What is the true meaning to stairway to heaven?

There are a couple of theories, other than the one that states playing it backwards will induce satanic messages (which Plant, himself, discredited on several occasions).

The one I’m more inclined to believe is the comparative with Lord of the Rings, which Plant was immersed in around the time the song was written.

If you look at some of the lyrics, you can see the meaning:

“looking to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving”: As Frodo leaves for Mordor, he looks west to the Shire

“There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold.”: Galadriel, perhaps?

There are other interpretations which say it’s about a woman who manages to get a lot of money, then realizes her life is meaningless.

thanks :)

I would say it’s not about anything. Most of Plant’s original lyrics are random phrases he strung together.

There are so many thoughts as to what this song means, many think it was just a bunch of jabber that Plant thought of when he was high.. lol but here is a more religous theory I found on www.sunsetwestproductions.com that I found interesting. and the words in parentheses are what each line means:

Stairway To Heaven words and music by Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin.

There’s a lady who’s sure all that glitters is gold And she’s buying a stairway to heaven. (she is tithing) When she gets there she knows, if the stores are all closed With a word she can get what she came for. (The bible is the word of God, with the bible, she can get into Heaven.) Revelation 3:8 Ooh, ooh, and she’s buying a stairway to heaven. (She is tithing and she she thinks that will get her into Heaven)

There’s a sign on the wall but she wants to be sure (points out the significance of the next line, hint hint) ‘Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings. (parables, which the bible is full of, and the words in this song have two meanings) In a tree by the brook, there’s a songbird who sings, (reference to John the Baptist and Jesus) Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiving. Ooh, it makes me wonder, (think!) Ooh, it makes me wonder.

There’s a feeling I get when I look to the west, (the anointing of the holy spirit’s comforting, Christianity is the religion of western civilization) (it’s usually about now that I feel the spirit! -jk) And my spirit is crying for leaving. (soul crying out to be saved) In my thoughts I have seen rings of smoke through the trees, (Revelation of Jesus Christ) And the voices of those who standing looking. Ooh, it makes me wonder, Ooh, it really makes me wonder.

And it’s whispered (Revealed by Jesus) that soon if we all call the tune Then the piper (Jesus, the one playing the woodwind instrument, the flute, which has a whispering tone) will lead us to reason. (Jesus’ second coming, revelation 7:17) And a new day will dawn for those who stand long (World after tribulation) Revelation 3:12 And the forests will echo with laughter.

Well I’ve got some good news! (Gospel is the Greek word for good news) If there’s a bustle in your hedgerow, don’t be alarmed now, It’s just a spring clean for the May queen. (God puling the weeds, the tare, reaping…) Yes, there are two paths you can go by (the Stairway to Heaven or the Highway to Hell), but in the long run, There’s still time to change the road you’re on. Well I hope so! (There is always hope. It is never to late to be saved) And it makes me wonder.

Your head is humming and it won’t go, in case you don’t know, The piper’s calling you to join him, (Jesus said I will knock on the door…) Rev 3:20 Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, (the word of Jesus) and did you know Your stairway lies on the whispering wind. (if you want to get to heaven you have to follow the piper, Jesus. Christians are saved by grace, not by their works.)

And as we wind on down the road (Later in life, after a few wrong turns. There is a straight and narrow path to heaven, there is a long and winding road to hell. ) Our shadows taller than our soul. (late in the day (near the end of our life) we cast longer shadows, our soul is nothing with out Jesus) There walks a lady we all know Who shines white light and wants to show How everything still turns to gold. (Later in life after more and more sin we can still be saved. The new world after the tribulation will be made of gold.) And if you listen very hard The tune will come to you at last. (if you accept Christ the holy spirit will come into your heart and you will be saved.) When all are one and one is all (in Heaven we are one with God) To be a rock and not to roll. (Jesus is the Rock, be strong with his foundation)

Lol a little different than satanic messages huh? It makes sense though.

Robert Anton Wilson once said “what the thinker thinks the prover will prove”. I think I can confidently say that Stairway To Heaven is not a Christian message. An undertanding of the spiritual perspective both Plant and Page share would clarify this point.