Where does the Stairway lead?

Stairway to Heaven is the most controversial song in rock and roll in terms of its meaning. Led Zeppelin refused to disclose the meaning of the lyrics; they preferred to keep it to themselves and keep people guessing. People have been guessing for a while now and many theories have been created about this mystical tune. I had heard the song many times before and didn’t give much thought to its meaning before this. I sat down with a copy of the lyrics in front of me and started reading. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant put so much effort into writing this song that its true meaning had to be in between the lines. Deciphering the words proved to be very difficult; when I thought I had found something, I came across a verse that seemingly had nothing to do with the previous one. Nevertheless, I came up with my own interpretation. Zeppelin’s profound lyrics speak of two separate people, a lady and the narrator, seeking one common goal: making it to heaven. The song dictates the life of the two and all the choices that they make. They take two different paths and have people along the way pointing them in different directions. Some of those people are good influences and some are bad. Eventually their path’s cross towards the end of their lives, and they help one another find their way to heaven. The message that Zeppelin is trying to get across, is that while it is important to be independent and have your own identity, it is even more important to have people that have common interests in life that you can trust. With the aid of these people, life will be easier.

There are endless interpretations to the meaning of Stairway to Heaven. Some people think it is a guide to Christianity and finding Jesus. Members of the band have called it a woman’s quest for spiritual perfection and a song of hope.