The Stairway to... Heaven?

The song "Stairway To Heaven" is widely admitted as the most popular song in rock history. As its popularity went ballistic, so went its clinging mysteries. Many people say this has satanic message in the lyrics, or playing the song backwards will reveal hidden spells that sounds a lot like worshiping the Satan. Even when Robert Plant was asked about it's meanings, he avoided talking a single bit about the actual lyric. He just said, "Jimmy was making the tone on guitar and I started singing whatever just came to my mind. I am still trying to figure out what was it, as every other fuckers are!" But still, you should know at least something of what you sang; don't tell us you are just a crazy dumbfuck! But he certainly wasn't crazy, even in the interview, his gesture had the unmistakable look of hiding something.

This song is of the time when our entertainment means still had to do with awareness, ethicality or factuality before everything turned into sex, violence and comedy. But, if you really analyze the lyric based on that period's philosophical culture (as like pink floyd, neil young,lynyrf skynyrd etc.) it's no satanic message. If there really is any message hidden in it, it's more of a Satan spilling beans; a truthe spoken mistakenely.

It talks about "A lady who was sure, all that glitters is gold; and she is buying a Stairway to heaven..."

Whom does this description matches with most? Who can put gold before everything else on earth? Who can think of just buying a stairway to heaven, but the elite ruling class?

This lady thinks everything that glitters, must be gold. Or she just have an irresistible affection for anything that shines, without considering its overall properties. We live in a lavishly materialistic society. The addiction of material well-being has carried us way too far. Speciallly the elite capitalist society and their profit hungry corporate and financiars. Those elites are on a great vie over the global market and the earth's natural resources. This hasn't only bring unfair, unethical or illogical distribution of global wealth and welfare; but brought in connotation of great suffering and resentment. All for the sake of a materialistic gain. Also even if this progress look and even feel like gold, it barely has the juices or properties of the soil. The precious soil that defines the human feelings, their actual-natural selves, moreover the humanity. Throughout the whole known human history, every society has tried be richer and more developed; and this momentum rose to ultra light speed by the wave of industrial boom. And what the world witnessed right way! Two world wars, greatest population displacement of history, massive genocides, hunger, discrimination and so on. Both the industrial advancement and increase in sufferings was on full swing underway! And that was our welcome of entering industrial age.

Even though by that time it was apparent, the industries are unsustainable due to limited resource and environmental incapacity, the industrialists still think to carry on their operation as just by words they can get what they wants. As it says in the song,

"When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.

Then the song goes like,

There's a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.

This might as well mean, even though she knew which way the heaven is, she still had dubiety. Because trailing by the horizon, she can alwayse see the burning flames of caused sufferings. Traveling with her, alongside every progress toward her destination.

The stairway to heaven carries on.....

In a tree by the brook
There's a songbird who sings
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiving

Hush... A songbird makes beautiful sounds, she looks around to see the calm water of a brook, the lush greenery of trees in the background. A very perplexing manner of a thought! Still somehow she finds her loving it. She thinks that a heaven without such feature wouldn't just work. The idea of getting happiness in such a heaven is misgiving. Then she thinks, no, maybe the idea of this scenery being very beautiful and important is misgiving. You know.. sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiving!

Ooh, it makes me wonder

There's a feeling I get
When I look to the west
And my spirit is crying for leaving

The magnificent west! Intrigues mighty feelings in people all around. All people around the world tries to sneak in, and some entraped spirits cries to leave! Very paradoxical!

In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees
And the voices of those who standing looking

Only if you ever thought for a moment, the thoughts could have shown to you a scenery unseen. What does it feel like to helplessly see rings of smoke through the trees, with a voice that none is listening. What does it feel to be an animal on a human planet.

Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon, if we all call the tune,
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn for those who stand long,
And the forests will echo with laughter.

After it caused real wonder, now it slowly comes, that if we all unite with the same vibe, we can at last be led to rationality. A new day will dawn for the strongest of the hearts. And the whole planet as an entity will echo with laughter.

Then with a change in the tone comes,

If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.

If some trouble comes in site, not to be alarmed. It must and surely is dirt, and shall be cleaned.

Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.

Two paths; may have meant Capitalism - Communinsm. Or may meant keeping up the momentum of rich society getting richer, not giving the lowers their fair share. Using brute force to exploit every potential resources.

Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?

This comes in a more energetic and a bit clamoring tone. By this time you are certain there's something that's not making sense. He tells you what it is, it's call of the time to change to newer, better, more collaboarative world. And, in case the whistling wind didnt catch her attention; it's a reminder your stairway lies fragile on wind.

Now comes one of the greatest moments in the history of music. Rock and roll extravaganza. Hearts rocked and eyes rolled!

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.

Our deeds outstreches our time range, puts its shadow on the future.
There advavnces the class we know,
its glamor spanks all eyes and vehemence grows,
everything still turns to gold.
Only if you observed hard,
the everlasting course of power will be understood at last,
When we are stilled ruled, like all other times.
And we have to sacrifice some and can't have it all.

And She is buying a stairway to heaven..