News The Shakespearean character at the centre of a Led Zeppelin song
The cultural phenomenon of Led Zeppelin owes much to the world of literature. Frontman Robert Plant drew inspiration from the rich narratives of esteemed authors, infusing the band’s naturally mystical sound with added depth and resonance. This literary influence resonated deeply with their legions of long-haired fans, who shared similarly expansive imaginations.
Most notably, Plant looked to the influential fantasies of The Lord of the Rings architect J.R.R. Tolkien several times for his material. From ‘Ramble On’ discussing “the darkest depths of Mordor” and explicitly mentioning the creature Gollum to ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ taking its title from a 1915 poem by the great writer, it’s safe to say that the band would have been lacking some of their finest moments without this area to lean into.
Furthermore, Plant wasn’t afraid to look to the native myths of European countries to bring works to life. Famously, the pulsating ‘Immigrant Song’ delves heavily into the Nordic sagas of the Vikings with lines such as: “The hammer of the gods / Will drive our ships to new lands / To fight the horde, sing and cry / Valhalla, I am coming”. In doing so, he created a mesmeric haze that would have been enough to prompt even the Asgardian heroes into battle, let alone inspire his fans to lose themselves in full-bodied hippie abandon.
One of the band’s most overlooked later songs, ‘Poor Tom’ from the 1982 compilation Coda, is also brimming with literate references. The song was recorded in 1970 and originally intended for the divisive Led Zeppelin III but ultimately didn’t make the cut, despite Plant and Jimmy Page writing it in their Welsh sanctuary of the cottage at Bron-y-aur, an abode that spawned many classics.
In the song, the eponymous character discovers his wife’s infidelity and shoots her in what is undoubtedly a controversial lyrical decision. Featuring a jug-band aesthetic and acoustics, this number harks back to the saloons that facilitated their beloved blues genre growing into a global phenomenon. However, it is a famed work from centuries before this formative era in music that is said to have birthed the character of “Poor Tom”.
According to Songfacts, William Shakespeare’s masterpiece, King Lear, features a character called “Poor Tom”. He is introduced in Act II, Scene III as the alias of Edgar, or the madman named “Tom o’ Bedlam”, the first-born son of Gloucester, who hasn’t appeared previously but has been outlawed by his evil brother Edmund. In the story, Edgar goes insane after Edmund’s attempt to usurp him.
In the lyrics, Plant also refers to the folkloric concept “seventh son of a seventh son”, which regards the supposed special powers of such a child, ranging from physical abilities to healing. This heightens the mystery of the lyrics, making it a vintage Led Zeppelin moment, even if it is widely overlooked.
Listen to ‘Poor Tom’ below.
