguana wrote:
I like the song, but Black Dog? Where does that come from?
I've seen it used as a metaphor for mailaise or depression in a couple of James Lileks (https://www.lileks.com/bleats) essays:
. . . I remember putting it together – spring of 02, right before I went to New York, and I was suffering the shin-chews of the Black Dog then, too. . . . . . . It hasn't been a good week, and the black dog is curled at my feet with no sign of getting up. . . .
Haven't seen the usage anywhere else, save this song.
Posted 19 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
How about some Dread Zeppelin?
Posted 19 years ago by Re    [ Reply ]
TURN IT UP!!
Posted 19 years ago by pomalley    [ Reply ]
:propeller.gif: :crown.gif:
Posted 19 years ago by tony620d    [ Reply ]
Ha ha! Zep can't keep a beat? Can't... HEE HEEE!!! Oh help me please... I've heard it all now! ha harrr!! physicsgenius wrote:
I have never understood the popularity of this song. They can't keep a beat to save their lives and meter is consequently forced over and over. It's jarring and awful.
Posted 19 years ago by brofe    [ Reply ]
n4ku wrote:
Rock and Roll isn't supposed to be pretty. If you want pretty, listen to Kenny G or Yanni.
Yeah! Your remarks to the self-proclaimed genius say it all! I was observing how the song goes through several time changes and trying to think of anyone else who's ever tried to do something this complicated and made it work. What is or are the time signature(s) of it? I can't think of any one else who's even attempted anything close. The song still stands as a highpoint in rock, even some 30+ years on.
Posted 19 years ago by Gregorama    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
I have never understood the popularity of this song. They can't keep a beat to save their lives and meter is consequently forced over and over. It's jarring and awful.
Though this isn't my favorite Zep song (it is more the brute rock force in Plant's vocals that both makes it for some and breaks it for others, IMO), I'd have to say that their mastery of rhythm is a key component of this particular song. They are playing in off-beat weird synched up ways, so of course it doesn't sound like average 4/4 time, but they keep up the groove really well.
Posted 19 years ago by Candleben    [ Reply ]
physicsgenius wrote:
I have never understood the popularity of this song. They can't keep a beat to save their lives and meter is consequently forced over and over. It's jarring and awful.
Rock and Roll isn't supposed to be pretty. If you want pretty, listen to Kenny G or Yanni.
Posted 19 years ago by n4ku    [ Reply ]
I like the song, but Black Dog? Where does that come from?
Posted 19 years ago by TheLoneIguana    [ Reply ]
I have always been a fan of Zeppelin, they were interesting in concert. However 'Stairway to Heaven' was there best ever.
Posted 19 years ago by JCR    [ Reply ]
First "Hound Dog," and now this . . . RP's going to the dogs this afternoon!
Posted 19 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
I have never understood the popularity of this song. They can't keep a beat to save their lives and meter is consequently forced over and over. It's jarring and awful.
Posted 19 years ago by physicsgenius    [ Reply ]
Hey! Funny to hear this chestnut on RP. Kinda sick of it on FM radio everywhere, but it works here, especially with Big Mama Thornton.
Posted 19 years ago by Zep    [ Reply ]
Very interesting to hear this track played right after Big Mama Thornton (Hound Dog). The vocal phrasing similarities of Robert Plant and Big Mama in this dog two-fer are unmistakable.
Posted 19 years ago by RongoTBurg    [ Reply ]
............... Y E A H !
Posted 19 years ago by Danny_G    [ Reply ]
hey hey mamma said the way you move gonna make you sweat gonna make you groove and he sure did!! too bad the zep is pretty hateful on women, minus ten points for that...
Posted 20 years ago by littleblueriver7    [ Reply ]