Led Zeppelin may no longer be together, but their albums remain cornerstones of classic rock. In 1968, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones skyrocketed to fame with their self-titled debut album. The band’s rise ended abruptly in 1980 after Bonham’s death from pulmonary aspiration, but their music has never faded from memory. “Stairway to Heaven” still stands as one of rock’s greatest mysteries, while Beyoncé sampled “When the Levee Breaks” in her track “Don’t Hurt Yourself.” Beyond the band’s collective effort, Plant’s songwriting deserves attention, especially when it’s influenced by J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
“Ramble On” References Mordor, Gollum, and the Evil One from ‘The Lord of the Rings’
Plant might be best known as the frontman of Led Zeppelin, but he’s also a well-known fan of The Lord of the Rings – so much so that he incorporated his love for Tolkien’s works into the song “Ramble On.” The opening line from Led Zeppelin’s folksy tune, “Leaves are fallin all around,” is adapted from Tolkien’s Elvish poem “Namárië” (Ah! Like gold fall the leaves in the wind). Written in the constructed language of Quenya, “Namárië” (“Farewell”) is conceived as a lament sung by Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s poem expresses Galadriel’s sadness and grief for Valinor, the home of the Elves she is no longer able to return to.
In verse three of “Ramble On”, the lyrics reference Mordor, Gollum, and the Evil One: “Twas in the darkest depths of Mordor, I / met a girl so fair / But Gollum and the Evil One crept up and / slipped away with her.” In The Lord of the Rings, Mordor is the desolate volcanic land in the southwest of Middle-earth, ruled by the story’s main antagonist, Sauron. While his name isn’t explicitly mentioned in the song, the “Evil One” is almost certainly referring to him. Gollum, meanwhile, is remembered as the twisted, tormented creature obsessed with the Ring he calls “my precious.”
Led Zeppelin Has Also Written Other Songs Inspired by ‘The Lord of the Rings’
But that’s not the only Led Zeppelin song with Tolkien references. Besides the title, “Misty Mountain Hop” also references the Misty Mountains in its closing chorus: “So I’m packing my bags / for the Misty Mountains.” Per the Lord of the Rings origins, the Misty Mountains are a fictional mountain range that is home to Dwarves, Orcs, and the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-dûm. But according to Led Zeppelin lore, “Misty Mountain Hop” is a hippie-inspired track based on the 1968 “Legalise Pot Rally” in Hyde Park, London.
Another track, “The Battle of Evermore,” contains both straightforward and abstract Lord of the Rings references. The most evident is the mention of the Ringwraiths in the lyrics: “The drums will shake the castle wall / The Ringwraiths ride in black.” Ringwraiths are Sauron’s servants, enslaved by the Ring of Power. Another obvious instance is “The Dark Lord rides in force tonight,” which traces back to Sauron, also known by his fearsome title, the Dark Lord. Other references, however, are less direct. The lyric, “The Queen of Light took her bow,” is often tied to the imagery of Galadriel, a figure of light and wisdom. In the same verse, “The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom,” is interpreted as Aragorn, the reluctant king who often walks in shadow.
Besides ‘The Lord of the Rings’, Robert Plant is Fascinated by Welsh Culture
As a fan of Tolkien’s works, Plant has publicly shared that he’s both read the books and watched the film adaptation. Just like any reader, the frontman has a bigger penchant for the book version.
“I saw the Lord of the Rings films, and I wasn’t crazy about them, mainly because they’re all about spectacle. But, you know, when I read the books, they kind of dissolved into me. I used them in songs, you know, like “The Battle of Evermore” and “Ramble On,” which, well, I just want to hold up my hand and say, “Okay, I was 21 when I wrote that.’ [Laughs.] I think the real message of the books is lost in the movies. When I first came over to America and I saw “Frodo Lives” painted on walls, I thought that was beautiful.”
Outside of Lord of the Rings, Plant is deeply fascinated by Welsh culture and heritage. In 2004, the rock star helped fund a bronze statue of 15th-century rebel leader Owain Glyndŵr and remains active in the Glyndŵr network, often attending related events in Wales. He has also supported heritage initiatives, including a slate carving of Glyndŵr’s coat of arms at the Celtica museum in Machynlleth. More recently, in 2023, Plant appeared at the Gloucester History Festival, where he and historian Martin Wall explored the myths, legends, and historical richness of the Welsh marches.