JETHRO TULL : DARK AGES [1979]

Το Stormwatch είναι το “χαμένο” αριστούργημα των Jethro Tull. Κυκλοφορημένο το 1979, εν μέσω new wave πανδημίας, ως τρίτο μέρος της folk rock τριλογίας τους [Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses τα δυο προηγούμενα] έτυχε χλιαρής υποδοχής από “κριτικούς” και κοινό, με το συγκρότημα μετά από αυτό να περνάει σε νέα φάση. Το άλμπουμ περιέχει σπουδαία κομμάτια όπως αυτό εδώ.

Stormwatch is Jethro Tull‘s “lost” masterpiece. Released in 1979, amid the New Wave pandemic, as the third part of their folk rock trilogy [Songs From The Wood, Heavy Horses been the previous two] it was lukewarmly received by “critics” and audiences, with the band after that going into a new phase. The album contains great tracks like this one.

Darlings are you ready for the long winter’s fall?
Said the lady in her parlor
Said the butler in the hall.
Is there time for another?
Cried the drunkard in his sleep.
Not likely
Said the little child. What’s done
The Lord can keep.
And the vicar stands a-praying.
And the television dies
As the white dot flickers and is gone
And no-one stops to cry.
Dark ages
Shaking the dead
Closed pages
Better not read
Dull rages
They burn in your head.
The big jet rumbles over runway miles
That scar the patchwork green
Where slick tycoons and rich buffoons
Have opened up the seam
Of golden nights and champagne flights
Ad-man overkill
And in the haze
Consumer crazed
We take the sugar pill.
Dark ages
Shaking the dead
Closed pages
Better not read
Dull rages
They burn in your head
Jagged fires mark the picket lines
The politicians weep
And mealy-mouthed
Through corridors of power on tip-toe creep.
Come and see bureaucracy
Make its final heave
And let the new disorder through
While senses take their leave.
Dark ages
Shaking the dead
Closed pages
Better not read
Dull rages
They burn in your head
Families screaming line the streets
And put the windows through
In corner shops
Where keepers kept
The country’s life-blood blue.
Take their pick
And try the trick
With loaves and fishes shared
And the vicar shouts
As the lights go out,
And no-one really cares.
Dark Ages
Shaking the dead
Closed pages
Better not read
Cold rages
They burn in your head.
Darlings are you ready for the long
Winter’s fall?
Said the lady in her parlor
Said the butler in the hall
Dark ages
Shaking the dead
Closed pages
Better not read
Dull rages
They burn
In your head.

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2 Comments

  1. Liz Gauffreau May 5, 2022 at 7:42 pm

    I read the lyrics. Grim–and au courant, unfortunately.

    Reply
    1. Oannes May 5, 2022 at 10:03 pm

      I totally agree!

      Reply

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