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Led Zeppelin — Poor Tom
Album: Coda
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1012









Released: 1993
Length: 3:01
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Here's a tale of Tom
Who worked the rivers run
His wife would cook his meals,
As he would check the wheels.

Singin' poor Tom, Seventh Son,
Always knew what's goin on.

Ain't a thing that you can hide from Tom
And there ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom.

He worked for thirty years
Sharin' hopes 'n' fears
Dreamin' of the day
He could turn and say

Poor Tom, work's gone,
Lazin' out in the noonday sun.

Ain't a thing that you can hide from Tom
And there ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom.

His wife was Emmie May
One of many games she played
When Tom was out of town,
She couldn't keep her dresses down.

A-poor Tom, Seventh Son,
Always knew what's goin on.

Ain't a thing that you can hide from Tom
And there ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom.

And so it was one day
People got to Emmie May
A-Tom took a gun in his hand
And stopped all the runnin' around.

Poor Tom, Seventh Son,
Gotta die for what you've done.

All those years of work are thrown away.
To ease your mind, is that all you can say?
But what about that grandson on your knee?
And then wrote songs as well as he could be.

Ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom
And there ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom
And there ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom
And there ain't nothing that you can hide from Tom.

Hey
Keep-a truckin',
Keep-a truckin'
Yeah.
Comments (65)add comment
 cjdevlin wrote:

Nice variety from a playlist that easily could have gone "safe" and played something more familiar.



William never plays it safe.
Posted 2 weeks ago by Rickhgale    [ Reply ]
 scarletdancer wrote:

Violent Femmes anyone?



Umm... I guess you don't realize this song was recoded more than a decade before the Femmes became Violent.
Posted 2 weeks ago by TC1    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

Are you ready, Steve?
Aha.
Andy?
Yeah!
Mick?
OK.
Alright, fellas, let's go!



Now, that IS funny!  
Posted 2 years ago by pktinkler2984    [ Reply ]
Well thank you Bill! I am enjoying the music today.
Posted 2 years ago by reguru2112    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:

always liked this song. Felt it would have held up nicely on Zep III.



yeah.....and how the hell did Hey Hey What can i do not make it on III also......I'd take either of these over "Hat's off..."
Posted 2 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
Poor song. 
Posted 2 years ago by joko63808    [ Reply ]
And just when I was muttering to myself that Radio Paradise doesn't play enough Led Zeppelin. Perhaps I'll start muttering to myself that I'm underpaid...
Posted 2 years ago by alexandersmcmillan    [ Reply ]
I think the album release date needs to be edited to 1982. fake news! (sorry)
Posted 3 years ago by gfalkner    [ Reply ]
 Signwrtr61 wrote:

Just googled.....Poor Tom was actually recorded when they were making tracks for L.Z. III.... It was released in '82 on Coda, with intentional purpose. Look up meaning...Coda....might just give the h8rs something to dismiss their negativity about Coda album.



Explains why it sound like it belongs on Zep III.  A little-known gem.
Posted 3 years ago by gpgiff    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:

Are you ready, Steve?
Aha.
Andy?
Yeah!
Mick?
OK.
Alright, fellas, let's go!



Iconic!  But wrong group.
Posted 3 years ago by acferrad    [ Reply ]
 Ihatethissong wrote:

I don't give a rat's fat ass what you think of this song nor about any of the tiresome statements of the obvious fact that Led Zeppelin ("Zep" is just plain disrespectful imho) ripped off blues icons left and to the right.

I love the livin shite out of this song and isn't that what it's all about?

I have long ceased putting on my smarty farty pants and informing people that the music they like sucks.
 

Yeah, the only thing that matters on the entire Internet is your opinion.
Posted 3 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Are you ready, Steve?
Aha.
Andy?
Yeah!
Mick?
OK.
Alright, fellas, let's go!
 We need to hear that  right after this!

Posted 4 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Just googled.....Poor Tom was actually recorded when they were making tracks for L.Z. III.... It was released in '82 on Coda, with intentional purpose. Look up meaning...Coda....might just give the h8rs something to dismiss their negativity about Coda album.
Posted 4 years ago by Signwrtr61    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by simon.martin83761    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
Love the Zep but this Poor Tom just sounds like a poor mans version of Prodigal Son. 
 
I don't give a rat's fat ass what you think of this song nor about any of the tiresome statements of the obvious fact that Led Zeppelin ("Zep" is just plain disrespectful imho) ripped off blues icons left and to the right.

I love the livin shite out of this song and isn't that what it's all about?

I have long ceased putting on my smarty farty pants and informing people that the music they like sucks.
Posted 5 years ago by Ihatethissong    [ Reply ]
I always assumed that "Poor Tom" was a reference to Bonham kicking some ass on the Toms, though the lyrics seem to be about an actual Tom.  Huh....well all the same, great drumming, and I went 6 to 8 on this today...Long Live RP!!
Posted 5 years ago by lizardking    [ Reply ]
I think at some point they just wanted to write every lick possible. Half a lifetime later, I still think I'm writing guitar parts that Page hasn't already recorded!
Posted 5 years ago by MrStatenIsle    [ Reply ]
It's a Zep song I've never heard before!  Thank you, RP!!!!
Posted 5 years ago by hschlossberg    [ Reply ]
always liked this song. Felt it would have held up nicely on Zep III.
Posted 5 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
 chfLarry wrote:
wow
bonham


 
YEAH BABY    : P    (woo-hoo can't remember ever hearing this ever and that is sweet : )
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Painful.
Posted 7 years ago by old_shep    [ Reply ]
Violent Femmes anyone?
Posted 8 years ago by scarletdancer    [ Reply ]
Funny, it could be tempting to call this "average" Zeppelin, however, it is still MUCH better than the vast majority of popular music today (or anytime really).
Posted 9 years ago by aspicer    [ Reply ]
Love the Zep but this Poor Tom just sounds like a poor mans version of Prodigal Son. 
Posted 9 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Are you ready, Steve?
Aha.
Andy?
Yeah!
Mick?
OK.
Alright, fellas, let's go!

 
THAT'S funny!


Posted 9 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
very un-zeppelin sounding
Posted 9 years ago by wabx_air_ace    [ Reply ]
 mgetliffe wrote:
Can anyone else hear elements of Smiles and Grins from Jack Bruce's Harmony Row in this?

 
yes, i can
Posted 9 years ago by wabx_air_ace    [ Reply ]
Can anyone else hear elements of Smiles and Grins from Jack Bruce's Harmony Row in this?
Posted 9 years ago by mgetliffe    [ Reply ]
 tm wrote:
CODA?  really CODA?  Oh dear...  Even Jimmy is embarrassed by that album.  A few gems but honestly the album is my least fav zep...
 

Pff, it's refreshing as hell to hear something NOT from the other eight albums, like what they play EVERY SINGLE NIGHT OF THE WEEK on the (hurk) "Classic Rock" stations at 9 p.m. when they (cue reverb) "get get get the le le le led out." No really, don't get it out, we've heard all the le le led you guys have, leave it in.

That said is this an original or yet another song they gyoinked from some blind old bluesman somewhere and he's still wondering why he gets a check for five dollars every two months?
Posted 13 years ago by forge    [ Reply ]
WOW!!! REALLY????
That was GOOD!  DANMMMMMMMM
Finally a Led song I can listen too and not want to tear my ears off because it is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo over played
Posted 13 years ago by kingfish2004    [ Reply ]
 Bosami wrote:


A Led Zeppelin out-take is better than 90% of mainstream radio.

 
{#Yes} {#Sunny}

Posted 14 years ago by fingerpin    [ Reply ]
Are you ready, Steve?
Aha.
Andy?
Yeah!
Mick?
OK.
Alright, fellas, let's go!
Posted 14 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
And the volume goes back up
Posted 14 years ago by Sloggydog    [ Reply ]
This tune...move your ass!! Yes, yes, yes!!{#Dancingbanana_2}{#Bananajumprope}
Posted 15 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 tm wrote:
CODA?  really CODA?  Oh dear...  Even Jimmy is embarrassed by that album.  A few gems but honestly the album is my least fav zep...
 

A Led Zeppelin out-take is better than 90% of mainstream radio.

Posted 15 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
CODA?  really CODA?  Oh dear...  Even Jimmy is embarrassed by that album.  A few gems but honestly the album is my least fav zep...
Posted 15 years ago by tm    [ Reply ]
Bill, how about Bron-y-ur stomp? You know you want to....
Posted 15 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
Nice variety from a playlist that easily could have gone "safe" and played something more familiar.
Posted 16 years ago by cjdevlin    [ Reply ]
as a led zeppelin fan, i thought i knew all their songs! this is not their best, but i always like hearing something "new" from LZ.
Posted 16 years ago by phillips    [ Reply ]
Keep truckin'!
Posted 16 years ago by TexasAggies    [ Reply ]
...wow; i've never heard this before!..
Posted 16 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
It's a shame about Ray.
Posted 16 years ago by KurtfromLaQuinta    [ Reply ]
Angloray wrote:
ALWAYS one of my favorites. :) Start saving for those tickets now!
do you think robert plant is going to hit those high notes on his own or is he going to need a pair of pliers? ouch!
Posted 16 years ago by rickhoran    [ Reply ]
ALWAYS one of my favorites. :) Start saving for those tickets now!
Posted 16 years ago by Angloray    [ Reply ]
I LOVE ZEPPELIN
Posted 16 years ago by flyboy    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by spraehbuer    [ Reply ]
There's amazing film of Bonham playing this
Posted 17 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
Awesome drums...but the rest, meh
Posted 17 years ago by nevsky    [ Reply ]
The_Seeker wrote:
Could Bonham do ANY wrong?! I think not. Well, none of them could really. Always nice to hear Percy on the harp.
Every smart drummer alive will pay tribute to Bonzo when asked.
Posted 17 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
MaineKiwi wrote:
That boggles my mind but I guess this would be a boring old planet if everybody had the same likes and dislikes! right?
Compared to their other stuff, the drumming in this is amazing, but I think the vocals and overall interestingness of the song are a bit weaker. That said, the drums provide a pretty awesome foundation.
Posted 17 years ago by UltraNurd    [ Reply ]
Brilliant, of course. Most bands have one guy that's outstanding, this one had four. There's a reason kids wear the Zeppelin shirts 30 years later.
Posted 18 years ago by djayt    [ Reply ]
wow bonham
Posted 18 years ago by chfLarry    [ Reply ]
crowhog2000 wrote:
Godlike, I don't know what the hell else to say.
Posted 18 years ago by Barman    [ Reply ]
That boggles my mind but I guess this would be a boring old planet if everybody had the same likes and dislikes! right? DoofusGeezer wrote:
Never did like the Zep
Posted 18 years ago by MaineKiwi    [ Reply ]
Never did like the Zep
Posted 18 years ago by DoofusGeezer    [ Reply ]
Meh.
Posted 18 years ago by Daveinbawlmer    [ Reply ]
The_Seeker wrote:
Could Bonham do ANY wrong?!
I've posted this someplace else...but there are a few bands where the drums drive the entire arrangement for me...the Police, Smashing Pumpkins, and Zeppelin. He was amazing, and I appreciate him more with every listen.
Posted 18 years ago by rgio    [ Reply ]
Not one of my fav Led Zep songs but still 8.
Posted 18 years ago by master_betty    [ Reply ]
The_Seeker wrote:
Could Bonham do ANY wrong?! I think not. Well, none of them could really. Always nice to hear Percy on the harp.
Percy on the harp, indeed! Well said! Well said!
Posted 18 years ago by nohopenofearnoname    [ Reply ]
snurfer wrote:
Stop placing lyrics everywhere!! It's annoying....
Avert your eyes, then. Mari, your lyric quotes are welcome.
Posted 18 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
Mari wrote:
..." His wife was annie mae With any man a game she'd play When tom was out of town She couldn't keep her dress down."... ...Cheeky little lyrics to this unique lil number!...of course I like it!...
Stop placing lyrics everywhere!! It's annoying....
Posted 18 years ago by snurfer    [ Reply ]
Could Bonham do ANY wrong?! I think not. Well, none of them could really. Always nice to hear Percy on the harp.
Posted 18 years ago by The_Seeker    [ Reply ]
Godlike, I don't know what the hell else to say.
Posted 19 years ago by crowhog2000    [ Reply ]
My Goodness, mercy me, love it - Electric Blues @ its best!
Posted 19 years ago by OhMy    [ Reply ]
Let me be the first to say....Led Zep still RULES! :-)
Posted 19 years ago by jdorn1    [ Reply ]