Poor Tom

Song infobox
Name = Poor Tom


Artist = Led Zeppelin
Album = Coda
Released = 19 November 1982
track_no = 2
Recorded = 1970
Genre = Hard rock
Length = 3:01
Label = Swan Song
Writer = Page/Plant
Producer = Jimmy Page
prev = "We're Gonna Groove"
prev_no = 1
next = "I Can't Quit You Baby"
next_no = 3"Poor Tom" is a song by English rock group Led Zeppelin. It was composed in 1970 by vocalist Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page when they were staying at Bron-Yr-Aur, a small cottage in Wales,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.] and was recorded at Olympic Studios in June 1970.

Although the lyrics can be difficult to decipher, the song appears to be about a labourer named Tom who murders his unfaithful wife. Tom may also be psychic, as the lines "Poor Tom, seventh son/Always knew what was goin' on" can be interpreted as a reference to the folk belief that seventh sons of seventh sons were clairvoyant. The title of the song may have been taken from a line in John Steinbeck's "East of Eden", where Samuel Hamilton is telling of how his wife punished his son, Tom, "And Liza has the smoke of brimstone coming out of her nostrils Poor Tom." The title, along with John Steinbeck's use of the phrase, may also come from William Shakespeare's King Lear. In the play, Edgar disguises himself as "Poor Tom" when he falls under false scrutiny by his father. Later, he is able to reconnect with his father and reveal his true identity.

The song was left off the album "Led Zeppelin III" but was eventually included on the band's album "Coda", released in 1982 two years after the death of drummer John Bonham, having been produced by Page at his newly-acquired Sol Studios.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

"Poor Tom" is viewed by fans as another one of Led Zeppelin's blues-influenced songs and contains a jug-band workout, as well as a semi-acoustic guitar part performed by Page. A harmonica, played by Plant, and a drum track are also featured on the arrangement.

The guitar tuning for the song is an open-C6 chord (C-A-C-G-C-E). The same tuning was also used by Page on the tracks "Bron-Yr-Aur" and "Friends".Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

The song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts.Dave Lewis (1994), "The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin", Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.]

References