Finding Zoso: Discovering the Music of Jimmy Page: "What Is and What Should Never Be"

"What is and What Should Never Be" is the second track off of "Led Zeppelin II" and was one of the first tracks to feature Jimmy Page's now iconic "Number One" 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard. This track was also the first song the band churned out that Robert Plant receives a writing credit for. It is alleged that the lyrics to the song are an ode to his wife Maureen's younger sister, however this story is highly apocryphal and as far as song lyrics go, only the writer knows their true meaning.

The song itself is a perfect example of the dynamics that Jimmy strived to achieve in his music; he referred to it as "light and shade". From the quiet, almost whispered intro with clean guitar playing softly in the background to the sledgehammer over-driven and screamingly loud vocal part that follows it. Even the solo operates in this way with Page playing soft chords and notes through a clean amp, then out of nowhere attacking like a savage with his amps cranked and his Les Paul whining out beautiful rock and roll.

Legendary producer Rick Rubin has listed this song as one of his favorites commenting, "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." The band played this number live for four years, from 1969 to 1972, when it was ultimately dropped from set-list in favor of newer material. An excellent version from the Royal Albert Hall can be seen on Led Zeppelin's live DVD released in 2003.

Page and Plant, 1969

For this song I chose to use my Gibson Les Paul Classic plugged into my Marshall Haze 40 with an Ibanez Tube Screamer pedal in between. It isn't a very difficult number really, the solo is a little bit of trouble, there is a slide part, and I'm not exactly the best with a slide, but the structure overall is pretty consistent throughout and is manageable.

w/clean tone
                          Rhythm Figure 1
|-------------------------|0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----|
|-------------------------|7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0-|
|-------------------------|6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--0-|
|-------------------------|5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|
|-------------------------|--------------------------|
|-------------------------|--------------------------|

|-----0---7---0----0-----0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----|
|7--7-0-7-7-7-0-7--0--7--0--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0-|
|7--7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7--7--7--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--0-|
|6--6-6-6---6-6-6--6--6--6--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|

|-----0---7---0----0-----0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----|
|7--7-0-7-7-7-0-7--0--7--0--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0-|
|7--7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7--7--7--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--0-|
|6--6-6-6---6-6-6--6--6--6--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5----|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|

|-----0---0-7-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--------|
|7--7-0-7-0-0--7--0--7--0--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-(7)/---|
|7--7-7-7-7-7--7--7--7-----6--6--6--6--6--6--6-(6)/---|
|6--6-6-6-6-6--6--6--6--6--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-(5)/---|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------|
         well, what's to  be they say will_ be.__  Ah,

with distortion
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------3---2--x-x-|
|----------------------------------------------------2---2--x-x-|
|5-7h~~--7p5-5----5~~------5p0------4~~4-0-4p0-x---0-4---2--x-x-|
|0-----0-0----(0)-0---0--0-0----x-0-0--0-0-0---x-0-0-----0--x-x-|
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
catch the wind_see us spin,sail away,leave today,way up high in the sky_ Hey oh,_then the

|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------3---2-----|
|-------------------------------------------------------2---2--2--|
|5-7h-------7p5-----5~~-----5p0-x---4~----4-4p0-x-x--2--4---2--2--|
|0-----0~-0-0----0--0--0--0-0---x-0---0-0-0-0---x-x--0--0---0--0--|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
wind won't blow, you really should'nt go, it only goes to show_  that_
                                               *
|----------------------------------------0----------------------------|
|4--4-4-4-4--4----4-----4-----4-----4--x-0---4-----(2)----------------|
|4--4-4-4-4--4----4-----4-----4-----4--x-1---4------3-----------------|
|4--4-4-4-4--4----4-----4-----4-----4----2---4------4-----------------|
|2--2-2-2-2--2-0-----0-------------------2---2------4-----------------|
|--------------------------4-----4-------0-----(0)--2-----------------|
you will be mine__ by taking our__ time.__         Ooh________________

|---------------------------------------------------|
|(5)------------------------------------------------|
|-6-------------------------------------------------|
|-7-------------------------------------------------|
|-7-------------------2-----------------------------|
|-5---------------3b--0-----------------------------|
                           And if you say to me to -
clean tone
|0--0--0--0--0--0--0-----0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
|7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0--|
|6--6--6--6--6--6--6--0--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--|
|5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----6--8--8--8--8--8--8--8--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
mor-row,                         oh,what fun it all___would be.__

|------0-----0-----0-----0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-----------------------0--|
|5--0-----0-----0-----0--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0--7--0--7--7-----0--7--0--|
|7--7-----7-----7-----7--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--7--7--7--7-----7--7--7--|
|6--6-----6-----6-----6--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--6--6--6--6-----6--6--6--|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
     Then what's to stop us pret-ty ba - by____            but what is and

                        Distorted
|0--0--0--0-----0------------------------------------------|
|7--7--7--7-----7------------------------------------------|
|6--6--6--6-----6------------------------------------------|
|5--5--5--5-----5-------5-7h~~----7-5-----5~~----5p0-x-----|
|-----------------------0-----0-0-0---(0)-0--0-0-----x--0--|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
what should never be. I catch the wind_see us spin,sail away,leave today,_

|--------------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------3---2---------------------------------------|
|----------------2-2---2---------------------------------------|
|4-4-4-4-4p0-x---2-4---2------5p7~~----7-5----5------5p0-x-----|
|0-0-0-0-0---x-0---0---0--0-0-0----0-0-0--(0)-0--0-0-----x--0--|
|--------------------------------------------------------------|
way up high,in the sky Hey, oh then the wind_won't blow, you really should'nt go. It

|----------------------------------------------------------|
|------------------3---2--------------4------4-4-4---4-4-4-|
|----------------2-2---2------4---4---4------4-4-4---4-4-4-|
|4-4-4-4-4p0-x---2-4---2------4---4---4------4-4-4---4-4-4-|
|0-0-0-0-0---x-0---0---0--0-0-2---2-2----2-0-------0-------|
|----------------------------------------------------------|
only goes to show__       that you will be mine__      by


|-------------------0---------------------------------------------------------------|
|--4-4-4---4--------0---4-----2---------------(5)-----------------------------------|
|--4-4-4---4--------1---4-----3----------------6------------------------------------|
|--4-4-4---4--------2---4--2--4----------------7------------------------------------|
|-------------------2---2--0--4----------------7-------------------2----------------|
|4-------4---4--(0)-0---------2----------------5--------------3b---0----------------|
tak - ing our_ time._         Ooh.______________

Guitar Solo:
w/slide
and clean tone        
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------5---7/9--7/9--|7\2--2~~~~~~~~~~~2-\---------5--7/9----7/9------7\2~~~~~~~~~~-|
|--4--6---------------|----(2)---------(2)\----4--6----7/9----7/9------7\2~~~~~~~~~~-|
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
                                                                8va______
|-----12~~~~10--x-----------------------------------------------12p15^-12---------------------|
|7-12-------------12--11-12h--11-12h-10---10/14---(14)~~~~--12------------12-10/12-10-8--10~--|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
|10/14-14\------|-----14-14----14-14\---------14-14-14\---------------------------------|
|---------------|-----14-14----14-14\------14----14-14\------14~14~---14~14~----14(14)\-|
|---------------|7-14-------14-14-14\-5/14~------14-14\-4/14-------14~------12--14-14-\-|
|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------12----------|
|---------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----14~---14(14)\---------14----14-(14)---------14-----14--------------------------|
|-----------14(14)\------14----14-14-(14)------14----14-----14-------------14-(14)\--|
|7-14----14~14(14)\-5/14----------14-(14)-4/14-----------------12--(12)\---14-(14)\--|
|--------------------------------------------------------------12--(12)\-------------|
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------16~---16~---(16)---------16------16-16----------16----16------16-16\9------------|
|-----16~---16~---16~(16)------16----(16)-16-16-------16----16----(16)-------9---16-(16)\-|
|9/16---------------------7/16-------------------6/16------------------------9---16-(16)\-|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--16/17----16--14~~-------14\12/14-(14)~14\12/14~12/14--12/14---12\-------|
|-----------------------14-------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------14-----------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|

|----------------------------|0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----0--0-0-0-7---0-0--0--0--0--|
|(9)\------------------------|7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0-7--7-5-7-7-7-0-7--0--7--0--|
|(9)\------------------------|6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6-7--7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7--7--7--|
|(9)\------------------------|5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-6--6-6-6---6-6-6--6--6--6--|
|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
     So if you wake up with the sun-rise                    and all your dreans are

|0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----0--0-0-0-7---0-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0----|
|7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0-7--7-5-7-7-7-0-7--0--7--0--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--7--0-|
|6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6-7--7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7--7--7--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6--6-|
|5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-6--6-6-6---6-6-6--6--6--6--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
still as new._                      And hppiness is what you need so bad,___

|0--0-0-0-7---0-0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-----|
|7--7-5-7-7-7-0-7--0--7--0--7--7--7--7--7--7--7-----|
|7--7-7-7-7-7-7-7--7--7--7--6--6--6--6--6--6--6-----|
|6--6-6-6---6-6-6--6--6--6--5--5--5--5--5--5--5-----|
|---------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------|
Girl, the answer lies__ with you___yeah          I

Distorted
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------3---2------|
|-----------------------------------x----------------------2---2------|
|5-7h------7p5-5------5~~------5p0--x---4~~4-0-4p0-x-----0-4---2--x-x-|
|0-----0-0-0------(0)-0---0--0-0------0-0--0-0-0---x--0--0-----0--x-x-|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
Catch the wind,see us spin,sail away,leave today,way up high in the sky_Hey, Oh, but the

|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------3---2-----|
|----------------------------------------------------------2---2--2--|
|5-7h-------7p5-----5~~-------5p0-x---4~------4-4p0-x-x-2--4---2--2--|
|0-----0--0-0----0--0----0--0-0---x-0----0--0-0-0---x-x-0--0---0--0--|
|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
wind won't blow,we really should'nt go, it only goes to__show__Yeah__that

|----------------------------------------0----------------------------|
|4--4-4-4-4--4----4-----4-----4-----4----0---4------(2)---------------|
|4--4-4-4-4--4----4-----4-----4-----4----1---4-------3----------------|
|4--4-4-4-4--4----4-----4--------------x-2---4-------4----------------|
|2--2-2-2-2--2-0-----0-----------------x-2---2--(0)--4----------------|
|--------------------------4-----4-------0-----------2----------------|
you will be mine_     by  tak-ing our_time.__       Ooh_______________

|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|(5)-----------------------------------------------9-9--------|
|-6-------------------------------------9-9--------9-9--------|
|-7-------------------------------------9-9--------9-11-------|
|-7--------------------2----------------9-11------------------|
|-5--------------3b----0--------------------------------------|

|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------7---------------------9----9-9--------------------7---------------------|
|--7---7-7-----9-(9)-(9)-----9-9----9-9--------------7---7-7------9-(9)-(9)------|
|7-7---7-9-----9--9---9---x--9-9----9-11-----------7-7---7-9-x----9--9---9---x-x-|
|7-9-----------7--7---7---x--9-11------------------7-9-------x----7--7---7---x-x-|
|-------------(0)-9---0------------------------------------------(0)-0---0-------|

|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------9-9--------------------------------7-7---------9--9------|
|9-(9)-x-x-9-9--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-------7-(x)-7-7-x-------9--9------|
|9-(9)-x-x-9-11-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-------7-(x)-7-9-x-----9-9--9--x-x-|
|9-11h-x-x------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x---7/9-9-(x)-----x-----7-7--7--x-x-|
|---------------------------------0-----------------0-x-0-0--0----x-|
                  Hey___          Ho____                  Well, the

|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|--------9-9-9-------------------------------7-7---------9--9------|
|9-(9)-x-9-9-9--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x(7)-7-7-x-x-7-7-x-------9--9------|
|9-(9)-x-9-9-11-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-7--7-7-x-x-7-9-x-----9-9--9--x-x-|
|9-11h-x--------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-9--7-9-x-x-----x-----7-7--7--x-x-|
|--------------------------------------------------0-x-0-0--0----x-|
wind won't blow,and you really shouldn't go,well it only goes to show. Oh_ oh oh

|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------9-9--x--------------------------7--------------9--9---|
|9-9----9-9--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-7-7~~x-7-7-x-----9-9--9--9---|
|9-9----9-11-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-7-7~~x-7-9-x---9-9-9--9--9-9-|
|9-11----------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-7-9~~x-----x-7-7-7-7--7--7-9-|
|---------------------------------------------0---0-0--0--0---|
Catch the wind,we're gonna see you spin,we're gonna sail_ leave to day_

|------------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------9-9------------------------------7-7--------------9--9-----|
|9-9-~~~9-9--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-9\-7-7--x-7-7(7)----(9)-9--9--9-----|
|9-9-~~~9-11-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-9\-7-7--x-7-9p7----9-9--9--9--9-----|
|9-11~~~-----x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x----7-9--x--------7-7-7--7--7--7--9--|
|-----------------------------------------------0---0--0--0--0-----|
   Ah,du du du, mm ba, ba, mm du_oh                            

|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------9-9------------------------------7(7)-------9--9----|
|9(9)-~~x-9-9--x-x-x-x-x--x-x-x----7-------7-7----9---9--9----|
|9-9--~~x-9-11-x-x-x-x-x--x-x-x----7-7-7-7-7-9----9-9-9--9----|
|9-11h~~x------x-x-x-x-x--x-x-x-7--7-9-9-9------7-7-7-7--7----|
|------------------------------(0)--------------0---0-0--0----|
Ma  Ma  Ma  Ma  Ma Ma     Yeah!__                         Evry'-

|---------------------------------------------------------------|
|-------x-9-9-----------------------------7-7-7-------9--9--9---|
|9(9)---x-9-9--x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x----7-7~~~7-7-7-----9-9--9--9---|
|9-9------9-11-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x(7)-9-9~~~7-9-7-----9-9--9--9---|
|9-11h---------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-7--7-9~~~------7-7-7-7--7--7-9-|
|--------------------------------7--------------0-0---0--0--0---|
body I know seems to know me well,but ah they better know gonna move like hell_

|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------9-9-------------------------------7-7--------9--9--9---|
|9-9-------9-9--x-x-x-x-x--x-x-(x)---7-7-7---7-7------9-9--9--9---|
|9-9-----9-9-11-x-x-x-x-x--x-x-(x)---7-7-7-7-7--------9-9--9--9---|
|9-11-11--------x-x-x-x-x--x-x-(x)-7-7-9-9-7------7-7-7-7--7--7-9-|
|-------------------------------------------------0-0---0--0--0---|
Ah, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby,_   Ho, I love_ya!

                                                    Fade out
|-----------------------------------------------------------|
|-------9-9-------------------------------------9-9--9--9---|
|9-9-~~~9-9--(x)-x-x--x--x-x-x--7(7)~~7-7-7-----9-9--9--9---|
|9-9-~~~9-11-(x)-x-x--x--x-x-x--7(7)~~7-9-7-----9-9--9--9---|
|9-11~~~-----(x)-x-x--x--x-x-x--7-9h~~------7-7-7-7--7--7-9-|
|-------------------------------------------0-0------0--0---|
Baby, baby, babe!___    Oh,____           I love__ ya__

Finding Zoso: Discovering the Music of Jimmy Page

Thursday, March 29, 2012

"What Is and What Should Never Be"

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