In the Light Album: Physical Graffiti (1975)
by Led Zeppelin
The song was composed primarily by bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones on synthesizer, though singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page also received songwriting credits.
The unique sound of the intro was created by Page using a bow on an acoustic guitar, as a backdrop to Jones' opening synthesizer solo. The song is based on an earlier band composition titled "In the Morning".
Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones composed most of this on a synthesizer. They never played the song live because Jones could not reproduce the synthesizer sound outside the studio.
Near the beginning of the song, Jimmy Page played his guitar with a violin bow. He also used the bow on "Dazed And Confused" and "How Many More Times." Talking about the song in the BBC book The Guitar Greats, Page said: "Once the vocal lines and phrasing were sorted out, you'd know where not to play, which was as important as knowing when you should play. With 'In The Light,' for instance, we knew exactly what its construction was going to be, but nevertheless, I had no idea at the time that John Paul Jones was going to come up with such an amazing synthesizer intro, plus there's all the bowed guitars at the beginning as well, to give the overall drone effect. We did quite a few things with drones on, like 'In The Evening' and all that, but when he did that start for 'In The Light' it was just unbelievable."
This was one of Jimmy Page's favorite songs on Physical Graffiti. In the interviews preceding the release of the album, he spoke of the song as the follow-up to "Stairway To Heaven."
In the Light
Led Zeppelin
Written by: John Paul Jones, James Patrick Page, Robert Anthony Plant
Album: Physical Graffiti
1975
And if you feel that you can't go on
And your will's sinkin' low
Just believe, and you can't go wrong
In the light you will find the road
You will find the road
Oh, did you ever believe that I could leave you
Standing out in the cold
I know how it feels 'cause I have slipped through
To the very depths of my soul
Ooh baby, I just want to show you what a clear view
It is from every bend in the road
Now listen to me
Oh, whoa-whoa, as I was
And really would be for you, too, honey
As you would for me, oh, I would share your load
Let me share your load
Ooh, let me share, share your load
And if you feel that you can't go on
In the light you will find the road
Though the winds of change may blow around you
But that will always be so
Whoa whoa, when love is pain it can devour you, but you are never alone
I will share your load, I will share your load
Baby, let me, oh, let me
In the light
Everybody needs the light
Ooh yeah
Ooh baby
In the light, in the light, in the light
Light, light, light, in the light
Light, light, light, in the light, ooh, yeah
Light, light, light, in the light
Light, light, light, in the light
Light, light, light, in the light, ooh, yeah
Light, light, light, in the light
