"Aqualung"
music by Ian Anderson; lyrics by Jennie Anderson and Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); 'M.U.': The Best of Jethro Tull (1975); Live: Bursting Out (1978); Original Masters (1985); 20 Years of Jethro Tull: The Essential Tull (1988);
The Best of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection (1993); 25 Years of Jethro Tull: Beacons Bottom Tapes (1993); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996);
36 Greatest Hits (1998); The Very Best of Jethro Tull (2001); Living With The Past (2002); The Essential Jethro Tull (2003); Live: Bursting Out Remastered (2004);
'A' Remastered (2004); Aqualung Live (2005); Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull (2005); Live At Montreux 2003 (2007);
Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); All The Best (2012); Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015);
Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016); The String Quartets (2017); Songs From The Wood: The 40th Anniversary Country Set Edition (2017);
Heavy Horses: 40th Anniversary New Shoes Edition (2018); 50 For 50 (2018); 50th Anniversary Collection (2018); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019);
'A': The 40th Anniversary A La Mode Edition (2021); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023); Live: Bursting Out: The Inflated Edition (2024); Live In Berlin 1985 (2025)
Bootlegs: Munster Live 1973 (1973); Rainbow Theatre London 8 May 1978 (1978); Caught In The Crossfire (1980); Philadelphia Live 1980 (1980);
The Pine Ian's Jig (1980); Watchers On The Storm (1980); A-OK 2/5/1981 (1981); Nostell Priory UK 08-24-1982 (1982); Capitol Theatre 10/28/84 (1984);
One Flute Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1990); Jack In The Green: Live In Germany 1970-1993 (1993); National Concert Hall Dublin (2011);
Hard Times of Old England (2021);
Live In Freiburg 1982 (2022); Songs From The Tower (2023); London Fields (2023); Live In Switzerland 2005 (2023);
Live In Berlin 1985 (2023); Live From Baloise Session Basel 11-15-2008 (2025)
Tributes: A Classic Case (1985); To Cry You A Song: A Collection of Tull Tales (1996)
Sitting on a park bench eyeing ittle 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, he goes down to the bog and warms 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
"Cross-Eyed Mary"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); Repeat: The Best of Jethro Tull Vol. II (1977); Live: Bursting Out (1978); The Best of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection (1993);
25 Years of Jethro Tull: Remixed Classic Songs (1993); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); Live At The BBC (1998); 36 Greatest Hits (1998);
Live: Bursting Out Remastered (2004); Aqualung Live (2005); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); All The Best (2012);
Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015); Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016);
Songs From The Wood: The 40th Anniversary Country Set Edition (2017); Heavy Horses: 40th Anniversary New Shoes Edition (2018); 50 For 50 (2018);
50th Anniversary Collection (2018); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019); Live: Bursting Out: The Inflated Edition (2024)
Bootlegs: Munster Live 1973 (1973); Rainbow Theatre London 8 May 1978 (1978); Watchers On The Storm (1980); One Flute Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1980)
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
"Cheap Day Return"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); 20 Years of Jethro Tull: The Essential Tull (1988); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); Living With The Past (2002); Aqualung Live (2005);
Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull (2005); Rock Island Remastered (2006)l The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011);
Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016)
On Preston platform do your soft shoe shuffle dance
Brush away the cigarette ash that's falling down your pants
And you sadly wonder does the nurse treat your old man the way she should
She made you tea, asked for your autograph, what a laugh
"Mother Goose"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); The Best of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection (1993); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); Living With The Past (2002); Aqualung Live (2005);
Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull (2005); Rock Island Remastered (2006); The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011);
Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016); 50 For 50 (2018)
Bootlegs: National Concert Hall Dublin (2011); Live In Switzerland 2005 (2023)
Tributes: To Cry You A Song: A Collection of Tull Tales (1996)
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 and lions too in Piccadilly Circus?
Walked down by the bathing pond to try and catch some sun
Saw at least a hundred schoolgirls sobbing into hankerchiefs 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
Then 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, 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 snow man
"Wond'ring Aloud"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); 20 Years of Jethro Tull: The Essential Tull (1988); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); Living With The Past (2002); Aqualung Live (2005);
Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull (2005); The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); All The Best (2012);
Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015); Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016);
Songs From The Wood: The 40th Anniversary Country Set Edition (2017); The String Quartets (2017); Live In Berlin 1985 (2025)
Bootlegs: Rainbow Theatre London 8 May 1978 (1978); Songs From The Tower (2023); Live In Berlin 1985 (2023)
Wond'ring aloud how we feel today
Last night sipped the sunset, my hand 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
"Up To Me"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); Aqualung Live (2005); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011);
Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016)
Bootlegs: National Concert Hall Dublin (2011); Live In Switzerland 2005 (2023)
Take you to the cinema and leave you in a Wimpy Bar
You tell me that we've gone to far, come running up to me
Make the scene at Cousin Jack's, leave him put the bottles back
Mends his glasses that I cracked, well that one's up to me
Buy a silver cloud to ride, pack the tennis club inside
Trouser cuffs hung far too wide, well it was up to me
Tyres down on your bicicle, your nose feels like an icicle
The yellow fingered smoky girl is looking up to me
Well I'm a common working man with a half of bitter bread and jam
And if it pleases me I'll put one on you man, when the copper fades away
The rainy season comes to pass, the day-glo pirate sinks at last
And if I laughed a bit to fast, well it was up to me
"My God"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); 25 Years of Jethro Tull: Beacons Bottom Tapes (1993); 25 Years of Jethro Tull: Carnegie Hall 1970 (1993); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996);
Nothing Is Easy: Live At The Isle of Wight 1970 (2004); Aqualung Live (2005); Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull (2005); Live At Montreux 2003 (2007);
Stand Up: The Collector's Edition (2010); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015);
Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016); Benefit: The 50th Anniversary Enhanced Edition (2021); Live: Bursting Out: The Inflated Edition (2024)
Bootlegs: Anaheim 10/19/1970/"Flute Cake" (1970); One Flute Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1990); National Concert Hall Dublin (2011);
Midnight In Chicago (Live 1970) (2021); At The Turn of A Page (2023);
Boston Tea Party (2024)
People, what have you done, locked Him in His golden cage
Made Him bend to your religion, Him resurrected from the grave
He is the god of nothing, if that's all that you can see
You are the god of everything, He's 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
Confessing to the endless sin, the endless whining sounds
You'll be praying till next Thursday to all the gods that you can count
"Hymn 43"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); Living In The Past (1972); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); 36 Greatest Hits (1998); Living In The Past Remaster (2001); Aqualung Live (2005);
Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); All The Best (2012); Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016)
Bootlegs: Live In Switzerland 2005 (2023)
Oh father high in heaven, smile down upon your son
Whose busy with his money games, his women and his gun, oh Jesus save me!
And the unsung Western hero, killed an Indian or three
And made his name in Hollywood to set the white man free, oh Jesus save me!
If Jesus saves, well He'd better save Himself from the gory glory seekers
Who use His name in death, oh Jesus save me!
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!
"Slipstream"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); Aqualung Live (2005); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011);
Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016)
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
"Locomotive Breath"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); Living In The Past (1972); 'M.U.': The Best of Jethro Tull (1975); Live: Bursting Out (1978); Original Masters (1985); 20 Years of Jethro Tull: The Essential Tull (1988);
Live At Hammersmith '84 (1990); A Little Light Music (1992); The Best of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection (1993);
25 Years of Jethro Tull: Live Across The World and Through The Years (1993); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); Through The Years (1997); 36 Greatest Hits (1998);
The Very Best of Jethro Tull (2001); Living In The Past Remastered (2001); Living With The Past (2002); The Essential Jethro Tull (2003); Live: Bursting Out Remastered (2004);
'A' Remastered (2004); Aqualung Live (2005); Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull (2005); Rock Island Remastered (2006); Live At Montreux 2003 (2007);
Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); All The Best (2012); Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015);
Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016); Songs From The Wood: The 40th Anniversary Country Set Edition (2017); The String Quartets (2017);
Heavy Horses: 40th Anniversary New Shoes Edition (2018); 50 For 50 (2018); 50th Anniversary Collection (2018); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019);
'A': The 40th Anniversary A La Mode Edition (2021); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023); Live: Bursting Out: The Inflated Edition (2024); Live In Berlin 1985 (2025)
Bootlegs: Munster Live 1973 (1973); Rainbow Theatre London 8 May 1978 (1978); Watchers On The Storm (1980); Caught In The Crossfire (1980);
The Pine Ian's Jig (1980); A-OK 2/5/1981 (1981); Nostell Priory UK 08-24-1982 (1982); Capitol Theatre 10/28/84 (1984);
Jack In The Green: Live In Germany 1970-1993 (1993);
National Concert Hall Dublin (2011); Hard Times of Old England (2021);
Live In Freiburg 1982 (2022); Songs From The Tower (2023); London Fields (2023); Live In Switzerland 2005 (2023); Live In Berlin 1985 (2023);
Live From Baloise Session Basel 11-15-2008 (2025)
Tributes: A Classic Case (1985); To Cry You A Song: A Collection of Tull Tales (1996)
In the shuffling madess 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 won't stop going, no way to slow down
He sees his children jumping off at the stations, one by one
His woman and his best friend in bed and having fun
He's crawling down the corridor on his hands and knees
Old Charlie stole the handle and the train 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
Old Charlie stole the handle and the train won't stop going, no way to slow down
"Wind-Up"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung (1971); 25 Years of Jethro Tull: Live Across The World and Through The Years (1993); Aqualung: 25th Anniversary Special Edition (1996); Through The Years (1997);
Aqualung Live (2005); Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015);
Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016); Songs From The Wood: The 40th Anniversary Country Set Edition (2017)
Bootlegs: Munster Live 1973 (1973); Songs From The Tower (2023)
When I was young and they packed me off to school and taught me how not to play the game
I didn't mind if they groomed me for success or if they said that I was a fool
So I left there in the morning with their God tucked underneath my arm
Their half-assed smiles and the book of rules
So I asked this God a question and by way of firm reply
He said 'I'm not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays'
So to my old headmaster (and to anyone who cares)
Before I'm through I'd like to say my prayers
I don't believe you, you had the whole damn thing all wrong
He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays
Well you can excomunicate me on my way to Sunday school
And have all the bishops harmonize these lines
How do you dare tell me that I'm my Father's son
When that was just an accident of Birth
I'd rather look around me, compose a better song
'Cos that's the honest measure of my worth
In your pomp and all your glory, you're a poorer man than me
As you lick the boots of death born out of fear
I don't believe you, you had the whole damn thing all wrong
He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays
"Wond'ring Aloud, Again"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Aqualung: 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition (2011); Aqualung: 45th Anniversary Adapted Edition (2016)
Wond'ring aloud how we feel today
Last night sipped the sunset, my hand 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 later I'm out with late worm, shouting for more
And giving himself completely, she did long before
And it's only the giving that makes you what you are
Wond'ring aloud will a son one day be born
To share in our infancy, in the child's path we've worn
In the aging seclusion of this earth, that our birth did surprise, we'll open his eyes
There's the stillness of death on a deathly unliving sea
And the motor car magical world long since ceased to be
When the Eve-bitten apple returned to destroy the tree
Incestuous ancestry's charabanc ride
Spawning new millions throws the world on its side
Supporting their far-flung illusion, the national curse
And those with no sandwiches, please get off the bus
The excrement bubbles, the century's slime decays
And the brainwashing government lackeys would have us say
It's under control and we'll soon be on our way
To a grand year for babies and quiz panel games
Of the hot hungry millions, you'll be sure to remain
The natural resources are dwindling and no one grows old
And those with no homes to go to, please dig yourself holes
We wandered through quiet lands, felt the first breath of snow
Searched for the last pigeon, slate grey I've been told
Stumbled on a daffodil which she crushed in the rush, heard it sigh, and left it to die
At once felt remorse and were touched by the loss of our own
Held its poor broken head in her hands, dropped soft tears in the snow
And it's only the taking that makes you what you are
Wond'ring aloud will a son one day be born
To share in our infancy, in the child's path we've worn
In the aging seclusion of this earth, that our birth did surprise, we'll open his eyes