Four Times Fourty

One of the most epic albums of all time turned forty today. November 8, 1971 Led Zeppelin  released their fourth untitled (IV, Fourth, ZoSo) studio record.

I've listened to the album in its entirety twice today driving to and from work because the radio stations are legally bound to play it every hour on the hour. (Not really, but it does kinda seem that way)

The first time I can remember hearing this album was when I was about four years old, and listening to it as an adult always give me a sense of nostalgia that I don't get listeing to any other album simply because it is the first music I can ever remember hearing. That is a powerful memory.

Listening to Rock and Roll or Black Dog makes me feel four years old again and, I can remember back to a time when I still had my innocence. It wasn't necessarilly the best time in my life, but things were much simpler. Even if my whole world was going to shit, I could still go outside and play in the sandbox or swing on the swingset in my backyard and every bad thing would go away. Even if just for a little while.

Sixteen (nearly seventeen, whoo!) years later and I find myself longing for such simplicity. The ablity to forget about all of my problems and just enjoy life in the moment, long forgotten. When I hear Battle of Evermore I can remember how it felt and it gives me hope that one day I'll get that feeling back.

To this day, my favourite song in the world:

"There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold; and she's buying a stairway to heaven."
.....

     "And as we wind on down the road; our shadows taller than our soul."
.....

     "Standing on a hill in my mountain of dreams, telling myself its not as hard, hard, hard as it seems."