I was listening to satellite radio the other day and heard a Robert Plant song that I had not heard in a long time called “Heaven Knows”.  There is a line in the song that goes something like:
 
“You were pumping iron, whereas I was pumping irony”
 
Being an American, I recognize that I truly don’t comprehend irony (sarcasm yes, irony no) so, I leave the whole irony thing up to my Brit friends.
 
Can somebody explain what this well respected British songwriter is getting at with this statement?  Is it a metaphor of some sort (I grasping at straws here) or can you really pump irony?  Is the lyric itself ironic?  Please help me to understand.

No idea really Dave. Plant didn't write the song, so maybe he didn't know either. Great album though ('Now and Zen'), played it a lot back then.
 
Love 'Ship of Fools' ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQqlnQDD6_U

I've pumped many a nylon but no iron. There are a lot of lyrics that loose me. Speaking of pumping nylon, if your into classic guitar and want to improve your technique, It's a great book!
 
 

Maybe pumping is plugging like THIS ???

Maybe pumping is plugging like THIS ???

Whoa! Digi Vue

Whoa! Digi Vue

craigb

So, is it ironic when Tony Stark (i.e., Robert Downey Jr.) wears a Black Sabbath Tee shirt or is it just obvious.

jamesg1213
No idea really Dave. Plant didn't write the song, so maybe he didn't know either. Great album though ('Now and Zen'), played it a lot back then.
 
Love 'Ship of Fools' ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQqlnQDD6_U

At first I thought that you may have solved my dilemma ... thinking maybe it was written by an American ... but, it was actually written by two British song writers (does that make it doubly ironic).