Misty Mountain Hop

The energy of *Misty Mountain Hop* arises from a very particular context. The lyrics, written by Robert Plant, make direct reference to a real event that occurred on July 7, 1968: a gathering in Hyde Park, London, where there were arrests for marijuana possession. Plant captures in it a search for a freer society, where camaraderie replaces restrictions. The title itself, *Misty Mountain Hop*, evokes the legendary Misty Mountains from *The Hobbit*, suggesting an escape to a better place. The song was recorded in 1971 at Headley Grange, a mansion in Hampshire, England, a place the band sometimes inhabited, which contributed to a more informal recording atmosphere.

This track, with music by Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, was included on Led Zeppelin's fourth album, released in 1971. It was released as the B-side of the single *Black Dog*, reaching the United States on December 2 of that year, and also continental Europe and Australia. The band first performed it in Copenhagen on May 3, 1971, and kept it in their 1972 and 1973 tours. After the band's dissolution in 1980, Robert Plant frequently included it in his solo concerts, and even performed it with surviving members at the tribute concert for Ahmet Ertegun in 2007.