We interpreted this song in my senior English class, and what I took from it is "the lady who's sure" has based her life on the material things. When she's on her way to heaven, she doesn't believe the signs that say she can't get in once she reaches the gates because her life lacks a spiritual base. That's why her stairway is unstable/false and lies on a foundation of "whispering wind." Throughout the song, the lady's experience is paralleled to the band's reflection on what they've done in life and wondering if they'll one day end up on a similar stairway. (Hence, "there's a feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving"- they fear they've left their spiritual path to travel down a road of materialism.) At first they believe they can simply change their fate and walk down the right path when they need to, but as their shadows grow long, they realize they may have been too late. This was the first Led Zeppelin song I ever heard and I've been a fan ever since.
@Briseyfish69 --- I sorta thought it was about drug, maybe particulary cocaine addiction, but I see how "when i look to the west" could be a metaphor to western materialism
@Briseyfish69 --- I sorta thought it was about drug, maybe particulary cocaine addiction, but I see how "when i look to the west" could be a metaphor to western materialism
Neat interpretation... I'm not sure if that's what it means. It could be that she was always on a journey towards heaven as she's still turning everything to "Gold" & shining a "white light," both metaphors for heaven. Looking to the west is also a metaphor for hope, not necessarily civilization, but going west for free land & a new life. Robert Plant also introduced the song as a song of "hope," not as cynicism towards a culture.
Neat interpretation... I'm not sure if that's what it means. It could be that she was always on a journey towards heaven as she's still turning everything to "Gold" & shining a "white light," both metaphors for heaven. Looking to the west is also a metaphor for hope, not necessarily civilization, but going west for free land & a new life. Robert Plant also introduced the song as a song of "hope," not as cynicism towards a culture.
@Briseyfish69 bra I. Know this thread is almost 16 years old... my god I can’t believe I’m saying that, it seems like yesterday... But I made this account just to tell you I thought that was a vety WELL PUT and listener / reader friendly interpretation of the song!
@Briseyfish69 bra I. Know this thread is almost 16 years old... my god I can’t believe I’m saying that, it seems like yesterday... But I made this account just to tell you I thought that was a vety WELL PUT and listener / reader friendly interpretation of the song!
@Briseyfish69 my interpretation of “look to the West” was he was also chasing the gold. leaving spiritual foundation for a more materialistic base that would prove more fulfilling.
@Briseyfish69 my interpretation of “look to the West” was he was also chasing the gold. leaving spiritual foundation for a more materialistic base that would prove more fulfilling.
We interpreted this song in my senior English class, and what I took from it is "the lady who's sure" has based her life on the material things. When she's on her way to heaven, she doesn't believe the signs that say she can't get in once she reaches the gates because her life lacks a spiritual base. That's why her stairway is unstable/false and lies on a foundation of "whispering wind." Throughout the song, the lady's experience is paralleled to the band's reflection on what they've done in life and wondering if they'll one day end up on a similar stairway. (Hence, "there's a feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving"- they fear they've left their spiritual path to travel down a road of materialism.) At first they believe they can simply change their fate and walk down the right path when they need to, but as their shadows grow long, they realize they may have been too late. This was the first Led Zeppelin song I ever heard and I've been a fan ever since.
Haha! You're right. And she's BUYING a stairway to heaven.
Haha! You're right. And she's BUYING a stairway to heaven.
@Briseyfish69 You interpreted this in your english lesson? You're lucky.
@Briseyfish69 You interpreted this in your english lesson? You're lucky.
@Briseyfish69 profound ! Thank you
@Briseyfish69 profound ! Thank you
@Briseyfish69 --- I sorta thought it was about drug, maybe particulary cocaine addiction, but I see how "when i look to the west" could be a metaphor to western materialism
@Briseyfish69 --- I sorta thought it was about drug, maybe particulary cocaine addiction, but I see how "when i look to the west" could be a metaphor to western materialism
@Briseyfish69 It's about a woman junky trying to score some heroin for God sake. Simple as!!!
@Briseyfish69 It's about a woman junky trying to score some heroin for God sake. Simple as!!!
Neat interpretation... I'm not sure if that's what it means. It could be that she was always on a journey towards heaven as she's still turning everything to "Gold" & shining a "white light," both metaphors for heaven. Looking to the west is also a metaphor for hope, not necessarily civilization, but going west for free land & a new life. Robert Plant also introduced the song as a song of "hope," not as cynicism towards a culture.
Neat interpretation... I'm not sure if that's what it means. It could be that she was always on a journey towards heaven as she's still turning everything to "Gold" & shining a "white light," both metaphors for heaven. Looking to the west is also a metaphor for hope, not necessarily civilization, but going west for free land & a new life. Robert Plant also introduced the song as a song of "hope," not as cynicism towards a culture.
@Briseyfish69 bra I. Know this thread is almost 16 years old... my god I can’t believe I’m saying that, it seems like yesterday... But I made this account just to tell you I thought that was a vety WELL PUT and listener / reader friendly interpretation of the song!
@Briseyfish69 bra I. Know this thread is almost 16 years old... my god I can’t believe I’m saying that, it seems like yesterday... But I made this account just to tell you I thought that was a vety WELL PUT and listener / reader friendly interpretation of the song!
@Briseyfish69 my interpretation of “look to the West” was he was also chasing the gold. leaving spiritual foundation for a more materialistic base that would prove more fulfilling.
@Briseyfish69 my interpretation of “look to the West” was he was also chasing the gold. leaving spiritual foundation for a more materialistic base that would prove more fulfilling.