What is and What Should Never Be was one of the first songs on which Page used his soon-to-become trademark Gibson Les Paul for recording. The production makes liberal use of stereo as the guitars pan back and forth between channels. Robert Plant's vocals were phased during the verses.
This was also one of the first songs recorded by the band for which Robert Plant received writing credit. According to rock journalist Stephen Davis, the author of the Led Zeppelin biography Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga, the lyrics for this song reflect a romance Plant had with his wife's younger sister.
"What Is and What Should Never Be" was performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts between 1969 and 1972 (and played once in 1973). A live version taken from a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in 1970 can be seen on the Led Zeppelin DVD. Another was included on disc two of the live triple album How The West Was Won.
The song inspired the name of an episode of the popular teen drama One Tree Hill, and the name of an episode of the paranormal drama Supernatural, as well as an episode of popular half-hour comedy That 70s Show, and one from the action drama Covert Affairs. Billy Joel also played it as part of the intro to the "We Didn't Start the Fire" medley on the 1997 VH1 Storytellers episode on his career. Record producer Rick Rubin has remarked, "The descending riff [of "What Is and What Should Never Be"] is amazing: It's like a bow is being drawn back, and then it releases. The rhythm of the vocals is almost like a rap. It's insane — one of their most psychedelic songs."
It's to a castle I will take you, where what's to be, they say will be.
Catch the wind, see us spin, sail away, leave today, way up high in the sky.
But the wind won't blow, you really shouldn't go, it only goes to show
That you will be mine, by takin' our time.
And if you say to me tomorrow, oh what fun it all would be.
Then what's to stop us, pretty baby. But What Is And What Should Never Be.
So if you wake up with the sunrise, and all your dreams are still as new,
And happiness is what you need so bad, girl, the answer lies with you.
Oh the wind wont blow and we really shouldn't go and it only goes to show.
Catch the wind, we're gonna see it spin, we're gonna...sail, leave today
do do do, bop bop a do-oh, my my my my my my yeah.
Everybody I know seems to know me well
but they're never gonna know that I move like hell.
The song is about a man trying to take his beloved woman to a magical place. He wants to be the ringleader, as she will follow him wherever he goes. The only thing that can stop them from a magical journey is “what is” and “what should never be.” Those are the woman’s two choices: to follow him (what is) or to leave him (what should never be). She can have everything she’s ever wanted- the majestic sunrise, all her dreams come true- but if she doesn’t get those things, then she can only blame herself.
‘So if you wake up with the sunrise, and all your dreams are still as new. And happiness is what you need so bad, girl, the answer lies with you.’
This song is about inner contentment, about true inner happiness. The kind of happiness that comes from inside, from a deep thankfulness with what is going on in your life. Be content in what you already have. Remind yourself that you have food on the table, a roof over your head, friends and a loving family. We think that happiness and contentment is conditional and only comes once we’ve reached our dreams; whether it be a dream job, dream relationship, dream financial situation. Now even if those dreams do not come true, we can still be grateful, thankful, content.
Happiness can not be found in "Things" as they are only "Things" Happiness or contentment is in our attitude to life. The song is right "the answer lies with you"
Philippians 4:11-12
"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need"
Paul the great apostle writes about true happiness and contentment coming from the inside. He describes it as something he has learned and knows. "I know" and "I have learned"
The poignant question is "Where does our happiness and contentment come from?" Is it founded on the things we have or does it come from a deeper place. Paul says "for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content" To be content when you have nothing as well as when you have much. Paul could also be writing about the power within that keeps his life on track. We cannot do anything without the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. The Holy Spirit himself brings us to the place of deep happiness and contentment.
The world would be a happier place if all us learned to be content and happy not in "Stuff" or "Things" but happy and content in ourselves.
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