Great Forgotten Songs #33 – Led Zeppelin “Bron-Yr-Aur”

Great Forgotten Songs #33 – Led Zeppelin “Bron-Yr-Aur”

“Bron-Yr-Aur” is an Led Zeppelin classic forgotten song, played on acoustic guitar by Jimmy Page. It is their second song to reference Bron-Yr-Aur, a rural retreat in Wales where Jimmy Page and Robert Plant wrote much of Led Zeppelin III. The track has only two minutes and seven seconds, is the group’s shortest studio recording.

Bron-Yr-Aur was a holiday cottage used by Plant’s parents near the village of Furnace in North Ceredigion, Wales. Page and Plant spent time there after their Spring 1970 North American Tour, preparing for a follow-up album to Led Zeppelin II. The instrumental is a reflective and relaxed piece, and one of the last acoustic tunes released by the band. Page uses an open C6 tuning, played on a 1971 Martin D-28. “Poor Tom” and “Friends” also use this tuning.

Hear the song below:

“Bron-Yr-Aur” by Led Zeppelin
Physical Graffiti (1975)

As a solo piece, Page receives the sole writer’s credit. Writer Mick Wall notes in his biography When Giants Walked the Earth that it was recorded during “the original June 1970 Basing Street [Island Records Basing Street Studios] sessions for the third album.” However, it does not appear on Led Zeppelin III, although the album includes a country music-inspired song with Plant’s vocal titled “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp”.

When preparing their sixth album, Physical Graffiti, in 1975, several songs recorded during sessions for earlier albums were chosen; “Bron-Yr-Aur” was the oldest of the recordings to be selected.

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Rafael Polcaro: I'm a Brazilian journalist who always loved Classic Rock and Heavy Metal music. That passion inspired me to create Rock and Roll Garage over 6 years ago. Music has always been a part of my life, helping me through tough times and being a support to celebrate the good ones. When I became a journalist, I knew I wanted to write about my passions. After graduating in journalism from the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, I pursued a postgraduate degree in digital communication at the same institution. The studies and experience in the field helped me improve the website and always bring the best of classic rock to the world! MTB: 0021377/MG