The Scarlet Pumpernickel used Sylvester in a speaking role. Mel Blanc voices Elmer Fudd, who plays the role of an innkeeper here. Elmer was originally voiced by Arthur Q. Bryan, but since the character had only one line of dialogue, Mel Blanc was told to go ahead and imitate Bryan's voice for the character. Blanc did not like imitating, however, believing it to be stealing from another actor. Although the title (invoking a type of bread instead of a flower) is a pun on "The Scarlet Pimpernel", the Pumpernickel is given a portrayal closer to that of Robin Hood: in one scene, after
What Is and What Should Never Be descending riff [of "What Is and What Should Never Be"] is amazing: It's like a bow is being drawn back, and then it releases. The rhythm of the vocals is almost like a rap. It's insane — one of their most psychedelic songs." This was also one of the first songs recorded by the band for which Robert Plant received writing credit. According to rock journalist Stephen Davis, the author of the Led Zeppelin biography "Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga", the lyrics for this song reflect a romance Plant had with his wife's younger sister. "What Is