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Versione 1
Rating: In the middle of the journey of our life
I found myself in a dark night
when the desire to sleep had vanished.
Soon after counting sheep in vain
yielded no results for my sleep,
it was then that from my bed I lifted the figure
and after taking a leak
without further ado, I reached my living room
where with screens, computers, or print
something to engage my brain
I would find in some way resolved.
But then the choice fell upon that
which critics regard highly
when speaking of English folk rock.
An album whose half is dedicated
to harsh criticism of those churches
intent on hoodwinking the pious souls
since antiquity, squeezing their obese
bellies into well-fed sacristies, after mass
the good people between many Hail Marys
had given their offering, with the premise
that maybe in the tragic moment
of the passing, house and garage
would end up with the priest in a will,
much to the delight of the cunning caste.
Preceding this is the bewilderment
of the pederast vagabond Aqualung
a man who disdainful and cursed
never stops ranting.
But what a delightful guitar solo
the guitarist places 'in the middle of the piece!
And it's said even played in the presence
of the brave Jimmy Page, great titan
of the semi-progressive guitar
passing by, ready to lend a hand
to the brave author of such initiative,
the excellent squire Martin Barre
of Anderson, the group leader.
His flute so supreme and coquettish
adorning both My God and Cross Eyed Mary
two pieces that fall perfectly
so beautiful and charming, and not since yesterday.
The listening of the album proceeded
with music constantly evolving,
remarkable for example, damn it
the piano introduction of that track
doubled by the flute creating leverage
for a supreme riff that after the intermezzo
already distorted and syncopated in itself
mocks the blues at a low cost.
What to say about the almost duo tracks
guitar voice and few brief assistances
light diversions to its core.
We are not made to live like brutes
but to follow virtue and knowledge
not like Aqualung, or those sold out
in clerical habit and reverence
devoted to filch the riches
as long as they profess penance.
Locomotive Breath its refinements,
the Mother Goose filled with arpeggios,
with Wondering Aloud they are like stitches
of a very rich fabric of sounds
of an era so cultured and inspired.
On this I want to hear no reasons,
because now such music is gone
or at least such pleasant inspiration.
And even Jethro Tull, considering
their entire career and production
it's not that many valuable albums
they have succeeded in making in succession.
But in the meantime, once the drowsiness returned
I decided to let go of headphones and record,
after listening without making noise
to such magnificence. Now here I end
to recount such beautiful music
since not even having put the record away
I returned to the true leather bed
where the wife was quite awake
and so we went out to see the stars again.
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 alaindelon
He would take it all back and, with conspicuous embarrassment, would immediately apologize and rush to compliment him, the great Jan.
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.
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.'"
