Heartbreaker Lyrics

[Instrumental Intro 00:00-00:26]

[Verse 1]
Hey fellas, have you heard the news?
You know that Annie's back in town
I won't take long, just watch and see how the fellas lay their money down
Her style is new, but the face the same as it was so long ago
But from her eyes, a different smile like that of one who knows

[Verse 2]
Well, it's been ten years or maybe more since I first set eyes on you
The best years of my life gone by, here I am alone and blue
Some people cry and some people die by the wicked ways of love
But I'll just keep on rollin' along with the grace of the Lord above

[Bridge]
People talkin all around 'bout the way you left me flat
I don't care what the people say, I know where their jive is at
One thing I do have on my mind if you can clarify, please do
It's the way you call me another guy's name
When I try to make love to you, yeah

I try to make love but it ain't no use
Give it to me
Give it

[Instrumental Break 02:02-03:41]
[Guitar Solo]

[Verse 3]
Mm, work so hard I couldn't unwind
Get some money saved
Abuse my love a thousand times
However hard I tried
Heartbreaker, your time has come
Can't take your evil way
Go away, heartbreaker

[Outro]
Heartbreaker!
Heartbreaker!
Heart!

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About

Genius Annotation

“Heartbreaker” is a prototypical power-rock song about a woman, likely a prostitute, who breaks the speaker’s heart. It highlights an album stock full of love songs with its hard rock sound defined by a classic riff and a famous solo. It also segues well into the next track, “Living Loving Maid (She’s Just a Woman),” which has a similar subject matter — some radio stations even played the two back-to-back because of the connections.

It’s a fan favorite during live shows — it’s one of only two tracks, alongside “Communication Breakdown,” that the band played each year they toured together.

The track has received much critical acclaim from fellow musicians, including Steve Vai, Rick Rubin, and Eddie Van Halen, who cited it as the origin of the guitar tapping technique. Nirvana also covered the song at a gig in 1987.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Led Zeppelin say about "Heartbreaker"?
Genius Answer

Per Robert Plant in 1975:

Nineteen years old and never been kissed. I remember it well. It’s been a long time. Nowadays we’re more into staying in our room and reading Nietzsche.

Guitarist Jimmy Page told Rolling Stone in 2012:

‘Heartbreaker’ is one where John was involved in the writing as well. The opening is guitar-led, then John’s [bass] pattern becomes the verse.

What has the media said about the song?
Genius Answer

Rolling Stone ranked it as the #22 Led Zeppelin song, saying:

Page’s solo was a heavy-metal textbook full of pyrotechnics that, per legend, inspired a young Eddie Van Halen to reimagine the possible. A takedown of ‘Annie,’ a two-timer who leaves the singer ‘alone and blue,’ it became a live staple during which Page would slip Bach’s ‘Bourrée in E minor’ and other quotes into the jam.

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