JETHRO TULL : SEA LION [1974]

Ένα ακόμα τραγούδι από την εποχή που τα αριστουργήματα ήταν ρουτίνα για τον Ian Anderson – τιμώμενο συνθέτη του μήνα.
Προέρχεται από το
War Child, το αντιπολεμικό opus των Jethro Tull, άλμπουμ – επιστροφή στις τραγουδιστικές φόρμες μετά τη σφαγή των δυο προηγούμενων [Thick s A Brick, A Passion Play] από τους “κριτικούς” της εποχής.
Η σφαγή εννοείται, θα συνεχιζοταν και με αυτό, εξ ίσου ανορθόδοξο παρά τη μικρότερη διάρκεια των κομματιών.

Another song from the time when masterpieces were routine for
Ian Anderson – honored composer of the month.
This comes from
War Child, Jethro Tull’ s anti-war opus, an album – return to “standard form song’” after the massacre of the previous two [Thick s A Brick, A Passion Play] by the “critics” of the era.
The massacre, of course, would continue with this one, equally unorthodox, despite the tracks’ shorter duration.

Over the mountains, and under the sky —
riding dirty gray horses, go you and I.
Mating with chance, copulating with mirth —
the sad-glad paymasters (for what it’s worth).
The ice-cream castles are refrigerated;
the super-marketeers are on parade.
There’s a golden handshake hanging round your neck,
as you light your cigarette on the burning deck.
And you balance your world on the tip of your nose —
like a SeaLion with a ball, at the carnival.
You wear a shiny skin and a funny hat —
the Almighty Animal Trainer lets it go at that.
You bark ever-so-slightly at the Trainer’s gun,
with you whiskers melting in the noon-day sun.
You flip and you flop under the Big White Top
where the long-legged ring-mistress starts and stops.
But you know, after all, the act is wearing thin —
as the crowd grows uneasy and the boos begin.
But you balance your world on the tip of your nose —
you’re a SeaLion with a ball at the carnival.
Just a trace of pride upon our fixed grins —
for there is no business like the show we’re in.
There is no reason, no rhyme, no right
to leave the circus `til we’ve said good-night.
The same performance, in the same old way;
it’s the same old story to this Passion Play.
So we’ll shoot the moon, and hope to call the tune —
and make no pin cushion of this big balloon.
Look how we balance the world on the tips of our noses,
like SeaLions with a ball at the carnival.

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6 Comments

  1. Liz Gauffreau August 4, 2023 at 3:30 pm

    I’ve always liked this one. Its central metaphor is so apt.

    Reply
    1. Oannes August 4, 2023 at 5:44 pm

      I’m glad we share the same favorites!

      Reply
  2. Resa August 7, 2023 at 11:59 pm

    Love this! Am I understanding correctly that the critics did not like Jethro Tull music?

    Reply
    1. Oannes August 8, 2023 at 6:46 am

      You ‘d be surprised by the things written, back then or even now about Jethro Tull and other bands labeled as progressive.
      When I talk about critics that I respect, I’m not referring to “rock critics” of course. You can find a serious person among them in a thousand or so.
      There is some stuff worth reading though, in the fields of jazz and classical.

      Reply
      1. Resa August 8, 2023 at 9:44 pm

        Understood! Thank you!

        Reply

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