No, this is not going to be as exciting of a post as the title may have led you to believe.

Sorry ’bout that.

One night in Buffalo, NY while working for the railroad (see here for background), the survey tech I was with did not want to get dinner. So, I headed on out on my own in search of food.

I found food and was heading back to the hotel when a song came on the radio I had never heard. It was “Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin.

I was not a big Zeppelin fan in high school, as all the “cool” kids were into retro stuff. All things 70’s were in and so was the music. I prided myself on not being a follower, so as a result, I was not one of the “cool” kids. I know, you are shocked. Anyway. I hated everything they liked, including Zeppelin. Man, I sure missed out on some good music.

In college, my roommate had Zeppelin’s box set and I was introduced to the wonder that is Led Zeppelin. Needless to say, I did not hear all their songs and “Since I’ve Been Loving You” was one I had missed.

The beginning just hooked me and drew me in:

More after the jump.

Two things you will notice: 1. The haunting guitar mimicking the vocals and 2. The awesomeness of the drums. The beginning just starts with a steady beat, but the entire song just builds on itself.

As I listened to the song, I noticed that I was just driving. I had nowhere in particular to go. I did not know my way around Buffalo, but I wanted to hear the song. So I just drove. The song is almost 8 minutes long, but in my memory, I drove all night long.

It was raining that night and I was in a huge Crown Victoria rental car. It seemed like I was the only person on the road that night. I just drove, keeping time on the steering wheel and being amazed at the guitar licks and drum rolls.

As the song begins to build, Robert Plant’s voice began to take over the song. He begins one of his “sex” yells/moans, which signals the beginning of a great drum riff, followed by one of the greatest vocal moments in my memory. You could just feel his pain. His vocals take you up and then bring you back down:

After the guitar solo, which is quite good, but a little long for this post, the song almost goes off the tracks. It seems a bit out of control. It just gets you. I started driving faster and faster. It was like I was gliding down the road. Plant starts into his accusations against his lover. Talking about walking in the front door and hearing his backdoor slam, again followed by another incredible drum roll. It just keeps building:

Finally, the song was almost over. He’s lost his worried mind and then the drums take over. Really, the drums make this song, they really do. They build at the right moments and then take you back down. In the end, they close out the song and you can almost see him hanging his head in shame at being played for a fool:

I made it back to the hotel and when I got back home, I went out and bought the box set. Every time I hear that song, I am instantly back in that Crown Vic, racing through the streets of Buffalo, keeping time on the steering wheel and shaking my head to his pain.

Now that is a good song.