Led Zeppelin’s 1971 untitled album, known as Led Zeppelin IV, was a watershed record for the band, and it boasts the most unlikely radio smash “Stairway to Heaven,” which clocks in at over eight minutes. Frontman Robert Plant recently shared that while he admires the musical construction of “Stairway to Heaven,” he no longer relates to the song.

While the song was never officially released as a single, it was a mainstay on rock radio through the ‘70s and is widely considered one of the best songs of all time. Plant opened up about the tune on the Ultimate Classic Rock Nights radio show. He told host Uncle Joe Benson, “Of course, it was a good song,” he says, “The construction of the song, the actual musical construction is very, very good. It’s one of those moments that really can stand without a vocal – and, in fact, it will stand again without a vocal, I’m sure, because it's a fine, fine piece of music.”

He also notes that "lyrically, now, I can’t relate to it, because it was so long ago.” Plant continues, “I would have no intention ever to write along those abstract lines anymore. I look at it and I tip my hat to it, and I think there are parts of it that are incredible. The way that  Jimmy [Page] took the music through, and the way that the drums reached, almost climaxed and then continued. … It’s a very beautiful piece. But lyrically, now, and even vocally, I go, ‘I’m not sure about that.’”

Ultimate Classic Rock Nights airs on more than 50 stations across the country on weeknights from 7PM to midnight. Check out the list of radio stations where it airs here.

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