The origins of “Stairway to Heaven” trace back to 1970, when Jimmy Page and Robert Plant retreated to Bron-Yr-Aur, a remote cottage in Wales, after Led Zeppelin’s fifth American tour. It was during this quiet time that Page began crafting the music. “I wrote the music over a long period, the first part coming at Bron-Yr-Aur one night,” he later explained. Always armed with a cassette recorder, Page pieced the song together from various fragments of taped melodies.
The lyrics came to life months later at Headley Grange, a rustic house where the band often worked. Robert Plant sat beside a roaring log fire, writing as Page strummed chords on his guitar. Much of the lyrical content was created spontaneously. “A huge percentage of the lyrics were written there and then,” Page recalled, describing how the words seemed to flow effortlessly from Plant’s pencil onto paper.
Recording began in December 1970 at Island Records’ new Basing Street Studios in London. During the Led Zeppelin IV sessions at Headley Grange in early 1971, Plant refined and added more lyrics. Page then returned to Island Studios to lay down what would become one of rock’s most iconic guitar solos. The final version was released in November 1971 as part of *Led Zeppelin IV*.
Although Atlantic Records pushed for a single release, manager Peter Grant refused in both 1972 and 1973. He believed the song should be experienced as part of the album rather than cut down for radio play. Ironically, this only fueled demand — fans bought *Led Zeppelin IV* as if it were a single. Over the decades, “Stairway to Heaven” has become more than just a song; it’s a rock anthem, celebrated for its haunting lyrics, masterful instrumentation, and unforgettable guitar solo.
