Saying the term "No Quarter" means no housing is given, while the correct origin of the term, is confusing. In Laymen’s terms, saying we will give "no quarter" is saying you will give no mercy, kill everything.

I am not going to break down every line of the song but to me, it would seem that this song does indeed talk about the end of Paganism and the rise of Christianity in Western Europe. Or at least, the struggle of Paganism against Christianity.

"They are wearing steel that’s bright and blue" - might be referring to the Christian knights.
"Carrying word that must get through" - might be referring to the word of Jesus Christ.
Not to mention, Christian knights were notoriously ruthless in their conquest showing no quarter to their enemies, and hence the irony of them walking with the devil.

This would also fit as to why Tool decided to remake the song. Anyone that knows Tool, knows that they often pick Christian based themes to drive home many of their concepts. Tool is effective in showing the irony behind Christianity and Maynard himself, despite growing up in a strict Catholic home, has forsaken religion.

And by the way, the Tool remake is just as good in its own right as the original.

Two things, Lord of the Rings borrowed heavily from Norse mythology, so it could go either way there.

The Norse didn't have steel armour (steel armour shining bright and true) could have meant anything, possibly a reference to the Aragorn and his army...

Listen to the song backwards though, I know.. I know.. backmasking is a coincidence and that other dismissive bullshit.
But it sounds eerily like he's saying "the hallowed battle.. Mordor" around the part where he sings "Walkin' side by side, with death".

Creepy, no? I guess that, and the whole, acknowledged references to lord of the rings in other songs makes me think that it isn't implausible.

Having said that, Tools version of the song, they took it and made it their own, listen to it backwards, the various phrases there spell out the personal relationship people tend to make with the ring, I found out about the backwards music before I'd heard the original version, and the backwards lyrics in Tool's didn't make any sense until I'd learnt about the Zepplin context, then it all became clear :P

As for the americans crapping on about how it must be about the founding of your country, that's a pretty clear example of how people can infer their own meaning from a song, but why would a BRITISH band, be writing about a civil war in the history of a country they didn't grow up in? Pretentiousness aside, it doesn't make any sense :S

Does anyone else know that it was John Paul Jones who wrote this song?

Actually it's about Welsh myth, Plant said so himself. "Thor" refers here not to the God of Thunder, but to
Mount Thor in Wales. Who really cares if Zep put Tolkien references into their songs, lots of bands did at the the books came out in the 50s and 60s so it was popular, and plus Tolkien borrowed from the same Norse and Celtic myth that Led did. For some reason every time I think of this song I think of either Welsh knights or I think of the story of Balto hahaha.

idk but this song kicks ass and its a funny coincidence its borrowed from tolkein cuz u need to listen to it why ur toking lololololol

oh and not having quarter means not having a house to stay in...if it said they give no quarter I would say they were merciless

Your all crazy this song is not about lord of the rings or vikings...example: lord of the rings was about a group of guys who carried a ring to destroy it not "new that must get through" and "they are wearing steel bright and true" I wouldnt go as far as to say the vikings wore steel that was "true" more like pure evil(they killed everyone). Plus these people (men woman both?) are building a dream for me and you thats who ever listens to the song. So i believe the song is about those heros who take the road less travelled and open doors and ideas for dreamers now and in the future. This song is still true for people today there are many who are like this. Amen!

do any of you think maybe this song was meant to be interpreted in different ways by different people? a great song can do that so well that people claw and fight to try and prove their theory is better than everyone else's. it's more important, really, how you interpret it for your own sake. if it makes you happy thinking it means one thing as opposed to another, then think it.
i mean, i'm sure they had a specific thing or set of things that this song was actually about, but that doesn't mean that they didn't acknowledge that it could apply to other things.

I originally thought that this song referred to the chapters 'the ride of the rohirrim' through "the battle of the pellenor fields".
The "path where no one goes" refers to the forgotten wain-road "through Druadan to Rimmon" which is "forgotten, but not by Wild Men" that Ghan-buri-Ghan tells Theoden and his men to take in order to get through Sauron's defenses unnoticed.
And the messenger that was sent from Gondor to ask for the Rohirrim's help was killed before he could get back to Gondor, so Theoden and his army are not only "wearing steel that's bright and true", but carrying "the news that must get through".
Also, I think that the "snow" doesn't actually mean snow in a literal sense, but represents the Rohirrim and Gondor:
The standard of Rohan is a white horse on a green field, and the white tree is the symbol of Gondor. The white tree also shows up on the flag that Aragorn displays on one of the corsairs that he'd seized from the servants of Mordor and sails up the Anduin river in shortly after Theoden dies. Also, Theoden's horse's name in Snowmane. Another reference: "but the white fury of the Northmen burned the hotter" against the Southrons and servants of Sauron.
The winds of Thor I thought could maybe be interpreted as the winds that Ghan-buri-Ghan and Widfara sensed a change in.
About the winds being cold, I thought it might just be opposing the general "fires of Mordor" thing. Like, [forces of evil=hot, smoke, cloudy, despair] as opposed to [forces of good=cold, clean, sunny morning, hope].
The dogs of doom, probably wargs. I don't really know.
The devil that mocks their every step, Sauron.
And of course, no quarter. Neither the guys from Gondor nor the guys from Rohan are willing to take prisoners, which is what no quarter means. Especially Eored, after seeing that his father, Theoden, was killed by the Nazgul, and seeing his sister, Eowyn, on the battlefield killed (he thought) by the same Nazgul.
It makes sense to me.
I can never be sure of what no quarter is really about, but it seems to fit quite well with my theory.
But ramthar's theory also fits pretty well, too.

Have any of you heard of the music drama 'Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung)', a masterpiece of Richard Wagner who tels of the old Nordic peoples and gods, all the things you think are linked to LotR are actually pulled from Norse mythology, for instance Thor is the norse god of Thunder. Also in Immigrant Song we have direct connections with Norse mythology, not LotR. and i do think that the songs are in some way connected, for Odin seeks only the greatest warriors to fight along side him and therefor cherishes they're souls in Valhalla.
Don't know on what exact aspect the story refers to but anyway its about asking for blessing of the old Norse pagan gods before going into a battle they don't think they'll survive. It also seems that they battle a enemy they have no respect for, hence 'give them no quarter'.

I go along with the "the vikings are coming" approach

IM...Seek professional help...

Damn, sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who thinks there are NO (NONE, ZIP, ZILCH) references to Lord of the Fags and ANY Zeppelin song. But I'll buy. This song, to me, is about the end of the world. The demons of Hell coming through after the Rapture. Here's what I think about the song:

Close the door, put out the light
You know they won't be home tonight

(Into the darkness, your left. There's no hope for you tonight.)

The snow falls hard and don't you know
The winds of Thor are blowing cold

(Obvious. Cold winds, darkness, raging snow...very much so what the weather will be like for the entire world soon.)

They're wearing steel that's bright and true
They carry news that must get through

(The demons of Hell are the ones wearing the armor. In my mind, the demons will seem to be the valorous ones to us all, but deep down they'll be the warriors of Hell who help to kill us all. Their armor is deceiving. The news may refer to reports they have to bring to Satan, to help him plan his attack.)

Venture the path where no one goes

(They travel the unknown paths of the world. Very eerie and adventure-like. I love it.)

They hold no quarter
They hold no quarter

(Now, quarter can mean living quarters, the quartering of a body, or also mean merciful consideration of an opponent. Like saying 'no mercy'. This is what it means in this song. The demons have no mercy once their attack plan is executed, with Satan leading the attack.)

Walking side by side with Death
The Devil mocks their every step

(The people that run in fear. The Devil mocks them, becuase he knows they can't escape. Their deaths are going to happen, hence, walking side by side with it.)

Snow drives back the foot that's slow
The dogs of Doom are howling more

(The dogs of Doom, Satan's hounds. The ones who are slow will be the first to die, while the others that try and escape will be hunted down by the hounds of Satan, which he will unleash upon the Earth.)

They carry news that must get through
To build a dream for me and you

(Again, the demons carrying the reports to Satan. Now, the second part is odd. It may be that Plant and Page are saying they want the attack to happen. Building of a dream. They're evil mother fuckers, so I can see why they'd invoke it.)

Venture the path where no one goes

(See above. Still as bad ass a line as ever.)

They hold no quarter
They ask no quarter
They hold no quarter
They ask no quarter

(Again, the demons hold no mercy and they ask for no mercy. They're killing machines.)

The pain, the pain without quarter
They ask no quarter
Give me no quarter
The dogs of Doom are howling more
Give me no quarter
I hear the dogs of Doom, they're howling more

(This, again, instates more of Plant's and Page's want for the end of the world to come. To me, they'll view it as a beautiful happening. That's why they say 'Give me no quarter.', becuase they want to die at the hands of Satan. And the dogs of Doom are again howling into the cold night, hunting...searching. A world of perpetual darkness, their hunting grounds.)

As a side note, watch The Song Remains the Same. In the No Quarter fantasy sequence, John Paul Jones is a demon who returns home with his demonic face off, showing even more that the demons will be mistaken for good people at first. They'll have families, kids, etc etc. Also, note in the scene with the horse's shadows galloping across the screen, there are burning bibles inside of it. Yes, indefinitely all relates back to Norse and Lord of the Rings mythos, doesn't it. XD

Know your Zeppelin, children.

maybe its my study in religion but sounds like its about missionaries. Feedback anyone?

No Quarter is loosly about the Revolutionary War (and the midnight ride of Paul Revere), and not paying the imposed taxes of the British. They use a lot of symbolism and draw the language from several sources, but the main reference is to that. Like so many Zeppelin tunes, this is quite awesome!!

The song is about Vikings you god damn idiots, stop living in a fantasy world with trolls and dragons.

John talked about this song in a shit old interview that is rare like your brain is smart.

And stop with the God D*** comparison to RECENT MOVIES will ya?? I just hate kids who think they know every fucking thing there is about OLD CLASSIC KICK ASS ROCK N ROLL music.

I don't really agree this to be a song about vikings (hence, they wear steel armor - vikings used mostly leather), but rather knigths in medievel times. The song is about the brave that would go through anything, even harsh cold and snow - just to protect the rest of us - they carry news, maybe essential war strategies. Regarding the title ''No Quarter'' is, they wouldn't want to waste any time resting or sleeping - and are also that humble that they wouldn't ask for it.
They are the noble that will work as maschines till victory is at hand, and the people are safe.
As of the first to lines; their families keep their doors open for them, but they realize they won't be home.
''They choose the path where noone goes'' - I can just picture it - walking through the new untouched snow through darkness and what-not.
This is one of my favourite LedZep-songs, and I am sorry if someone feels I've interpreted the song all wrong. I am also sorry for somewhat jumping back and forth in the lyrics;) As I am norwegian, the whole viking-business is somewhat an used-up theme, coming from all other people than us hehe..

I heard that This is about John Paul Jones having a dream that he wanted to become a haunted horseman and roam the graveyards for money.

I think that this song could be related to the historic battle, i dont quite remember if it was WWI or WWII, but that day when the German army tried to invade Russian territory and they couldn´t because of the weather. GUess what? it was winter, and that also kind of explains the reference to Thor, norse and germanic god of thunder.

The first time Iheard this song was on a really cold night and was about 2 inches of ice on the ground.We dont get a lot of that in Dallas so it was a heck of a coincidence and a spiritual moment for me

Thor is the ancient Norse God of Thunder in Norse Mythology.

That pretty much tells you where the influences of this song come from.

quarter means mercy...

they hold no quarter= when the invaders come, they won't spare anyone

its just a song about an upcoming battle

All, I hate to tell you this, but this song has nothing to do with LotR. The mention of the "winds of Thor are blowing cold" refers to mount Thor which is in Canada just off of the Labrador Sea. The song refers to a climbing expedition and the "no quarter" reference is to the expeditions expectation that they will receive "no quarter" from the mountain. Check it out. Listen to the song or read the lyrics with this perspective in mind. Makes sense, doesn't it?

Sounds like a song to make love to, like Sade doing Norse myths.
Seriously, this feels like a very erotic, sensuous song that you can use when making love in the background.
Robert Plant's aching-heart voice just adds to atmosphere.

I heard years back that Page had a house in Wales. He became interested in the history of the Anglo-Saxon wars, which took place from about 400 - 878 A.D., partly in Wales. Apparently, he went outside one early, cold morning and looked out onto dense fog. He thought about what the wars must have been like since most of the attacks were staged in the early morning ("No, they won't be home tonight" since they would leave at night to attack early morning, I suppose). Anyway, that was apparently his inspiration.

Here are some pictures of the armour and some history. I'm sure there are better sources of history out there but I just picked a couple in a hurry.

http://www.murphsplace.com/owen/arthur/wars.html
http://wildfiregames.com/0ad/page.php?p=1518-