If you bought a copy of Led Zeppelin’s debut album anytime before 2011, you would’ve seen one name listed as the songwriter for "Dazed and Confused": Jimmy Page. It’s one of the most iconic tracks in rock history. That descending, menacing bassline. The eerie violin bow scraping across guitar strings. Robert Plant’s banshee wails. For decades, it was the ultimate Zep anthem.
But honestly, the song has a much older, folkier, and weirder history than most people realize.
The real story doesn't start in a London studio or a sprawling English manor. It starts in a smoky club in Greenwich Village in 1967. A folk singer named Jake Holmes walked onto a stage and played a song that would eventually change rock music forever, though he wouldn't see a dime from it for over forty years.
The Night Everything Changed at the Village Theater
It was August 25, 1967. Jake Holmes was a rising star in the New York folk scene. He’d just released his debut album, The "Above Ground Sound" of Jake Holmes. He was opening for The Yardbirds, a British band that was currently in a state of flux.
The Yardbirds' lead guitarist at the time? A young, session-hardened Jimmy Page.
Holmes played "Dazed and Confused" that night. His version was different—stark, acoustic, and haunting. It didn't have the heavy drums or the screaming vocals. It was a trio of acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and bass. But that core riff? It was all there. That descending line that feels like someone is walking down a flight of stairs into a basement you aren't sure you'll ever leave.
"Fell Into the Loving Arms and Hands of Jimmy Page"
That’s how Holmes described the moment. Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty was the one who really noticed it first. He went out and bought Holmes’ record the next day. The band started playing a version of it almost immediately. They called it "I'm Confused."
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They never recorded it in the studio, but it became a live staple. When The Yardbirds eventually imploded and Page formed Led Zeppelin, he took the song with him. He polished it. He added the violin bow. He made it heavy.
And then, he put his name on it. Alone.
Jake Holmes Dazed and Confused vs. Led Zeppelin: The Differences
When you listen to the original Jake Holmes Dazed and Confused, it’s a trip. People often thought it was about a bad acid trip because the lyrics are so paranoid ("I’m being abused, I’d be better off dead"). Holmes has since said it was actually about a girl’s indecision. Relationships can be just as trippy as drugs, I guess.
Here is how the two versions actually stack up:
- The Vibe: Holmes’ version is "folk-psychedelic." It's jittery. Zeppelin’s version is "blues-rock-doom." It's a heavy, slow-moving beast.
- The Lyrics: Zeppelin changed them, but only sorta. Holmes wrote about being "dazed and confused" because of a girl who acted like a cat while he was a mouse. Plant sang about a "soul of a woman" being "created below." Similar spirit, different words.
- The Credit: This is the big one. On the 1969 album, it said "By Jimmy Page." It stayed that way for 42 years.
The Lawsuit That Finally Settled It (Twice)
For years, Jake Holmes didn't do much about it. He knew the song was his. He saw it become a massive hit. He even wrote to Page in the 80s, basically saying, "Hey, I understand it's a collaboration now, but maybe some credit?"
He got no response.
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It wasn't until 2010 that Holmes finally sued for copyright infringement. He was 70 years old at the time. The case was settled out of court in 2011. The result? If you buy the album today, the credit now reads: "By Jimmy Page, inspired by Jake Holmes."
The 2025 Twist
Just when everyone thought the drama was over, it flared up again. In early 2025, Holmes sued again. This time, he went after Page and Sony Pictures. The issue was the documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin.
The film featured live performances of the song from the Yardbirds era and early Zeppelin days. Holmes argued that by using these recordings without his permission—and by incorrectly crediting them in the film—they were violating the terms of the 2011 settlement.
By August 2025, they reached another settlement. The details are private, but it’s a reminder that even 50 years later, the ghost of that Greenwich Village show still haunts the halls of rock history.
Why This Still Matters
Some fans get defensive. They say Zeppelin "made" the song. And look, there's no denying that the version we all know is a masterpiece of arrangement and production. Jimmy Page is a genius at building a wall of sound.
But songwriting isn't just about the "meat on the bones." It's about the bones.
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The melody, the title, and that foundational riff belonged to Jake Holmes. In the 60s, "borrowing" was common. Everyone did it. But there's a difference between being influenced by someone and taking their composition entirely.
Actionable Takeaways for Music Fans
If you want to truly understand the DNA of 70s rock, you have to dig into the folk roots.
- Listen to the original: Go find The "Above Ground Sound" of Jake Holmes. It’s a fantastic, underrated record that sounds remarkably modern.
- Check the credits: Look at your physical media. If you have an old vinyl copy of Led Zeppelin I, you’re looking at a piece of contested history.
- Support original creators: The "inspired by" tag is a compromise, but it’s a win for songwriters who were overlooked during the "Wild West" era of the record industry.
Jake Holmes is in his 80s now. He’s lived a full life as a songwriter, even writing famous jingles like "Be All That You Can Be" for the Army. But his legacy will always be tied to that one night in 1967.
He didn't get the fame that Zeppelin did. He didn't get the stadiums. But he got the last word.
Next Step: You should listen to the 1967 version of "Dazed and Confused" side-by-side with the 1969 Zeppelin version. You'll hear the "cat and mouse" line in the original and realize just how much of the "mood" was already there before Jimmy Page ever picked up a violin bow.