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{{short description|1970 song by Led Zeppelin}}
{{Infobox single
{{Use British English|date=December 2011}}
| Name = Immigrant Song
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
| Cover = issingle.jpg
{{Infobox song
| Artist = [[Led Zeppelin]]
| name = Immigrant Song
| from Album = [[Led Zeppelin III]]
| B-side = "[[Hey Hey What Can I Do]]"
| cover = Led Zeppelin - Immigrant Song.jpg
| Released = 5 November 1970
| alt =
| track_no = 1
| border = yes
| Format =
| caption = Dutch single picture sleeve
| Recorded = May–August 1970
| type = single
| Genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
| artist = [[Led Zeppelin]]
| Length = 2:25, 2:23 (single version)
| album = [[Led Zeppelin III]]
| Label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| B-side = [[Hey, Hey, What Can I Do]]
| released = {{Start date|1970|11|5|df=y}}
| Writer = [[Jimmy Page]], [[Robert Plant]]
| recorded = May–June 1970 (?); 29 May 1970{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2018|p=168}}
| Producer = [[Jimmy Page]] |
| studio = [[Rolling Stones Mobile Studio]], [[Headley Grange]], Hampshire; [[Olympic Sound Studios]], London{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2018|p=168}}
| Certification =
| Chart position =
| genre =
*[[Hard rock]]<ref>{{cite book|first1= Ralph |last1= Hulett |first2= Jerry |last2= Prochnicky |year= 2011 |title= Whole Lotta Led: Our Flight with Led Zeppelin |publisher= [[Kensington Books|Kensington Publishing Corp.]] |page= 114 |isbn= 978-0-8065-3555-5 |quote= However, the opener, "Immigrant Song," set a standard for medieval imagery of Viking lust in hard rock.}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title= The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time: 7 – 'Immigrant Song' (1970) |magazine= [[Rolling Stone]] |date= 7 November 2012 |access-date= 8 November 2014 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-40-greatest-led-zeppelin-songs-of-all-time-20121107/immigrant-song-1970-19691231 |archive-date= 22 November 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141122105005/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-40-greatest-led-zeppelin-songs-of-all-time-20121107/immigrant-song-1970-19691231 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
| Last single = "[[Whole Lotta Love]]" / "[[Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)]]"<br/>(1969)
*[[Viking metal]]<ref name="Martin">{{cite book|first= Martin |last= Popoff |author-link= Martin Popoff |year= 2003 |title= [[The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time]] |chapter= Immigrant Song |page= 76 |publisher= ECW Press |isbn= 978-1-55022-530-3 |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=86QALKyWGHQC&q=%22viking+metal%22 |quote= The first Viking metal song ever, ''Immigrant Song'' might also be the first smudge of gothic rock evidenced by Plant's exotic pre-Dio vocal melodies which turn an almost casual, incidental song into a quickly attacking then evaporating classic.}}</ref>
| This single = "'''Immigrant Song'''" / "'''Hey Hey What Can I Do'''"<br/>(1970)
* [[folk metal]]<ref>{{cite web|last= Pitchfork Staff |title= The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s |website= [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date= August 22, 2016 |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9935-the-200-best-songs-of-the-1970s/?page=5|quote= ...Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” represents the first tick on the folk-metal timeline.|accessdate= October 13, 2022}}</ref>
| Next single = "[[Black Dog (song)|Black Dog]]" / "[[Misty Mountain Hop]]"<br/>(1971)
| Misc = {{Extra track listing
| length = 2:26
| Album = [[Led Zeppelin III]]
| label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| Type = single
| writer = [[Jimmy Page]], [[Robert Plant]]
| producer = Jimmy Page
| this_track = "'''Immigrant Song'''"
| chronology = Led Zeppelin US singles
| track_no = 1
| prev_title = [[Whole Lotta Love]]
| next_track = "[[Friends (Led Zeppelin song)|Friends]]"
| next_no = 2
| prev_year = 1969
| next_title = [[Black Dog (Led Zeppelin song)|Black Dog]]
}}
| next_year = 1971
{{Audiosample
| Upper caption = Audio sample
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| Audio file = Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin.ogg
| file = Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin.ogg
}}
}}
}}
}}


"'''Immigrant Song'''" is a song by the English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Led Zeppelin]]. It is built upon a repeating riff and features lyrical references to [[Norse mythology]], with singer [[Robert Plant]]'s howling vocals mentioning war-making and [[Valhalla]].<ref>{{cite book|first=James M. |last= Curtis |year= 1987 |title= Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954–1984 |publisher= Popular Press |page= [https://archive.org/details/rockerasinterpre00curt/page/292 292] |isbn= 978-0-87972-369-9 |url= https://archive.org/details/rockerasinterpre00curt |url-access= registration}}</ref> The song was included on their 1970 album, ''[[Led Zeppelin III]]'' and released as a single. Several live recordings have also been issued on various Led Zeppelin albums. Other artists have recorded renditions of the song or performed it live.
"'''Immigrant Song'''" is a song by the English [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Led Zeppelin]]. It was released as a single from their third [[Gramophone record|album]], ''[[Led Zeppelin III]]'', in 1970.


Though Led Zeppelin are typically regarded as an album-oriented group, "Immigrant Song" is one of the band's several hit singles.<ref name="Early Days">{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |author-link= Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title= Led Zeppelin – Early Days: The Best of Led Zeppelin, Vol. 1 |publisher= [[AllMusic]] |access-date= 10 September 2015 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/early-days-the-best-of-led-zeppelin-vol-1-mw0000710816}}</ref> The song's popularity has led to its inclusion in such compilation albums as ''[[Led Zeppelin Remasters]]'' (1990) and ''[[The Best of Led Zeppelin#Early Days|Early Days: The Best of Led Zeppelin, Vol. 1]]'' (1999).<ref name="Early Days"/><ref>{{cite web|first= Stephen Thomas |last= Erlewine |title= Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin Remasters |publisher= [[AllMusic]] |access-date= 10 September 2015 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-remasters-mw0000456839}}</ref>
==Overview==
The song is famous for its distinctive, wailing cry from vocalist [[Robert Plant]] at the beginning of the song, and is built around a repeating, [[staccato]] [[Jimmy Page]]/[[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]]/[[John Bonham]] riff in the [[Key Signature|key]] of [[Phrygian Mode|F# Phrygian]]. There is a very faint count-off the beginning of the track with lots of hiss which appears on the album version, but is trimmed from the single version. The hiss is feedback from an echo unit.<ref name=Complete>Dave Lewis (1994), ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin'', Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.</ref>


==Background==
"Immigrant Song" was written during Led Zeppelin's [[Led Zeppelin Tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany, Summer 1970|tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany]] in mid-1970. The opening date of this tour took place in [[Reykjavik]], [[Iceland]], which inspired Plant to write the song. As he explained:
"Immigrant Song" was written during Led Zeppelin's [[Led Zeppelin Tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany, Summer 1970|tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany]] in the summer of 1970. The opening date of this tour took place in [[Reykjavík]], Iceland, which inspired Plant to write the lyrics. He explained in an interview:
{{quote|We weren't being pompous{{nbsp}}... We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be cancelled. The university prepared a concert hall for us and it was phenomenal. The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time. 'Immigrant Song' was about that trip and it was the opening track on the album that was intended to be incredibly different.<ref>{{cite book|title= Led Zeppelin |first= Chris |last= Welch |year= 1994 |publisher= Orion Books |location= London |isbn= 1-85797-930-3 |page= 55}}</ref>}}


Six days after Led Zeppelin's appearance in Reykjavik, the band performed the song for the first time in concert during the [[Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music|Bath Festival]].<ref>{{cite book|first1= Dave |last1= Lewis |first2= Simon |last2= Pallett |year= 1997 |title= Led Zeppelin: The Concert File |publisher= Omnibus Press |location= London |pages= 50–51 |isbn= 0-7119-5307-4}}</ref>
{{quote|We weren't being pompous ... We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be cancelled. The university prepared a concert hall for us and it was phenomenal. The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time. "Immigrant Song" was about that trip and it was the opening track on the album that was intended to be incredibly different.<ref name="Welch">Chris Welch (1994) ''Led Zeppelin'', London: Orion Books. ISBN 0-85797-930-3, p. 55.</ref>}}


==Composition and lyrics==
Just six days after Led Zeppelin's appearance in Reykjavik, the band performed the song for the first time on stage during the [[Bath Festival]].<ref name=lewispallett>Lewis, Dave and Pallett, Simon (1997) ''Led Zeppelin: The Concert File'', London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-5307-4, pp. 50-51.</ref>
The song begins with a distinctive, wailing cry from Plant and is built on a repeating, [[staccato]] riff by guitarist [[Jimmy Page]], bassist [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]], and drummer [[John Bonham]]. It is performed in the [[Key signature|key]] of [[F♯ minor]] at a moderate tempo of 112 [[beats per minute]].<ref>{{cite book|first= David |last= Fricke |author-link= David Fricke |year= 2008 |title= Led Zeppelin Mothership |publisher= [[Alfred Music|Alfred Publishing Co.]] |page= 81 |isbn= 978-0-7390-5317-1}}</ref> There is a very faint count-off at the beginning of the track with much hiss which appears on the album version, but is trimmed from the single version. The hiss is [[Audio feedback|feedback]] from an echo unit.<ref name="DL">{{cite book|first= Dave |last= Lewis |year= 1994 |title= The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin |publisher= [[Music Sales Group|Omnibus Press]] |isbn= 0-7119-3528-9}}</ref>


A phrase from the song was used as the title of [[Stephen Davis (music journalist)|Stephen Davis']] biography of the band, ''[[Hammer of the Gods (book)|Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga]]''.<ref>{{cite book|first= Mick |last= Wall |year= 2010 |title= When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin |publisher= St. Martin's Press |page= 138 |isbn= 978-1-4299-8561-1 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=d0-nmLBW-SUC}}</ref> The lyrics also did much to inspire the classic [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] myth, of Viking-esque figures on an adventure, themes which have been adopted in the look and lyrics of bands such as [[Iron Maiden]], [[Saxon (band)|Saxon]], [[Manowar]] and [[Amon Amarth]].<ref>{{cite book|first= Neil |last= Daniels |year= 2016 |title= Iron Maiden – Updated Edition |publisher= Voyageur Press |pages= 23–26 |isbn= 978-0-7603-5254-0 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=3opRDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT23}}</ref>
The song's lyrics are written from the perspective of [[Vikings]] rowing west from [[Scandinavia]] in search of new lands. The lyrics make explicit reference to Viking conquests and the Old Norse religion (''Fight the horde, sing and cry, [[Valhalla]], I am coming!''). In a 1970 radio interview, Plant jokingly recalled:


==Personnel==
{{quote|We went to Iceland, and it made you think of Vikings and big ships... and John Bonham's stomach... and bang, there it was - Immigrant Song!<ref name="Complete"/>}}
According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:{{sfn|Guesdon|Margotin|2018|p=168}}


* [[Robert Plant]] – vocals
"Immigrant Song" is one of Led Zeppelin's few [[Single (music)|single]] releases, having been released in November 1970 by their record label, [[Atlantic Records]], against the band's wishes. It reached #16 on the [[Billboard charts]].<ref name="Complete"/> Its [[B side]], "[[Hey Hey What Can I Do]]", was otherwise unavailable before the release of the band's first [[Led Zeppelin Box Set|boxed set]] in 1990. The single was also mistakenly released in [[Japan]] with "[[Out on the Tiles]]" as the B-side rather than "Hey Hey What Can I Do." That single is now a rare collectible.
* [[Jimmy Page]] – guitar
* [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]] – bass
* [[John Bonham]] – drums


==Releases==
One of the lines from the song became part of Led Zeppelin lore. The line, ''"The hammer of the gods/will drive our ships to new lands"'' prompted some people to start referring to Led Zeppelin's sound as the "Hammer of the Gods." The phrase was used as the title of [[Stephen Davis (music journalist)|Stephen Davis']] famous biography of the band, ''[[Hammer of the Gods (book)|Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga]]''. The lyrics also did much to inspire the classic [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] myth, of mighty Viking-esque figures on an adventure, themes which have been adopted in the look and music of bands from [[Iron Maiden]] to [[Manowar]].
[[File:Immigrantsong-leadout.jpg|thumb|Detail of the 45 rpm single of ''Immigrant Song'' showing a secret inscription, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law"]]


"Immigrant Song" is one of Led Zeppelin's few releases on the [[45 rpm single]] format. It was issued in the United States on 5 November 1970 by [[Atlantic Records]], with the non-album track "[[Hey, Hey, What Can I Do]]" on the B-side, and reached number 16 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="DL"/> First pressings of the US single have a quote from [[Aleister Crowley]] inscribed in dead wax by the run-out groove: "[[Thelema|Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.]]"<ref>{{cite web|title= Led Zeppelin III (Led Zeppelin) Easter Egg – Alastair Crowley in the Dead Wax |work= Easter Egg |access-date= 25 February 2011 |url= http://www.eeggs.com/items/23385.html}}</ref> The Japanese single included "[[Out on the Tiles]]" as the B-side.
"Immigrant Song" was used to open [[Led Zeppelin concerts]] from 1970 to 1972. On the second half of their [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1972|1972 concert tour of the United States]], it was introduced by a short piece of music known as "[[LA Drone]]", designed to heighten the sense of anticipation and expectation amongst the concert audience. By 1973, "Immigrant Song" was occasionally being used as an [[Encore (concert)|encore]], but was then removed from their live set.<ref name="Complete"/> Live versions of the song can be heard on the Led Zeppelin albums ''[[How the West Was Won (Led Zeppelin album)|How The West Was Won]]'' (featuring a performance at [[Long Beach Arena]] in 1972) and the ''[[Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions]]'' (a version from the [[Paris Theatre]] in [[London]] in 1971). When played live, Page played a lengthy [[guitar solo]], which was absent on the recorded ''Led Zeppelin III'' version.<ref name="Complete"/> "Immigrant Song" was played as part of the 2009 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony for [[Jeff Beck]] by both Page and Beck.


==Reception==
==Cultural influence==
In a contemporary review of ''Led Zeppelin III'', [[Lester Bangs]] of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' described "Immigrant Song" as the closest to being as classic as "[[Whole Lotta Love]]", praising the song's "bulldozer rhythms and Plant's double-tracked wordless vocal crossings echoing behind the main vocal like some cannibal chorus wailing in the infernal light of a savage fertility rite."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Lester |last= Bangs |author-link= Lester Bangs |title= Led Zeppelin III |magazine= Rolling Stone |date= 26 November 1970 |access-date= 13 August 2017 |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/led-zeppelin-iii-19701126}}</ref> In March 2023, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked "Immigrant Song" at number 18 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2023-03-13 |title=The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313191405/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-greatest-heavy-metal-songs-1234688425/ |archive-date=2023-03-13 |access-date=2023-03-13 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
The song is commonly played by [[marching bands]] at high school and college [[football]] games. The song is also one of the few Led Zeppelin songs to have been licensed for a film. For the 2003 film ''[[School of Rock]]'', actor [[Jack Black (actor)|Jack Black]] filmed himself on stage, along with thousands of screaming fans, begging Led Zeppelin to let them use "Immigrant Song".<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332379/soundtrack ''School of Rock'' soundtrack]</ref> The song also appears, in a slightly changed version due to licensing reasons, in ''[[Shrek the Third]]'', when [[Snow White]] attacks the city gates, guarded by [[Huorn]]s. She cries the characteristic war cry of Robert Plant, backed by the [[riff]], as in the beginning of the original song.<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0413267/soundtrack ''Shrek the Third'' soundtrack]</ref>


''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]'' described the song as "filling the aural spectrum once again with wall to wall power," stating that the song has "biting vocals and an unmatched instrumental impact."<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Singles Reviews > Picks of the Week |magazine= Cash Box |volume= XXXII |issue= 21 |page= 22 |date= 14 November 1970 |accessdate= 9 December 2021 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1970/CB-1970-11-14.pdf}}</ref>
"Immigrant Song" also appeared in the 1999 documentary about the [[Munich massacre|1972 Munich Olympic Games massacre]], ''[[One Day in September]]'',<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0230591/soundtrack ''One Day in September'' soundtrack]</ref> and the trailers for the [[BBC1]] drama series ''[[Life on Mars (TV series)|Life on Mars]]''. Starting from the [[2007 NFL Season|2007 season]], the [[Minnesota Vikings]] play this song during their team introductions and before kickoffs. During the 2007/8 [[Association Football|football]] season, [[Brentford FC]] played this song immediately before kick-off. [[Bruiser Brody]] aka Frank Goodish-professional wrestling legend entrance music was this song and the beginning of [[Ludwig van Beethoven's]] [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Symphony No. 5]]. However, in Japan, he had a cover of this song as his theme song. It was without lyrics.


==Live performances==
The Max Weinberg 7 played this song regularly during ''Late Night With Conan O'Brien''. The song was placed over an animation of kittens in Viking costumes on rathergood.com.
"Immigrant Song" was used to open [[Led Zeppelin concerts]] from 1970 to 1972.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bream |first1=Jon |editor1-last=Dregni |editor1-first=Michael |editor2-last=Pernu |editor2-first=Dennis |title=Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin: The Illustrated History of the Heaviest Band of All Time |date=2010 |publisher=[[Voyageur Press]] |location=[[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] |isbn=978-0-7603-3507-9 |page=87 |orig-date=2008 |chapter=Unledded, 1970|chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/wholelottaledzep0000brea_n0h8/page/n21/mode/2up |quote=The band cleaned up with its performance at [[Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music|Bath]], from the opener, a new number called 'Immigrant Song', to its - count 'em - four encores.}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Carr |first1=Roy |author1-link=Roy Carr |title=Led Zeppelin, Stone the Crows: Empire Pool, Wembley |magazine=[[New Musical Express]] |date=27 November 1971 |via=[[Rock's Backpages]] |quote=Obviously a little nervous. Zeppelin kicked off with 'Immigrant Song' and slowly built varying degrees of climax in their 167-minute spot.}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Everett |first1=Todd |title=Led Zeppelin: The Forum, Inglewood, California |magazine=[[Phonograph Record (magazine)|Phonograph Record]] |date=August 1972|via=[[Rock's Backpages]] |quote=What better way for Led Zeppelin to begin their three-and-a-half hour onslaught on the eardrums than with a crash of the drums? A crash of the drums it was, and straight on into 'Immigrant Song'.}}</ref> On the second half of their [[Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1972|1972 concert tour of the United States]], it was introduced by a short piece of music known as "LA Drone".<ref>{{Cite AV media|title=How the West Was Won |title-link=How the West Was Won (Led Zeppelin album)#Track listing|date=2003|type=[[Compact disc]]|people=John Paul Jones; Jimmy Page|publisher=[[Atlantic Records]]}}</ref> By 1973, "Immigrant Song" was occasionally being used as an [[Encore (concert)|encore]], but was then removed from their live set.<ref name="DL"/> Live versions of the song can be heard on the Led Zeppelin albums ''[[How the West Was Won (Led Zeppelin album)|How the West Was Won]]'' (featuring a performance at [[Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center|Long Beach Arena]] in 1972) and the ''[[BBC Sessions (Led Zeppelin album)|Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions]]'' (a version from the [[Paris Theatre]] in [[London]] in 1971). When the song was played live, Page included a lengthy [[guitar solo]], which was absent on the recorded ''Led Zeppelin III'' version.<ref name="DL"/> "Immigrant Song" was played as part of the 2009 [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony for [[Jeff Beck]] by both Page and Beck.<ref>{{cite news |last=Soeder |first=John |title=Live, from Cleveland! City basks in the glitter of Rock Hall induction ceremonies |url=https://www.cleveland.com/rockhall/2009/04/cleveland_basks_in_the_glitter.html |work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |date=5 April 2009}}</ref>


==Use of the song in media==
Comedian [[Denis Leary]] did a comedic cover of the song during his [[MTV Unplugged]] special in 1993. [[Vanilla Ice]] used "Immigrant Song" as the basis for "Power", a [[rap metal]] song performed in concerts in 1999.<ref>{{cite news |title=''Yo V.I.P. ! Crowbar kicks it with Vanilla Ice'' |first=Jon |last=Fassnacht |url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1999/04/04-02-99tdc/04-02-99darts-7.asp |newspaper=[[The Daily Collegian (Penn State)|The Dialy Collegian]] |date=April 2, 1999 |accessdate=2009-12-13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=''At the 9:30, Pain Vanilla'' |first=Mike |last=Musgrove |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/42619189.html?dids=42619189:42619189&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+23%2C+1999&author=Mike+Musgrove&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=At+the+9%3A30%2C+Pain+Vanilla&pqatl=google |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=June 23, 1999 |accessdate=2009-12-13 }}</ref>
Led Zeppelin originally denied [[Richard Linklater]] permission to use "Immigrant Song" in ''[[School of Rock]]'' (2003), but star [[Jack Black]] was able to convince them by making a video of himself performing the song.<ref>{{cite web|first= Dave |last= Lifton |title= How Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' Wound Up in 'Thor: Ragnarok' |website= [[Ultimate Classic Rock]] |date= 28 October 2017 |access-date= 14 September 2020 |url= https://ultimateclassicrock.com/thor-ragnarok-led-zeppelin/}}</ref> In the movie ''[[Shrek the Third]]'' (2007), "Immigrant Song" appears in a battle scene involving the character Snow White.<ref>{{cite web|first= Abigail |last= Lateer |title= Shrek Soundtrack Review |website= [[The Hill News]] |date= 27 April 2023 |access-date= 13 October 2023 |url= https://thehillnews.org/ae/abigaillateer/shrek-soundtrack-review}}</ref> A cover of "Immigrant Song", produced by [[Atticus Ross]] and [[Nine Inch Nails]] member [[Trent Reznor]] with vocals from [[Yeah Yeah Yeahs]] lead singer [[Karen O]], plays in the trailer and throughout the title sequence of ''[[The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011 film)|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo]]'' (2011).<ref>{{cite web|first= Rebecca |last= Ford |title= 'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' Soundtrack Music Video Debuts |website= [[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date= 12 December 2011 |access-date= 11 November 2020 |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/girl-dragon-tattoo-soundtrack-david-fincher-immigrant-song-272469}}</ref> "Immigrant Song" was included in both the trailer for ''[[Thor: Ragnarok]]'' (2017) and twice in the film itself, due to director [[Taika Waititi]]'s suggestion of the song from the time of his first involvement with the film and to the persistent efforts of the movie's music supervisor Dave Jordan.<ref>{{cite web|first= Jason |last= Guerrasio |title= It took the entire making of 'Thor: Ragnarok' for Marvel to finally nab the rights to a Led Zeppelin song |website= [[Business Insider]] |date= 6 November 2017 |access-date= 14 September 2020 |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/led-zeppelin-immigrant-song-in-thor-ragnarok-2017-11}}</ref>
An instrumental version of the song was used in the opening credits of a 1973 martial arts film, Young Tiger, staring Fei Meng and a young Jackie Chan.


==Chart history==
== Formats and tracklistings ==
{{col-begin}}
'''1970 7" single''' <small>(US/Australia/New Zealand: Atlantic 45-2777, Austria/Germany: Atlantic ATL 70460, Belgium: Atlantic BE 650222, Canada: Atlantic AT 2777, France: Atlantic 650 226L, Holland: Atlantic ATL 2091043, Italy/Jamaica: Atlantic ATL 45-2777, Greece: Atlantic 2091 043, Japan: Warner Pioneer P-1007A, Portugal: Atlantic ATL N 28101, South Africa: Atlantic ATS 531, Spain: Atlantic H 671, Sweden: Atlantic ATL 70.460, Turkey: Atlantic 71505)</small>
{{col-2}}
*A. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*B. "Hey Hey What Can I Do" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 3:55


===Original release===
'''1970 7" radio edit''' <small>(US: Atlantic 45-2777 PL)</small>
'''Weekly charts'''
*A. "Immigrant Song" [stereo] (Page, Plant) 2:25
*B. "Immigrant Song" [mono] (Page, Plant) 2:25

'''1970 7" single''' <small>(Colombia: WEA 167/168, Costa Rica: Atlantic 70.029, Mexico: Atlantic 1701-1919, Philippines: Atlantic 45-3741)</small>
*A. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*B. "Tangerine" (Page) 3:10

'''1970 7" single''' <small>(Japan: Nihon Gramophone DT-1180)</small>
*A. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*B. "Out on the Tiles" (Bonham, Page, Plant) 4:07

'''1970 7" single''' <small>(South Africa: Atlantic ATS 528)</small>
*A. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*B. "Friends" (Page, Plant) 3:54

'''1970 7" single''' <small>(Uruguay: Atlantic 2164013)</small>
*A. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*B. "Gallows Pole" (trad. arr. Page, Plant) 4:56

'''1970 7" single''' <small>(Venezuela: Atlantic 5-018)</small>
*A. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*B. "Whole Lotta Love" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant, Dixon) 3:12

'''1970 7" EP''' <small>(Mexico: Atlantic 2207-014)</small>
*A1. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*A2. "Tangerine" (Page) 3:10
*B. "Out on the Tiles" (Bonham, Page, Plant) 4:07

'''1970 7" EP''' <small>(Bolivia: Polydor 608030)</small>
*A1. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*A2. "Celebration Day" (Jones, Page, Plant) 3:29
*B. "Since I've Been Loving You" (Jones, Page, Plant) 7:23

'''1971 7" single''' <small>(Argentina/Chile/Peru: Atlantic 2091 149)</small>
*A. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*B. "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" (Jones, Page, Plant) 4:16

'''1992 CD single''' <small>(US: Atlantic 2777-2)</small>
*1. "Immigrant Song" (Page, Plant) 2:25
*2. "Hey Hey What Can I Do" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant) 3:55

== Chart positions ==
=== Single ===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1971)
!Chart (1970–1971)
!align="center"|Peak position
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|-
|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite web|title= Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 |publisher= Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien |access-date= 8 November 2014 |url= http://australian-charts.com/forum.asp?todo=viewthread&id=21533&pages=}}</ref>
| Italian Singles Chart<ref name="Italian singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.hitparadeitalia.it/indici/per_interprete/al.htm |title=Top 100 Singles - 1970 |work=hitparadeitalia.it |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|59
|align="center"|20
|-
|-
|Australia ([[Go-Set|Go-Set National Top 60]])<ref>{{cite magazine |title= Go-Set National Top 60 |magazine= [[Go-Set]] |date= 6 March 1971 |access-date= 8 November 2014 |url= http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1971/19710306.html |archive-date= 12 May 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130512205036/http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1971/19710306.html |url-status= dead }}</ref>
| US ''Cash Box'' Top 100 Singles Chart<ref name="US cashbox singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19710109.html |title=Top 100 Singles - 9 January 1971 |work=Cash Box |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|8
|align="center"|16
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Austria|13|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Immigrant Song|access-date=8 November 2014}}
| US ''Record World'' 100 Top Pops<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.com/muggy59/1971.html |title=Top 40 for 1971 - January 1971 |work=Record World |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|10
|-
|-
| Canadian CHUM Chart<ref name="Canadian chum chart">{{cite web | url = http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=731 | title = CHUM Singles Chart - 23 January 1971 | publisher = 1050chum.com | accessdate = 2009-01-19}}</ref>
|Canada ([[CHUM Chart|CHUM]])<ref>{{cite web |title=CHUM 30 (week of January 23, 1971)|url=http://chumtribute.com/71-01-23-chart.jpg |issue=129 |publisher=[[CHUM Chart|CHUM]]|access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>
|align="center"|2
|align="center"|2
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Canadatopsingles|4|chartid=3741|access-date=8 November 2014}}
| Canadian ''RPM'' Top 100 Chart<ref name="Canadian rpm chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.3741&volume=14&issue=23&issue_dt=January%2023%201971&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=hrg50o22lgammqcogv27ve6d95 |title=RPM Singles Chart - 23 January 1971 |work=RPM |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|-
|align="center"|4
|Denmark ([[Tracklisten|Tipparaden]])<ref>{{cite web|title= Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin |publisher= Danske Hitlister |access-date= 1 April 2016 |url= http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=1448}}</ref>
|align="center"|3
|-
|Finland ([[The Official Finnish Charts|Suomen virallinen lista]])<ref>{{cite book|first= Timo |last= Pennanen |year= 2006 |title= Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 |edition= 1st |publisher= Tammi |location= Helsinki |isbn= 978-951-1-21053-5 |language= fi}}</ref>
|align="center"|22
|-
{{singlechart|Germany|6|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Immigrant Song|songid=177|access-date=8 November 2014}}
|-
|-
|Japan ([[Oricon]])<ref name="jachart">{{cite book|first= Satoshi |last= Okamoto |year= 2011 |title= Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2010 |publisher= Oricon Entertainment |location= [[Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo|Roppongi, Tokyo]] |isbn= 978-4-87131-088-8 |language= ja}}</ref>
| Japanese Singles Chart<ref name="Japanese singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/ |title=Top 100 Singles - 25 January 1971 |work=Oricon |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|13
|align="center"|13
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|11|year=1971|week=6|access-date=8 November 2014}}
| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Singles Chart<ref name="US singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=379&cfgn=Singles&cfn=The+Billboard+Hot+100&ci=3070611&cdi=8842889&cid=01%2F30%2F1971 |title=Hot 100 Singles - 30 January 1971 |work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|16
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|9|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Immigrant Song|access-date=8 November 2014}}
| Dutch Singles Chart<ref name="Dutch singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=Immigrant+Song&cat=s |title=Top 100 Singles - 6 February 1971 |work=dutchcharts.nl |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|9
|-
|-
| South African Top 20 Singles Chart<ref name="South african top 20 chart">{{cite web | url = http://www.rock.co.za/files/sarock_charts.html | title = Top 20 Singles - 26 February 1971 | publisher = rock.co.za | accessdate = 2009-01-19}}</ref>
|New Zealand ([[Recorded Music NZ|RIANZ]])<ref>{{cite book|first= Dean |last= Scapolo |year= 2007 |title= The Complete New Zealand Music Charts |edition= 1st |chapter= Top 50 Singles – May 1971 |publisher= Transpress |location= [[Wellington]] |isbn= 978-1-877443-00-8}}</ref>
|align="center"|4
|-
|South Africa ([[Springbok Radio]])<ref>{{cite web|title= South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (L) |website= Rock.co.za |access-date= 8 November 2014 |url= http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(L).html}}</ref>
|align="center"|7
|align="center"|7
|-
|-
|[[Productores de Música de España|Spanish Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite book|first= Fernando |last= Salaverri |date= September 2005 |title= Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 |edition= 1st |publisher= Fundación Autor-SGAE |location= Spain |isbn= 84-8048-639-2 |language= es}}</ref>
| Australian ''Go-Set'' Top 60 Singles Chart<ref name="Australian singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1971/19710306.html |title=Top 60 Singles - 6 March 1971 |work=''Go Set'' |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|16
|align="center"|9
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Switzerland|4|artist=Led Zeppelin|song=Immigrant Song|access-date=8 November 2014}}
| German Singles Chart<ref name="German singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/title/LED+ZEPPELIN/Immigrant+Song/single |title=Top 100 Singles - 5 April 1971 |work=musicline.de |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|6
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|16|artist=Led Zeppelin|access-date=8 November 2014}}
| Swiss Singles Chart<ref name="Swiss singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=Immigrant+Song&cat=s |title=Top 100 Singles - 9 April 1971 |work=hitparade.ch |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|4
|-
|-
|US ''[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|title= CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 9, 1971 |magazine= [[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]] |url= http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19710109.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 18 September 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120918150515/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/70s_files/19710109.html}}</ref>
| Austrian Singles Chart<ref name="Austrian singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Led+Zeppelin&titel=Immigrant+Song&cat=s |title=Top 100 Singles - 15 May 1971 |work=austriancharts.at |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|13
|align="center"|8
|-
|-
|US ''[[Record World]]''<ref>{{cite magazine|title= The Singles Chart |magazine= [[Record World]] |date= 16 January 1971 |page= 27 |issn= 0034-1622 |access-date= 17 September 2017 |url= http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-01-16.pdf}}</ref>
| New Zealand Top 50 Singles Chart<ref name="New zealand singles chart">{{cite book |author=Scapolo, Dean |title=The Complete New Zealand Music Charts| edition=1st |location=Wellington |publisher=Transpress |year=2007 |chapter=Top 50 Singles - May 1971| isbn=1-877443-00-8}}</ref>
|align="center"|4
|align="center"|10
|}

'''Year-end charts'''
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (1971)
!Rank
|-
|-
|Canada Top Singles (''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'')<ref>{{cite web|title= RPM 100 Top Singles of '71 |volume= 16 |issue= 20 |date= 8 January 1972 |magazine= [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |access-date= 21 May 2016 |url= http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.7590&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.7590.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.7590}}</ref>
| Spanish Singles Chart<ref name="Spanish singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.promusicae.es/english.html |title=Top 100 Singles - May 1971 |work=PROMUSICAE |accessdate=2009-01-19}}</ref>
|align="center"|11
|align="center"|92
|-
|-
|Netherlands ([[Single Top 100]])<ref>{{cite web|title= Jaaroverzichten – Single 1971 |publisher= [[Single Top 100]]. Hung Medien |access-date= 8 November 2014 |url= http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1971&cat=s |language= nl}}</ref>
|align="center"|91
|}
|}
{{col-2}}


=== Single (Digital download) ===
===Digital download===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Chart (2007)
!Chart (2007)
!align="center"|Peak position
!Peak<br/>position
|-
|Canadian ([[Hot Canadian Digital Singles]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Hot Digital Singles – 1 December 2007 |magazine= [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date= 17 January 2009 |url= {{BillboardURLbyName|artist=led zeppelin|chart=Hot Canadian Digital Singles}}}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|align="center"|54
|-
|-
| UK Singles Chart<ref name="UK singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicvf.com/Led+Zeppelin.art |title=Top 75 Singles - 18 November 2007 |work=musicvf.com |accessdate=2009-01-17}}</ref>
|UK ([[Official Charts Company]])<ref>{{cite web|title= Led Zeppelin Songs – Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography |website= Musicvf.com |access-date= 17 January 2009 |url= http://www.musicvf.com/Led+Zeppelin.art}}</ref>
|align="center"|109
|align="center"|109
|-
|-
| US ''Billboard'' Hot Digital Songs Chart<ref name="US digital songs chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=395&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Digital+Songs&ci=3088348&cdi=9518575&cid=12%2F01%2F2007 |title=Hot Digital Songs - 1 December 2007 |work=Billboard |accessdate=2009-01-17}}</ref>
|US ''Billboard'' [[Digital Songs|Hot Digital Songs]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title= December 1, 2007 – Rdio |magazine= Billboard |access-date= 2 February 2014 |url= http://www.billboard.com/play/rdio?id=395&date=2007-12-01}}</ref>
|align="center"|71
|align="center"|69
|-
| Canadian ''Billboard'' Hot Digital Singles Chart<ref name="Canadian digital singles chart">{{cite web |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/chart_display.jsp?cfi=346&cfgn=Singles&cfn=Hot+Canadian+Digital+Singles&ci=3088339&cdi=9518221&cid=12%2F01%2F2007 |title=Hot Digital Singles - 1 December 2007 |work=Billboard |accessdate=2009-01-17}}</ref>
|align="center"|54
|-
|}
|}

<small>Note: The official [[UK Singles Chart]] incorporated legal downloads as of 17 April 2005.</small>
<small>Note: The official [[UK Singles Chart]] incorporated legal downloads as of 17 April 2005.</small>

==Cover versions==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
* 1986: [[Queen (band)|Queen]] (''[[Magic Tour (Queen)|Magic Tour]])
* 1987: [[Minimal Compact]] (''The Figure One Cuts'')
* 1988: [[Great White]] (''[[Recovery: Live!]]'')
* 1988: [[Royal Crescent Mob]] (''Something New, Old, and Borrowed'')
* 1988: 7 Come 11 (''Hammond Organ Trio'')
* 1989: [[Dark Angel (band)|Dark Angel]] (''[[Leave Scars]]'')
* 1989: Headface (''The Song Retains the Name'')
* 1990: [[Dread Zeppelin]] (''[[Un-Led-Ed]]'')
* 1993: [[Infectious Grooves]] (''[[Sarsippius' Ark]]'')
* 1994: [[Nirvana (band)|Nirvana]] (''[[With the Lights Out]]'' [recorded live 1988])
* 1995: [[Michael White & The White]] (''Plays the Music of Led Zeppelin'')
* 1997: [[Informatik]] (''Direct Memory Access v2.0'')
* 1997: Blue Shift (''Not the Future I Ordered'')
* 1997: Mike Keneally (''Half Alive in Hollywood'')
* 1998: Paper Parrot (''Before the Balloon Went Up'')
* 1998: Rick Brannon (''Guitar Freak'')
* 1999: [[Coalesce (band)|Coalesce]] (''[[There Is Nothing New Under the Sun (Coalesce EP)|There Is Nothing New Under the Sun]]'' EP)
* 1999: [[Steve Whiteman]] (''A Tribute to Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains Remixed'')
* 2001: [[Sebastian Bach]] (''[[Bach 2: Basics]]'')
* 2001: [[Adagio (band)|Adagio]] (''[[Sanctus Ignis]]'')
* 2002: [[Red Flag (band)|Red Flag]] (''Fear Series'' box-set)
* 2002: Consortium Project (''[[The Music Remains the Same: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin]]'')
* 2002: All the Queen's Men (''Curvy Baby'')
* 2002: Issa (''The Electronic Tribute to Led Zeppelin'')
{{col-2}}
* 2002: Stereofeed (''The String Quartet Tribute to Led Zeppelin'')
* 2003: Triprocket (''Thrills and Chills'')
* 2004: [[Tomoyasu Hotei]] (''[[Electric Samurai (The Noble Savage)]]'')
* 2004: [[Tracy G]] (''Deviating from the List'')
* 2005: [[Iron Horse (band)|Iron Horse]] (''Whole Lotta Bluegrass: A Bluegrass Tribute to Led Zeppelin'')
* 2005: [[Cyro Baptista]] (''Love the Donkey'')
* 2005: [[Demons & Wizards]] ("[[Touched by the Crimson King]]")
* 2005: Greg Rapaport (''Led Zeppelin Salute: Get the Led Out!'')
* 2005: Led Zepagain (''A Tribute to Led Zeppelin'')
* 2006: [[Gotthard (band)|Gotthard]] (''[[Made In Switzerland (Live Album)|Made In Switzerland]]'')
* 2006: Zepparella (''Live at 19 Broadway'' [recorded 28 October 2005])
* 2006: The Rockies (''The Music of Led Zeppelin'')
* 2006: Studio 99 (''Led Zeppelin: A Tribute'')
* 2007: [[Vanilla Fudge]] (''[[Out Through the in Door]]'')
* 2007: [[Ann Wilson]] (''[[Hope & Glory (album)|Hope & Glory]]'')
* 2007: [[Frankie Banali]] & Friends (''24/7/365: The Tribute to Led Zeppelin'')
* 2007: [[Julian Beeston]] (''The Many Faces of Led Zeppelin'' [remix])
* 2007: [[Macdonald Duck Eclair]] (''Our Favourite Shops: Roots of KOGA Melody'')
* 2007: [[The Sword]] (''12" Split with Witchcraft'')
* 2008: [[Manny Charlton]] (''Led Box: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Tribute'')
* 2008: Strikeforce (''Misty Mountain Hop: A Millennium Tribute to Led Zeppelin'')
* 2008: [[Black Stone Cherry]] (''Played live on select dates of their December UK Tour'')
* 2008: [[Pendulum (band)|Pendulum]] ([[BBC Radio 1]] Mash Up and Live Performances)
* 2009: [[Hollywood Undead]] (On their CD/DVD album ''[[Desperate Measures (Hollywood Undead album)|Desperate Measures]]'')
* 2010: [[Bruno]] (On their demo album ''[[Plagiarized: EP]]'')
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


==Sources==
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
*Lewis, Dave (2004) ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin'', ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Immigrant Song|award=Platinum|relyear=1970|certyear=2024|id=13237|access-date=September 23, 2024}}
*Welch, Chris (1998) ''Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song'', ISBN 1-56025-818-7
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Immigrant Song|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=December 15, 2024|relyear=1970|certyear=2024|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radioscope.co.nz/2024/00/00/single-cert-search/|title=New Zealand single certifications – Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song|publisher=[[Recorded Music NZ]]|access-date=December 15, 2024}}</ref>}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Immigrant Song|award=Gold|relyear=1970|certyear=2024|id=led-zeppelin-immigrant-song|access-date=3 March 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Led Zeppelin|title=Immigrant Song|award=Platinum|relyear=2007|certyear=2022|id=14895-2162-1|access-date=23 July 2022}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

==See also==
*[[List of cover versions of Led Zeppelin songs]]{{snd}}"Immigrant Song" entries


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|first1=Jean-Michel|last1=Guesdon|first2=Philippe|last2=Margotin|year=2018|title=Led Zeppelin All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track|publisher=[[Running Press]]|isbn=978-0-316-448-67-3}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.ledzeppelin.com/video/australia-1972-immigrant-song "Immigrant Song" at ledzeppelin.com]
*[http://www.ascap.com/ace/search.cfm?requesttimeout=300&mode=results&searchstr=390244458&search_in=i&search_type=exact&search_det=t,s,w,p,b,v&results_pp=20&start=1 ASCAP entry]
* {{YouTube|RlNhD0oS5pk|"Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song (Live 1972) (Official Video)"}}
*[http://ledzeppelin.com/video/australia-1972-immigrant-song "Immigrant Song" at ledzeppelin.com]


{{Led Zeppelin III}}
{{Led Zeppelin songs}}
{{Led Zeppelin}}
{{Led Zeppelin}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:1970 singles]]
[[Category:1970 singles]]
[[Category:1970 songs]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records singles]]
[[Category:Led Zeppelin songs]]
[[Category:Led Zeppelin songs]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Jimmy Page]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jimmy Page]]
[[Category:Songs written by Jimmy Page]]
[[Category:Songs written by Robert Plant]]
[[Category:Songs written by Robert Plant]]
[[Category:Norse mythology in music]]

[[Category:Viking metal songs]]

[[Category:Folk metal songs]]
[[es:Immigrant Song]]
[[fr:Immigrant Song]]
[[it:Immigrant Song]]
[[ja:移民の歌]]
[[no:Immigrant Song]]
[[pl:Immigrant Song]]
[[pt:Immigrant Song]]
[[ru:Immigrant Song]]
[[fi:Immigrant Song]]
[[sv:Immigrant Song]]

Latest revision as of 23:56, 14 December 2024

"Immigrant Song"
Dutch single picture sleeve
Single by Led Zeppelin
from the album Led Zeppelin III
B-side"Hey, Hey, What Can I Do"
Released5 November 1970 (1970-11-05)
RecordedMay–June 1970 (?); 29 May 1970[1]
StudioRolling Stones Mobile Studio, Headley Grange, Hampshire; Olympic Sound Studios, London[1]
Genre
Length2:26
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)Jimmy Page, Robert Plant
Producer(s)Jimmy Page
Led Zeppelin US singles chronology
"Whole Lotta Love"
(1969) 		"Immigrant Song"
(1970) 		"Black Dog"
(1971)
Audio sample

"Immigrant Song" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is built upon a repeating riff and features lyrical references to Norse mythology, with singer Robert Plant's howling vocals mentioning war-making and Valhalla.[6] The song was included on their 1970 album, Led Zeppelin III and released as a single. Several live recordings have also been issued on various Led Zeppelin albums. Other artists have recorded renditions of the song or performed it live.

Though Led Zeppelin are typically regarded as an album-oriented group, "Immigrant Song" is one of the band's several hit singles.[7] The song's popularity has led to its inclusion in such compilation albums as Led Zeppelin Remasters (1990) and Early Days: The Best of Led Zeppelin, Vol. 1 (1999).[7][8]

Background

[edit]

"Immigrant Song" was written during Led Zeppelin's tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany in the summer of 1970. The opening date of this tour took place in Reykjavík, Iceland, which inspired Plant to write the lyrics. He explained in an interview:

We weren't being pompous ... We did come from the land of the ice and snow. We were guests of the Icelandic Government on a cultural mission. We were invited to play a concert in Reykjavik and the day before we arrived all the civil servants went on strike and the gig was going to be cancelled. The university prepared a concert hall for us and it was phenomenal. The response from the kids was remarkable and we had a great time. 'Immigrant Song' was about that trip and it was the opening track on the album that was intended to be incredibly different.[9]

Six days after Led Zeppelin's appearance in Reykjavik, the band performed the song for the first time in concert during the Bath Festival.[10]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]

The song begins with a distinctive, wailing cry from Plant and is built on a repeating, staccato riff by guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. It is performed in the key of F♯ minor at a moderate tempo of 112 beats per minute.[11] There is a very faint count-off at the beginning of the track with much hiss which appears on the album version, but is trimmed from the single version. The hiss is feedback from an echo unit.[12]

A phrase from the song was used as the title of Stephen Davis' biography of the band, Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga.[13] The lyrics also did much to inspire the classic heavy metal myth, of Viking-esque figures on an adventure, themes which have been adopted in the look and lyrics of bands such as Iron Maiden, Saxon, Manowar and Amon Amarth.[14]

Personnel

[edit]

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin:[1]

Releases

[edit]
Detail of the 45 rpm single of Immigrant Song showing a secret inscription, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law"

"Immigrant Song" is one of Led Zeppelin's few releases on the 45 rpm single format. It was issued in the United States on 5 November 1970 by Atlantic Records, with the non-album track "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do" on the B-side, and reached number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.[12] First pressings of the US single have a quote from Aleister Crowley inscribed in dead wax by the run-out groove: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."[15] The Japanese single included "Out on the Tiles" as the B-side.

Reception

[edit]

In a contemporary review of Led Zeppelin III, Lester Bangs of Rolling Stone described "Immigrant Song" as the closest to being as classic as "Whole Lotta Love", praising the song's "bulldozer rhythms and Plant's double-tracked wordless vocal crossings echoing behind the main vocal like some cannibal chorus wailing in the infernal light of a savage fertility rite."[16] In March 2023, Rolling Stone ranked "Immigrant Song" at number 18 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time" list.[17]

Cash Box described the song as "filling the aural spectrum once again with wall to wall power," stating that the song has "biting vocals and an unmatched instrumental impact."[18]

Live performances

[edit]

"Immigrant Song" was used to open Led Zeppelin concerts from 1970 to 1972.[19] [20][21] On the second half of their 1972 concert tour of the United States, it was introduced by a short piece of music known as "LA Drone".[22] By 1973, "Immigrant Song" was occasionally being used as an encore, but was then removed from their live set.[12] Live versions of the song can be heard on the Led Zeppelin albums How the West Was Won (featuring a performance at Long Beach Arena in 1972) and the Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions (a version from the Paris Theatre in London in 1971). When the song was played live, Page included a lengthy guitar solo, which was absent on the recorded Led Zeppelin III version.[12] "Immigrant Song" was played as part of the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Jeff Beck by both Page and Beck.[23]

Use of the song in media

[edit]

Led Zeppelin originally denied Richard Linklater permission to use "Immigrant Song" in School of Rock (2003), but star Jack Black was able to convince them by making a video of himself performing the song.[24] In the movie Shrek the Third (2007), "Immigrant Song" appears in a battle scene involving the character Snow White.[25] A cover of "Immigrant Song", produced by Atticus Ross and Nine Inch Nails member Trent Reznor with vocals from Yeah Yeah Yeahs lead singer Karen O, plays in the trailer and throughout the title sequence of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011).[26] "Immigrant Song" was included in both the trailer for Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and twice in the film itself, due to director Taika Waititi's suggestion of the song from the time of his first involvement with the film and to the persistent efforts of the movie's music supervisor Dave Jordan.[27]

Chart history

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[51] Platinum 100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[52] 2× Platinum 60,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[53] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[54] Platinum 600,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Guesdon & Margotin 2018, p. 168.
  2. ^ Hulett, Ralph; Prochnicky, Jerry (2011). Whole Lotta Led: Our Flight with Led Zeppelin. Kensington Publishing Corp. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-8065-3555-5. However, the opener, "Immigrant Song," set a standard for medieval imagery of Viking lust in hard rock.
  3. ^ "The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time: 7 – 'Immigrant Song' (1970)". Rolling Stone. 7 November 2012. Archived from the original on 22 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  4. ^ Popoff, Martin (2003). "Immigrant Song". The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time. ECW Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-55022-530-3. The first Viking metal song ever, Immigrant Song might also be the first smudge of gothic rock evidenced by Plant's exotic pre-Dio vocal melodies which turn an almost casual, incidental song into a quickly attacking then evaporating classic.
  5. ^ Pitchfork Staff (22 August 2016). "The 200 Best Songs of the 1970s". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 October 2022. ...Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" represents the first tick on the folk-metal timeline.
  6. ^ Curtis, James M. (1987). Rock Eras: Interpretations of Music and Society, 1954–1984. Popular Press. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-87972-369-9.
  7. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Led Zeppelin – Early Days: The Best of Led Zeppelin, Vol. 1". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  8. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Led Zeppelin – Led Zeppelin Remasters". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  9. ^ Welch, Chris (1994). Led Zeppelin. London: Orion Books. p. 55. ISBN 1-85797-930-3.
  10. ^ Lewis, Dave; Pallett, Simon (1997). Led Zeppelin: The Concert File. London: Omnibus Press. pp. 50–51. ISBN 0-7119-5307-4.
  11. ^ Fricke, David (2008). Led Zeppelin Mothership. Alfred Publishing Co. p. 81. ISBN 978-0-7390-5317-1.
  12. ^ a b c d Lewis, Dave (1994). The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
  13. ^ Wall, Mick (2010). When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin. St. Martin's Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-1-4299-8561-1.
  14. ^ Daniels, Neil (2016). Iron Maiden – Updated Edition. Voyageur Press. pp. 23–26. ISBN 978-0-7603-5254-0.
  15. ^ "Led Zeppelin III (Led Zeppelin) Easter Egg – Alastair Crowley in the Dead Wax". Easter Egg. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  16. ^ Bangs, Lester (26 November 1970). "Led Zeppelin III". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  17. ^ "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. 13 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Singles Reviews > Picks of the Week" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXII, no. 21. 14 November 1970. p. 22. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  19. ^ Bream, Jon (2010) [2008]. "Unledded, 1970". In Dregni, Michael; Pernu, Dennis (eds.). Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin: The Illustrated History of the Heaviest Band of All Time. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Voyageur Press. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-7603-3507-9. The band cleaned up with its performance at Bath, from the opener, a new number called 'Immigrant Song', to its - count 'em - four encores.
  20. ^ Carr, Roy (27 November 1971). "Led Zeppelin, Stone the Crows: Empire Pool, Wembley". New Musical Express – via Rock's Backpages. Obviously a little nervous. Zeppelin kicked off with 'Immigrant Song' and slowly built varying degrees of climax in their 167-minute spot.
  21. ^ Everett, Todd (August 1972). "Led Zeppelin: The Forum, Inglewood, California". Phonograph Record – via Rock's Backpages. What better way for Led Zeppelin to begin their three-and-a-half hour onslaught on the eardrums than with a crash of the drums? A crash of the drums it was, and straight on into 'Immigrant Song'.
  22. ^ John Paul Jones; Jimmy Page (2003). How the West Was Won (Compact disc). Atlantic Records.
  23. ^ Soeder, John (5 April 2009). "Live, from Cleveland! City basks in the glitter of Rock Hall induction ceremonies". The Plain Dealer.
  24. ^ Lifton, Dave (28 October 2017). "How Led Zeppelin's 'Immigrant Song' Wound Up in 'Thor: Ragnarok'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  25. ^ Lateer, Abigail (27 April 2023). "Shrek Soundtrack Review". The Hill News. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  26. ^ Ford, Rebecca (12 December 2011). "'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' Soundtrack Music Video Debuts". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  27. ^ Guerrasio, Jason (6 November 2017). "It took the entire making of 'Thor: Ragnarok' for Marvel to finally nab the rights to a Led Zeppelin song". Business Insider. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  29. ^ "Go-Set National Top 60". Go-Set. 6 March 1971. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  30. ^ "Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  31. ^ "CHUM 30 (week of January 23, 1971)". CHUM. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3741." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  33. ^ "Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin". Danske Hitlister. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  34. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  35. ^ "Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  36. ^ Okamoto, Satoshi (2011). Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2010 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. ISBN 978-4-87131-088-8.
  37. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 6, 1971" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  38. ^ "Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  39. ^ Scapolo, Dean (2007). "Top 50 Singles – May 1971". The Complete New Zealand Music Charts (1st ed.). Wellington: Transpress. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
  40. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (L)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  41. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  42. ^ "Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  43. ^ "Led Zeppelin Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  44. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 9, 1971". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012.
  45. ^ "The Singles Chart" (PDF). Record World. 16 January 1971. p. 27. ISSN 0034-1622. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  46. ^ "RPM 100 Top Singles of '71". RPM. 8 January 1972. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  47. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1971" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  48. ^ "Hot Digital Singles – 1 December 2007". Billboard. Retrieved 17 January 2009. [dead link‍]
  49. ^ "Led Zeppelin Songs – Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Musicvf.com. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  50. ^ "December 1, 2007 – Rdio". Billboard. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
  51. ^ "Italian single certifications – Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  52. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  53. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  54. ^ "British single certifications – Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 July 2022.

Bibliography

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