Poor Tom
| "Poor Tom" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Song by Led Zeppelin from the album Coda | ||||
| Released | 19 November 1982 | |||
| Recorded | June 5, 1970 | |||
| Genre | Blues rock | |||
| Length | 3:01 | |||
| Label | Swan Song | |||
| Writer | Page/Plant | |||
| Producer | Jimmy Page | |||
| Coda track listing | ||||
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"Poor Tom" is a song by English rock group Led Zeppelin, but may also be a reference to several characters throughout literary history. Led Zeppelin's song 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,[1][2] and was recorded at Olympic Studios in June 1970.
Although the lyrics can be difficult to decipher, the song is 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, where in the play, Edgar is falsely accused of murderous intentions and becomes "Poor Tom", a pathetically wretched madman whom only King Lear in his own madness understands, though Edgar is later able to reconnect with his family, reveal his true identity, clear his name, and take his rightful place as heir.
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.[2]
"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".[2]
The song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Chart positions
| Chart (1982) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Top Tracks[3] | 18 |
- Note: the song was not issued as a single. Chart data represents radio airplay of album tracks.
[edit] Personnel
- Robert Plant - vocals, harmonica
- Jimmy Page - guitars
- John Paul Jones - bass guitar
- John Bonham - drums
[edit] Cover versions
- 2005: Robert Walter (Super Heavy Organ)
- 2008: Kicksville ("Poor Tom" CD single)
- 2009: Hampton String Quartet (The Hampton Rock String Quartet: All Zeppelin)
[edit] Sources
- Lewis, Dave (2004) The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
- Welch, Chris (1998) Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, ISBN 1-56025-818-7
[edit] References
- ^ Phil Sutcliffe, "Back to Nature", Q Magazine Special Led Zeppelin edition, 2003, p. 34.
- ^ a b c d Dave Lewis (1994), The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
- ^ "Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart - 1982". Billboard. http://www.musicvf.com/Led+Zeppelin.art. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
[edit] External links
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