The Rover

"The Rover" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, being the second track on their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.

Overview
The song was originally meant to be an acoustic piece, being written at Bron-Yr-Aur in 1970 and then recorded at Stargroves during the Houses of the Holy sessions in 1972. However, the band decided to hold the track off the Houses of the Holy album, and the song eventually saw its way onto Led Zeppelin's next studio album Physical Graffiti. By this time it had obtained a distinctly heavier feel, with several studio overdubs having been laid by Jimmy Page in 1974.

"The Rover" opens with a heavy drum beat from John Bonham, and throughout the song, Page plays a distinctive riff using a Phase Shifter effect. The riff is in the key of E major, and the solo uses a F# minor scale. "Rover" is old British slang term for a wanderer, and the lyrics are fitting to this definition:

I've been to London, seen seven wonders. I know to trip is just to fall. . . Traversed the planet when heaven sent me. I saw the kings who rule them all.

The sleeve credit for this track includes the line "Guitar lost courtesy Nevison...Salvaged by the grace of Harwood", which would seem to be a reference to difficulties encountered during the mixing of the track, "Harwood" being Keith Harwood and "Nevison" referring to Ron Nevison, both audio engineers on Physical Graffiti.

Live performances
"The Rover" was never played live in its entirety at Led Zeppelin concerts, although the band played the opening bars as an introduction to "Sick Again" throughout their 1977 concert tour of the United States. However, the song was rehearsed in full, as can be heard on bootleg recordings of the band's soundcheck rehearsal at the Chicago Stadium on 6 July 1973. This rehearsal took place before the opening date of the second leg of the band's 1973 US Tour. Also in 1972, "The Rover" was played in a "Whole Lotta Love" medley during a concert in Sydney.