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Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT

 
Northwinds NLI
User ID: 1584
Canada
10/19/2005 02:54 PM
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Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
I found this story, it was pretty interesting. I am still not sold on the reverse speech stuff, but it is kind of neat.

If there were a "Top 40" of backmasked songs, "Stairway to Heaven," by Led Zeppelin would have to be at the top of the chart. It has been quoted, misquoted, and dissected for years by religious fundamentalists as being one of the most occultic or satanic songs ever to have been released. I disagree strongly based on my research into the background of this song.

According to Stephen Davis, author of the Zeppelin saga, Hammer of the Gods, the controversy began in 1982, when a prominent Baptist used his radio pulpit to preach that "Stairway to Heaven" carried subliminal backward messages. Then, in April 1982, the California State Assembly played a backward tape of the song in a public session. Some members of the committee claimed they heard the words, "I live for Satan." Led Zeppelin were duly denounced as agents of Satan who were luring millions of teenagers into damnation as unwitting disciples of the Antichrist.

Eddie Kramer, the producer and engineer who worked on four Led Zeppelin albums, says that these charges are "totally and utterly ridiculous. Why would they want to spend so much studio time doing something so dumb?" 9

"Stairway to Heaven" was written in one afternoon by Jimmy Page, lead guitarist of Led Zeppelin and an Aleister Crowley devotee. The song has been reported to employ a technique of encoded words and double meanings similar to those used in Black Spirituals in which some songs were used as maps and other lyrics served to alert plantation slaves of an impending break for freedom. 10

Until approximately 1985, Page owned and lived in Crowley´s former house, "Boleskine," a sprawling farmhouse on the shores of Loch Ness, sometimes called the "Toolhouse" Boleskine was originally purchased in 1900, by Crowley, for almost twice its value, because it met certain requirements of the Books of Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin the Mage. These requirements included windows and a door that opened to the north toward a secluded structure that was to serve as an oratory. It´s commonly assumed that a small outbuilding to the far right was the oratory. 11

Crowley stated in his diary that "shadowy shapes" used to escape the oratory and enter the house. It´s been reported that during subsequent rituals these "shadowy shapes" were unleashed with dire effects on visitors, staff, and a few hapless visitors from nearby Foyers.12

According to Davis, Jimmy Page was quoted in Roadrunner magazine discussing further cases of madness and mayhem including the story that Boleskine was once the site of "a church that burned to the ground with the congregation in it." 13 This brief, historical background gives tremendous insights into the profoundly significant metaphors contained in both the forward and reversed lyrics of "Stairway to Heaven." Sung forward, the song is basically a story of a woman who´s searching for the meaning of life and the path to heaven. In the forward lyrics she sees signs on the wall but cautions that words can have more than one meaning. The bird that sings from the tree tells of thoughts that are misgiven. The thoughts carry images of "smoke" (perhaps fog) in the trees and the voices of those who stand apparently watching from among the trees. This is apparently the same group that is rewarded for their long-standing with the dawn of a new day and the forest´s echo of laughter. There´s great significance to the lyrics when they´re viewed from the perspective of Reverse Speech. When we consider the complementary nature of the song, it appears to be partially a song of hope for all those who according to the legends once suffered at Boleskine.

The lyrics also seem to be a message from the unconscious mind that details its own communicative style. In the process of writing the song the way he did, Jimmy Page unknowingly established the complementary criteria for reversals to occur that speak of their own existence.

"Words have two meanings," and "thoughts are misgiven," appear at the start of the song. Note the complementarity with the last reversal on the song. As soon as the song is reversed, it says quite clearly, "Pl-a-a-a-a-a-y backward. Hear words sung." This is not an intentionally backmasked message, but rather a genuine speech reversal. It almost seems as though the unconscious mind is calling out and saying, "Hey, listen to me. I can communicate."

The lyrics also form a reversal that says: There was a little tool shed where he made us suffer, sad Satan. Jimmy Page may have unconsciously used the words tool shed to refer to the small outbuilding that was the oratory (Boleskine itself was the Toolhouse). The reported "shadowy figures" may be those who have stood for so long in the smoke, but are promised the dawning of a new day.

The last stanza declares not only that there are two paths that can be taken, but also that it is not too late to change roads. This last stanza contains the reversal It´s my sweet Satan, the one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is fake.

Their are references to "path," "forest," and "hedgerow" all of which are descriptive of the setting of the Boleskine mansion. The word Satan itself may be a metaphor for the suffering and pain that occurred in and around Boleskine. The parallels of these images and the legends that surround Boleskine are compelling.

Other reversals that some people have quoted in this song as a basis for their claims, include: "There´s no escaping it / I will sing ´cause I live with Satan / They gotta live for Satan." These reversals are so vague and imprecise, however (validity 1-2), that only the very bold would use them as the basis for an argument.

Finally, a reversal appears on a live version of the song sung in 1976, that says: Forgive me Lord, forgive me Lord, forgive me Lord. How could this be considered satanic? Who´s asking for forgiveness and why? Since when does the nature of Satan, metaphoric or otherwise, include forgiveness? Is the song a stairway to heaven, a stairway to hell, or something totally different? Stephen Davis wrote a description that may be accurate regardless of how you choose to answer these questions. He said: "It expressed an ineffable yearning for spiritual transformation deep in the heart of the generation for which it was intended."
Anonymous Coward
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10/19/2005 03:58 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
I happen to know Jimmy, no doubt there are alot of things he is into, was into, and is no longer into.

Jimmy is married to a Brazillian woman 30 years younger than him (wo) and is a bigtime family man with children these days.

Regarding Stairway and reversing speech. I have a recording that is actually the original Stairway which was written at Headly Grange with the band, lyrics are interestingly different, HOWEVER, I can tell you this, the whole reverse speech thing is pure bullshit when it comes to this song.

What you have hear is Pyramids on Mars and monuments on the moon. Same Shit.
There´s more to it....
User ID: 30616
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10/19/2005 04:15 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
But, there ARE pyramids on Mars and monuments on the Moon.... alien03
Anonymous Coward
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10/19/2005 04:22 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Does anybody know the story of the "crossroads"
agreement aparantly Robert Plant made with Beezelboob?
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 28981
United States
10/19/2005 04:33 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
not sure about Plant, but in the new Scorcese documentary, Bob Dylan says about him going to NYC and being able to play after his ´Crossroads ´ meeting

Bob even makes a sound while making a motion like throwing down a deal, its all said in a very Bob way,
watch the doc again
Anonymous Coward
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10/19/2005 05:27 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Whats so bad about satan?
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 33667
United Kingdom
10/19/2005 05:30 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
"I´ll meet you at the crossroads so you won´t be lonely"

different genre, but are these all the same crossroads?
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 371
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10/19/2005 05:45 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
get the robert johnson boxset. he is the source of the original rock n roll myth about selling your soul for fame (though it is an ancient myth probably across all cultures).



-up jumped the devil blues (Canadians may know this song as david wilcox´s ´Preaching the Blues´

-crossroads (clapton covered it)

just two titles i can remember off the top of my head


("Preaching the Blues")

My name is David Wilcox
I am the high sheriff of Hell
My name is David Wilcox
I am the high sheriff of Hell
And where I go when I die nobody can tell

I woke up this morning
Saw trouble walking like a man
I woke up this morning
I saw trouble walking like a man
And I said, Hello trouble give me your right hand.

Now I could´a had religion
On this very day
But the women and the whisky around me woul not
Let me pray
Oh now the blues ain´t nothin´ but low down shakin´ chill
Well if you ain´t never had ´em
I sure hope you never will
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 2445
United States
10/19/2005 05:59 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Call it "bullshit" if you wish,

I actually hooked my record player up to play backwards and bought a used copy of Stairway to Heaven just to find out for myself.

Most of what these people quote as being on the backward side I didn´t hear.

I did hear "my sweet Satan" & "I wish it would snow" and that the extent of it.

Didn´t make it up -- I heard it. But, I don´t really know how that affects the listener when its´ played normally.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 29708
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10/19/2005 06:11 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Yep dude,

I did that shit about 12 years ago and heard the same thing. We also did it with about 20 other records out of 300 or so in the collection at the time, and found Satan mentioned like 50 times.

Know what else? When you talk, parts of words you say will do the same thing over time.

WOW, it is simply amazing!
Robert
User ID: 3819
United States
10/19/2005 06:22 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
"Stairway to Heaven" was written in one afternoon by Jimmy Page

wrong



[link to www.led-zeppelin.org]

Led Zep were the biggest crooks in history
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 3819
United States
10/19/2005 06:23 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Taurus - Spirit
[link to www.led-zeppelin.org]
Black Jim

User ID: 2894
United States
10/19/2005 06:48 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Jimmy Page must of been jonesin for cash and smack when he sold out to P. Diddy,trashing Kashmir.The magik left him a long time ago.
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 33715
United States
10/19/2005 06:57 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
"Jimmy is married to a Brazillian woman 30 years younger than him (wo) and is a bigtime family man with children these days"

Idol?
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 3252
United States
10/19/2005 07:33 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Aleister Crowley and Zep?

Is this the same Aleister Crowley that infiltrated many religions with satanisum?

The man who called himself The Beast 666? ( LaVey wrote the satanic bible, Crowley wrote the book of the Law.)

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

He couldn´t be the same man, didn´t he die in 1947? How old was Zep then?
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 33616
United States
10/19/2005 07:35 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
according to some guy who threw together a ufo rock thing with vh1 page
said he didn´t write stairway
it came from someone else through him
like dylan said about some of his songs
on an interview on sixty minutes
who is this one that just gives it away?

maybe a muse or something ?
clearly all "satanic" lyrics must be revisited
could be dealing with some psalms or something
alert the vatican.. oh no
definitely don´t do that
JP agreed the answer was blowing in the wind
and this made RATZ mad
meanwhile
i note that no one is mentioning bono´s lunch with Bush
today
02b a fly on the wall..
course this is one who kisses crucifixes so
prob. just some polite boot licking ?
Anonymous Coward
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10/19/2005 07:36 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Oh I had to re read your post OP

"Stairway to Heaven" was written in one afternoon by Jimmy Page, lead guitarist of Led Zeppelin and an Aleister Crowley devotee."

Zep was a follower of Crowley! I did not know that. I Learn something everyday!!!!!
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 3819
United States
10/19/2005 07:40 PM
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Re: Stairway to Heaven, Alester Crowley, Zep, and Reverse Speech. NEAT
Spirt opened for zep and Jimmy Page stole the song plain and simple. They ripped off everyone. Zep also like to steal lyrics completely.

Sorry to burst your bubble.





GLP