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Rating: It is interesting what Plutarch writes in his masterpiece par excellence, the Parallel Lives, when he deals with the valiant and resolute Athenian fighter Alcibiades; toward a passage which laziness and idleness now prevent me from reviewing and rewriting here, which nonetheless deals with his early childhood, it is said that during his studies, he categorically refused to learn the art of the flute, instead gladly accepting to play all other instruments of the time. This fact was not at all unfounded; in fact, he intelligently claimed that the flute did not allow for the use of the word, unlike the lyre, his favored instrument. With a hint of mockery, he said somewhat: "Let’s leave the flute to the Thebans, who cannot speak!"
It is a rather pleasant anecdote, which, however, poses a curious dilemma to which I have nonetheless already paired a sure consequence for some time: what would the good old Greek strategist say after listening to the one and only inimitable Pied Piper performing in some piece that more than others proves his extraordinary skill like "Bourée", "Too Old To Rock'n'Roll Too Young To Die" or "Locomotive Breath"? He would take it all back and, with conspicuous embarrassment, would immediately apologize and rush to compliment him, the great Jan. Because he, with his little flute, sowed and still sows far more discourse than he might have even if he had begun to shout for a lifetime, I mean in Music, the music that counts.
And how better to celebrate the greatness of Jan Anderson to those poor and petty men who have not yet tasted that melodic and divine sound? Clearly, by sketching a brief review of the most famous and beautiful album of the Jethro Tull after the perfect A Passion Play, Aqualung.
This album is distinctly divided into two parts, which, I dare to add, are headed at the beginning of each by the most significant tracks, "Aqualung" and "My God". The instruments are few and of classical tradition, the genre is divided between rock, hard rock, and that very pleasant and particular British folk, predominant.
It starts with "Aqualung", the most famous and engaging song by the Tull; everyone knows the story: accompanied by an exciting riff, it talks about an old, filthy, dirty tramp who nonetheless inspires deep tenderness. He is the same beggar who appears in that very original cover design that seems to have the same features as the great Jan; however, I have read that it does not wish to allude to his possible past of poverty and that resemblance is intentional but does not hold any sort of hidden meaning.
It then moves on to "Cross-eyed Mary", Mary the cross-eyed, a prostitute who does nothing but beguile rich men to steal their money and donate it to the poorer ones, thus acting as a perfect female counterpart to the legendary Robin-Hood; succeeding this are the sweet and refined "Cheap Day Return", "Mother Goose" and "Wond’ring Aloud", the romantic of the group, which in themselves do not possess strong impact rhythms but are indispensable for the album’s proper balance; in the second song, the same Aqualung speaks of his melancholic past. The first part closes with the lively "Up To Me", preceded by loud laughter, which narrates with a strong tinge of melancholic irony the sad life of the poorest strata of English society; in general, these songs talk about: the various aspects and the many dark shades of the lives of the poor and the marginalized.
The second part begins with the other "captain" song, namely "My God". It starts with quiet verses but composed of strong words, as if in the midst of repressed anger, and then it explodes into a merciless but rational scream meticulously channeled throughout all its wrath in an irresistible chorus, which chills the blood; the reason for such fury is found in the anti-clerical (yet not anti-Christian) nature of the Pied Piper. This is followed by the ironic and catchy "Hymn 43", and the beautiful "Slipstream" which revolves around the theme of Death. This track is a sister to "Cheap Day Return" due to its calmness and brevity.
"Locomotive Breath", the next song, is inimitable for its beauty, as is irresistibly charming the sweet "Wind Up", which softly but angrily strikes against bourgeois hypocrisies, which hints at those who have not succeeded in life, and who once again shout against the despotic and unjust church.
The album will be followed by some bonus tracks ("Lick Your Fingers Clean", "Wind Up (Quad Version)", "Songs For Jeffrey", "Fat Man" and the beautiful "Bourée") plus an interview with Jan Anderson.
In general, it is a moving and profound album that requires a great number of listens to be appreciated in all its grandeur even though many skillful and peculiar choruses immediately catch the ear; "Aqualung" will especially appeal to those who particularly love the Medieval era because undoubtedly one can particularly sense in the last songs the medieval English charm, the theme of the wanderer and the minstrel, the warm atmosphere of taverns and inns.
Although obviously, the musical genre can’t be more different, I would feel like comparing it to other gems like Aion and The Serpent’s Egg, by Dead Can Dance, given the relevance of the context, the Middle Ages indeed.
Just as the ethereal Lisa Gerrard whispers her masterpieces with incredible charm, so the great Jan plays his flute with incredible skill, both aware of awakening distant eras, remote times, and diverse cultures in the wonder of their listeners.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Aqualung (06:37)
Sitting on a park bench
eyeing little girls with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Hey, Aqualung!
Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Hey Aqualung!
Feeling like a dead duck
spitting out pieces of his broken luck.
Whoa, Aqualung!
Sun streaking cold
an old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
the only way he knows.
Neck hurting bad,
as he bends to pick a dog-end
he goes down to the bog
and warms his feet.
Feeling alone
the army's up the road
salvation à la mode and
a cup of tea.
Aqualung my friend
don't you start away uneasy
you poor old sod, you see, it's only me.
Do you still remember
December's foggy freeze
when the ice that
clings onto your beard was
screaming agony.
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
with deep-sea-diver sounds,
and the flowers bloom like
madness in the spring.
Sun streaking cold
an old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
the only way he knows.
Neck hurting bad,
as he bends to pick a dog-end
he goes down to the bog
and warms his feet.
Feeling alone
the army's up the road
salvation à la mode and
a cup of tea.
Aqualung my friend
don't you start away uneasy
you poor old sod, you see, it's only me.
[Guitar Solo]
Aqualung my friend
don't you start away uneasy
you poor old sod, you see, it's only me.
Sitting on a park bench
eyeing little girls with bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Hey Aqualung!
Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Hey, Aqualung!
Feeling like a dead duck
spitting out pieces of his broken luck.
Hey, Aqualung!
Whoa, Aqualung!
02 Cross-Eyed Mary (04:09)
Who would be a poor man, a beggarman, a thief --
If he had a rich man in his hand.
And who would steal the candy
From a laughing baby's mouth
If he could take it from the money man.
Cross-eyed Mary goes jumping in again.
She signs no contract
But she always plays the game.
Dines in Hampstead village
On expense accounted gruel,
And the jack-knife barber drops her off at school.
Laughing in the playground -- gets no kicks from little boys:
Would rather make it with a letching grey.
Or maybe her attention is drawn by Aqualung,
Who watches through the railings as they play.
Cross-eyed Mary finds it hard to get along.
She's a poor man's rich girl
And she'll do it for a song.
She's a rich man stealer
But her favour's good and strong:
She's the Robin Hood of Highgate --
Helps the poor man get along.
04 Mother Goose (03:53)
As I did walk by Hampstead Fair,
I came upon Mother Goose,
So I turned her loose--
She was screaming.
And a foreign student said to me
Was it really true
There are elephants, lions too,
Piccadilly Circus?
Walked down by the bathing pond
To try and catch some sun.
Saw at least a hundred school girls
Sobbing into handkerchiefs as one.
I don't believe they knew
I was a schoolboy.
And a bearded lady said to me
If you start your raving
And your misbehaving,
You'll be sorry.
And the chicken fancier came to play
With his long red beard,
And his sister's weird--
She drives a lorry.
Laughed down by the putting green,
I popped 'em in their holes.
Four and twenty labourers were labouring
And digging up their gold.
I don't believe they knew
That I was Long John Silver.
Saw Johnny Scarecrow make his rounds
In his jet black mac
Which he won't give back--
Stole it from a snowman.
As I did walk by Hampstead Fair,
I came upon Mother Goose,
So I turned her loose--
She was screaming.
Walked down by the bathing pond
To try and catch some sun.
Must have been least a hundred school girls
Sobbing into handkerchiefs as one.
I don't believe they knew
I was a schoolboy.
05 Wond'ring Aloud (01:55)
Wond'ring aloud --
How we feel today.
Last night sipped the sunset --
My hands in her hair.
We are our own saviours
As we start both our hearts beating life
Into each other.
Wond'ring aloud --
Will the years treat us well.
As she floats in the kitchen,
I'm tasting the smell
Of toast as the butter runs.
Then she comes, spilling crumbs on the bed
And I shake my head.
And it's only the giving
That makes you what you are.
07 My God (07:12)
People what have you done?
Locked Him in His golden cage
Golden cage
Made Him bend to your religion
Him resurrected from the grave
From the grave
He is the God of nothing
If thats all that you can see
You are the God of everything
Hes inside you and me
So lean upon Him gently
And don't call on Him to save
You from your social graces
And the sins you used to waive
The bloody Church of England
in chains of history
Requests your earthly presence
at the vicarage for tea
And the graven image
You know who
With his plastic crucifix
He's got Him fixed
Confuses me as to who and where and why
as to how he gets his kicks
He gets his kicks.
Confessing to the endless sin
With endless whining sounds
You'll be praying 'til next Thursday
To all the gods that you can count
08 Hymn 43 (03:19)
Our Father high in heaven smile down upon your son
who is busy with his money games - his women and his gun
Oh Jesus save me
And the unsung western hero he killed an Indian or three
And then he made his name in Hollywood to set the white man free
Oh Jesus save me
If Jesus saves well he better save himself
From the gory glory seekers who use his name in death
Oh Jesus save me
Well I saw him in the city and on the mountains of the moon
His cross was rather bloody he could hardly roll his stone
Oh Jesus save me
09 Slipstream (01:13)
Well the lush separation unfolds you --
And the products of wealth
Push you along on the bow wave
Of the spiritless undying selves.
And you press on God's waiter your last dime --
As he hands you the bill.
And you spin in the slipstream --
Timeless -- unreasoning --
Paddle right out of the mess.
10 Locomotive Breath (04:26)
In the Shuffling madness
Of the locomotive breath,
Runs the all time loser,
Headlong to his death.
He feels the piston scraping
Steam breaking on his brow
Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down.
He sees his children jumping off
At stations one by one.
His woman and his best friend
In bed and having fun.
Crawling down the corridor
On his hands and knees
Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down.
He hears the silence howling
Catches angels as they fall.
And the all time winner
Has got him by the balls.
He picks up Gideons Bible
Open at page one
I think God, he stole the handle
And the train it won't stop going
No way to slow down.
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Other reviews
By Stràfiko Piezzecore
One of these is Aqualung, the 1971 album by Jethro Tull. It’s the story of a tramp – Aqualung, indeed – seen as a product of a self-generated and destructive humanity.
An album that – for crying out loud! – cannot be missing from the shelves of a person with honest intellectual capabilities.
By Trespass84
The most brilliant high point in the long history of this group is probably the 1971 album, “Aqualung”.
"My God" ... Certainly a masterpiece made such by its structure ... just listen to it!!!
By STIPE
"The famous supreme guitar solo by Martin Barre leaves you breathless. One of the best solos of all time!"
"The album has represented a milestone in the history of rock, certifying the legend 'of the man who played the flute on one leg.'"
By pier_paolo_farina
An album whose half is dedicated to harsh criticism of those churches intent on hoodwinking the pious souls.
His flute so supreme and coquettish adorning both My God and Cross Eyed Mary, two pieces that fall perfectly so beautiful and charming.
