Top 10 Best Led Zeppelin Songs

Since crashing onto the scene in '68, these rock gods have shaped the very fabric of rock 'n' roll. Led Zeppelin is the ultimate alchemist of blues, hard rock, and folk - forging a sound that defies time and space.

This isn't just any list of Led Zeppelin songs. This is THE definitive ranking of Zeppelin anthems, crowdsourced from legions of die-hard fans like you, bringing democracy to the Zeppelin universe.

From the seismic power of "Whole Lotta Love" that rattles your very core, to the ethereal majesty of "Stairway to Heaven" that takes you to other dimensions, each track here is a musical odyssey. Whether you've been riding the Zeppelin since the early days or you're a newbie just embarking on this epic journey, there's a mystical track waiting to blow your mind.
The Top Ten
1 Stairway to Heaven

This song takes me back to the medieval times in Europe where oppression and injustice from monarchy were rampant. It gave enough material for the then writers of history to chant in poetry and add tones to the sufferings of the regular commoner. I learned medieval history while in high school, and it made me a romantic of the Middle Ages. I remember seeing the injustice, and on the weekend, my buddies and I ran to the movies to see Errol Flynn and the likes take care of justice. It made me a romantic of the poetry being expressed and the bearer of the hopeful promise that your inner sense of justice promised.

2 Kashmir

Kashmir has an unbelievable, hypnotic feel to it. I put it on loop 12 times the first time I heard it. It easily has the most powerful riff in the world. The drums are unbelievable. The switches in tone are beautiful, and the way Bonham leads us out of the switch with some beautiful drumming is unbelievable. Especially the "All I see turns to brown" part... the music is unbelievable with the violin chipping in. It is a masterpiece, but it is rightly placed at second as "Stairway To Heaven" is God...

You hear Stairway to Heaven so often that it starts to become a little old, but Kashmir is not nearly enough appreciated and is far more brilliant (also Zeppelin's favorite song). Kashmir makes you feel like a god. It's like a song dedicated to God. You get this powerful feeling when you hear it, especially the chorus. I am literally transported to another world when the amazing guitar riff starts at the beginning of the song. I'm not saying Stairway is bad, but it's just not nearly as good as Kashmir.

3 Whole Lotta Love

This is the only one of their four best songs that actually cracked the top 10. This is one of Page's best guitar riffs ever. I think everyone missed out by not putting this higher than number 5. The other three songs everyone missed are Bring It on Home, Ramble On, and Moby Dick. Those should be the top four right there. The bass in Ramble On is the sickest of all of them.

Oh, yes... raw, grinding blues-metal, with all four of the guys at their top form. And just about the only time you'll hear totally out-to-lunch noise on the radio is when they spin this and play the whole middle break! It's designed to make your parents hate it... even today... and that's what makes great ROCK.

4 Achilles Last Stand

After listening again, I changed my mind on my last comment. The guitar and lyrics flow with the steady drums, the bass keeping everyone in line. This is a song worthy of use in an epic movie, particularly a battle scene. It needs to be heard at least twice before judgment, so as to catch the details intricately woven in. Led Zeppelin's Plant, Page, Jones, and Bonham were tired and stressed when they made this song and album, in a short time right after Plant's car crash. This is their rough side. It's better than modern music and always will be. Their talent remains historical and legendary.

5 Black Dog

One of the few Zeppelin songs that can be associated with heavy metal. Zeppelin was not a heavy metal band at all, but this song brought out the strong riffs of Page, Bonham's powerful drumming, and Plant's a cappella vocals, highlighting how great of a singer he was. And of course, we can't forget John Paul Jones and his beautiful bass playing. It's my favorite track by Zeppelin and one of my favorite tracks of all time by any artist.

Sure, Kashmir and Stairway are better musically, and I may even argue that "Over the Hills" is my favorite overall, but I can't help but imagine what the producers and people in the '70s were like when they put Led Zeppelin IV on for the first time. They must have wondered, "Hmm, let's see if they've still got it," and then this riff happens.

6 When the Levee Breaks

This is just the most epic Led Zeppelin song I've heard. Also, this song was the first Zeppelin song I heard, and the tune has been imprinted into my mind since then. This song features some very complex techniques, such as the backward echo of Robert Plant playing the harmonica, which is so unique. Page is definitely one of the greatest musicians of all time. Jon Bonham and Jones contribute quite well to the song as well.

This song has rarely been performed live, as it is very difficult to replicate the effects used by the band in recording. Every Led Zeppelin song is amazing, and it's very hard to choose, but this one tops my personal chart as my favorite Led Zeppelin song.

7 Immigrant Song

I heard this for the first time in 2018. It was released in 1970, but even after 48 years, it is rock at its best, I think. I listened to Stairway to Heaven before this because I knew how famous it was, and I loved it, but it is not the rock I like. It's like Hotel California, iconic and a great song, but it doesn't represent the style of Led Zeppelin completely. I listened to Immigrant Song once or twice that day. Two days later, I was watching Thor 3: Ragnarok, and as soon as I heard the background music, I was racking my brain, wondering where I had heard this before. It was perfect for the movie. It's like the movie was made for the song, not the other way around. Anyway, Immigrant Song is pure bliss, and I have a sweet spot for those songs.

8 Dazed and Confused

This is the second-best Led Zeppelin song. It contains things that only Led Zeppelin themselves would do. For example, the dark interlude in the middle features Bonham's dark, eerie drumming, with Plant's roaring vocals mimicking Page's guitar. It starts out slowly, then turns into an epic solo. This song fully exemplifies Led Zeppelin's great skill and talent.

This is my personal favorite Led Zeppelin song! Especially the 30-minute-long live version on "The Song Remains the Same" is absolutely mind-blowing. "Dazed and Confused" is also considered one of the first heavy metal songs, which makes it even more generally important. Moreover, I think at least one song representing the first Zeppelin album should be in the top 5.

9 No Quarter

Far from their most popular song, No Quarter may be their greatest. You cannot argue against the brilliance of Stairway or Kashmir or any other song, but this is phenomenal. Is it their best? I cannot say. How can a band of this magnitude have a best album, let alone a best song? No Quarter to me is such a journey, and it's their most creative song.

With powerful, wise journeyer lyrics like "the snow drives back the foot that's slow," and that incredible guitar riff, this epic is extremely important. Most people don't even know what "No Quarter" means. Let the Oriflamme fly and get this song into the top 5.

10 Rock and Roll

How is this song not in the Top 5? It's a rock and roll classic with better staying power than the overplayed and overhyped Stairway to Heaven. It's better constructed than Black Dog, which admittedly has a great riff, and far less self-obsessed and pretentious than Achilles' Last Stand. How is that long, rambling, and pointless effort in anyone's Top 10?

This song is the definition of rock and roll. It's a masterpiece and the epitome of the high standards set by this band. It's my number one song by a country mile and the reason they were the kings of hard rock.

The Contenders
11 Since I've Been Loving You

I've listened to just about every Led Zeppelin song there is to listen to, and I'm including bootlegs and live takes here. Yet, no song has ever hit me quite as hard as this one. Plant and Page really shine in this one, and this is easily one of Plant's best vocal performances ever. Page takes infusing emotion into his playing to a whole new level. I mean, he doesn't just make his guitar cry. He makes it WAIL. When I listen to this song, I'm able to just close my eyes, turn off my brain, and visualize them playing it live. Not only is this my favorite Led Zeppelin song, but it is also my favorite song of all time. And I'm not one who picks favorites.

12 Over the Hills and Far Away

Growing up in the late '70s and the '80s with Detroit radio, WRIF & WLLZ, I got exposed to a lot of Zeppelin at a young age. It's very hard to do. Here's my top 20:

1. Over the Hills and Far Away
2. Stairway to Heaven
3. Whole Lotta Love
4. Kashmir
5. Black Dog
6. Ramble On
7. What Is and What Should Never Be
8. The Ocean
9. Immigrant Song
10. All My Love (yup, 10!)
11. Good Times Bad Times
12. Heartbreaker/Living Loving Maid
13. Rock and Roll
14. Misty Mountain Hop
15. Houses of the Holy
16. Dazed and Confused
17. When the Levee Breaks
18. Ten Years Gone
19. Communication Breakdown
20. Fool in the Rain

That's how I see it.

13 Ramble On

This should be in the top 10! For me, it was an easy choice to put this as my number 1 Led Zeppelin song. The change in Plant's voice between verse and chorus makes me shiver every single time I hear this song. Not to mention the great guitar parts in the chorus, the amazing bass line in the verse, and Bonham, who is excellent in every Led Zeppelin song.

It has everything needed to be number 1! How do 23% of you guys vote for Stairway to Heaven (which is good but definitely overrated) as the best song? Listen to the first four albums in their entirety before voting for Stairway to Heaven just because it has a good solo.

14 Heartbreaker

It's sinful that this isn't in the top ten at least. "Heartbreaker" has one of the most profound and memorable riffs of all time, which isn't really saying much since we're talking about Led Zeppelin here. Even still, this is arguably their most recognizable song from the first two seconds.

EXTREMELY underrated song. The guitar riff is the best I've EVER heard. The unaccompanied solo is also brilliant, even though some say it's sloppy. That's how Jimmy Page wanted it to be played, so stop complaining!

This is literally my favorite rock song ever. The riff is fantastic, and the guitar, bass, and drums all mesh so well together in this song. They are so harmonious it's incredible.

15 Babe I'm Gonna Leave You

Are you kidding me? This is one of the best songs by Led Zeppelin. I mean, it has to be in the top 3! This song has everything. The guitar work is really amazing, and the vocals did a really, really good job in this song. They put a lot of feeling into it.

It's definitely in my top 5 list. It clearly depicts the helplessness and angst of a lover who wants to let go and stay at the same time. Simple lyrics, yet the composition of the music takes it to a whole new level. Oh, the chills.

The amazing guitar starts out mellow and depressing. Then it completely rocked out when I first listened to it. It surprised me so much and instantly became my favorite Zeppelin song.

16 The Rain Song

In all honesty, everything that was written and composed by Led Zeppelin is a piece of eternal art. However, if I had to pick one song, out of every song in the world, that evoked the most emotions and took me on a true spiritual journey, it would be this song. Alongside the mystical and emotional strums of Jimmy's guitar, the sensitive drum beats of John Bonham, the evocative tune of John Paul Jones's organ, and the magical echoes of Robert's lullaby, this song, this anthem, is one that penetrates the soul.

It somehow allows you to reach beyond the grasps of mortality, and for just one second, one beautiful second, you come to some metaphysical understanding of who you are. Once the song ends, you are left in the world of uncertainty, but with a thread of hope for the existence of truth that is this immortal piece of work. This song deserves to be in a much higher rank!

17 Ten Years Gone

My love for Zeppelin really pushed me into the world of music. When I discovered Mothership, I set out to buy any album I could lay my hands on. I thought I'd heard it all until I heard this song. I remember listening to it 3-4 times in a row, just being so mesmerized by what I heard. No matter how many times I listen to each album, through each song, this one will always be the one for me. This song has gotten me through two years of heartache. As sappy as that sounds, it just spoke volumes to me during that time. I love this song.

18 In My Time of Dying

This is perhaps Led Zeppelin's most underrated song, yet it is also perhaps their most energetic song. This song has many similarities to When the Levee Breaks, but it's far better. Page's work with the steel-string guitar is simply fantastic. John Paul Jones' bass and John Bonham's drums bring a whole new level of power to this song, which is perhaps the best word to describe it: power, sheer power. Every time I hear the opening riff to this song, it's enough to bring a shout of joy from even the deepest heart, especially the live version. If you have not heard this song, you owe it to yourself to take a listen to this masterpiece.

19 Good Times Bad Times

My favorite Zep song ever. I saw them play this at Berkeley Community Theatre in 1972, and it rocked the house. Page played with his Les Paul below his waist - lower than anyone else I've ever seen. I don't know how he did it. It's hard to bend your wrist to make chords when the guitar is this low. I bought this album in 1969, and I would rate it among my 10 favorite albums ever. This thing, along with Are You Experienced and Disraeli Gears (you could throw Jeff Beck's Truth in there, but it didn't have quite the impact of the other three), defined a whole new genre of music. And this was the best song on the album.

20 The Ocean

This song makes you feel the ocean. It's like a spray of salty water to the face. The imagery it evokes makes you feel like you're on a ship being swayed by the ocean. Definitely worth listening to. It's classic Zeppelin.

I really don't understand how this isn't in the Top 10. The interesting shift from a 4/4 beat to a 7/8 beat makes this really engaging. The vibe is pure Zeppelin, and I believe this is them at their best. The guitar is incredibly cool and it makes you want to sing along. It's cocky, and that's Led Zeppelin at their best.

My personal favorite has amazing energy right from the opening riff. I love the lyrics: "Got no time to pack my bags, my foot's outside the door. I got a date, I can't be late, for the high hopes hailla ball."

21 Going to California

I love a lot of Zeppelin's stuff, but this song just blows me away. It's so unlike anything else they ever did. Jones is an amazing mandolin player and just an all-around musician. Plant's vocals are just perfection. Page is, well, Page. I've heard it was written about Joni Mitchell, who is certainly worth writing about.

This song is very different from other Led Zeppelin songs. However, this song never fails to make me shiver. It is definitely my favorite song of theirs. I'm in love with the melancholy of this beautiful song.

22 The Battle of Evermore

The Battle of Evermore is an amazing Led Zeppelin song. No matter what Jimmy Page plays, he makes it sound incredible. I love this song to death and think it should be in the top 15.

The fact that the mastermind Page can factor a mandolin into a rock song, and the lyrics are mystic... Maybe it's not #1, but it should be in the top 10.

I think the creativity and uniqueness of this song are incomparable with a lot of other songs.

23 Communication Breakdown

Wow is all I have to say for this song! It's so catchy and awesome! I love the guitar riff and the kind of crazy, fast, psycho feel it has to it. So energetic and full of life! Five stars!

Why is this so low? It's one of their few original songs that was way ahead of its time. It is simply and essential classic.

Stairway to Heaven is my favorite, but I voted this up because it needs to be higher! Great song!

24 D'yer Mak'er

This is probably my favorite by Led Zeppelin. I mean, I literally have all of their songs on my iPod and all of their vinyls. They are all rock 'n' roll gods!

Such an underrated Led Zeppelin song. It's one of the most tropical and relaxing classic rock songs I've ever listened to.

Axl Rose liked this song too! I think that this song is so cool and it sounds all Jamaican and shamanic! Jesus Christ, I think it's the second best; Stairway to Heaven will always be number one.

25 Thank You

One of the first songs I heard from Zep was this. Plant sang this and a part of Kashmir at the tribute concert for the late Freddie Mercury. Maybe it's not the longest, hardest, or broadest song from Zep, but the feeling is unlike anything else. Thank you, Led Zeppelin. Thank you, Bonzo.

I was stunned when I looked at this list and this song was not in the top ten. It is the most melodic piece Zeppelin ever performed and is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. It deserves a spot in the top ten.

This is a very underrated song, not even doing well on the list of underrated Led Zep songs! I can listen to this song over and over, and it keeps me in a good mood. Thank you!

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