Lyrics: Physical Graffiti

This page contains my transcription of the lyrics from this Led Zeppelin double album
Custard Pie / The Rover / In My Time of Dying / Houses of the Holy / Trampled Under Foot
Kashmir / In The Light / Down By The Seaside / Ten Years Gone / Night Flight
The Wanton Song / Boogie With Stu / Black Country Woman / Sick Again

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Custard Pie

Drop down, baby - glad to see ya
Drop down my way - looks cheap on me
When my mama allow me, I fool around all night long
Well, I may look like I'm crazy - I sure know right from wrong

See me coming - throw your man out the door
Ain't no stranger - I've been this way before
See me coming, mama - throw your man out the door
I ain't no stranger - I've been this way before

Put on your nightshirt, and your morning gown
You know by night I'm gonna shake 'em on down
Put on your nightshirt, mama, and your morning gown
Well, you know by now I'm sure gonna shake 'em on down
Shake it, shake it

Your custard pie, yeah - sweet and nice
When you cut it, mama, save me a slice
Your custard pie - I declare it's sweet and nice
I like your custard pie
When you cut it, mama, please save me a slice

I'll chew on a piece of your custard pie
I'll chew on a piece of your custard pie --

Drop down - drop down --

IconThe Rover

I've been to London - seen seven wonders
I know to trip is just to fall
I used to rock it - sometimes I'd roll it
I always knew what it was for

There can be no denying that the wind will shake 'em down
And the flag we're flying is the new flag of the land
If we could just join hands
If we could just join hands
If we could just join

With fields of plenty, when heaven sent me
I saw the kings who rule them all
Still by the firelight, in purple moonlight
I hear the restive rivers call

And the wind is crying of a love that won't grow cold
My lover, she is lying on the dark side of the globe
If we could just join hands
If we could just join hands
If we could just join hands

You got me rockin' when I ought to be a-rollin'
Darlin', tell me, darlin', which way to go
You keep me rockin', baby, then you keep me strollin'
Won't you tell me, darlin', which way to go?

Oh, how I wonder - oh, how I worry
And I would dearly like to know
How all this squander of earthly plunder
Will leave us anything to show

And our time is flying - see the candle burning low
Is the new world rising from the shambles of the old?

If we could just join hands
If we could just join hands
If we could just, if we could just, if we could just join hands
That's all it takes, that's all it takes --

IconIn My Time Of Dying

In my time of dying, want nobody to mourn
All I want for you to do is take my body home
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
Well, well, well, so I can die easy

Jesus got to make up - Jesus gonna make up
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Meet me, Jesus, meet me
Meet me in the middle of the air
If my wings should fail me, Lord
Please meet me with another pair
Well, well, well, so I can die easy
Well, well, well, so I can die easy

Jesus, gonna make up - Jesus gonna make up
Jesus gonna make up my dying bed

Oh, Saint Peter, at the gates of heaven
Won't you let me in?
I never did no harm
I never did no wrong

Oh, Gabriel, let me blow your horn
Let me blow your horn
Oh, I never did, did no harm
Did no harm

I've only been the young once
I never thought I'd do anybody no wrong
No, not once

Oh, I did somebody some good
Somebody some good, yes
Oh, did somebody some good
I must have did somebody some good
Oh, I believe I did

I see the smiling faces
I know there must be lipstick traces

And I see them in the streets
And I see them in the fields
And I hear them under my feet
And I know it's got to be real
Oh, Lord, deliver me
All the wrong I've done
Oh, you can deliver me, Lord
I only wanted to have some fun

Oh, hear the angels marching, hear them marching --

Oh, my Jesus, oh my Jesus --
It's got to be, it's got to be my Jesus
It's got to be, it's got to be my Jesus
Oh, gonna take me home

Come on, come on - I can hear the angels singing
Oh, here they come, here they come, here they come
I'll touch Jesus, I'll touch Jesus, I'll touch Jesus --
Oh, I see him
Come on, take, take, take --
Oh, don't you make it my dying, dying, dying

IconHouses Of The Holy

Let me take you to the movie
Can I take you to the show?
Let me be yours ever truly
Can I make your garden grow?

From the houses of the holy
We can watch the white doves go
From the door comes Satan's daughter
And it only goes to show - you know

There's an angel on my shoulder
In my hand a sword of gold
Let me wander in your garden
And the seeds of love I'll sow - you know

So the world is spinning faster
Are you dizzy when you stall?
Let the music be your master
Will you heed the master's call?
Oh, oh, save me, man

Said there ain't no use in crying
'Cause it will only, only drive you mad
Did it hurt to hear them lying?
Was this the only world you had? Oh-oh

So let me take you, take you to the movie
Can I take you, baby, to the show?
Why don't you let me be your ever truly
Can I make your garden grow?
You know - that's right

IconTrampled Under Foot

Greased, slicked down - groovy leather trim
I like the way you hold the road - mama, it ain't no sin
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

Trouble-free transmission helps your oil's flow
Mama, let me pump your gas - mama, let me do it all
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

Check that heavy metal underneath your hood
Baby, I can work all night - believe I got the perfect tools
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

All the real comforts - really built with style
Specialist tradition - mama, let me feast my eyes
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

Factory air-conditioned - heat begins to rise
Guaranteed to run for hours - mama, need brand new tyres
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

Cruising on the freeway - gauges all on red
Gun down on my gasoline - believe I'm gonna crack your head
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

I can't stop talking about
I can't stop talking about
Ooh - drive on!

Come to me for service every hundred miles
Baby, let me check your points - fix your overdrive
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

Fully automatic - comes in any size
Makes me wonder what I did before we synchronised
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

Feather-light suspension - Konis couldn't hold
I'm so glad I took a look inside your showroom door
Talking 'bout love - talking 'bout love - talking 'bout

I can't stop talking about love
I can't stop talking about love --

IconKashmir

Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face
And stars to fill my dream
I am a traveller of both time and space
To be where I have been
To sit with elders of a gentle race
This world has seldom seen
And talk of days for which they sit and wait
All will be revealed

Talk and song from tongues of lilting grace
Whose sounds caress my ear
But not a word I heard could I relate
The story was quite clear

Ooh baby, I've been blind
Ooh mama, there ain't no denying
Ooh yes, I've been blind
Mama, mama, ain't no denying, no denying

Oh, all I see turns to brown
As the sun burns the ground
And my eyes fill with sand
As I scan this wasted land
Tryin' to find, tryin' to find where I beeeeen

Oh, pilot of the storm who leaves no trace
Like thoughts inside a dream
Heed the path that led me to that place
A yellow desert screen
My Shangri-La beneath the summer moon
I will return again
Sure as the dust that blows high in June
When moving through Kashmir

Oh, father of the four winds, fill my sails
Across the sea of years
With no provision but an open face
To flaunt the straits of fear

Well, when I'm on, when I'm on my way
When I see, when I see the way, you stay

Ooh, yeah, when I'm down, yes
Ooh, yeah, when I'm down, so down
Ooh, my baby, let me take you there

IconIn The Light

And if you feel that you can't go on
And your will is sinking low
Just believe and you can't go wrong
In the light you will find the road
You will find the road

Babe, did you ever believe that I could leave you
Standing out in the cold
Babe, I know how it feels, 'cause I have slipped through
To the very depths of my soul
Baby, I just wanna show you what a clear view
It is from every bend in the road

As I was and really would be for you too, honey
As you would for me
Oh, I would share your load
Let me share your load
Oh, let me share, share your load

And if you feel that you can't go on
In the light you will find the road

The winds of change may blow around you
But that will always be so
When love is pain it can devour you
But you are never alone
I will share your load
I will share your load
Baby, let me, let me

In the light
Everybody needs a light
Oh baby, in the light, in the light, in the light

Light, light, light, in the light
Light, light, light, in the light --

IconDown By The Seaside

Down by the seaside - see the boats go sailing
Can the people hear what the little fish are saying?
The people turned away - the people turned away

Down in the city streets - see all the folk go racing
No time left, no, no, to pass the time of day
The people turned away - the people turned away
So far away, so far away

See how they run, see how they run
See how they run, see how they run

Do you still do the twist?
Do you find you remember things that well?
I wanna tell you
Some go twisting every day
Though sometimes it's awful hard to tell

Out in the country - hear the people singing
Singing 'bout their growing - knowing where they're going
The people turned away - the people turned away

Sing loud for the sunshine - pray hard for the rain
Show your love for Lady Nature and she will come back again
The people turned away - the people turned away

IconTen Years Gone

Then as it was - then again it will be
And though the course may change sometimes
Rivers always reach the sea

Flying skies of fortune - each our separate way
On the wings of maybe - downy birds of prey
Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go
But as the eagle leaves the nest it's got so far to go

Changes fill my time - baby, that's alright with me
In the midst I think of you and how it used to be

Do you ever really need somebody?
And really need 'em bad
Did you ever really want somebody?
The best love you ever had
Do you ever remember me, baby?
Did it feel so good?
'Cause it was just the first time
And you knew you would

Dewy eyes now sparkle - senses growing keen
Tasted love along the way - see your feathers preen
Kind of makes makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go
We are eagles of one nest - the nest is in our soul

Pictured in my dreams, with great surprise to me
Never thought I'd see your face the way it used to be
Oh darlin' - oh darlin'

I'm never gonna leave you
I'm never gonna leave
Holdin' on, ten years gone
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone

IconNight Flight

I received a message from my brother 'cross the water
He sat laughing as he wrote: the end's in sight
So I said goodbye to all my friends
And packed my hopes inside a matchbox
'Cause I know it's time to fly

Oh yeah, come on, meet me in the morning
Won't you meet me in the middle of the night?
Oh yeah, the morning light is coming
Don't it make you wanna care and feel all right?

I just jumped a train that never stops
So now somehow I know I'll never
Finish paying for my ride
Someone pushed a gun into my hand
Tell me I'm the type of man
To fight the fight that I'll require

Oh yeah, come on, meet me [etc repeated]

Oh mama, well I think it's time I'm leaving
Nothing here to make me stay
Oh mama, well it must be time I'm going
They're knocking down them doors
They're trying to take me away

Please Mr. Brakeman, won't you ring your bell
And ring it loud and clear
Please Mr. Fireman, won't you ring your bell
Tell the people they got to fly away from here

I once saw a picture of a lady with a baby
Something made her have a very, very special smile
We are in the middle of a change in destination
When the train stops, all together we will smile

Oh yeah, come on, meet me [etc repeated]

IconThe Wanton Song

Silent woman, in the night you came
Took my seed from my shaking frame
Same old fire - another flame
And the wheel rolls on

Silent woman, through the flames you come
From the deep behind the sun
Guess my nightmares are never done
Left me barely holding on

Blazing eyes see the trembling hand
When we know the time has come
Lose my senses - lose command
Feel your healing rivers run

Is it every time I fall
That I think this is the one?
In the darkness can you hear me call?
Another day has just begun

Silent woman, my face has changed
Some know the way it has become
Feel my fire - needs a brand new flame
And the wheel rolls on
Rolls on, rolls on, rolls on

IconBoogie With Stu

Leaving town now, baby - we've just got to rock on
Yeah-yeah-yeah, darlin', we've just got to go home
I don't want no tutti-frutti, no lollipop
Come on, baby, just rock, rock, rock

Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah, honey
We've been shaking all night
Whoa-whoa-whoa, darlin', we've just got to roll right
Ooh, my head - rock on, rock on

Hey babe, hey babe --

I don't want no tutti-frutti, no lollipop
Come on baby, just rock, rock, rock

Whoo-hoo, whoo-hoo --

I don't want no tutti-frutti, no lollipop
Come on, baby, just rock, rock, yeah

IconBlack Country Woman

Hey, hey, mama, what's the matter here?
Hey, hey, mama, what's the matter here?
You didn't have to tell me that you love me so
You didn't have to love me, mama - let me go
Hey, hey, mama, what's the matter here?
You didn't have to make me a total disgrace
You didn't have to leave me with that fear in my face
Hey, hey, mama, what's the matter here?
That's all right - it's awful doggone clear

Hey, hey, baby, why you treat me mean?
Oh, oh, baby, why you treat me mean?
You didn't have to crucify me like you did
You didn't have to tell me I was just your kid
Hey, hey, mama, why'd you treat me mean?
You didn't have say you'd always be by my side
You didn't have to tell me you'd be my blushing bride
Hey, hey, mama, why you treat me mean?
But that's all right - I know your sister too

You didn't have to tell me that you love me so
You didn't have to leave me, mama - let me go
Hey, hey, mama, what is wrong with you?
You didn't have to leave me like a total disgrace
You didn't have to leave me with that fear on my face
Hey, hey, mama, what is wrong with you?
Oh, but that's all right - I'd be the same way too

Now you didn't have to crucify me like you did
You didn't have to tell me I was just your kid
Hey, hey, mama, what's the matter here?
You didn't have to tell me you would be my own
You didn't have to tell me, baby - let me go
Hey, hey, mama, what is wrong with you?
That's all right - I know your sister too

What's the matter with you, mama?

IconSick Again

From the window of a rented limousine
I saw your pretty blue eyes
One day soon you're gonna reach sixteen
Painted lady in the city of lies

Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
You know I'm the one you want, babe
I must be the one you need

Clutching pages from your Teenage Dream
In the lobby of the Hotel Paradise
Through the circus of the L A queens
How fast you learn the downhill slide

Oh, how you play the game
Still don't know your name
You know I'm the one you want, babe
Yes, I've got to be the one you need, need, need

Lips like cherries on the frown of a queen
"Come on" flashed across your eyes
Said you dug me since you were thirteen
Then you giggle as you heave and sigh

Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
Baby, I got to tell you, I'm the one you want
And everybody knows I'm the one you need

Hours, hours, were the moments in between
Oh, baby, how the time flies
The fun of coming - oh, the pain of leaving
Oh, baby, dry those silver eyes

Oh, do you know my name?
Do I look the same?
You know I'm the one you want
Oh yes, I'm the one you need
That's right, that's right --

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Page design and lyric transcription by Chris Warren
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