Poor Tom: Difference between revisions

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|name        = Poor Tom
|name        = Poor Tom
|image      =  
|image      =  
|album      = ''Coda (album)|Coda]]''
|album      = ''Coda (album)|Coda''
|published  = Flames of Albion Music
|published  = Flames of Albion Music
|registration = ASCAP 460214008
|registration = ASCAP 460214008
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|language    = English
|language    = English
|length      = 3 minutes 3 seconds
|length      = 3 minutes 3 seconds
|composer    = Jimmy Page]], Robert Plant]]
|composer    = Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
|label      = Swan Song Records]]
|label      = Swan Song Records
|producer    = Jimmy Page
|producer    = Jimmy Page
|engineer    = Andy Johns
|engineer    = Andy Johns
}}
}}
{{TOC|right}}
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''''Poor Tom'''' is a song by England|English]] rock group]] Led Zeppelin]].
''''Poor Tom'''' is a song by England|English rock group Led Zeppelin.


==Overview==
==Overview==
It 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]],<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sutcliffe|first=Phil|date=2003|title=Led Zeppelin: Back to Nature|journal=Q|publisher=EMAP|pages=34|issn=0955-4955}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=97|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref> and was recorded at Olympic Studios]] on 6 May 1970. The song was left off the album ''Led Zeppelin III]]'' but was eventually included on the band's album ''Coda (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]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=97|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref>
It 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,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sutcliffe|first=Phil|date=2003|title=Led Zeppelin: Back to Nature|journal=Q|publisher=EMAP|pages=34|issn=0955-4955}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=97|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref> and was recorded at Olympic Studios on 6 May 1970. The song was left off the album ''Led Zeppelin III'' but was eventually included on the band's album ''Coda (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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=97|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref>


Although the lyrics can be difficult to decipher, the song appears to be about a hard working labourer on the Mississippi River named Tom who does away with his unfaithful wife Ellie May. 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 son of a seventh son|seventh sons of seventh sons]] were clairvoyant. The title may have come from Charles Kingsley]]'s ''The Water Babies]]''. In the story, a poor chimneysweep called Tom falls into a bedroom owned by Miss Ellie, who is dying. Tom is accused of being a thief and subsequently drowns in a river after being pursued.
Although the lyrics can be difficult to decipher, the song appears to be about a hard working labourer on the Mississippi River named Tom who does away with his unfaithful wife Ellie May. 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 son of a seventh son|seventh sons of seventh sons were clairvoyant. The title may have come from Charles Kingsley's ''The Water Babies''. In the story, a poor chimneysweep called Tom falls into a bedroom owned by Miss Ellie, who is dying. Tom is accused of being a thief and subsequently drowns in a river after being pursued.


'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 (song)|Bron-Yr-Aur]]' and 'Friends (song)|Friends]]'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=97|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref>
'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 (song)|Bron-Yr-Aur' and 'Friends (song)|Friends'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=97|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref>


The song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=97|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref>
The song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lewis|first=Dave|year=2012|title=Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream|location=London|publisher=Omnibus Press|pages=97|isbn=978-1-78038-547-1}}</ref>


== Chart positions ==
== Chart positions ==
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**John Bonham - drums, percussion
**John Bonham - drums, percussion
*Production:
*Production:
**Peter Grant]] – executive producer
**Peter Grant – executive producer
**Andy Johns - engineer
**Andy Johns - engineer
**Stuart Epps - engineer, mixing
**Stuart Epps - engineer, mixing

Revision as of 17:47, 3 April 2024

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Poor Tom
Appears on Coda (album)
Published by Flames of Albion Music
Registration ASCAP 460214008
Release date 19 November 1982
Recorded 6 May 1970 at
Olympic Studios, London.
Mixed at the Sol Studio, Cookham, Berkshire.
Genre Blues rock
Language English
Length 3 minutes 3 seconds
Composer Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Label Swan Song Records
Producer Jimmy Page
Engineer Andy Johns

'Poor Tom' is a song by England|English rock group Led Zeppelin.

Overview

It 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 on 6 May 1970. The song was left off the album Led Zeppelin III but was eventually included on the band's album Coda (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.[3]

Although the lyrics can be difficult to decipher, the song appears to be about a hard working labourer on the Mississippi River named Tom who does away with his unfaithful wife Ellie May. 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 son of a seventh son|seventh sons of seventh sons were clairvoyant. The title may have come from Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies. In the story, a poor chimneysweep called Tom falls into a bedroom owned by Miss Ellie, who is dying. Tom is accused of being a thief and subsequently drowns in a river after being pursued.

'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 (song)|Bron-Yr-Aur' and 'Friends (song)|Friends'.[4]

The song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts.[5]

Chart positions

Song (Airplay)

Chart (1982) Peak position
US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart[6] 18

Credits

Personnel
  • Musicians:
    • Jimmy Page – acoustic guitar, producer, remastering, digital remastering
    • Robert Plant – vocals, harmonica
    • John Paul Jones – acoustic bass
    • John Bonham - drums, percussion
  • Production:
    • Peter Grant – executive producer
    • Andy Johns - engineer
    • Stuart Epps - engineer, mixing
    • Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s)
    • George Marino - remastered CD engineer (1990)

References

  1. ↑ Sutcliffe, Phil (2003). "Led Zeppelin: Back to Nature". Q: 34. ISSN 0955-4955.
  2. ↑ Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 97. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 
  3. ↑ Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 97. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 
  4. ↑ Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 97. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 
  5. ↑ Lewis, Dave (2012). Led Zeppelin: From a Whisper to a Scream. London: Omnibus Press, 97. ISBN 978-1-78038-547-1. 
  6. ↑ Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart - 1982. Billboard. Retrieved on 2009-01-17.
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