Ten Years Gone

Song infobox
Name = Ten Years Gone


Artist = Led Zeppelin
Album = Physical Graffiti
Released = February 24, 1975
track_no = 10
Recorded = 1974
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 6:31
Label = Swan Song Records
Writer = Page/Plant
prev = "Down by the Seaside"
prev_no = 9
next ="Night Flight"
next_no = 11"Ten Years Gone" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album "Physical Graffiti". Originally intended to be an instrumental piece, Jimmy Page used some 14 guitar tracks to overdub the harmony section.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] Robert Plant later added lyrics, which are dedicated to an old girlfriend who, ten years earlier, had made him choose either her or his music. Plant explained in an interview in 1975:

Some have speculated that this song was a variation of the never-released Led Zeppelin track "Swan Song", the name they chose for their own record label.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

This is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs in which it is possible to hear the squeak of John Bonham's bass drum pedal in the recording studio, the others being "Since I've Been Loving You" from 1970's "Led Zeppelin III", "The Ocean" from 1973's "Houses of the Holy", "Houses of the Holy" from 1975's "Physical Graffiti", and "Bonzo's Montreux" from 1982's "Coda".

Live versions of this song were performed on Led Zeppelin's 1977 concert tour of the United States. John Paul Jones originally played the melody on an acoustic guitar but then introduced an unusual triple-necked guitar that included a six-string, twelve string, a mandolin and bass pedals.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.] Jimmy Page used his 1960's Botswanna Brown Fender Telecaster featuring a Parsons and White B-string bender. The band again played the song on the first date of the concerts at Knebworth on August 4, 1979 which was also their last time playing it in concert. They cut it from their set on their second and final Knebworth appearance on August 11, due to problems with the sound system.

Page and Plant performed this song once on their Japanese tour at Osaka on February 15, 1996. Jimmy Page also performed this song on his tour with The Black Crowes in 1999. A version of "Ten Years Gone" performed by Page and The Black Crowes can be found on the album "Live at the Greek".

A cover version of "Ten Years Gone" was recorded by Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, and released on his 1997 album "In the Name of My Father - The Zepset"

References

ources

*"Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song", by Chris Welch, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
*"The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", by Dave Lewis, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9