B-side "Hot Dog" Genre Rock
samba rock | Format 7-inch 45 rpm Length 6:08 | |
Released 7 December 1979 (1979-12-07) (US) Recorded Polar Studios, Stockholm, Sweden, November–December 1978 | ||
"Fool in the Rain" is the third track on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album In Through the Out Door. It was their final US single before they formally disbanded in 1980. It reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1980.
Contents
Overview
The song exhibits a Latin feel. The main section is in 12/8 meter; this section employs an unusual polyrhythmic groove, with the piano and bass playing six beats per measure and the melody (and parts of the drum kit) playing four beats per measure. The result is that most of the instruments appear to be playing quarter-note triplets against the swing of the melody and drum kit. Drummer John Bonham plays a shuffle beat similar to the "Purdie shuffle" rhythm, along with a samba-style breakdown and hop-skip riff arrangement. A master drum track shows that the samba breakdown (2:25) was recorded separately.
Bassist John Paul Jones and vocalist Robert Plant developed the idea for the samba beat from watching the 1978 FIFA World Cup tournament in Argentina. Guitarist Jimmy Page used an MXR Blue Box effect pedal during the solo to produce the octave sound.
Lyrically, the song is about a man who is supposed to meet a woman on a certain street corner. When the woman does not appear, he is filled with sorrow at being stood up. By the final verse, he realizes that he has not gone to the right place, making him "just a fool waiting on the wrong block," as Plant sings.
Live renditions
This song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts. However, on 5 October 2005, Plant performed the song with Pearl Jam at a Hurricane Katrina benefit show.
Formats and track listings
1979 7" single edition (U.S./Australia/Canada/New Zealand: Swan Song SS 71003, Ecuador/Uruguay: Atlantic 45-73015, Germany/Holland: Swan Song SS 19421, Japan: Warner Pioneer P-530N, Mexico: Swan Song Gamma G-2269, Spain: Swan Song SS 45-1295)
1979 7" single radio edit (U.S.: Swan Song SS 71003 SP, Italy: Swan Song PR 097)