Led Zeppelin III album cover

Led Zeppelin – That's The Way Lyrics

Rock

I don't know how I'm gonna tell you
I can't play with you no more
I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me
My friend, the boy next door

I can't believe what people saying
You're gonna let your hair hang down
I'm satisfied to sit here working all day long
You're in the darker side of town
What you doing, what you doing, what you doing, I know

And when I'm out I see you walking
And why don't your eyes see me
Could it be you've found another game to play
What did mama say to me oh

That's the way, oh oh ohhhhh yeah oh no
Mama mama mama mama mama mama mama mama
Say
That's the way it ought to stay
I don't think so
Show don't think so, oh ohhh oh

And yesterday I saw you standing by the river
And weren't those tears that filled your eyes
And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying (dying)
Had they got you hypnotized?
Oh dear

Yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers
But all that lives is born to die
And so I say to you that nothing really matters no no
And all you do is stand and cry

I know I know
That's the way, that's the way it ought to be
Oh don't you know that

Oh when I wake up in the morning, morning, morning I tell my mama
That's the way it ought to stay
I don't think so
Oh ohh ohhh ohh ohh oh ohh ohh ohh

Hey
You didn't write, you didn't write, you didn't write
Mama mama
You didn't write, you didn't write, you didn't write
Mama mama
Oh ohh ohh ohh ohhh

Comments (4)

  • badgebunny
    I was really hoping someone commentted on this song, but I guess I'm the first one. When I was 17 years old (1978) a friend of mine told me that the song was about two gay guys and I just didn't really believe him...now all these years later, I'm still not 100% convinced that Robert Plant had that in mind when he, or whomever, actually wrote it was saying.
  • Anonymous
    This total BS and HOW DARE YOU infer Robert Plant is gay?!! I saw him 2 times with Led Zepplin and He very clearly states " My friednd the GIRL next door" This is pure sacrilage to disnonor one of the greatest vocalist & group of all time! Yeah, and what about all the wives and at least 2 children?
  • Anonymous
    Listening to the 3 versions of this song I have,the original from LZ III and two different live versions, Plant clearly sings "the GIRL next door". I don't know how someone could make such stupid mistake. My guess would be that they simply a not a Zepplin fan. Oh well. To each his or her own. Peace.
  • Anonymous
    I don't know if it can clearly be defined as gay, but in the version I just downloaded from Itunes, Plant clearly says "the BOY next door". Is it a conspiracy perpetrated by the record companies?? I sold my original "III" record many years ago, so I can't know for sure what he says on it, only what the download says.