Our life is quite similar to the song. Just like the song, the rhythms are slow and soothing at the beginning. It mainly builds up for the storm that is about to come. As we progress more into our adulthood, the electric guitars come in and it starts to get messy. The tempo starts to become faster and faster as we head towards maturity.
But near the end, even the thunderous drums, electrifying licks, and raspy vocals blend creating an absolute masterpiece. This denotes how we find inner peace when we realize all the beautiful essences of life. If you just look at the song’s rhythm and tempo alone, they have so much resemblance to our life and that's one of many reasons to opt for the tattoo.
Hope is another aspect that the beautiful artwork teaches us. Most of the designs feature an individual walking up the stairs to something bright. The artwork dictates how we only need to hang on and keep fighting for another day. Soon, the good days will come. The doors of glory will open and you will enter with a big smile on your face.
A Tapestry Of Metaphors: The Hidden Meanings Of Stairway To Heaven Tattoos
You might be thinking that it's too obvious. The tattoo hints at the path to glory or success. Yes, you are right however the true purpose of the tattoos is not to portray such notions. The primary meaning of the tattoo is to educate people on how materialistic things cannot give you happiness.
They may give you some sort of pleasure but it's only for a short time. If you want something eternal and truly peaceful, you need to stop being driven by assets such as money and properties. There is more to life than gathering wealth and spending on meaningless items.
The lyrics of Led Zeppelin are often misinterpreted as some including Kurt Cobain think that their music is misogynistic and sexual. However, it's not always the case.
Even in the song “Stairway to Heaven”, there are some sexual innuendos but they are meant for some other meaning according to Robert Plant, the lead vocalist of the band. The lyrics mainly touch on finding true happiness and awakening one's spiritual essence so do the tattoos.
Alluring Stairway To Heaven Tattoo Designs To Transcend The Boundaries
The fabulous manifestation of the intricate composition truly hits the spot. Each time you look at the designs, you see them in a different light. The meanings and symbolism often change based on your current situation in life. The tattoo is often a reflection of your inner feelings and emotions.
The only caveat to the Stairway to Heaven tattoo is that there are dainty variants of the tattoo. As you will see in the later part of the essay, most ideas attempt to illustrate the spiritual notion extravagantly. Jarring elements such as clouds and radiant auras are involved giving it a rich texture.
So, we should warn you that if you are looking for something simple or discreet, the tattoo may not be for you. Led Zeppelin was one of the most flamboyant rock bands of our time therefore it's quite obvious that one of their staple songs needs to be portrayed in a grandiose style to express their essence.
If you are okay with this then hold on to your seatbelts as the tattoos will make you rock your head and throw out the devil signs as if you are in a rock concert.
Silhouette Of Spirituality: Monochromatic Stairway To Heaven Tattoo On Forearm
The slow ascend to the gates of heaven is a divine experience that requires something exceptional such as the forearm. The theatricality along with the firmness of the place makes it the perfect choice for such a spiritual tattoo.
The essence of the famous song from Led Zeppelin's fourth studio album is realistically illustrated in aesthetic body modification. As you can visualize, there is bright light radiating the entire sphere of the forearm similar to the cardinal tattoos.
A silhouette of man approaches the light which may mean that he is walking into heaven but metaphorically, the picture highlights how we can find peace and happiness in the confinement of our world.
Tribute To The Rock Idols: Radiant Stairway To Heaven Chest Tattoo
This variant of the stairway to heaven is often frowned upon by the contemporaries but don’t pay any heed to them. The broad depiction of the road to glory looks magnificent in the sensitive spots of your chest.
The color contrast of the sunrise as the gates of heaven open beautifully matches with the skin tone. The overall appearance of the artwork makes it seem like you have the entire heaven encapsulated in your chest.
Exaggeration Beyond Comprehension: Enlightening Stairway To Heaven Tattoo On Sleeve
The alluring clouds are one of the quintessential aspects of heaven. It is believed that these fluffy clouds protect the realm from unwanted and evil entities.
Perhaps, a much more resonating aspect of the tattoo is the depiction of how the individual slowly passes by the thick and dense clouds to reach his destination. The notion exemplifies that there will be many hindrances in our lives blocking our path. You just have to be resilient and overcome them one by one.
Conjuring A Magic Show: Theatrical Stairway To Heaven Tattoo On Leg
If you notice meticulously, you will see that there is quite a resemblance of the stairs with our legs. They both have the same symmetry and proportionality.
Furthermore, the unique edges of the leg make it seem as if the clouds are gradually disappearing from the picture, opening room for you to embark on your journey. It's like watching a jarring scene with the naked eye.
Symbol Of Protection: Majestic Guardian Angel Stairway To Heaven Tattoo
In a highly materialistic world, our minds get easily polluted by the many contagious notions. Evil starts to lurk over our heads compelling us to act pessimistically.
The detailing of a winged guardian assures you that you will be alright. The divine entity stands beside you and makes you feel like you are not alone. Such a sense of protection can go a long way. To make the tattoo appear more majestic, it's always best to etch the feathered wings as realistically as possible with proper shading.
Magnificence Of Monochrome: Intricate Clock Stairway To Heaven Tattoo Tick tick!
The clocks are running out. You may be thinking what's the time for? Well, your time in the universe is slowly fading away. You may be too busy indulging yourself in the many conveniences of the modern world.
However, the chase for the monetary aspects of life won’t lead you anywhere. Rather it's high time to appreciate the wonders of life and dive into the spiritual aspects. At the end of the day, these are the things worth living for.
Profound Display Of Cosmic Powers: Shaded Stairway To Heaven Shoulder Tattoo
The round bones at the edge of the shoulder are perfect for placing the heavenly lights. The narrowing dimensions of the shoulder further enhance the mysticism surrounding it.
The tattoo attempts to follow contemporary trends and focuses extensively on the shading style. Each of the stairs is crafted perfectly as if it was constructed by the god himself. Even the clouds feel extremely symmetrical. You truly need to be a mathematician to pull this one off.
Display Of Whimsicality: Radiant Stairway To Heaven Design With Realistic Twist
Look deep into the artwork for a moment. Doesn't it feel like you are looking at the scenery? The tattoo bridges the gap between realism and artistry with its incredible textures.
From the hypnotic coloration on the clouds to the descending lights, each aspect of the tattoo ticks all the boxes. Colorful manifestations such as this can enlighten your mind and make you feel inspired.
Exuberance of Textures: Detailed Stairway To Heaven Tattoo On Arm
The magnificence of one of the most famous songs of all time is boldly depicted in the realms of the arm. The highly saturated black hues around the edges truly seal the deal.
The overall appearance of the tattoo is not so different from the other designs but it's the placement that stands out. Having such a tattoo expresses how you are not driven by materialistic things and tend to explore more meaningful aspects.
Confining Of Spirituality: Symmetrical Stairway To Heaven Gates Tattoo
The gate that leads to heaven is depicted quite differently in various media. As for the song, the entire aspect of heaven and the associated notions portray a metaphorical picture.
In the display, there's nothing too exaggerated. Heaven’s Gate is like any other gate we see in suburban areas. But it's what lies in front of it that matters the most. The artwork has quite a minimalistic aesthetic overall which makes it more intriguing to the eye. The dainty clouds aren't as aggressive as the other variants but work just fine adding the ambiance.
Adornment Of Iconic Quotes: Lyrical Stairway To Heaven Tattoo
Stairway to Heaven contains many of the legendary lyrics that have gained spots in the top 10 lists. However, there is one particular line that keeps on revolving around the minds of listeners.
At the initial stage of the song, Robert Plant uses his mesmerizing voice to utter the words that are depicted in the picture. The melody of his voice along with the harmonious acoustic guitar creates a euphoric feeling for whoever listens to the song. Even the symbolism behind it is extraordinary as it depicts the duality of life.
Barrage Of Burning Stars: Hypnotic Stairway To Heaven Tattoo On Bicep
Till now, we only touched on similar patterns where there is a scatter of light at the end of the stairs. Well, this one takes a similar route but with a celestial twist.
In addition to the usual portrayal of the stairs, the atmosphere of this particular artwork is quite divine. The ominous black in the background with burning stars truly creates a mesmerizing aesthetic.
Motif Of Peace: Elegant Stairway To Heaven Tattoo With Doves
Doves are often regarded as totems of heaven itself. These velvety birds with angelic feathers give us a peek at what heaven looks like.
That’s why it has become compulsory to include one or two of them in every single depiction of the place where only happiness exists. Even Led Zeppelin followed the same pattern in their album cover. The gentle flight of the dove elevates the appearance that's for sure.
A Sign Of Relief: Celestial Stairway To Heaven Memorial Tattoo
Let's end things with a bitter-sweet design, shall we? We know how hard it is to accept someone’s death even if they were incredibly close to you. The notion of them not existing in the world terrifies us.
However, when you see them walking up the stairway to heaven, you will know that they are in a good place. Your mind will be relieved each time you see them in the divine realm.
FAQ
The song is religiously studied by art students and contemporary scholars of the world so you can understand just how deep the lyrics and symbolism are. Even one whole essay isn’t enough.
That’s why, we have a separate section just to answer your intriguing questions. Feel free to give more because we love to discuss this masterpiece of a song.
Q: Why Are Stairway To Heaven Tattoos So Popular?
Ans: Isn’t the answer obvious? Led Zeppelin is one of the most critically and commercially successful rock bands of all time and Stairway to Heaven is considered to be their magnum opus.
The slowly rising tempo along with the thought-provoking lyrics compel us to come back to the song again and again. The tattoo is a great way to show a tribute to the song as well as appreciate the meanings of life.
Q: Do Most Stairway To Heaven Tattoos Follow The Same Pattern?
Ans: Mostly yes but you have the option to alter the designs as much as you want. There are certain elements of the song that you need to incorporate such as the stairs but other than that you can choose to include or exclude whatever you want.
Always remember that it's your body and you have every reason to get a unique design. The song itself has many aspects that you can illustrate to create a distinct tattoo rather than an overly saturated one.
Conclusion
There's a reason why every single guitar shop in the States has a sign prohibiting people from playing Stairway to Heaven. Do these employees hate the song? No way. The main reason for such drastic measures is how much overplayed the song became. The same can be said for tattoos.
Every living organism wants to get its hands on the tattoo without realizing the symbolism behind the artwork. They mainly opt for the tattoo to appear aesthetic to their peers. Don’t become like them. When you get the magnificent tattoo etched on your body canvas, attempt to fully encapsulate the essence of the patterns and spiritual hues.