The Rover (song)

Song infobox
Name = The Rover


Artist = Led Zeppelin
Album = Physical Graffiti
Released = February 24, 1975
track_no = 2
Recorded = 1972
Genre = Hard rock, heavy metal
Length = 5:44
Label = Swan Song
Writer = Page/Plant
Producer = Jimmy Page
prev = "Custard Pie"
prev_no = 1
next = "In My Time of Dying"
next_no = 3"The Rover" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, being the second track on their 1975 album "Physical Graffiti".

The song was originally meant to be an acoustic piece, being written at Bron-Yr-Aur in 1970 and then recorded at Stargroves during the "Houses of the Holy" sessions in 1972.Phil Sutcliffe, "Back to Nature", "Q Magazine" Special Led Zeppelin edition, 2003, p. 34.] Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] However, it was decided to hold the track off the "Houses of the Holy" album, and it eventually saw its way onto Led Zeppelin's next studio album "Physical Graffiti". By this time it had obtained a distinctly heavier feel, with several studio overdubs having been laid by Jimmy Page in 1974.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

"The Rover" opens with a drum beat from John Bonham, and throughout the song, Page plays a distinctive riff using a Phase Shifter effect. "Rover" is old British slang term for a wanderer, and the lyrics are fitting to this definition:

The sleeve credit for this track includes the line "Guitar lost courtesy Nevison...Salvaged by the grace of Harwood", which would seem to be a reference to difficulties encountered during the mixing of the track, "Harwood" being Keith Harwood and "Nevison" referring to Ron Nevison, both audio engineers on "Physical Graffiti" .Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

The intro drum beat, guitar and melody of "The Rover" bear strong resemblance to The Kinks song "Wicked Annabella." It's possible Page heard the song while doing session work for The Kinks in his earlier days as a session guitarist.

"The Rover" was never played live in its entirety at Led Zeppelin concerts, although the band played the opening bars as an introduction to "Sick Again" throughout their 1977 concert tour of the United States.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] However, the song was rehearsed in full, as can be heard on bootleg recordings of the band's soundcheck rehearsal at the Chicago Stadium on July 6, 1973. This rehearsal took place before the opening date of the second leg of the band's 1973 US Tour.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] Also in 1972, "The Rover" was played in a "Whole Lotta Love" medley during a concert in Sydney.

Progressive metal group Dream Theater published a medley of Led Zeppelin songs in their 1995 EP "A Change of Seasons", which featured parts of "The Rover".

References