One of the many great things about Zep are the layers of musicality. It guarantees that you can relisten to a song many times and still find something new. This song is a reworking of the original song recorded in 1929 by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy about the flood of the Mississippi Delta in 1927. It was part of the Great Migration which saw more African Americans come North for better opportunities ("go to Chicago"). There's no synth on this song, however, there was a lot of production on this song. Bonzo's drums were set up in the entrance hall of Headley Grange with mics placed around and hanging above his drum kit to help get that wonderful sound while also feeding it through a Binson Echorec and compressing the final product. Jimmy uses a slide to help give the guitar that stretchy sound and he and Jonesy used a modal structure to give the droning tone. Reverse echo was added to the harmonica and various effects were added to the vocals. If all this weren't enough, the vocals stayed at the same speed, however the instruments were slowed a half step in production to further assist with the sludgy, back water blues style sound. This song is a groove, it's menacing, it hits hard, almost bludgeoning you with intensity while the circular drone carves furrows in your brain. Masterpiece. Personally, I'd say don't do lyric videos because sometimes whoever puts it together get the lyrics wrong too - I've seen it several times. Maybe do what you're doing and save the lyrics for after because you know you'll listen to the song again. :) Still, do what's best for your overall enjoyment.

I spit my beer out when he said “i love that synthesizer” that son is a blues harp. Love your reaction, wish i could have a first response to a zeppelin song.

I don't always listen to Led Zeppelin but when I do so do my neighbors. This song is right up there with Kashmir as my personal Zeppelin favorites.

Hands down the best drum sound ever captured on record - it’s huge

The harmonica playing here is other worldly. Just stunning. I can’t imagine going back and forth between playing harmonica and singing like that. What a treasure this music is!

What always stands out for me in this song is Robert's harmonica playing, especially in the opening. Very unique phrasing.

“When the Levee Breaks” is widely considered one of the band’s masterpieces, as well as one of Page’s most complex productions, and it's definitely one of my favorites. It was originally written by Memphis Minnie, a well known blues artist during the first half of the 1900s, and the lyrics are about The Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. About its production, Page said “You’ve got backwards harmonica, backwards echo, phasing, and there’s also flanging, and at the end you get this super-dense sound, in layers, that’s all built around the drum track, and you’ve got Robert, constant in the middle, and everything starts to spiral around him. It’s all done with panning, each 12 bars has something new about it, though at first it might not be apparent. There’s a lot of different effects on there that at the time had never been used before. Phased vocals, a backwards echoed harmonica solo…” Bonham's drums were set up in the entryway of Headley Grange and the microphones placed three stories up the stairwell, thus capturing a very distinctive sound. That, and Page's genius studio wizardry, made this song very difficult to perform live, which they did only twice, because the effects of the productions values were impossible to replicate live without losing the "feel" of it. Plant sang in the sort of in between key, and the instrumentation purposely arranged to give the sense that the voice was in perpetual danger of being over-whelmed by immense natural forces. The effect was spot on. Words used to describe this song when people hear this song, like "epic", "awesome", "intense" , are entirely accurate in my mind, but for me, even after hearing it for the zillionth time, my mind still lands on "absolutely incredible". Very glad you two enjoyed it. It's a song you'll likely not soon forget. Looking forward to hearing what you've been working on to post while you're gone. Enjoy your trip! :) Edit: As for reading the lyrics while listening to one of LZ's songs for the first time, I don't recommend it. It can distract you from just getting "in the groove". Olivia's idea of reading them after is an excellent idea. :)

I never get tired of hearing this song. It's an aural masterpiece. I always feel like you're drowning in a whirlpool of sound towards the end. No other band even comes close to this kind perfect maelstrom. Thank you Jimmy Page!

The reverse echo on the harmonica is just so nasty, love it..

I believe the drums from this song still remain the most sampled and mixed drums of hip hop/wrap. Plus the other instrument you missed is the harmonica played by plant. The power of this song is unreal

This is simply the greatest recorded harmonica sound in history. Second is "Nobody's Fault But Mine"...

This song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.. And Robert Plant played the harmonica

Teenagers 50 years hence, LITERALLY, having exactly the same reaction to this music. I was mind blowing then, and it still blows minds today. I heard this song first probably about 73 or so. Easily one of Led Zeppelin's best songs. But it helps to see these young people reacting. It takes me back...

One of my top Zep songs forever. For me, it is absolutely hypnotic… I get captured by that beat and go into almost a trance. Add that superb harmonica of Plant. Goosebumps

Robert Plant is playing harmonica.

YES YES YES!!! Double stank face haha So glad you guys finally got to this track. The instruments are just bass guitar, 12 string guitar, 6 string guitar, drums and Plant on the harmonica. The drums were set up in a hallway which allowed for some awesome echo on the sound but they put echo on the track anyway. Great reaction 😁

This is the most famous drum track in all of music. Between the production, the pocket, and that Bonham stomp, it'll be best for a long time to come. All my favorite drummers knew how to hit em hard. Which reminds me - War Pigs - Live in Paris 1970.

Four of the best damn musicians ever. Who can say who is the greatest band ever but I know one of the best.

WOW!! SO cool! Watchin' you guys, your amazement and sheer joy, then I realized we were all boppin' our heads in exact sync. Suddenly, I was with you, and hearing it for the first time! Literally 50 years, to the month (that's half a damn century! 😝), after the real experience! Well, this was an enjoyable and worthwhile experience, as well. Thank you! Loved your reaction! More! 😁

Dudes, you express what I’ve felt on every hearing of this song...for the last 45 years! Timeless and fantastic!

Still to this day my favorite band. Fortunate to have seen their Presence tour! So nice to see today's youth digging music from the greatest days of Rock.

As a soon to be Grandad, I can say it... you two are ADORABLE! Classic Zep, doesn't get much better.

Electric guitar, harmonica, bass guitar, drums . That's it ,they recorded at a different tempo and then slowed it down, John Bonham's drums were recorded in a stairwell .

I’m 65,I started listening to zeppelin in 1969;they set the standard. And raised the bar!

Best thing to do with a song that plays with time is to just keep nodding your head to the timing that you've established and let it come back and find you.

Hi Alivia! The dynamic duo! One of the most heavily sampled drum tracks in rock history. The next album ventures into many, many new directions and musical genres for the band. Great video. TY.

I'm sure someone else has probably told you guys that the drums on this recording are legendary. Simply phenomenal!

Inspired By The Great Mississippi Flood Of 1927,, The Most Destructive Flood In U.S. History,, Flood Waters Reaching 30 Feet In Some Places..R.I.P. To The 500+ Souls Lost On That Day.🙏❤

Young people listening to Led makes me very happy, we had the BEST music back in the 70s

It’s a guitar,a bass, drums, and vocals. And Robert plays the Harmonica aka Blues Harp. That’s all the instruments. It’s not a synthesizer...yikes, it’s a harmonic! You guys are young, I’ll give you that!🤷🏻‍♂️

Just came across this reaction and you both are fun to watch. Definitely great to see younger folks digging into the classics. Keep it up 👍

Awesome to see some young beautiful peeps digging the old music!

This 68-year-old man got a freakin' kick out of watching your eyes and facial expressions in the first two minutes of the song. It was apparent you all had never heard what was called Chicago Blues from back in the 1920s and '30s. I could see your little noodles melting over that wicked, raw, soulful sound of a bluesy harmonica ripping through your ears. What a joy! I still have all my original Zepplin albums from back in the 70s. So fun to watch you kids discover rock and roll.

I love the 2 of you together....I hope ya'll stay together forever!!

Bonzo’s drumming is what defines this song. He played a Ludwig kit recorded in the lobby of Headley Grange using two microphones which were hung up high above on a flight of stairs; output from these were passed to a pair of compressor/limiters set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A Binson Echorec, a delay effects unit, was also used.

This song makes you want to start the whole album all over again : )

Released in 1971. No synthesizer used, no digital, no autotune.

So I was like 10 years old when this came out. Can you imagine what it was like? Sitting in the driveway, in my older brother's GTO, listening to this 8-track, completely enthralled!!! You guys, oh you have no idea, the music life I have enjoyed. Earliest memories of The Beatles, Byrds, Stones, Zombies,The Who, Zep, Yes, Bad Co., and American bands, CCR, Grand Funk, CSN, CSNY, Poco, I know I am forgetting so many, but you have it. You have it all at your fingertips. You lucky kids! Keep at it.

My first concert was Led Zeppelin in 1977 when I was 15...yes I'm bragging.

Glad to see youngsters enjoying Led Zeppelin as I did 50 plus years ago. I was 19 when this album was released. Still the best songs around

I started playing drums because of this song, as I understand thousands of other drummers have.

My favourite Zeppelin, love that Delta Blues sound.

I love the reactions. He's getting down and ...she's out there....

That right there is Mississippi blues as performed by a British hard rock band. Zeppelin is number 1

Stank face was inevitable. Great album review Silas. Shout to your mom dad and girlfriend. Can't wait for the Houses reaction. Enjoy Mexico

Next to this album is houses of the holy, another absolute monster. After you finish the next album you could watch the Madison Square Garden concert. There you will see the best version of the songs you already listen

The beat just draws you in, sooner or later. The song is a sleeper and showcases the harmonica very nicely. Robert was quite good with that little instrument. JImmy's slide guitar was quite well done.

appreciate this song and know that Zeppelin fans from New Orleans have a special.. not always happy.. place in their heart for this song.. for me it is a funeral dirge for our city.. post Katrina it took on new meaning... growing up they played it on the radio when it rained hard... memories

Love it when people your age discover the greats...keep doing this!

Really a treat seeing Alivia trying to process what she's listening to - not the easiest of things to do first up with a Zeppelin classic 🙂

Some of the most creative harmonica playing ever

At 4 minutes you guys reaction is awesome just like every other Led Zeppelin fan reacts.

I really love seeing young folks enjoying this music! Don't know your ages, but I suspect you are around the same age I was when this album was released (19). It's amazing to think that was 53 years ago... and even more amazing to see how well y'all relate to this music, compared to how little I could relate to music from 53 years prior to 1969 -- that would have been 1916! Music was quite different in my grand parents' time... (Yes, I'm old. But I still love rock music, and stilll listen to Led Zeppelin!) I have subscribed to your channel, and as long as you play LZ, I'll keep watching.

I'm 57. been listening to this record for 45 years. My favorite.

It’s like watching my youth you two rockin out to Zeppelin I love it.Both feelin the beat and the music it’s so damn adorable.John Bohnam the drummer is so in the pocket he was a genius.

Plant's harmonica is absolute euphoria. 😊

Loved your review! One of my favorite Zep songs. Definitely a blues song .

Welcome to the world of real music. Great to see youngsters getting into the music that I grew up in. Your reactions are just like we did in the 1970's. Keep going on the Led Zep and see why they are regarded as the greatest band ever.

It's been great to follow you on this journey 😊

That song is so swampy I love it.

My favorite of MANY classic Led Zep tunes. Such a groove and mood!

I love the backwards recorded slide solo towards the very end.. he threw everything in !

I’m 47 so Zeppelin’s my Dads generation but man we jammed the shiznit outta Zep and it’s so cool to see your generation discovering them as well!!! Keep on posting guys y’all rock

Just magic and happiness all rolled up into a band.

Love the facts that the younger generation also expands their horizon and listen to the classics. Just as I try to listen to new music. Keep on Rockin ! :)

Your guys reaction after 4:09 is awesome, took you both totally off guard. Love your guys reaction!

"Crying won't help ya, praying won't do you no good" and instead of referring to the water as rising, the lyrics suggest things are "going down, going down now" adding to the helplessness of the broken levee....Not many words in this song but they work very well! Love this song!!

Awesome reaction! 🙂 this song is about a horrible flood that happened a long time ago along the Mississippi river, many lives were lost. 😢During your Led brake, I recommend a reaction to Robin Trower "Too Rolling Stoned" If you love guitar,🎸 you'll Love! this!. Thank you Peace! ☮

Bonzo on the drum set, John Paul Jones on the Bass, Jimmy Page on the electric guitar. Robert Plant on vocals and harmonica. No other instruments. There is an acoustic guitar under the main track.

Yeah this is wonderful! Robert on that harmonica! No synthesizer! That is a harmonica and guitar! This is about a flood.

This is one of there monsters, they are all GREAT...this is one of the GRATESTS.....THE GOATS!!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. “Oh Mexico, it sounds so simple. I just got to go.” James Taylor. Look it up! 👍

I love this song by Led Zeppelin out of all of my favorites by them. It’s so bone chilling that they guys are British and yet they are very talented at doing American southern blues. Nothing like it man, I swear. My dad introduced me to Led Zeppelin and this song and I gotta say it, I’ve never gotten the chicken skin I get from this song ever. These guys helped shape the music it is. Even though music today is way different, but I love good old 70s music especially rock and metal. God bless them. The world needs a bit old fashioned. 🙏🏻✝️❤️‍🔥🎤🎼🎸✊🏻

this is great rock/blues sounding song. I been a fan of LZ from the time I first heard them 1978 and I was 14 and jamming out to them

They blend well together because there the greatest rock band of all times !!

Damn.... fire song man, eveyone goes off on this one, i feel like you would definitely love ''Achilles Last Stand'', that is a really up beat song dude, i love the sound of Bonham drums in all songs but in Achilles last stand man, he goes off for real, he shows why he was one of the greatest. Excelent video man, keep going on the Zep road!! Also if u want new artists to listen to, you should check out The Doors or Pink Floyd, some Jimi Hendrix would do it to.

It seems that LZ was so far ahead that 50 years after their heydays people only now start to appreciate their geniality.

I love your reactions and enthusiasm. Keep it up and I think variety is the spice of life.

"They were all great." You are correct!

I always loved Bonham’s drums on this song, & found this interesting per Wikipedia: John Bonham's drumming, played on a Ludwig kit, was recorded in the lobby of Headley Grange using two Beyerdynamic M 160 microphones which were hung up a flight of stairs; output from these were passed to a pair of Helios F760 compressor/limiters set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A Binson Echorec, a delay effects unit, was also used.[9][15][16].✌️❤️🎶

John Bonham's drumming was played on a Ludwig kit and recorded in the hallway of "Headley Grange" (a stone house where Led Zeppelin cut their fourth album), there was a stairway there, that went up like three floors, it was a wooden staircase, with tiled floors. Bonham's kit was set up next to the stairway (on the bottom floor). Using two "Beyerdynamic M160" ribbon microphones, which were hung up at the top of the stairs (on the third floor); the output from these mics was then sent thru a pair of "Helios F760 compressor/limiters", set aggressively to obtain a breathing effect. A "Binson Echorec", (a delay effects unit), was also used. Portions of the song were recorded at a different tempo, then slowed down, explaining the "sludgy" sound, particularly on the harmonica and guitar solos. It was the only song on the album that was mixed at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the rest being remixed in London). Page identifies the panning on the song's ending as one of his favorite mixes "when everything starts moving around except for the voice, which remains stationary".

"Leevee" would definitely be breaking the rules of phonetics. 🤣

That Nasty Harmonica Provided By Robert Plant.

Awesome reaction. Led Zeppelin are a prime example of the British power trios of the time. Power trios with an amazing vocalist added in. Some of the trios stayed at three with a member handling the vocals. The Who. Cream. Jimi Hendrix Experience. To The Police and beyond. Zeppelin used that power trio structure to take classic American blues tunes, electrify them, and introduce them to new audiences. This song is a prime example.

Robert killed it with the Harmonica!

this music was just invented for headphones I swear. i havn't ever listened to it like this before lol. and ive been listening to them to a long time. lol. Ive been missing out. Love this song. thnx guys

One of my favorites! Enjoying watching you guys :)

I love that Zeppelin made no bones about the fact they got a lot of their sound from American Blues. They did another song "In my time of dying" that was a remake of a song by 'Blind Willie Johnson'. It's a must listen to. I believe Bob Dylan did a remake of that tune also.

"So many instruments." For this Led Zeppelin song it mainly consisted of Jimmy Page, Gibson Les Paul guitar; John Paul Jones, Fender Bass guitar; John Bonham, Ludwig drums/Zildjian cymbals; and Robert Plant, lead vocals/harmonica. Awesome song for only four different instruments! 🤘🤘

Enjoyed your reaction to this dirty, filthy, BAD you know what of a song!! One of the greats, no doubt!!

Jimmy Page loved, The Big Room Sound and this was literally recorded in a big room, the entry hall of a 17th century manor. Jimmy loved the acoustics.

The drums stood out because they are one of the most sampled of all time. Beastie Boys used them in Rhymin and Stealin.

I love the lyrics near the end: Going … goin to Chicago Going to Chicago Sorry but I can’t take youou Brutal, lol.

Another fun reaction to Zep! Really enjoying your voyage thru their catalog and look forward to you experiencing Houses Of The Holy. You've probably already got plans made, but when you get to that gap between Zep reactions, I'd love to see you both check out another late-60s contemporary of theirs, Yes. As much as you both enjoy the musicianship on these albums, I think you'd find a lot to like there. Either way, keep enjoying the journey!

Keep it up y'all ! 🏆. We SO appreciate and enjoy watching you experience these classic, and timeless songs. ❤️

One of my favorites! My 17 year old granddaughter likes Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and many others because I introduced her to their music! Nice to see more young people enjoying the best music! I'm waiting for you to react to Kashmir!

When you've finished listing to Led Zep try this for size " Misheard Lyrics | Peter Kay: The Tour That Didn't Tour Tour" comedy at it's best!!!!

Hey Silas, enjoying your vids! Finally sub'ed after watching 10 or so 😁 Alivia's great, definitely need to do more with her. Keep it up!

It was a cover of an old blues song about the great Mississippi flood in 1927. The levees breeched in the lower middle of the Mississippi and it ended up flooding over 60,000 square miles up to 30 ft deep. The largest human migration took place, most of the black migrant workers endedup in Chicago and some went on to Detroit to find work. It tooks years for the land to recover and with all the field workers gone, many farms went under in time for the great depression to kick in.

Another chapter in the book of Zeppelin, and you kids have a ways to go still. Good stuff.

Very cool seeing a younger generation discover such classic stuff