Asked sweet mama, Let me be her kid
She said, "You might get hurt if you don't keep it hid"

Well I know my baby, If I see her in the dark
I said I know my rider, If I see her in the dark

Now, I goin' to Rosedale, Take my rider by my side
Still barrelhouse, If it's on the riverside, yeah
I know my baby, Lord, I said, "is really sloppy drunk"
I know my mama, Lord, a brown skin, but she ain't no plum

See my baby, tell her, Tell her hurry home
Had no lovin', since my baby been gone
See my baby, Tell hurry on home
I ain't had, Lord, my right mind, Since my rider's been gone

Hey, she promises, She's my rider
I want to tell you, She's my rider
I know you're mine, She's my rider
She ain't but sixteen, But she's my rider

I'm goin' to Rosedale, Take my rider by side
Anybody argue with me man, I'll keep them satisfied
Well, see my baby, tell her, Tell her the shape I'm in
Ain't had no lovin', Lord, since you know when

Spoken: Why don't you come into my kitchen
She's a kindhearted lady. She studies evil all the time
She's a kindhearted woman. She studies evil all the time

Squeeze my lemon 'til the juice runs down my leg
Squeeze it so hard, I'll fall right out of bed
Squeeze my lemon, 'til the juice runs down my leg

Spoken: I wonder if you know what I'm talkin' about
Oh, but the way that you squeeze it girl
I swear I'm gonna fall right out of bed

She's a good rider
She's my kindhearted lady
I'm gonna take my rider by my side
I said her front teeth are lined with gold
She's gotta mortgage on my body, got a lien on my soul
She's my brown skin sugar plum



Lyrics submitted by kevin

Track duration: 02:47

"Travelling Riverside Blues" as written by James Patrick (jimmy)/plant Page

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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Travelling Riverside Blues song meanings
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25 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:are you retarded?
    Flag FackingHellon December 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:FackingHell: There is a *big* difference between "connotation" and "explicitness." The lyric "Squeeze my lemon..." could mean any number of things, from the obvious sexual innuendo to its literal meaning of squeezing a sour, yellow citrus fruit.
    Flag tomd1969on November 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"I hate it when people blindly assume that all Zeppelin "cover" songs are simply lifted lyrics, anyone with ears can tell that Johnson's and Zeppelin's versions bear very very little in common other than the lemon bit and the take my rider to rosedale stuff. even the names are different. Zeppelin NEVER lifted entire lyrics or the entire music from ANY song and called it their own, quit calling them thieves, if what Zeppelin did was stealing, then all blues musicians are thieves!"

    You have obviously never listened to Robert Johnson. The lyrics are taken from several of Robert Johnsons songs as well as other pre-war blues artists. They used verses and lyrics from several songs to come up with an "original" song which is at the same time a tribute to Robert Johnson. That does not mean that they are thieves.

    "As for all of the Blues noobs who have posted here I think you should look up more musicians other than Robert Johnson as there are many better ones out there from the same period. If anything Robert Johnson marks the end of an era."

    Yes there are some great artists from the same era, but you are seriously mistaken if say they are better than Robert Johnson.
    Flag stonesinmypasson August 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Have no fear FackingHell is here.

    The meaning of Rider is basically woman, an easy rider is a prostitue

    As for sexually explicit lyrics "not being allowed" I would say you made that up on the spot from your own conception of what it was like 70 years ago. Anyone who has ever listened to Bo Carter will know that its just not true. songs such as "My Pencil wont write no more", "Pin in your Cushion" and "Banana in your fruit basket" clearly dont have any sexual conotations do they?

    As for all of the Blues noobs who have posted here I think you should look up more musicians other than Robert Johnson as there are many better ones out there from the same period. If anything Robert Johnson marks the end of an era.
    Flag FackingHellon May 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:you have go to love it, deffinetly shows Zeps color as true musicians being able to sound terrific doing blues, rock, or their patented mix, hard to believe sometimes that they were from England. Yeah LP thats my fave line too, "I know my baby, if I see her in the dark".
    Flag mikeyhelikesiton April 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:way good point, people have said page isnt creative enouph to write his own stuff.. well ya right for one thing he made them masterpieces! so what if he takes a couple of lyrics? its all part of page's love for blues.
    Flag rocknroll533on February 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"The squeeze my lemon bit was (as was all the lyrics) ripped off from Robert Johnson."

    I hate it when people blindly assume that all Zeppelin "cover" songs are simply lifted lyrics, anyone with ears can tell that Johnson's and Zeppelin's versions bear very very little in common other than the lemon bit and the take my rider to rosedale stuff. even the names are different. Zeppelin NEVER lifted entire lyrics or the entire music from ANY song and called it their own, quit calling them thieves, if what Zeppelin did was stealing, then all blues musicians are thieves!
    Flag lzphishheadon December 30, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i can't not love playing this song on the drums
    Flag heyjude55on April 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:to Jim Freschi..your "rider" is your woman--"she aint but sixteen, but she my rider..oh she a GOOD rider!" damn that robert plant..not bad for a white guy..not bad at all, does robert johnson great justice
    Flag hangwire13on February 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:If you have the Led Zeppelin DVD released in 2003, look at the promo video for this, its actually really good
    Flag Histamineon December 21, 2005   Link

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