Poor Tom

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	To oppose or discuss a nomination, please go to CZ:Proposed for deletion and follow the instructions. For the monthly nomination lists, see Category:Articles for deletion. Poor Tom Appears on Coda (album) Published by Flames of Albion Music Registration ASCAP 460214008 Release date 19 November 1982 Recorded 6 May 1970 at Olympic Studios, London. Mixed at the Sol Studio, Cookham, Berkshire. Genre Blues rock Language English Length 3 minutes 3 seconds Composer Jimmy Page, Robert Plant Label Swan Song Records Producer Jimmy Page Engineer Andy Johns 'Poor Tom' is a song by English rock group Led Zeppelin. Overview It was composed in 1970 by vocalist Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page when they were staying at Bron-Yr-Aur, a small cottage in Wales, and was recorded at Olympic Studios on 6 May 1970. The song was left off the album Led Zeppelin III but was eventually included on the band's album Coda (album)|Coda, released in 1982 two years after the death of drummer John Bonham, having been produced by Page at his newly-acquired Sol Studios. Although the lyrics can be difficult to decipher, the song appears to be about a hard working labourer on the Mississippi River named Tom who does away with his unfaithful wife Ellie May. Tom may also be psychic, as the lines 'Poor Tom, seventh son/Always knew what was goin' on' can be interpreted as a reference to the folk belief that seventh son of a seventh son|seventh sons of seventh sons were clairvoyant. The title may have come from Charles Kingsley's The Water Babies. In the story, a poor chimneysweep called Tom falls into a bedroom owned by Miss Ellie, who is dying. Tom is accused of being a thief and subsequently drowns in a river after being pursued. 'Poor Tom' is viewed by fans as another one of Led Zeppelin's blues-influenced songs and contains a jug-band workout, as well as a semi-acoustic guitar part performed by Page. A harmonica, played by Plant, and a drum track are also featured on the arrangement. The guitar tuning for the song is an open-C6 chord (C-A-C-G-C-E). The same tuning was also used by Page on the tracks 'Bron-Yr-Aur (song)|Bron-Yr-Aur' and 'Friends (song)|Friends'. The song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts. Chart positions Song (Airplay) Chart (1982) Peak position US Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks Chart 18 Credits Personnel Musicians: Jimmy Page – acoustic guitar, producer, remastering, digital remastering Robert Plant – vocals, harmonica John Paul Jones – acoustic bass John Bonham - drums, percussion Production: Peter Grant – executive producer Andy Johns - engineer Stuart Epps - engineer, mixing Joe Sidore - original CD mastering engineer (mid-1980s) George Marino - remastered CD engineer (1990) References