"Going To California" by...

Journey west with Led Zeppelin's beautiful "Going To California," a delicate acoustic folk piece from Led Zeppelin IV (1971). Showcasing their softer side, this art rock-tinged ballad features intricate acoustic guitar, mandolin, and heartfelt vocals, reflecting a search for peace and a new beginning away from hardship.

Appearing on their untitled fourth album in 1971, "Going To California" stands out as a purely acoustic folk track amidst hard rock classics. It features Jimmy Page's beautiful fingerpicked guitar alongside John Paul Jones' mandolin accompaniment. Robert Plant delivers a gentle, nuanced vocal performance, highlighting the band's impressive range and grounding in folk traditions within an art rock context.

The wistful lyrics, partly inspired by Joni Mitchell and the Laurel Canyon scene, speak of searching for a new start, leaving behind difficulties, and hoping for an ideal ("Spent my days with a woman unkind / Smoked my stuff and drank all my wine"). This beloved, melancholic yet hopeful folk ballad remains a testament to Led Zeppelin's songwriting depth beyond electric power since its 1971 release.

SONG MEANING: "Going To California" reflects a yearning for a fresh start and escape, using California partly as a symbol of hope and partly inspired by Joni Mitchell and the Laurel Canyon folk scene. The singer expresses weariness with past experiences ("Made up my mind to make a new start / Going To California with an aching in my heart") and searches for peace and perhaps an idealized love.