Led Zeppelin: Achilles Last Stand Meaning

Achilles Last Stand Lyrics

It was an april morning when they told us we should go
As I turn to you, you smiled at me
How could we say no?

With all the fun to have, to live the dreams we always had
Oh, the songs to sing, when we at last return again

Sending off a...

1. anonymous

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   Jun 26th 2010 !⃝

   When an artist gives a solid, set-in-stone interpretation of a piece of work, it kinda takes away from the beauty of the art itself. None of these interpretations are what the song really means, they're only that: interpretations. They're the personal meanings and significances we ourselves give them. They are created by and for ourselves as all interpretations are. An artist's work isn't for himself, the art belongs to the people, the consumers, those who fall in love with these masterpieces. And so the artist gives his art to us without meaning; he has a personal meaning of his own to his art, but leaves us to create our own (though I have to say I especially like the American Dream interpretation... truly beautiful). I myself am in the process of writing my own epic novel which is heavily influenced by the lyrics of Achilles' Last Stand, but I have no intention of putting a solid meaning to the song, it's only my interpretation.
2. anonymous

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   May 18th 2010 !⃝

   Well, I don't think it is just about Achilles. I don't know of all of you listen to Led Zeppelin, but they make songs with intelligent, difficult lyrics. A song called Achilles Last Stand is not just about Achilles, it is about so much more. You have to think hard to understand what they are trying to communicate with you. I think the theory about the American Dream and all is true. Just read the lyrics very well, then you see it.
3. dukebest31

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   Sep 4th 2008 !⃝

   It's about The Iliad and Achilles' last stand. Pretty sure anyways.
4. anonymous

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   Jun 11th 2008 !⃝

   I think this song is about Achilles, the Trojan hero, who was believed to be invulnerable everywhere on his body except his ankle. When Achilles was fighting in battle, an arrow shot into his ankle, therefore killing him, making that "Achilles Last Stand"; the last time the hero would ever stand again. So, there you go.
5. joeshmo

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   Oct 8th 2007 !⃝

   The might arms of Atlas.
   Hold the heavens from the earth.
   
   What is the largest company that produces atlas'?
   
   Rand/McNally.
   
   Where is their corporate office?????
   
   Yes, Chicago.
6. anonymous

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   Jan 10th 2007 !⃝

   It's about the epic The Iliad and Achilles' last stand.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
7. anonymous

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   Aug 12th 2006 !⃝

   In my opnion, this song is all about, I believe, Page's and Plant's families. Zeppelin was on tour in the USA when they received a call that their families had gotten in an accident in Morocco and were in the hospital.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. anonymous

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   Dec 28th 2005 !⃝

   Alright, someone already said this, but I'm going to expand on it abit to see if I can add some more validity to it.
   
   I think that Achilles Last Stand is about emigrating to America but, more specifcally, the search for the American Dream.
   
   What Led Zeppelin is trying to say is that all these people are coming to America in search of the American Dream, but that this Dream really has nothing to do with a physical place. You can achieve it anywhere. Specifically, they metion Albion (England), saying that it will rise again. Also, they talk about the past in whatever country you're coming from and how it really wasn't that bad.
   
   In other words, things come and go and change. You can achieve hapiness (the true American Dream) anywhere you are if you just know how to look.
9. anonymous

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   Nov 1st 2005 !⃝

   A song written when Jimmy Page and Robert Plant went to Morroco.. I think.
   
   Achilles Last Stand has no obvious reference to the legend of Troy and Achilles (the hero who could only die when hit in the ankle), except that when Robert Plant heard the song, allegedly, he fell out of his chair (he had previously broken his ankle in a car crash).
   
   I'm assuming the lyrics don't have any deep, soul searching meaning, but they are very good all the same.
10. anonymous

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    Oct 18th 2005 !⃝

    I think this song is about Europeans emigrating to America. "To seek the man who's pointing hand" appears to refer to the infamous "Uncle Sam," symbolizing American pride.

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