‘Big Log’ is a song by English recording artist Robert Plant. The first single from his second solo album, The Principle of Moments (1983), it became his first top 40 solo hit, peaking at No. 11 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song also reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top Tracks chart. Neither of the words in the title appears in the lyrics.
Plant's lyrics were often influenced by the books of J.R.R. Tolkien. ‘Big Log’ is a mythical, extended metaphor for a lost love: "My love is in league with the freeway... My love is the miles and the waiting." A ‘big log’ is common lingo of tractor trailer drivers. It is the book in which their road hours are logged, therefore the connection between the road and love and the countless hours we all log on both.
This was Robert Plant's first big hit as a solo artist after the breakup of Led Zeppelin. In 1982, he released his debut solo album, Pictures at Eleven, and the singles ‘Burning Down One Side’ (#64) and "Pledge Pin" (#74). ‘Big Log,’ the first single from his second album, The Principle of Moments, went to #20 and earned significant airplay.
The video for the song was filmed around California and Nevada, including the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel in Death Valley Junction, California, the Calico Ghost Town in California, the Glass Pool Inn in Las Vegas, and in Crystal, Nye County, Nevada. It was directed by Storm Thorgerson.
Labels – Es Paranza, Atlantic
Songwriters – Robert Plant, Robbie Blunt, Jezz Woodroffe
Producers – Robert Plant, Benji LeFevre, Pat Moran
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]My love is in league
With the freeway
Its passion will rise
As the cities fly by
And the tail-lights dissolve
In the coming of night
And the questions in thousands
Take flight
[Verse 2]
My love is the miles
And the waiting
The eyes that just stare
And the glance at the clock
And the secret that burns
And the pain that won't stop
[Bridge]
And its fuel is the years
Leading me on!
Leading me down the road!
Driving me on!
Driving me on!
Driving me down the road!
[Verse 3]
My love is exceeding
The limit
Red-eyed and fevered
With the hum of the miles
Distance and longing
My thoughts do collide
Should I rest for a while
At the side?
[Verse 4]
Your love is cradled
In knowing
Eyes in the mirror
Still expecting they'll come
Sensing too well
When the journey is done
There is no turning back
No!
There is no turning back
On the run
[Outro]
My love
Is in league with the freeway
Oh! The freeway
And the coming of night-time
My love
My love
Is in league with the freeway