Celebration Day by Led Zeppelin

Album: Led Zeppelin III (1970)

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Songfacts®:

This was almost left off the album. The beginning of the master tape was kinked and wouldn't play in the tape machine. It was cut out and the ending synthesizer of "Friends" was composited over the edit to disguise it.
Jimmy Page said of this song: "Why 'Celebration'? It's saying 'I'm happy,' that's all."
Zeppelin played this on their tours from 1971-1973. A live version appears on their concert documentary The Song Remains the Same. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Adrian - Wilmington, DE
In his interview with Guitar World magazine in 1993, Jimmy Page comments on this song: "There's about three or four riffs going down on that one, isn't there? Half was done with a guitar in standard tuning and the other half was done on slide guitar tuned to an open A, I think. We put that together at Headley Grange. Because we rented the Rolling Stones' mobile recording studio, we could relax and take our time and develop the songs in rehearsals. We didn't have to worry about wasting studio time. I do not remember too much about that song other than that and what I told you earlier about the opening being erased. I used to play the whole thing live on my electric 12-string."

In the same interview, Plant talks about the effect of John "Bonzo" Bonham on the band: "Besides being one of the best drummers I have ever heard, he was also one of the loudest. He was the reason we had to start buying bigger amps."
Robert Plant says that the lyrics to this song reflect his impressions of New York City. He even introduced it in concert sometimes as "The New York Song."
"Celebration Song" was also covered by The Black Crowes (with Page guest-starring) and the German metal band Mob Rules. Oh, and Dread Zeppelin, of course.

Comments: 31

John from MassachusettsTo the person wondering about the line, "I'm gonna join the band", it's just that: a line in a song. Everything isn't literal; sometimes a line just fits! Not being snarky or anything, just pointing that out from a songwriter's perspective. I remember Jack White talking about such things.This is paraphrased: "It seems forgotten nowadays that songwriters are writing characters, and when I say in a song "she did this to me", people say I'm a misogynist. If I say "he did this to me", people say I'm a misanthrope. And if I say "well, I think this is wrong", I'm like an old man yelling at you to get off his lawn or something."
Michael from Somewhere In The MiddleIf I was Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, or John Paul Jones. I would demand that my song is not now, or ever played on a Chicago Cubs broadcast. Led Zeppelin, the greatest rock band ever is being played by the cubs, the Worst baseball team ever! It just isn't right to mix the greatest with the the worst.
Willie from Scottsdale, AzYou are correct, Karol, thanks for pointing it out. My error.
Karol from Pori, Finland"They sometimes used the intro riff from CD as an intro to Black Dog."

Hey Willie, not from CD but from "Out On The Tiles"
Willie from Scottsdale, AzThey sometimes used the intro riff from CD as an intro to Black Dog.
Matt from Galway, IrelandA lot of people here are saying this song is 'different'. What the hell does that even mean? You're always gonna know this is Led Zeppelin.
David from Los Angeles , CaThe solo is crazy!!!! My hats off to Mr. Page and the rest of the gang
David from Libertyville, IlThey would play the beginning of this song after commercial break for Cubs games on the radio.
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiThis was played from 1971-1973 and in 1979.
Peter Griffin from Quahog, Ri"I read in the book "Hammer Of the Gods" that the engineer accidently recorded over the drums in the begining( where Bonham did an intro that well never be heard) and Bonham chased him out of the studio in sheer rage. The synths where added more for cosmetic fx than atmosphere to fix the mess-up."
- BOSCOUXE, SALINAS, CA

I don't blame Bonzo for that. I'd want to beat the living daylights out of the engineer too.
Craig from Starkville, MtAside from Nobody's Fault, this song has the best Jimmy solo--you can almost see his fingures of the fret board everytime you hear it!
Echo from Normalville, Mai love how this just kind of melts out of Friends
Guy from Benson, NcSpencer, I agree that the bass line is awesome. Then again, most of JPJ bass lines are great.
Dan from Pittsburgh, PaWithout thinking about it further, I always assumed this tune had something to do with Immigration into America...New York specifically...maybe closely related to the Statue of Liberty. Think about that when you read the lyrics.
Mandy from CalgaryI love this song. It has so much energy and its just a really fun song to listen to.
Nate from Lincoln, NeI love the line: "But the price you pay to nowhere has increased a dollar more." I don't know what this song is about exactly, but I think some of lyrics (like many of Zeppelin's songs) are really poetic and deep. I love Zeppelin!
Spencer from Richmond, Vaim surprised no ones commented on the bassline yet! this was one of the first songs i learned on bass, and its great..especially in the chorus. you dont even have to listen hard to hear it
Chris from Whitesboro, NyZeppelin also brought this back into the setlist for the 1979 four concert tour. You can see a video of it played at Knebworth circulating on the internet now.....
Matthew from Sarasota, FlDiffrent song, great fast solo to play though.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScO yeah, the synths are pretty cool too.
Danny from Sydney, AustraliaI think this song is about a man joining a band, becoming famous, and his girlfriend dealing with this ie "She hears them talk of new ways
To protect the home she lives in,
Then she wonders what it's all about
When they break down the door."
Sjb from Waco, TxI personally think this song is about the use of the institution on the way to fame and the fleeting nature of that fame. The "my my my I'm so happy" part would be sarcastic in my interpretation. The "train" referred to near the end is a syndicate or record label; the price referred to is the cost of using such a method to reach your destination, but if you don't use a label (walking, if you will) you'll never reach it. However, I believe that the song implies that this is not an ideal circumstance. The ideal would be if no syndicate was required.
Nick from Solvang, CaWhat's with the line "I'm gonna join the band?" He was in the band. I'm confused.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, Sclove the guitars and Plant's vocals on this song1
Boscouxe from Salinas, CaI read in the book "Hammer Of the Gods" that the engineer accidently recorded over the drums in the begining( where Bonham did an intro that well never be heard) and Bonham chased him out of the studio in sheer rage. The synths where added more for cosmetic fx than atmosphere to fix the mess-up.
Anonymous from Electric LadylandGreat song, does anybody else notice that in the first chorus, when he says "I'm gonna join the band" the layered vocal tracks don't line up exactly, and it sounds like "I-I'm gonna join the band"? Well I noticed it. Good song anyways
Kent Lyle from Palo Alto, CaThe synthesizer was very much an ex-post-facto sort of thing, but it was the first use of synthesizer on a Zeppelin record.
Travis from New York City, NyI agree, Plant's vocals in this song might be my favorite of any of his work, especially in the chorus.
Bill from W.i., NyIt's not on the movie TSRTS, it's only on the album.
Adrian from Wilmington, DeEverything is just perfect on this track. The vocals, guitars, bass, drums, everything! The verses feature the perfect blend of Robert Plant's high and low vocal range. Some of lyrics in this I believe refer to the same woman who was lamented about in "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)"
Jeff from Bakersfield, CaAwesome song. Love Plant's Voice on it.

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