Backmasking started with the Beatles. Led Zepplin surely knew of it.

It is amazing how much of the backwards song sounds like legible lyrics. But I think it is probably just a neat coincidence. I do not believe in the supernatural, I do not believe Satan inspired him to sing it in a particular way such that these lyrics would come out (the lyrics don't even cast Satan in a good light). Nor do I think he tried to do this.

Robert Plant claims they were too drunk in those days to even play it correct forwards, much less figure out how to make something have lyrics when played backwards. He was disappointed when people claimed there were backwards lyrics, having spent so much effort on the forward lyrics. Called the whole thing bollocks.

But it is still really fascinating that there are these backwards lyrics that are kinda-misheard kinda-a-stretch, but close enough that you can hear them if you listen for them, and that they are almost coherent, soundling like the dirge of a dead person who is now in hell, a daemon beyond hope.

I spent some time trying to sing bits of Stairway to see what my voice sounds like backwards, or indeed to sing what it sounds like backwards and see if it sounds normal reversed... and for some phrases it's pretty easy, and for other phrases I cannot get it to work.

There are enough legible parts that it makes me wonder. Sometimes all our thoughts are misgiven.

This is about how I hear it backwards: "Uhhhh, flack wood. Yeah what's sung yeah oxishna, ... ahahahahahahahahaha remind you all for you, yeah we're all, yeah we're all one, so we can offer Krishna, oh hear him Christian within me, oh it stirs my sin, the river, oh she swells with our lousiness, all our life will end for him, we're all out of signs, I know I'm sorta shocked, the lord my god now will save me, .... Oh, I will never be saved wood cause I live with Satan. One wish today that you'll all pray for three who will make it here late. Pray now and you'll see the lord turned me out. But, oh, I was the shaggy fool, clothed in agony, lost at a height....Oh, There's no escaping it... Oh, so here's to my sweet Satan. The one whose little path would make me sad, whose power is Satan. He'll give, he'll give you six saint stick. There was a little toolshed where he made us suffer, sad Satan. ... ohohoohoh ... family won't get loose, get off of me. Always soothes the worker. Always will be as we now meh. I see ruins said he, the world they offered me. Who wished the lord's fall, if we lose feather, say you'll save me... And no wimps can bend the rules.... And no wimps can do... Hunt next to the shore cause they see all from there, See here's the news, who walks with mute grief! Perhaps no one found thee, Heavy left me out, spake the Reve, someday failed we'll lose one line-up, they've gotta leave forsaken, and no wimps can do, and no wimps can do. He who say the lords thoth have our laws, Matt must be superb, mass is ended, over there he who should learn thee, any moot that serves by my sworn music, I wish it with snow be shushed, all for my mass's sake. here why its sung, here oppositioner, Oh, he who should show make make his show make his. There's one chance - take his show. Show worthy to look for us, odd, sickly. Here why it's sung, here, oppositioner. Who owns this earth built below? Oh sweet Israel.