It's not about a black boy. Do black boys let their "hair hang down"? Is that even possible? Is being black a new "game you found to play"? It's about a boy whose color doesn't matter one way or the other. But it's a boy that is being ostracized because people figured out he was gay. "Boy next door" is an interesting choice of words because it implies young love, as in "in love with the boy next door".
This is a tender love song, possibly the only one they ever did besides "All my Love" and "I'm going to Crawl". The heartfelt vocals are what set this apart from every other Led Zeppelin song, and it's because Robert Plant is singing straight from his heart. And he's not singing about mystical things, or the seasons of love, or the world of hobbitry, or the environmental movement, he's singing what he knows.
He's asking the boy, why can't you just play along and do what society demands, since being true to yourself only brings you so much sadness? Why can't you go without love? Is it worth the tears and rejection?
The last lyric shows frustration with people for being so closed minded ("when all your ears have turned away") and also shows what Robert Plant truly believes. "Is that the way it ought to stay?"
Open your mind up to this interpretation and, if you love this song already, it will become so much more beautiful because it's such a rare example of Plant opening and sharing his life with his audience.
@bigmike7 It’s clearly about racial discrimination. Why else would he mention that the kid lives in the darker side of town? Plus, I did not make the assumption that the child was gay. I just thought it was about two very young boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks.
@bigmike7 It’s clearly about racial discrimination. Why else would he mention that the kid lives in the darker side of town? Plus, I did not make the assumption that the child was gay. I just thought it was about two very young boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks.
@bigmike7 It’s clearly about racial discrimination. Why else would he mention that the kid lives in the darker side of town? Plus, I did not make the assumption that the child was gay. I just thought it was about two very young boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks.
Btw - Your comment is very ignorant. Yes it is possible for some black children to let their hair down. Black people’s hair comes in a variety of textures, from fairly straight to very kinky. Besides, the kid could also be East Indian or Pakistani.
@bigmike7 It’s clearly about racial discrimination. Why else would he mention that the kid lives in the darker side of town? Plus, I did not make the assumption that the child was gay. I just thought it was about two very young boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks.
Btw - Your comment is very ignorant. Yes it is possible for some black children to let their hair down. Black people’s hair comes in a variety of textures, from fairly straight to very kinky. Besides, the kid could also be East Indian or Pakistani.
@bigmike7
Btw - Your comment is very ignorant. Yes it is possible for some black children to let their hair down. Black people’s hair comes in a variety of textures, from fairly straight to very kinky. Besides, the kid could also be East Indian or Pakistani.
@bigmike7
Btw - Your comment is very ignorant. Yes it is possible for some black children to let their hair down. Black people’s hair comes in a variety of textures, from fairly straight to very kinky. Besides, the kid could also be East Indian or Pakistani.
It's not about a black boy. Do black boys let their "hair hang down"? Is that even possible? Is being black a new "game you found to play"? It's about a boy whose color doesn't matter one way or the other. But it's a boy that is being ostracized because people figured out he was gay. "Boy next door" is an interesting choice of words because it implies young love, as in "in love with the boy next door".
This is a tender love song, possibly the only one they ever did besides "All my Love" and "I'm going to Crawl". The heartfelt vocals are what set this apart from every other Led Zeppelin song, and it's because Robert Plant is singing straight from his heart. And he's not singing about mystical things, or the seasons of love, or the world of hobbitry, or the environmental movement, he's singing what he knows.
He's asking the boy, why can't you just play along and do what society demands, since being true to yourself only brings you so much sadness? Why can't you go without love? Is it worth the tears and rejection?
The last lyric shows frustration with people for being so closed minded ("when all your ears have turned away") and also shows what Robert Plant truly believes. "Is that the way it ought to stay?"
Open your mind up to this interpretation and, if you love this song already, it will become so much more beautiful because it's such a rare example of Plant opening and sharing his life with his audience.
@bigmike7 Amen brother. I think you nailed it.
@bigmike7 Amen brother. I think you nailed it.
@bigmike7 It’s clearly about racial discrimination. Why else would he mention that the kid lives in the darker side of town? Plus, I did not make the assumption that the child was gay. I just thought it was about two very young boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks.
@bigmike7 It’s clearly about racial discrimination. Why else would he mention that the kid lives in the darker side of town? Plus, I did not make the assumption that the child was gay. I just thought it was about two very young boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks.
@bigmike7 It’s clearly about racial discrimination. Why else would he mention that the kid lives in the darker side of town? Plus, I did not make the assumption that the child was gay. I just thought it was about two very young boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks. Btw - Your comment is very ignorant. Yes it is possible for some black children to let their hair down. Black people’s hair comes in a variety of textures, from fairly straight to very kinky. Besides, the kid could also be East Indian or Pakistani.
@bigmike7 It’s clearly about racial discrimination. Why else would he mention that the kid lives in the darker side of town? Plus, I did not make the assumption that the child was gay. I just thought it was about two very young boys growing up on opposite sides of the tracks. Btw - Your comment is very ignorant. Yes it is possible for some black children to let their hair down. Black people’s hair comes in a variety of textures, from fairly straight to very kinky. Besides, the kid could also be East Indian or Pakistani.
@bigmike7 Btw - Your comment is very ignorant. Yes it is possible for some black children to let their hair down. Black people’s hair comes in a variety of textures, from fairly straight to very kinky. Besides, the kid could also be East Indian or Pakistani.
@bigmike7 Btw - Your comment is very ignorant. Yes it is possible for some black children to let their hair down. Black people’s hair comes in a variety of textures, from fairly straight to very kinky. Besides, the kid could also be East Indian or Pakistani.