“Whole Lotta Love” by the British hard rock band Led Zeppelin is an iconic track that epitomizes the band’s powerhouse sound and musical influence. Serving as the opening track on their second album, Led Zeppelin II, the song was initially released as a single in the United States and Japan. It marked Led Zeppelin’s first significant breakthrough in the U.S., achieving Gold certification on April 13, 1970, for selling over one million copies.
Like many of Led Zeppelin’s tracks, “Whole Lotta Love” was not released as a single in the United Kingdom but found chart success in countries like Germany (where it topped the charts), Netherlands (peaking at number 4), Belgium, and France.
Over the years, the song has garnered immense critical acclaim and accolades. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at number 75 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” highlighting its enduring popularity and cultural impact. The guitar-centric publication Q also recognized its significance, placing it at number 3 on their list of “100 Greatest Guitar Tracks” in March 2005. Rolling Stone reaffirmed its status in a similar list, ranking it 11th among “The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.”
In 2009, VH1 further cemented “Whole Lotta Love’s” legacy by ranking it as the third greatest rock song in history. Despite its live performances prior to its official release, the song was formally unleashed to the public through Led Zeppelin II on October 22, 1969, by Atlantic Records.
The song’s memorable riff has become legendary, with BBC Radio 2 listeners voting it as the greatest guitar riff of all time in 2014. Its fusion of blues, rock, and psychedelia, coupled with Robert Plant’s charismatic vocals and Jimmy Page’s innovative guitar work, solidifies “Whole Lotta Love” as a cornerstone of rock music history, showcasing Led Zeppelin’s unparalleled talent and enduring appeal.
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Lyrics
You need cooling
Baby I’m not fooling
I’m gonna send ya
Back to schooling
A-way down inside
A-honey you need it
I’m gonna give you my love
I’m gonna give you my love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
You’ve been learning
Um baby I been learning
All them good times baby, baby
I’ve been year-yearning
A-way, way down inside
A-honey you need-ah
I’m gonna give you my love, ah
I’m gonna give you my love, ah oh
Whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
You’ve been cooling
And baby I’ve been drooling
All the good times, baby
I’ve been misusing
A-way, way down inside
I’m gonna give ya my love
I’m gonna give ya every inch of my love
I’m gonna give ya my love
Hey!
Alright! Let’s go!
Whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Want to whole lotta love
Way down inside
Woman, you need, yeah
Love
My, my, my, my
My, my, my, my
Lord
Shake for me girl
I wanna be your backdoor man
Hey, oh, hey, oh
Hey, oh, hey, oh
Ooh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Cool, my, my baby
A-keep it cooling baby
A-keep it cooling baby
Ah-keep it cooling baby
Ah-keep it cooling baby
Ah-keep it cooling baby
