Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedKilling Floor
Blues1960s119BPM
A majKey
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The verdict
Cleared After Dispute
A formally litigated case, settled: ARC Music sued Led Zeppelin in 1972 over “The Lemon Song” (which took this song’s structure and riff), settling for a confirmed $45,123 with Howlin’ Wolf’s co-songwriter credit restored — distinct from the separately-borrowed, never-litigated “Traveling Riverside Blues” lyric.
Quick Facts
Released1964
GenreBlues, Chicago Blues
LabelChess Records
Recorded atChicago
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of record — Howlin' Wolf (Chester Burnett), estate
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — ARC Music / Chess catalog — not confirmed for present day
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — a blues standard (Blues Hall of Fame, 1991); its most famous adaptation, Led Zeppelin’s “The Lemon Song,” was litigated and settled with restored credit.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; the famous adaptation was a real, settled dispute — clearance runs through the ARC/Chess catalog.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
The other, separately-borrowed source in “The Lemon Song” — the “lemon” lyric, never litigated (already in this catalog)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Howlin' Wolf (Chester Arthur Burnett), estate
The confirmed 1972 lawsuit & settlementLed Zeppelin adapted this into “The Lemon Song” (Led Zeppelin II, 1969) — early UK pressings even listed it as “Killing Floor” and credited Chester Burnett before later pressings dropped it. In December 1972 ARC Music (Chess’s publisher, owning Wolf’s catalog) sued for infringement; the parties settled out of court — Howlin’ Wolf received a confirmed $45,123 and his co-songwriter credit was restored.
Kept distinct from Traveling Riverside Blues“The Lemon Song” sat at the intersection of two separately borrowed sources: THIS song gave it its structure and riff (the subject of the 1972 lawsuit), while Robert Johnson’s “Traveling Riverside Blues” (already in this catalog) separately gave it the “lemon” lyric — a borrowing never itself litigated. No lyrics reproduced.
The recording (current administrator)ARC Music / Chess catalog
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A blues standard, and a Hall of Fame classic
Inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 1991 as a “Classic of Blues Recording,” and contributed to Howlin’ Wolf’s own posthumous 1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction.
Grokipedia · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Adapted as Led Zeppelin’s “The Lemon Song”
Covers
—
First flip
Big names who used itLed Zeppelin
Who to Contact
KF
Howlin' Wolf (estate) / ARC Music
The confirmed songwriter of record; clearance via the ARC/Chess catalog
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 6)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass