Aqualung

Jethro Tull

About Aqualung

"Aqualung" is a song by the British progressive rock band Jethro Tull, and the title track from their Aqualung (1971) album. The song was written by the band's frontman, Ian Anderson, and his then-wife Jennie Franks. While this track was never a single, its eponymous album Aqualung was Jethro Tull's first American Top 10 album, reaching number seven in June 1971.


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Sitting on a park bench
Eying little girls
With bad intent.
Snot running down his nose
Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes.
Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run.
Feeling like a dead duck
Spitting out pieces of his broken luck.

Sun streaking cold
An old man wandering lonely.
Taking time
The only way he knows.
Leg hurting bad,
As he bends to pick a dog end
Goes down to a bog to
Warm his feet.

Feeling alone
The army's up the rode
Salvation a la mode and
A cup of tea.
Aqualung my friend
Don't 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 on to your beard is
Screaming agony.
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
With deep-sea diver sounds,
And the flowers bloom like
Madness in the spring.

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Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull are a British progressive rock group formed in Luton, Bedfordshire, in December 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969, after he replaced original guitarist Mick Abrahams. more »

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Written by: IAN ANDERSON

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"Aqualung", written in 1971, is viewed as one of British rock band Jethro Tull's most famous songs, and undoubtedly one of their most substantial. The song was composed by lead vocalist Ian Anderson and his then-wife Jennie Franks.
Album Title
The song "Aqualung" also lends its name to the band's fourth studio album and is the title track. The album has consistently been one of their best-selling.
Narrative Content
The song's lyrics describe an old homeless man who is ostracized by society, a character inspired by photos taken by Ian Anderson's wife, Jennie Franks.
Genre
"Aqualung" is viewed as a seminal song in the genre of progressive rock, blending hard rock elements with more complex, symphonic structures and featuring intricate guitar and flute solos.
Influence
The song's lyrics and the controversial album cover provoked discussion about whether Jethro Tull's music should be defined as "Christian rock." Ian Anderson has downplayed this interpretation over time.
Reception and Legacy
"Aqualung" was not released as a single, yet it became one of Jethro Tull's signature songs and increased their popularity in the United States. It's often cited as one of the greatest hard rock songs of all time.
Performances
"Aqualung" is Jethro Tull's most performed song since its inception, having been played at nearly all the band's live performances.
Covers and homages
Many artists have covered "Aqualung", affirming its status as a legendary song. Some artists who have performed renditions include the bands Tool and Twisted Sister.
Controversy
Anderson has had a long-standing dispute with the English guitarist Martin Barre over his claim that he composed the famous guitar riff of "Aqualung”.
Music Video
Quite unusually for its time, the song "Aqualung" had a music video, a rarity in the early 1970s. In it, Ian Anderson can be seen playing various instruments, including a flute and acoustic guitar.

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