Ten Years Gone

Ten Years Gone
Appears on	Physical Graffiti
Published by	Flames of Albion Music
Registration	ASCAP 500236622
Release date	24 February 1975
Recorded	January - February 1974 at Headley Grange, Hampshire with Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio. Mixed at Olympic Studios, London.
Genre	Rock, hard rock
Language	English
Length	6 minutes 55 seconds
Composer	Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Label	Swan Song Records
Producer	Jimmy Page
Engineer	Ron Nevison

'Ten Years Gone' is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.

Overview

Some have speculated that this song was a variation of the never-released Led Zeppelin track 'Swan Song', the name they chose for their own record label. Originally intended to be an instrumental piece, Jimmy Page used some 14 guitar tracks to overdub the harmony section. Robert Plant later added lyrics, which are dedicated to an old girlfriend who, ten years earlier, had made him choose either her or his music. Plant explained in an interview in 1975:

‘

Let me tell you a little story behind the song 'Ten Years Gone' on our new album. I was working my ass off before joining Zeppelin. A lady I really dearly loved said, 'Right. It's me or your fans.' Not that I had fans, but I said, 'I can't stop, I've got to keep going.' She's quite content these days, I imagine. She's got a washing machine that works by itself and a little sports car. We wouldn't have anything to say anymore. I could probably relate to her, but she couldn't relate to me. I'd be smiling too much. Ten years gone, I'm afraid. Anyway, there's a gamble for you.

’

This is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs in which it is possible to hear the squeak of John Bonham's bass drum pedal in the recording studio, the others being 'Since I've Been Loving You' from 1970's Led Zeppelin III, 'The Ocean' from 1973's Houses of the Holy, 'Houses of the Holy' from 1975's Physical Graffiti, and 'Bonzo's Montreux' from 1982's Coda.

Live performances

Live versions of this song were performed on Led Zeppelin's 1977 concert tour of the United States. John Paul Jones originally played the melody on an acoustic guitar but then introduced an unusual triple-necked guitar that included a six-string, twelve string, a mandolin and bass pedals. Some have speculated that this song was a variation of the never-released Led Zeppelin track 'Swan Song', the name they chose for their own record label. Jimmy Page used his 1960's Botswanna Brown Fender Telecaster featuring a Parsons and White B-string bender. The band again played the song on the first date of the concerts at Knebworth on 4 August 1979, which was also their last time playing it in concert. They cut it from their set on their second and final Knebworth appearance on 11 August, due to problems with the sound system.

Jimmy Page and Robert Plant performed this song once on their Japanese tour at Osaka on 15 February 1996. Jimmy Page also performed this song on his tour with the Black Crowes in 1999. A version of 'Ten Years Gone' performed by Page and the Black Crowes can be found on the album Live at the Greek.

Credits

Personnel

Musicians: Jimmy Page – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, producer, remastering, digital remastering Robert Plant – vocals John Paul Jones – bass guitar John Bonham - drums, percussion Production: Peter Grant – executive producer Keith Harwood - mixing Ron Nevison - engineer, mixing Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s) George Marino - remastered CD engineer (1990)