"Stormy Monday Blues"
music and lyrics by Billy Eckstine, Bob Crowder, and Earl Hines

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); 36 Greatest Hits (1998); This Was: 40th Anniversary Edition (2008); This Was: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (2018)
Bootlegs: FM Broadcast London 1968 (2020); BBC Top Gear '68-'69 (2022)

I said they call it Stormy Monday, but I said Tuesday is just as bad as Monday
I said they call it Stormy Monday, but I said Tuesday is just as bad as a cloudy, cloudy day
Wednesday's full of sorrow, I said that Thursday's oh-so, it's oh-so-sad, it's oh-so-sad
I said lord, lord, why don't you have mercy, you gotta have mercy on me
I been trying to find my woman, won't you bring her home to me?
I said they call it Stormy Monday



"Jack Frost and The Hooded Crow"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); The Jethro Tull Christmas Album (2003);
The Broadsword and The Beast Remastered (2005); The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)

Through long December nights we talk in words of rain or snow
While you, through chattering teeth reply and curse us as you go
Why not spare a thought this day for those who have no flame
To warm their bones at Christmas time? Say Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow
Now as the last broad oak leaf falls, we beg: consider this
There's some who have no coin to save for turkey, wine or gifts
No children's laughter round the fire, no family left to know
So lend a warm and a helping hand, say Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow
As holly pricks and ivy clings, your fate is none too clear
The Lord may find you wanting, let your good fortune disappear
All homely comforts blown away and all that's left to show
Is to share your joy at Christmas time with Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow



"I'm Your Gun"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); 36 Greatest Hits (1998); The Broadsword and The Beast Remastered (2005); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)

Blew my smoke on a sunny day, when the first black powder came my way
Hot lead ball from a muzzle cold, to win fair lady and take your gold
I know it hardly seems the time (I am your gun), to talk of blue steel so sublime (I am your gun)
I can understand your point of view (I am your gun), to tell the truth I'd scare me too
Match, wheel and flintlock, they all caught your eye, pearl-handled ladies' models scaled down to size
I am the peacemaker, so the theory goes, but I don't choose the company I keep and it shows
I am your gun, love me, I'm your gun
Maxim and Browning, they helped me along, Stoner, Kalashnikov, thrilled to my song
Now one of me exists for each one of you, so how can you blame me for the things that I do?
Now I take second place to the motor car (I am your gun)
In the score of killing kept thus far (I am your gun)
And just remember, if you don't mind (I am your gun)
It's not the gun that kills but the man behind, I am your gun



"Down At The End of Your Road"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); The Broadsword and The Beast Remastered (2005); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)

I am your neighbor, I seem most respectable, but underneath I'm an iniquitous toad
So many dreadful mishaps have befallen you, down at the end of your road
And I live down the end of your road
I'm working on ways to remove you from paradise, from your striped lawn and your new swimming pool
I place broken bottles in your geraniums, sabotage your gardening tools
And I live down the end of your road
By day I am a real estate agent, gentleman natured, I deal in fine properties, cheap at the price
After dark, I plan my most devious practices, which you might think not very nice
Designing a system to reverse your plumbing, welling up, as you sit on your private throne
Will come up all kinds of vile and despicable nasties, you would rather not have in your home
And I live down the end of your road
Dispensed loathsome creatures in your drawing room, sent doggy poo-poos in your morning mail
Rat's heads and lark's wings should set your tums turning and your houses will soon be for sale
And I live down the end of your road, I live down the end of your road



"Coronach"
music and lyrics by David Palmer

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); 36 Greatest Hits (1998)

Grey the mist, cold the dawn, cruel the sea and stern the shore
Brave the man who sets his course for Albion
Sweet the rose, sharp the thorn, meek the soil and proud the corn
Blessed the lamb that would be born within this green and pleasant land
Hi-O-Ran-I-Ro, Hi-O-Ran-I-Ro
Brown furrow shine beneath the rain washed blue
Bright crystal streams from eagle mountains born
Fortune has smiled on those who wake anew
Within this fortress nature built to stay the hand of war
With the wind from the east, came the first of those to tread
Upon this stone, this throne of kings, this realm, this new Jerusalem
Hi-O-Ran-I-Ro, Hi-O-Ran-I-Ro



"Summerday Sands"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); Minstrel In The Gallery Remastered (2002); Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015)

I once met a girl with the life in her hands and we lay together on the summerday sands
I gave her my raincoat and told her, 'Lady, be good!'
And we made truth together where no one else would
I smiled through her fingers and ran the dust through her hands
The hour-glass of reason on the summerday sands
We sat as the sea caught fire, waited as the flames grew higher in her eyes
We watched the eagle born, wings clipped, tail feathers shorn
But we saw him rise over summerday sands
Came the ten o'clock curfew, she said, 'I must start my car
I'm staying with someone I met last night in a bar'
I called from my wave top 'At least tell me your name!'
She smiled from her wheelspin and said, 'It's all the same'
I thought for a minute, jumped back on dry land
Left one set of footprints on the summerday sands
I once met a girl with the life in her hands
And we lied together on the summerday sands



"Too Many Too"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); The Broadsword and The Beast Remastered (2005); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)
Bootlegs: Nostell Priory UK 08-24-1982 (1982)

Too many drivers in too many cars, too many lost souls drinking in too many bars
Too many heroes stepping on too many toes, too many yes-men nodding when they really mean no
Too many lives each cat can lose, we've got too many too, too many too
Too much sunshine, too many drops of rain
Too many equal and average children who will all grow up the same
Too many fireside politicians, holding too many views
Too many questions, but there are answers too few
Too many lives each cat can lose, we've got too many too, yes, too many too
If I were a liar, yes, and you were a cheat
There would be too many places where we all could meet
Too many temples where we could worship the beast
Where he who thinks he had the most in fact has the least
Too many lives each cat can lose, I've got too many too, yes, too many too
I've got too many too



"March The Mad Scientist"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); Minstrel In The Gallery Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); WarChild II (2023)

What would you like for Christmas, a new polarity?
You're binary and desperate to deal in high figures
That lick us with their hotter flame, lick each and everyone the same
And March, the mad scientist rings a new change in ever-dancing colours
He rings it here and he rings it, but no one stops to see
The change of fate and the fate of change, that slips into his pocket
So he locks it all away from view and shares not what he thought you knew
And April is summer-bound, and February's blue, and no one stops to see the colours



"Pan Dance" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); Minstrel In The Gallery Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); WarChild II (2023)



"Strip Cartoon"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); Too Old To Rock N' Roll: Too Young To Die Remastered (2002);
Too Old To Rock N' Roll: Too Young To Die TV Special Edition (2015); Songs From The Wood: The 40th Anniversary Country Set Edition (2017)

Fish and chips, sandpaper lips and a rainy pavement
Soho lights, another night, thinking of you
Black cat, sat on a wall, winks at me darkly
Suggesting ways and means that I might win a smile
As you leave the place where you work until 12.30
And the policemen nods as you pass along his beat
Sweaty feet, troubled brow, we're all in the same game, lady
Life's no bowl of cherries, it's a black and white strip cartoon
I've been warned that you and your friends are crazy
As from your hearts, you bare your parts to the gentlemen
Who, while they drool, trying to keep cool, spill their Scotch and water
But I'm not that way, I must say, I'd much prefer to see you
In your texturised rubber rainwear around 12:30
Come and play shades of grey, in my black and white strip cartoon
Strip cartoon is all I'm after, strip cartoon is all I crave
So come to my place around 12:30, 'cos I'm a leading politician at a dangerous age



"King Henry's Madrigal" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); Stormwatch Remastered (2004); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019)
Bootlegs: Watchers On The Storm (1980)



"A Stitch In Time"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); Stormwatch Remastered (2004); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019)

I work in dark factories, a cog in the big wheel
Driving grey satanic mills and weaving sad stories
And faceless masters, oh, they pay me plenty
Crumbs from their luncheon packs, harsh wine from bottles half empty
A stitch in time saves nine, said Cock Robin from the wall
It's an early bird catches the worm, show a little pride before you fall
So I flew to the south sun with birds of a feather
To drink in the warm nights and tell of fine weather
A stitch in time saves nine
Listen all you young folk, your lives on a timetable
Clocking on twenty-one, fly while you're able
A stitch in time saves nine



"17"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); Stand Up Remastered (2001); Stand Up: The Collector's Edition (2010); Benefit: A Collector's Edition (2013);
Benefit: The 50th Anniversary Enhanced Edition (2021)

I remember when we had a lot of things to do
Impressed by all the words we read and the heroes that we knew
Climb on your your dream, a dream of our own making
To find a place that we could later lose, to whatever time would bring
We were seventeen and the cakeman was affecting you
Moving you to greater things (in a lesser way) you had to prove
The clock struck summertime, you were going round in circles now
Wishing you were seventeen, at twenty-one, it was a long time gone
And now here you are, you're locked in your own excuse
The circle's getting smaller every day, you're busy planning the next fifty years
So stay the way you are and keep your head down to the same old ground
Just paint your picture boy until you find
A closed circle's better than an open line
Yes stay the way you are, I got a circle that's the same as yours
It may be bigger, but I've more to lose, who is the luckier man, me or you?



"One For John Gee" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); This Was Remastered (2001);
This Was: 40th Anniversary Edition (2008); This Was: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (2018)



"Aeroplane"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); This Was: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (2018)

Flying, made of sticks and paper, aeroplane, dying, is the wind but climbing, my aeroplane
Blowing, and going somewhere high, in the evening tumbling down
But it's surely been up there, crying, want to live my life as my aeroplane
Sighing in the sun's eye, but softly, my aeroplane
Lonely, but only till it comes down, where there's people running round
But it's surely been up there, flying, my aeroplane



"Sunshine Day"
music and lyrics by Mick Abrahams

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Radio Archives and Rare Tracks (1988); This Was: 40th Anniversary Edition (2008); This Was: 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (2018)

Woke up this morning to look at things in their funny way
Why can't they be like they used to be only yesterday
Ooh, bring back my sunshine day
I look at things that once were mine with such despair
Why do the things I say only fall on empty air?
Ooh, bring back my sunshine day, my mind cries, bring back my sunshine day
I say the things I used to say, but they don't seem right
Why does this world seem like the darkest endless night?
Ooh, bring back my sunshine day, bring back my sunshine day



"Lick Your Fingers Clean"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016)

I'll see you at the weighing in when your life's sum-total's made
And you set your wealth in godly deeds against the sins you've laid
So place your final burden on your hard-pressed next of kin
Send the chamber pot back down the line to be filled up again
Take your mind off your election and try to get it straight
And don't pretend perfection, you'll be crucified too late
And he'll say you really should make the deal as he offers round the hat
Well, you'd better lick your fingers clean, I thank you all for that
And as you join the good ship earth and you mingle with the dust
Be sure to leave your underpants with someone you can trust
And the hard-headed social worker who bathes his hands in blood
Will welcome you with arms held high and cover you with mud
And he'll say you really should make the deal as he offers round the hat
Well, you'd better lick your fingers clean, I thank you all for that



"The Chateau D'Isaster Tapes: A.) Scenario"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)

In long years of ancient time stood alone a friend of mine
Reflected by the ever-burning sigh of a god who happened by
And in the dawn, there came the song of some sweet lady singing in his ear
Your god has gone, and from now on, you'll have to learn to hate the things you fear
We want to know, are we inside the womb? Of passion plays in thy righteousness consumed?
Or just in lush contentment of our souls?
And so began the age of man and they left his body in the sand
Their glasses raised to a God on high who smiled upon them from the sky
So take the stage, spin down the ages, loose the passion, spill the rage upon your son
Who holds the gun up to your head, the play's begun
Then God, the director, smells a rat, pulls another rabbit from His hat
Sniffs the air and He says 'Well, that's that, I'm going'



"The Chateau D'Isaster Tapes: B). Audition"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014)
Bootlegs: Munster Live 1973 (1973); The Chateau D Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)

The actors milling helplessly, the script is blowing out to sea
But what the hell, we didn't even pass an audition
The lines you'll have to improvise, the words are written in the eyes
Of politicians who despise their fathers
And so the play necessitates that all you boys participate
In fierce competition to eliminate each other
And groupies, on their way to war, get to write the next film score
But the rock and roll star, knows his glory is really nothing
Men of religion, on the make, pledge an oath they undertake
To make you wise for God's own sake and none other
While ladies get their bedding done to win themselves a bouncing son
But bad girls do it for the fun of just being
And me, I'm here to sing along, and I'm not concerned with righting wrongs
Just asking questions that belong without an answer
But God is laughing up his sleeve as He pours himself another cup of tea
And He waves good-bye to you and me at least for now



"The Chateau D'Isaster Tapes: C). No Rehearsal"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014)
Bootlegs: Munster Live 1973 (1973); The Chateau D Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)

Did you learn your lines today? Well, there is no rehearsal
The tickets have all been sold for tomorrow's matinee
There's a telegram from the writer, but there is no rehearsal
The electrician has been told to make the spotlights brighter
There is one seat in the circle, five hundred million in the stalls
Simply everyone will be there, but the safety curtain falls
When the bomb that's in the dressing room blows the windows from their frames
And the prompter in his corner is sorry that he came
There is one seat in the circle, five hundred million in the stalls
Simply everyone will be there, but the safety curtain falls
When the bomb that's in the dressing room blows the windows from their frames
And the prompter in his corner is sorry that he came
When the bomb that's in the dressing room blows the windows from their frames
And the prompter in his corner is sorry that he came
Did you learn your lines today? Well there is no rehearsal
The interval will last until the ice-cream lady melts away
The twelve piece orchestra are here, but there is no rehearsal
The first violinist's hands are chilled, he's gone deaf in both ears
Well, the scenery is colorful, but the paint is so damn thin
You see the wall behind is crumbling and the stage door is bricked in
But the audience keep arriving 'til they're standing in the wings
And we take the final curtain call and the ceiling crashes in



"Beltane"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Songs From The Wood Remastered (2003); Heavy Horses: 40th Anniversary New Shoes Edition (2018)

Have you ever stood in an April wood and called the new year in?
While the phantoms of three thousand years fly as the dead leaves spin
There's a snap in the grass behind your feet and a tap upon your shoulder
And a thin wind crawls along your neck, it's just the old gods getting older
And the kestrel drops like a fall of shot and the red cloud hanging high, come, a Beltane
Have you ever loved a lover of the old elastic truth?
And doted on the daughter in the ministry of youth?
Thrust your head between the breasts of the fertile innocent
And taken up the cause of love for the sake of argument
Or while the kisses drop like a fall of shot from soft lips in the rain, come, a Beltane
Happy old new year to you and yours, the sun's up for one more day
To be sure, play it out gladly for your card's marked again
Have you walked around your parks and towns, so knife-edged orderly?
While the fires are burned on the hills upturned in far-off wild country
And felt the chill on your window sill, as the green man comes around
With his walking cane of sweet hazel brings it crashing down
Sends your knuckles white as the thin stick bites
Well, it's just your growing pains, come, a Beltane



"Crossword"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); 36 Greatest Hits (1998);
Stormwatch Remastered (2004); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019)

Walking on air, shoulder and head above you
Down in the street, black canyons walking through
Hooded sad eyes, fixed on your shuffle shoes
Life is a clue in your crossword
Typewriter turk, telephone terror takes
Time to wind down, push-button finger shakes
City of dreams, back to your quiet nightmare
Your life is a clue in the crossword
Working to rule in your own time
Drag yourself home to your star sign page
Staying awake on cold yesterday's steak and warm beer
Ladder of string, climbing to sweet success
Homework aside, your brain on the train to test
Pick up the news (yYou left on the seat beside you)
Your life is a clue in the crossword



"Saturation"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); WarChild II (2023)

They left me, leaving my house on fire, me running round, got out through the window
While clinging to the skirts of fate, was not my idea of fun, I jumped to it gladly
The town was filled with smoke and hate, came to my senses just too late
To realize that all I ever owned was borrowed
I thanked them for having shown me that nothing ever really belongs to anyone
They burned my books and they broke my car, and gave the dog to a man who used him for breeding
They felled my trees and they tramped flowers and threw the kitten into my new pool
The same things done to other men, had made them run away from the city
This being the case, I joined them there and breathing air spent the night with these new friends



"Jack-A-Lynn"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); The Best of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection (1993);
25 Years of Jethro Tull: Beacons Bottom Tapes (1993); The Broadsword and The Beast Remastered (2004); The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007);
Heavy Horses: 40th Anniversary New Shoes Edition (2018); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)

Cold aeroplanes, slow boats, warm trains, remind me of Jack-A-Lynn
Lush hotels and pretty girls, won't cheer the misty mood I'm in
Silly, sad, I've never had to write this before, oh, Jack-A-Lynn
Funny how long nights allow thoughts of Jack-A-Lynn
When phantoms tread around my bed, to offer restless dreams they bring
And it's just the time and place to find a sad song to play for Jack-A-Lynn
Magpies that shriek, old boots that leak, call me to Jack-A-Lynn
Coal-black cats in policeman's hats, nosing where the mice have been
And the long miaow's beginning now and I'm far, far from home and Jack-A-Lynn



"Motoreyes"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)

Out on the fast and free way humming along through a build-up ad-man's dream
Streaking past in a cloud of spray goes the high-performance motor queen
And she looks round at me, reflecting neon in her motoreyes
And now the chase is on, I know who'll be the loser, me
See the end curve coming then we're back on the street through the late theater crowds
And the stop lights go and we're cruising side by side still humming loud
And she looks round again, her motoreyes going to tell me when
Put her right foot to the floor, shows me she's no slow woman
She takes her cafe noir, smokes small cigars, showing just a touch of thigh (sigh!)
And sips her whisky straight and she stays up late to kiss the morning bye-bye
Now we're out of town, going to shake her down if I can stay along
Got my blue light on, put her in the net with my siren song
Pulls over to the side, her motoreyes are staring wide
She flashes her I.D. and makes a bigger fool of me



"Blues Instrumental (Untitled)/The Lyricon Blues" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019)



"Rhythm In Gold"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); The Broadsword and The Beast Remastered (2005); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)

I have to call you up, think I've seen a vision of rhythm in gold
No cat could ever move that way, no puss would dare to be so bold
Must tell the boys to follow you, catch you where you go to ground
A lady of means, I can see rhythm in gold is getting to me
What's your name, and where can I find you?
Are you just a rich man's friend or was it always in the family?
You seem to throw the challenge down, by the way you didn't even look at me
Put the boys on you, immobilize your nine-eleven
There's nothing I could do for you that would really matter much anyway
You belong to everyone, rhythm in gold's the number that you play
Put the boys on you, sabotage your nine-eleven



"Part of The Machine"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Crest of A Knave Remastered (2005)

Everybody's jumping on the circus train, some jump high, some jump off again
And the razzmatazz is rolling, women folk unveiled, all truths to light, all crosses nailed
Aiming high where the eagle circles, where he keeps his tail feathers clean
And wonders Am I still a free bird? Or just a part of the machine
They hitch their coverd wagons and they roll out west
Politics in the pockets of their Sunday best
Shaking hands, kissing babies, for all that they're worth
Oh, they promise you gold, promise heaven on earth
Still, that old bald eagle circles, it's not the first time that he's seen
His reflection in the eyes of innocence, he's become just another part of the machine
I wish I had an eagle like you, to look up to
He could be my wings to fly in a big bird sky, up above the whole machine
Smart guys aren't running, they're home and dry
Up in the mountains where the eagle flies
They wouldn't take that job offered on a plate
They got to fly with the eagle, and he won't wait
Looking down on the smoke and the factories till the truth creeps up unseen
They see themselves in the faces of their children
And realize they too are part of the machine
I wish I had an eagle like you to wake up to
He could be my wings to fly in a big bird sky
Hey, let's be part of the machine, part of the machine



"Mayhem, Maybe"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); The Broadsword and The Beast Remastered (2005); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)

When we're working nights, the village round, the old church becomes scary town
All curtained windows and bolted doors, but never a eye to see
As us fairy folks, sweep from the hill, never caught us and never will
Pulling roses and daffodils, mayhem in the high degree
The blacksmith chased us all to ground, they searched all night, we were never found
The tinker boys and the sheriff's men, shaking the tallest tree
And we sat and watched the women hide, laughed so much we split our sides
Scattered horses that they would ride, mayhem in the high degree
We crossed through fields of midnight green, often heard but seldom seen
Tore along hedges, stripping leaves, no-one could quite agree
Whether we came from north or south, we stole the screams from out their mouths
And go where no man would allow, mayhem in the high degree
Like scaly carp and feathered swan, to nature's world we do belong
We ride the thin winds of the night and set dark spirits free
We terrify the mare and foal, the fox stood still and far too bold
So we strung him up, brush neatly folded, mayhem, maybe



"Overhang"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); The Broadsword and The Beast Remastered (2005); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)

Good morning, gentlemen, why the uneasy frowns?
Too much everything and I can't recall, did I let you down?
Nobody will answer me, makes me feel that I want to die, my mind is inclined to lie
Oh, no, think I did it last night again, oh, no, been out on the overhang again
My hotel room was a battleground, how did I find my way?
My wallet's gone and my jacket's torn, my memory's a hazy grey
Do I seem to remember now two creatures about eight feet tall? No safety net to break my fall
Oh, no, must have done it last night again, oh, no, crawled out on the overhang again, been out on the overhang
Watching demons and spirits glide, heading out to the nearest star, better lead me back to the bar
Oh, no, might do it tonight again, oh, no, crawled out on the overhang again, been out on the overhang
Crawling out on the overhang, out of the overhang



"Kelpie"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Stormwatch Remastered (2004); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019); Live: Bursting Out: The Inflated Edition (2024)

There was a warm wind with the high tide on the south of the hill
When a young girl went a-walking and I followed with a will
"Good day to you, my fine young lady with your lips so sweetly full
May I help you comb your long hair, sweep it from that brow so cool?"
Up, ride with the kelpie, I'll steal your soul to the deep
If you don't ride with me while the devil's free, I'll ride with somebody else
Well I'm a man when I'm feeling the urge to step ashore
So I may charm you, not alarm you, tell you all fine things, and more
Up, ride with the kelpie, I'll steal your soul to the deep
If you don't ride with me while the devil's free, I'll ride with somebody else
Say goodbye to all your dear kin, for they hate to see you go
In your young prime, to this place of mine, in the still loch far below
Up, ride with the kelpie, I'll steal your soul to the deep
If you don't ride with me while the devil's free, I'll ride with somebody else



"Living In These Hard Times"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson

20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Heavy Horses Remastered (2003); Live Christmas At St. Bride's 2008 (2009);
Heavy Horses: 40th Anniversary New Shoes Edition (2018)

The bomb's in the china, the fat's in the fire, there's no turkey left on the table
The commuter's return on the six o'clock flyer, brings no bale of hay for the stable
Well, the light, it is failing along the green belt, as we follow the hard road signs
Semi-detached in our suburban-ness, we're living in these hard times
Well the fly's in the milk and the cat's in the stew, another bun in the oven, oh, what to do?
We'll laugh and we'll sing and try to bring, a pound from your pocket, good day to you, oh, these hard times
The politicians sat on the wall and traded with the union game
Someone slapped a writ on our deficit, not a penny left to our name
Oh, the times are hard and the credits lean and they toss and they turn in sleep
And the line they take is the line they make, but it's not the line that they keep
The cow jumped over yesterday's moon and the lock ran away with the key
You know what you like and you like what you know, but there is no jam for tea
Well the light it is failing along the green belt, as we follow the hard road signs
Semi-detached in our suburban-ness, we're living in these hard times