Lyrics for No Quarter as interpreted by kevin

No Quarter Lyrics
Close the door, put out the light.
You know they won't be home tonight.
The snow falls hard and don't you know?
The winds of Thor are blowing cold.
They're wearing steel that's bright and true
They carry news that must get through.

They choose the path where no-one goes.

They hold no quarter.

Walking side by side with death, The devil mocks their every step
The snow drives back the foot that's slow, The dogs of doom are howling more
They carry news that must get through, To build a dream for me and you

They choose the path where no-one goes.

They hold no quarter. They ask no quarter.
The pain, the pain without quarter.
They ask no quarter.
The dogs of doom are howling more!

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DarkStar21
01-19-2006

Rated 0 
It sounds like a space song for like the first 50 seconds. Now it just all together a space song. No quarter is like saying no gravity and path that no one knows, DUH, space and besides for all you know wearing steel that's bright and true, those could be aliens they are talking about, but it's just an inference.

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lushco
02-16-2006

Rated 0 
i definitely buy the idea that it's about Ragnarok, the final battle before the end of the world. the reference to Thor alludes to Viking mythology rather than LOTR.

what i like most about the song though is what it says about the brilliance of Led Zeppelin. Tool covered it because it entirely encapsualtes their sound. I love Tool but their music is awesome, they don't stretch out far beyond their dark, morose and angry vibe. if they did it wouldn't be Tool (which is why i think Maynard was so passionate about doing A Perfect Circle)
For Led Zeppelin, however, No Quarter is simply one song, completely different from any other, within their extensive catalogue of songs. they don't stick to one sound, which makes them arguably the best band of all.

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Soundgarden1019
02-16-2006

Rated 0 
I heard that this song is actually about Norse mythology and something to do with a viking death raid...but I'm not going to look quite as deep into it as that. I want to focus on three lines..."The snow falls hard and don't you know?" "The Winds of Thor are blowing cold." And also...."The snow drives back the foot thats slow, the dogs of doom are howling more." These lines pretty much sum up the meaning of the song. Its saying we are headed into some pretty bad stuff, are lives are in danger, we're up against insurmountable odds, but we have no choice but to keep going into the storm and try to accomplish what we need to or else there will be even greater consequences. Does anyone agree with this?

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Soundgarden1019
02-16-2006

Rated 0 
Oh and this song is definetely up there with some of Led Zeppelin's best songs...and the cover Tool did of it kicks ass but I still prefer the original.

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williampipes
02-20-2006

Rated 0 
to give no quarter was a figurative way of saying “take no prisoners”.

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Count_Grim
02-20-2006

Rated 0 
about a relationship and how pay phones use to cost a quarter back in that time. the quarter carrys the message that the person wants to send to his significant other and he has no quarter.

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HoundofCulan
02-26-2006

Rated 0 
I have my own theory about this song. Quite different from many others and also a bit lengthy.
I feel that some of the lines in this song have multiple meanings, and i will get to that shortly, but here is my premise: I believe this song was written about the famous "Battle of Trenton" from the American Revolution. And before everyone thinks that I am crazy allow me to exlpain myself:
For those who dont know, the story is simple: The American Colonies were on the brink of collapse, they had very little morale, they had lost most of the battles, and this year, many feared that they would not survive the winter (and this was a very very cold, bitter, winter) While Christmas time was near, and battles werent being fought for the most part, George Washington devised a plan to attack the Hessian soldiers on the other side of the Delawre river, and take them by surprise, in the hopes that a victory could not only boost morale, but that the menacing Hessians would finally be stopped, as they were a particularly brutal force on the battlefield.
Now in order to do this he had to cross the icy, dangerous Delaware river, and the Hessians would be ill-prepared, mostly hung over, and the idea was to ambush them, showing no quarter on either side. Long story short, this was an "All-or-Nothing" venture, if the mission failed, it would be the end of the Revolution.
Now as for how it fits, well for one thing, the song sets a very "all-or-nothing" mood, as if these men ride out to their deaths, with only a small hope of success. "They carry the news that must get through" This could mean that they simply MUST win this battle, if it is lost, all is lost. What I also find interesting is the line "The winds of Thor are blowing cold" This could be simply to set teh mood, or it could also be a metaphor for the Hessians (Hessians, by the way, were a group of German Mercenaries that were not only a brutal enemy on the field of battle, but Germany was a part of the Nordic lands, so it would fit the Norse metaphor well) The line about the "dogs of doom" also supports this theory, as mercenaries are often refered to as the "dogs of war". Now what also strikes out at me is the line "The chose the path where no one goes" Wich is exactly what Washington did - NO ONE in their right mind would take an army across a dangerous, icy river in the middle of the night (this song also takes place at night, wich was when Washington chose to sneak across the river) to attack the enemy, it was simply a very outrageous manuever. And lastly the line "They carry the news that must get through, to build a dream for me and you" The dream of democracy and freedom was still just being concieved, and if these men all died, the dream may have died with them. "They hold no quarter, they ask no quarter....the dogs of doom are howling more" And lastly i think this section sums up the battle-aspect quite well, as this attack was to be swift and decisive. The "dogs" howling may be a howl in desperation this time, as opposed to the first line meaning a howl of intimidation. The hessian troops were essentialy cut-down before they even got a chanec to assemble and fight.
Well, that is my unusual theory, take it or leave it..
That said i do agree that this is one of Led Zeppelin's finest songs, as it is not only a VERY different feel, it is also a powerhouse both lyrically and musically. I think this is one sang that really demonstrates Led Zeppelin's genious as artists.

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ScareCrow46n2
03-29-2006

Rated 0 
"No Quarter" is a pirate phrase meaning "No Mercy". This song is about the "No Quarter" policy during the Revolutionary War that Great Britain enforced which required Americans to house and offer food to the British soldiers. If they didn't, they would be severely punished, if not killed. Oh, and John Paul Jones wrote the lyrics, not Robert Plant.

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heyjude55
04-28-2006

Rated 0 
excellent explanation to darkspot, i do agree this song is so cold and sets the modd of soemthing eery, but this is one of their best can't help but like it a lot

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heyjude55
04-28-2006

Rated 0 
also, Plant's voice sounds so cool like he's trapped in an icecube and the very beginning sounds like water dropping for some very odd reason. The cool thing is on this album (Houses of Holy) each song has its own color. like Song remains the same is all yellow. and No quarter is like some very deep blue. Just a thought, that's what happens when I listen to music.

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TREXOR
05-06-2006

Rated 0 
i'm thinking it's about some more noble people doing something for some less noble people, "to build a dream for me and you". some "soldiers" are out there doing something, and the "civilians" are hiding inside, too afraid for themselves to let anyone in. other than that i have no idea wha'ts goin' on. cryptic.

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ballzofsno
07-09-2006

Rated 0 
I heard that this song is about a diptheria epidemic in Nome, Alaska during the dead of winter in 1925. A dogsled team was dispatched from Seward (ice-free port) to Nome with antitoxin, and covered the distance of nearly 700 miles in 5 1/2 days.

Whether the lyrics fit or not you can judge for yourself.

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thedoorsandlzrock
07-10-2006

Rated 0 
I honestly couldnt care less what this song is about. All of that LotR and norse stuff doesnt matter. Just like stairway to heaven, its an acid trip where the bad wrote whatever came to their heads. Its an awsome song, number one for me

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429cj
07-16-2006

Rated 0 
It would be my sincere suggestion and warning that you do not listen to this song while under the influence of any strong chemicals. Let's just say it makes for a weird experience (I wasn't doing anything illegal, I was on painkillers after a surgery, I swear!). Actually, go ahead, looking back it was pretty funny

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ihatemusic
08-10-2006

Rated 0 
I don't understand all this garbage everyone is spewing about Tolkien and mythology. The song is obviously about a homeless person. Here is the rationale I use to come to this conclusion:

Close the door, put out the light.
You know they won't be home tonight.
(The guy sleeps in the doorway to someone's business. That's why no one is there at night and the lights are off.)

The snow falls hard and don't you know?
The winds of Thor are blowing cold.
(The story is set in the wintertime. BTW, why is it that there are so many homeless people in NYC. Seems it would be smart for them to move to Florida or something.)

They're wearing steel that's bright and true
(Homeless guys can't afford nice things like gold and iPods. They have to settle for steel. Or maybe this refers to the shopping cart he is pushing around. Who knows, but it is fantastic imagery.)

They carry news that must get through.
(This is a subtle reference to how sometimes homeless guys use newspapers as a blanket.)

They choose the path where no-one goes.
(The homeless are generally a reclusive folk.)

They hold no quarter.
(He doesn't have anywhere to stay, obviously. Also, homeless guys are always asking you for a quarter {or a dollar, or a fifth, or a dime}. Don't you just love the way they put that double meaning for "quarter" in there--no home and no money? Genius.)

Walking side by side with death,
The devil mocks their every step
The snow drives back the foot that's slow,
The dogs of doom are howling more
(The "dogs" could be a reference to the police. They are always telling the homeless to "get off that bench", "don't pee in that doorway", "get out of that dumpster", and such. It could also be a reference to stray dogs as they pretty much live the same "doomed" lives of a homeless person, but at least they have fur to protect them from the harsh winter.)

They carry news that must get through,
To build a dream for me and you
(Another reference to sleeping, the homeless man is dreaming about me and you. Presumably about a better life.)

They choose the path where no-one goes.
(Suggests that the homeless are there by choice and not by unfortunate circumstances. Heartless. Where is your compassion Led Zep?)

They hold no quarter. They ask no quarter.
The pain, the pain without quarter.
They ask no quarter.
(This is referring to the homeless who don't bother to ask for money. They don't get any. Eventually, they get hungry "the pain".)

The dogs of doom are howling more!
(This one is about me laughing [howling, actually] that I am actually going to post this.)

... lol

... I kill me sometimes.

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Stoj
08-26-2006

Rated 0 
woah ihatemusic

Thats crazy... I love it its a different take on the song that actually makes some sense.

I think the meaning of this osng is eiher about the homeless guy, or Viking mythology.

Either way its a good song.

Ohh and ihatemusic.

I think the last part of your post...

"The dogs of doom are howling more" probably means that the cops, or whatever have finally had enough of th ehobo, and have killed him, or arrsted him... and the wailing by Plant towards the end is the homeless guy screaming for freedom, and so on...


lol crazy aint it... i might just stick to the Viking mythology meaning of th esong...

I just love the homeless take on it though... LMAO

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heartbeats_xxx
09-04-2006

Rated 0 
It sort of seems to me that it might be about Norweigian resistence fighters in World War Two. They would be going home to report something important about the Nazis or something. I thought this because of the snow, the "devil" (Nazi power), Thor, etc.
I don't actually think that that's the meaning, but it's just what came to me.

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Lateralus518
09-23-2006

Rated 0 
Ya gotta love the eery feeling to this song.. I like puttin this song on my cd player and taking a walk during a rainy day..always calms me down.

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Eelie
09-25-2006

Rated 0 
I'm gonna go ahead and support HoundofCulan in this, mainly because it lends itself to a paper I have to write for American History.

And another interesting point that's kind of related to this take on the song: Amendment #3 is the No Quarter amendment; basically, the one that states that no soldiers can be quartered (housed) in any home during times of peace or war without the consent of the owner. This ties in because the amendments were written to correct the Constitution, which was written as a result of the American Revolution being won!

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RainbowDemon
10-03-2006

Rated 0 
corrente (first page) is totally right about this song. Zeppelin bases a few songs on Norse Mythos (take the Immigrant Song for example).

Anyhoo, I like this song a lot, really a bit of a different angle then you normally get from them, but I have to say, Tool's cover of this was amazing. I love the sound and the feeling they add to it. I think few bands can successfully create an equal or better version of a Zeppelin song, and I definitely think they pulled it off ^_^

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captainInsanity
11-22-2006

Rated 0 
this songs sweet i love the sound affects on the voice and the song just is sooo coool that it makes me wana rewind it over and over again

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Coach Slickback
12-07-2006

Rated 0 
This song is probably my favorite song I have ever heard, and yes I am sorry to say that the Tool version does touch me alittle more, but it owes itself to the original anyway, so two thumbs WAY UP for The Mighty Led.

And yes this does all seem to point to LotR, yet mabey we are focusing on the wrong part of LotR, I always thought they were refering to the Mines of Moria (The Path No one goes). The Dogs of Doom (Wargs), the devil (Balrog) mokes their every step...they carry news that must get through (to Rivendell), and the snow is pretty obvius.

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bigchew14
12-27-2006

Rated 0 
I like darkspot's idea. I'm a bit of a mythologist myself. To cross the river styx you had to give Charon an Obulous otherwise you walked along the banks for 100 years.

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Zeppeliner101
12-29-2006

Rated 0 
In my opinion, this song has nothing to do with the Lord of the Rings. All I know is, that the "no quarter" was an old pirate phrase, meaning no mercy. And this song is truley dark, I loooove it!

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leidsepelin
01-08-2007

Rated 0 
Im guessing another one of zeppelin's mythiological* songs, telling of traveliers carring news that will change things for the better, but their journey is a difficult one.

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