Ranking Every Song by Led Zeppelin

1. 93. ‘Key to the Highway/Trouble in Mind’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

2. 92. ‘Hats off to (Roy) Harper’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

3. 91. ’10 Ribs & All/Carrot Pod Pod (Pod)’ – ‘Presence’ (1976)

4. 90. ‘Black Mountain Side’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

5. 89. ‘Bron-Yr-Aur’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

6. 88. ‘St. Tristan’s Sword’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

7. 87. ‘Something’ Else’ – ‘The Complete BBC Sessions’ (1969)

8. 86. ‘Bonzo’s Montreux’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

If you want to hear Bonham bang the drums, enjoy!

9. 85. ‘Friends’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

10. 84. ‘Boogie with Stu’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

11. 83. ‘La La’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

12. 82. ‘Sugar Mama’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

13. 81. ‘I’m Gonna Crawl’ – ‘In Through the out Door’ (1979)

14. 80. ‘Poor Tom’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

15. 79. ‘Candy Store Rock’ – ‘Presence’ (1976)

16. 78. ‘Sunshine Woman’ – ‘The Complete BBC Sessions’ (1969)

This song would be much higher if there was a cleaner recording of it.

17. 77. ‘Ozone Baby’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

18. 76. ‘For Your Life’ – ‘Presence’ (1976)

19. 75. ‘Carouselambra’ – ‘In Through the out Door’ (1979)

This is a bit of a window into Jones’ experimentation with the band’s music. Jones is an excellent producer, and is a big part of why Zeppelin’s sound was so revolutionary. This song was definitely ahead of its time, essentially a sneak peak of what was to come in the ’80s.

20. 74. ‘Wearing and Tearing’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

21. 73. ‘Celebration Day’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

22. 72. ‘Black Country Woman’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

23. 71. ‘South Boud Saurez’ – ‘In Through the out Door’ (1979)

24. 70. ‘The Wanton Song’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

25. 69. ‘Moby Dick’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

This is by far one of my favorite rock instrumentals. While Bonham’s drum solo midway through is excellent, I often opt for the shorter version that omits it when I want to listen to a quicker jam.

26. 68. ‘Your Time is Gonna Come’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

27. 67. ‘C’Mon Everybody’ – ‘Led Zeppelin DVD’ (2003)

28. 66. ‘You Shook Me’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

29. 65. ‘Hots on for Nowhere’ – ‘Presence’ (1976)

30. 64. ‘Down by the Seaside’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

31. 63. ‘Bron-Y-Aur Stomp – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

32. 62. ‘The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair’ – ‘The Complete BBC Sessions’ (1969)

33. 61. ‘Baby Come on Home’ – ‘Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2’ (1993)

34. 60. ‘Royal Orleans’ – ‘Presence’ (1976)

While Presence is a bit of a step back from the level of excellence we expect from Zeppelin, the album still offers a ton to like, and I view Royal Orleans as an underrated track.

35. 59. ‘Sick Again’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

36. 58. ‘The Crunge’ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

The “worst” (by no means is it bad) song off Houses of the Holy lands the entire album inside the top 58 songs!

37. 57. ‘The Lemon Song’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

I was disappointed in myself for putting The Lemon Song so low. Even I don’t want to be friends with me.

38. 56. ‘Tea for One’ – ‘Presence’ (1976)

39. 55. ‘I Can’t Quit You Baby’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

If this ranking seems very low for I Can’t Quit You Baby, it’s because Zeppelin released a better recording they did in 1970 for the tune on Coda.

40. 54. ‘In the Light’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

41. 53. ‘Babe I’m Gonna Leave You’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

42. 52. ‘Walter’s Walk’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

Walter’s Walk is a high-octane final ride from Led Zeppelin (one of the last songs the band ever completed), with the late Bonham’s drum beats pushing the song forward, something that wasn’t typical with his play style. Page’s riffing here is also fantastic.

Bonham’s drums were recorded in 1972, and Plant finished the lyrics in 1982 and recorded them for Coda.

43. 51. ‘Darlene’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

Darlene is a true gem off of Coda, a record comprised of a lot of unused Zeppelin material from throughout their run.

44. 50. ‘Night Flight’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

45. 49. ‘Custard Pie’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

46. 48. ‘Hot Dog’ – ‘In Through the out Door’ (1979)

Hot Dog is very different from other Zeppelin tracks (making it a great fit for In Through the out Door), but it offers itself as a fun throwback to rockabilly-styled songs.

47. 47. ‘Traveling Riverside Blues’ – ‘Led Zeppelin Boxed Set’ (1990)

48. 46. ‘Trampled Under Foot’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

49. 45. ‘Gallows Pole’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

50. 44. ‘Achilles Last Stand’ – ‘Presence’ (1976)

51. 43. ‘How Many More Times’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

52. 42. ‘That’s the Way’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

53. 41. ‘Four Sticks’ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

At last the first song on this list from the legendary untitled album that I like to call Led Zeppelin IV.

54. 40. ‘In the Evening’ – ‘In Through the out Door’ (1979)

55. 39. ‘We’re Gonna Groove’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

If I want to just jam out to some Zeppelin, We’re Gonna Groove is on a shortlist of tracks I’d pull up.

56. 38. ‘The Song Remains the Same’ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

57. 37. ‘In My Time of Dying’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

58. 36. ‘Dancing Days’ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

59. 35. ‘The Battle of Evermore’ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

60. 34. ‘No Quarter’ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

61. 33. ‘Nobody’s Fault but Mine’ – ‘Presence’ (1976)

62. 32. ‘Tangerine’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

63. 31. ‘Out on the Tiles’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

Out on the Tiles in my mind is one of the most underrated songs in the band’s entire discography. Easily one of my personal favorites, which reflects its placement here.

64. 30. ‘Fool in the Rain’ – ‘In Through the out Door’ (1979)

65. 29. ‘Thank You’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

66. 28. ‘I Can’t Quit You Baby’ – ‘Coda’ (1982)

This is the superior version of I Can’t Quit You Baby that I was talking about. Plant’s vocals are better, Page’s guitar playing is a bit more complex and the overall production sounds so much sharper and refined. Thank you, Coda.

67. 27. ‘The Rover’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

68. 26. ‘Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman)’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

“Living! Loving! She’s just a woman!”

69. 25. ‘What is and What Should Never Be’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

25 feels too low for this track, but as I was building out this ranking, I felt better about it given the rest of my top 25.

70. 24. ‘Dazed and Confused’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

71. 23. ‘The Ocean’ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

I love The Ocean, but I have to admit there’s a cover out there of this song that I prefer. Like I said, I’m not expecting to make any friends, but I highly encourage anyone to check out Tesla’s version! My girlfriend, a British rock defender, will hate me for telling you this, but you’re welcome.

72. 22. ‘The Rain Song’ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

This is what laying in bed on a rainy summer or fall day feels like to me; pure bliss.

73. 21. ‘When the Levee Breaks’ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

This is one of Zeppelin’s hardest-rocking songs in my mind. They covered Kansas Joe & Memphis Minnie’s 1929 track of the same name. Bonham’s drum beats feel like hammers come down onto his kit, give the song a powerfully-gritty feel.

74. 20. ‘Good Times Bad Times’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

75. 19. ‘Houses of the Holy’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

76. 18. ‘Ten Years Gone’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

Another song that feels like it should be waaaaayyyy higher, honestly.

77. 17. ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

78. 16. ‘Rock and Roll’ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

79. 15. ‘Misty Mountain Hop’ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

Misty Mountain Hop is such a fun song, and one of the few songs in their catalog that references Hobbit and Lord of the Rings writer J. R. R. Tolkien’s work.

80. 14. ‘Bring It on Home’ ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

My favorite song by Led Zeppelin, Bring It on Home is a slow build up brought to you by some muddy Plant vocals and a harmonica, before Page’s solo riffing leads you into Bonham absolutely wailing on his snares – and off we go! Of all the songs in any of my playlists, this often times gets dialed up to “30” on the open highway. 

Adding to the controversy that’s surrounded Zeppelin when it’s come to their habit of “borrowing” pieces from other songs and artists, Willie Dixon sued the band for its use without his permission. They later settled with Dixon, and have since given him sole songwriting credits in recent reissues of the song.

81. 13. ‘Hey, Hey, What Can I Do’ (1970)

On the B-side of the single Immigrant Song, Hey, Hey, What Can I Do never made it onto a studio album.

82. 12. ‘All My Love’ – ‘In Through the out Door’ (1979)

This song was written as a tribute to Plant’s deceased son, Karac Plant, who died of a stomach illness while Zeppelin was touring the U.S. in 1977. He was only five years old.

83. 11. Communication Breakdown’ – ‘Led Zeppelin’ (1969)

84. 10. ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

85. 9. ‘D’yer Mak’er’ – ‘Houses of the Holy’ (1973)

86. 8. ‘Heartbreaker’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

Page and Jones pair perfectly here.

87. 7. ‘Immigrant Song’ – ‘Led Zeppelin III’ (1970)

I will forever think of Jack Black sining in the van from that scene in 2003’s School of a Rock. What a classic.

88. 6. ‘Ramble On’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

89. 5. ‘Kashmir’ – ‘Physical Graffiti’ (1975)

Kashmir stands out from Zeppelin’s discography as one of their more complex songs in my mind. It feels oddly militant, with a momentous push throughout thanks to Page’s riffing.

90. 4. ‘Whole Lotta Love’ – ‘Led Zeppelin II’ (1969)

The best song off of my favorite Zeppelin album, Whole Lotta Love is a quintessential track for the band in my mind.

91. 3. ‘Going to California’ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

Hailing from Illinois, and rarely leaving the boarders of it or Wisconsin for the first 20 years of my life, Going to California was such an important song to me growing up. Listening to it gave me a sense of hope that one day I’d back my bags and fly off to start my life somewhere new and exciting – somewhere very different from the slice of America I’d only ever seen my entire life. Ironically, the first time I’d get to set foot on a “big jet plane” was to go to California; prophecy realized! Now I’m living in Houston and loving it!

92. 2. ‘Black Dog’ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

One of Plant’s best songs vocally, Black Dog has Bonham, Jones and Page dialed up to “10,” while giving Plant plenty of room to shine. The song was written about what the band imagined the life of this wandering black lab that they’d see near the Headley Studios was like.

93. 1. ‘Stairway to Heaven’ – ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ (1971)

Some of you are going to groan seeing Stairway to Heaven’s placement here, but I really need you to hear me out. Is the song overplayed everywhere? A bit. Is the song a cliché in itself at this point? Maybe, but there’s a reason for why the song gets the negative attention over 50 years after its release; it’s a damn good song. It full of emotion, and you do not need to listen to Plant’s vocals to feel that. It’s by far and a way one of rock’s greatest epics, and like the band itself, will be here long after anyone alive in 2025 will be around.

I hope you enjoyed rankings for every Led Zeppelin song!