Nobody's Fault but Mine

"Nobody's Fault but Mine" is a song recorded by English rock band Led Zeppelin, and released in 1976 on their album Presence. The title was inspired in-part by a traditional blues song entitled "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine". Led Zeppelin had previously included a photograph of Blind Willie Johnson on the 1969 album Led Zeppelin II, who recorded a 1920s arrangement of "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine" and served as an inspiration. The Led Zeppelin song is registered with copyright association ASCAP, with the unique title code 440088148.

Overview
The Led Zeppelin version contains different lyrics in the song such as "brother he showed me the gong", "I got a monkey on my back" and "Devil he told me to roll", which do not appear in "It's Nobody's Fault but Mine". The Led Zeppelin song structure also includes differences in the arrangements within the verse-chorus. Musically there are changes to the tempo and the track features a phase-treated, delta blues-based riff in E minor (and later E major) from Jimmy Page which is complemented by vocalist Robert Plant. The solo in E Minor Pentatonic, switches to E Major Pentatonic, back to E Minor Pentatonic, and concludes in E Major Pentatonic. Page triple-tracked his guitar intro; playing one guitar an octave higher than the others.

Drummer John Bonham and bassist John Paul Jones maintain the rhythm of the song, adding some syncopated accents during repetitions of the introductory phrase. The first half of the song also features a harmonica accompaniment by Plant.

Live history
From 1977 onwards, "Nobody's Fault but Mine" became a vital component of Led Zeppelin concerts, and was played at virtually every show until the group's final tour of Europe in 1980. One live version, from Led Zeppelin's performance at Knebworth in 1979, is featured on disc 2 of the Led Zeppelin DVD. During live performances, Plant often exclaimed, "Oh Jimmy!" right before Page went into his guitar solo.

"Nobody's Fault but Mine" was performed at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on 10 December 2007.

Page & Plant single
1995 CD single edition (US: Atlantic PRCD 5954-2)
 * 1. "Nobody's Fault but Mine" (Page, Plant) 4.15
 * 2. "Gallows Pole" (trad. arr. Page, Plant) 4:33

Album versions

 * 1991: Dread Zeppelin (5,000,000)
 * 1994: Page and Plant (No Quarter: Jimmy Page & Robert Plant Unledded)
 * 1994: Cinnamon (Cinnamon III)
 * 1995: Michael White & The White (Plays the Music of Led Zeppelin)
 * 1999: John Corabi (The Song Remains Remixed: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
 * 2000: Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes (Live at the Greek)
 * 2000: Orange Moon (Dead Zeppelin: A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
 * 2000: Never Never (Never Never Tribute)
 * 2003: various artists (Pickin' on Led Zeppelin, Vol. 1-2)
 * 2004: Paul Gilbert with John Paul Jones (Guitar Wars)
 * 2007: various artists (A Tribute to Led Zeppelin: The Essential Collection)
 * 2007: Led Zepagain (Led Zepagain II: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin)
 * 2008: Kevin Coyne (On Air)

Live versions

 * 1988-1990: Robert Plant
 * 2007: Marc Broussard