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, creating a sound that breaks all the rules and stretches across generations.

From the bone-rattling force of Whole Lotta Love to the soaring, otherworldly vibes of Stairway to Heaven, this list captures the essence of Zeppelin's musical magic. Every song is its own adventure, full of surprises that'll keep you coming back for more. So whether you've been rocking out to these tunes since the early days or you're just now discovering the magic, get ready to explore a collection of tracks that'll take you to new heights.

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.

   I remember listening to this song for the first time. I heard of it being highly praised just about everywhere and wanted to check it out. I wasn't too impressed (shame on me), but after a couple of days, it somehow came up in my mind again, and I decided to give it another shot. I started listening to it again, and again, and again. It just felt like it got better every time I listened to it.

   The slow intro with Page's magical riff leads into Plant's harmonious vocals, and then Bonzo takes it over with his amazing drumming skills. And I think we all feel the same about what comes next: the guitar solo. Jimmy Page delivers not only his own, but also the world's very best. It's the perfect transition into the hard rock ending of Stairway to Heaven, which still blows my mind every time I listen to it. So thank you, Zep, for teaching me the value of music.

2. Kashmir

   

   "Kashmir" has an unbelievable, hypnotic feel to it. I put it on loop twelve 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, it's Zeppelin's favorite song. Kashmir makes you feel like a god, like the song is 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 ten. This is one of Page's best guitar riffs ever. I think everyone missed out by not putting this higher than number five. 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.

   I would argue that both this song and Kashmir are better than Stairway to Heaven. Achilles Last Stand truly encompasses all of Zeppelin's talent in one rocking song.

   Sadly, though, it's one of the more underrated Zep songs due to the fact that it's on one of their lesser albums. By Zeppelin standards, of course, Presence is a better album than 95% of what other rock bands could muster. While Stairway to Heaven is one of the greatest songs of all time, I argue Achilles Last Stand is the greatest Led Zeppelin song.

5. 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.

6. 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 and Far Away" 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.

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 five.

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. 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.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    St. Tristan's Sword

    

    An instrumental leftover from 1970's Led Zeppelin III, released in 2015 as part of the final set of the Led Zeppelin reissues.

12. ?

    Key to the Highway / Trouble in Mind

    
The Contenders

13. 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.

14. 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.

    For me, the best song on the album "Led Zeppelin II" is "Ramble On," which is noteworthy because the album includes great ones such as "Whole Lotta Love" and "Heartbreaker." It's also the only song on the album that combines the characteristic whispery/ground-shaking duality that would remain in their later recordings.

    Sorry for my bad English. Greetings from Mexico!

15. Over the Hills and Far Away

    

    I love LZ's music. They are absolutely my favorite band. Picking a favorite song of LZ's is like picking your favorite child. I tend to love them all. But if someone put a gun to my head, this is the song I would choose, not only as my favorite LZ song but as my favorite song, period. It's truly an amazing composition of musical art. Over the Hills and Far Away is it. Simply perfect.

    A continuously changing rhythm manages to maintain its beauty, wonder, awe, and elegance. It moves your heart with each pluck of a string, with each tap of a drum. It is a short, sweet dream. It is a hidden masterpiece.

16. 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.

17. 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. That's not 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.

18. 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 hail ball."

19. 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, 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!

20. 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.

    Everything is just amazing in this song. It starts with a basic riff with drum fills between each one, and then Plant starts singing. After that comes the bass solo, and then the guitar solo. It's just too good.

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. 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. Perhaps the best word to describe it is 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.

23. 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.

    This song is very soothing to me. The overall tone of the instruments encapsulates what the song is about, and I feel that this song has not received the notice and appreciation from the masses like many other Led Zeppelin songs have.

    I actually use this song to help me sleep sometimes because I, like many others, can relate to what's being talked about in the song. Like I said previously, the song is soothing. It's a 5/5 star song, yet it remains at #9.

24. 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 number one, 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.

25. 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 an essential classic.

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

26. 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.

27. 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 Zeppelin songs. I can listen to this song over and over, and it keeps me in a good mood. Thank you.