Ten Years Gone " is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album '' Physical Graffiti '' . Record producer Rick Rubin has described the song as , " A deep , reflective piece with hypnotic , interweaving riffs . Light and dark , shadow and glare . It sounds like nature coming through the speakers . " Jimmy Page had originally intended the song to be an instrumental piece ; he recorded around 14 guitar tracks to overdub the harmony section . Robert Plant later added lyrics , which are dedicated to an old girlfriend who , ten years earlier , had made him choose either her or his music . Plant explained this in an interview in 1975 : Live versions of this song were performed on Led Zeppelin 's 1977 concert tour of the United States . John Paul Jones originally played the melody on an acoustic guitar before introducing a custom triple-necked instrument created by Andy Manson , that included six-string and twelve-string guitars , a mandolin , and bass pedals . Jimmy Page used his brown-painted 1953 Fender Telecaster ( which a rock journalist once dubbed " Botswana Brown " ) outfitted with a B-Bender . The band again played the song on the first date of the concerts at Knebworth on 4 August 1979 which was also their last time playing it in concert . They cut it from their set on their second and final Knebworth appearance on 11 August , due to problems with the sound system . Page and Plant performed this song only once , during their 1996 tour ( on 15 February in Osaka ) . Page also performed this song on his tour with the Black Crowes in 1999 . In an interview he later gave to National Public Radio , Page commented on this collaboration with the Black Crowes : One version is included on '' Live at the Greek '' ( 2000 ) . It peaked at number 33 on '' Billboard 's '' Mainstream Rock chart
1977 concert tour of the United States
Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1977
Ten Years Gone