That's the Way

The Zoo Crew is spinning the mellow vibes of Led Zeppelin's "That's the Way" from their 1970 album Led Zeppelin III, and the Zoo Freaks are surely soaking in its acoustic beauty. This folk rock ballad, written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, was born during a retreat at Bron-Yr-Aur, a remote cottage in Wales, after a grueling U.S. tour. Page recalled in a 1975 interview that the song came together after a long walk, with the duo sketching a rough demo before heading back to the cottage. Originally titled "The Boy Next Door," the lyrics touch on a boy whose parents disapprove of his friendship with another kid from the "wrong side of town," but they also reflect Led Zeppelin's experiences with hostility during early American tours—think heckling at airports and even guns drawn over their long hair. The track’s sparse instrumentation, featuring Page’s twelve-string acoustic guitar in open G♭ tuning, mandolin by John Paul Jones, and subtle steel guitar fills, creates its delicate, bittersweet vibe, with no drums until the outro.

Digging into the song’s reception, Rolling Stone’s Lester Bangs called "That's the Way" the first Led Zeppelin track to truly move him, praising its understated acoustic approach. AllMusic’s Denise Sullivan went further, labeling it one of the band’s most beautiful ballads in the true folk tradition. Fans on Reddit have shared personal takes, with one user, funkystrawberry6, suggesting the lyrics capture how perspectives on parental decisions shift with age, highlighting the song’s open-ended, impressionistic quality. Another layer comes from Robert Plant’s own words in a Rolling Stone piece, where he revealed the song was a subtle protest against the violence they witnessed in America, from police clashing with Vietnam War protesters to rough treatment of fans at their shows. The song’s inclusion in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous cemented its nostalgic, sunlit aura for a new generation.

As for how Led Zeppelin got started, the band formed in London in 1968, rising from the ashes of The Yardbirds, where Jimmy Page had been a guitarist. After The Yardbirds disbanded, Page teamed up with session musician John Paul Jones, a versatile bassist and keyboardist, and recruited Robert Plant, a young vocalist from the Band of Joy, who brought along drummer John Bonham. Initially called the New Yardbirds, they rebranded as Led Zeppelin—a name inspired by The Who’s Keith Moon joking that the band would go down like a "lead balloon." Their debut album, recorded in just 36 hours at Olympic Studios in 1968, blended blues, folk, and raw rock, setting the stage for their explosive rise. With Atlantic Records granting them rare artistic freedom, they churned out hits like "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway to Heaven," becoming pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal.

Led Zeppelin’s legacy endures through their official channels and vibrant fan communities. You can dive into their world at their official website, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X, where they share updates like the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin. Fans connect on sites like Led Zep News for the latest rumors and rare photos, or join discussions in the r/ledzeppelin subreddit. For deeper dives, check out fan-driven Facebook groups where Zoo Freaks and beyond swap stories and bootlegs, keeping the band’s mystique alive.