"First Post" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
"Animelee" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
"Tiger Toon" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
"Look At The Animals"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
The tiny ant leaves his tiny ant drops in the sand
And makes his home inside a rusty watering can
Occasionally going out to look for bread and jam
He runs into a sparrow who hasn't eaten for a week
And later quite contented, the sparrow cleans his beak
Failing to notice pussy cat has come out to take a leak
Our cat partakes of dinner when a sodden kangaroo
Emerges from the undergrowth and asks to use the loo
Kangaroos aren't usually dangerous, for that would never do
My goodness, will you look at all the animals queuing on the stairs
Look at the animals in the zoo, how would you like to be one?
They're waiting to use the lavatory and putting chewing gum in each other's hair
Look at the animals, look at you, well how would you like to free one?
Good gracious, will you look at all, the animals playing with their tools
Look at the animals, look at you, well how would you like to queer one?
Flying from the chandeliers and treading in their elephantine stools
Look at the animals, two by two, aren't you glad to be one?
This kangaroo's a lunatic and his pouch is very full
Of pussy cats and penguins, who can't fly as a rule
But then neither could the pussy cat, he never went to school
The kangaroo gets nervous when confronted by the size
Of an elephant named Simon who is always telling lies
He swears he wears green corduroys and can button up his fly
Presently, a fatter Simon's indigestion fails
He regurgitates the whole damn mess into an aluminum pail
And the tiny ant scuttles back inside his watering can
Occasionally going out to look for bread and jam
"Law of The Bungle"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
The tiger flashes sharpened teeth, bowler-hatted, summer briefs beneath his pinstriped skin
To kill demands a business sense, economy moves non-residence, approaching from downwind
Being a tiger means you laugh whenever lesser tigers have to eat meat that's infected
Being a tiger means your mate when overfed will defecate in places least expected
Knowing a tiger means you must accept his promise of mutual trust and offer him your throat
Loving a tiger means you take second place to the cake you bake
And with undying servile obedience keep the stiffly starched collar of his conference shirt spotless
And remove daily the daubed bloody evidence of his dastardly misdeeds
From the otherwise immaculate elegance of his pin-stripe tiger coat, period
"Law of The Bungle Part II" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson; Introduction by Martin Barre
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
"Hello. This is 'Law of the Bungle Part II'. By the way, I'm Martin Barre.
But sometimes I'm an owl and my feathers are really smooth
And when I feel romantic, I like to dress up in men's clothing."
"Left Right"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
Bootlegs: Munster Live 1973 (1973)
The master playwright urges you to play right/play wrong
Life is long and every night's the first night
The wardrobe mistress urges you to dress left/dress right
What a mess when your underpants are too tight
Who's on the stage door to help you find the way in/way out?
It's not a sin to be knowing that you don't know
When you breathe your last line
Will you make your exit stage left/stage right?
Well, you might decide while there's still time
You have an angel on your shoulder, but you wear the old god's horns
And you dance around the maypole while the vicar makes a toast to the pagan celebration
And extends an invitation to us all, so he can save us when we fall
Who's your leading lady? Will you help to get her off the bus?
It's best to pass the test before you get too lazy
Strike up the orchestra, take your cues on the up-beat/beat down
Anyone who says he doesn't like the sound
"Critique Oblique"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
Critic of the black and white it's your first night
The Passion Play gets in the way, spoils your insight
Tell me how the baby's made, how the lady's laid
Why the old dogs howl with sadness
The blue thing in the ball leaves naught but a bloody footprint
On the memory of last summer's trip to Europe
Did you buy a passport from the queen?
And your little sister's immaculate virginity
Wings away on the bony shoulder of a young horse named George
Who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision
The examining body examined her body
"Post Last"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (2014); The Chateau D’Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
The editor lies screaming (begging in his working drink)
Questioning 'Who is God's favorite rock star this week? And will the front page take him?
The deadline for the headline is the breadline
"Paradise Steakhouse"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); WarChild II (2023)
I'd like to take you to the edge of every morning on a magic eiderdown, to a window chair
In the Paradise Steakhouse, where there's a cup of silver coffee, steaming chrome reflections from the mist in your hair
Try not to watch me (try not to watch me), just call me after darkfall (call me after darkfall), I'll bring a whip to sow, my seed on your land
In the Paradise Steakhouse, there's a cup of silver coffee, a sheath of steel so you may hold my sword in your hand
I'll cut you, divide you into tender pieces, no wings to fly away upon my dear
In the Paradise Steakhouse, on a plate upon a table, I will carve your name with care to last the years
I'd like to eat you (I'd like to eat you), all fire will consume you (fire will consume you), roast on the spit of love, on this arrow true
In the Paradise Steakhouse, I'll taste every finger, baking in the ashes til the flames rise a new
I'd like to take you to the edge of every morning on a magic eiderdown, to a window chair
In the Paradise Steakhouse, where there's a cup of silver coffee, steaming chrome reflections from the mist in your hair
"Sealion II"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); WarChild II (2023)
Would you like to see my lion, my friend Cecil is damp and smooth
A damp smooth sea lion, yes, Cecil is a sea lion (Cecil is a sea lion)
Cecil is a clever sea lion, Cecil sometimes swims and often sits (and balances multicolored striped balls?)
Yes, balances multicolored striped balls, clever Cecil (Cecil is a sea lion)
Cecil the sea lion is serene, he doesn't wear spectacles or a scarf (no central heating or cement)
Well the whole ocean is Cecil's home (Cecil is a sea lion)
"Piece of Cake"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993)
Come running, go for overkill, if you don't come now, I'll be over the hill, all right? Tell me, 'All right'
Got a sell-by date, soon be out of stock, pop me in your trolley, you can start my clock, well, all right? Tell me, 'All right'
I could be on your shelf, could be the risk you take, I'm a cup of hot coffee, I'm a piece of cake
I'm the hot chicken in your superstore, you can take me home, if you can take some more, well, all right? Tell me, 'All right'
I could be on your shelf, could be the bread you bake, I can fill your larder, I'm a piece of cake
Show me rosemary, I'll show her wild thyme, see you at the checkout or on the credit line, well, all right? Tell me, 'All right'
I'm your spicy filling, I'm your low-fat spread, I'll be your smooth rubber, be your pencil lead, all right? Tell me, 'All right'
If you set me to simmer, if you grill my steak, you can bowl me over, I'm a piece of cake
"Quartet" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Édition (2015);
Heavy Horses: 40th Anniversary New Shoes Edition (2018); WarChild II (2023)
Bootlegs: Rainbow Theatre London 8 May 1978 (1978)
"Silver River Turning"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993)
I walked down that boulder road, through a child's eye saw places where I used to go
Where I crawled barefoot with a fishing pole to the rock that overlooked that steelhead hole
But it's true, silver river turning blue
It was a small town, in a smaller world, just a black dot on an old map with its edges curled
Where they built their industries on the edge of town, leaching chemicals from underground
Now it's true, that silver river turning blue
Just got a late reaction, face reality and stare it down
Sometimes it's harder hanging on, much easier to look around, but I need that job
Well, this place no city, we're just small players here, like a million other heroes drinking poor man's beer
We know what's right, we're just living it wrong, but there's no easy answer in the green man's song
What do you do? When your river's turning blue
I walked down that boulder road, through a child's eye saw places where I used to go
Where I crawled barefoot with a fishing pole to the rock that overlooked that steelhead hole
But it's true, silver river turning blue
Just got a late reaction, face reality and stare it down
Sometimes it's harder hanging on, much easier to look around, but I need that job
"Crew Nights"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)
Tearing down in double quick time to get the "A" truck shifted 'bout midnight
The locker rooms are empty but the strobo tuners still spin with their pitching lights
And someone with a yellow pass gives out precise directions as to where and when
And earmarked with a drumstick, while young girls set to rendezvous and be recognized again
Tomorrow is an off-day, be in Baltimore by Thursday is the only law
There's a suite down at the hotel reserved for making merry with connecting doors
The lighting man's already improvised a bar and printed invitations to the ball
Off duty cops line corridors wearing tour T-shirts proudly and the band may even call
Crew nights, no flashlights or folding knives, best boots and road suits and nine lives
Feeling that it might be wrong to temporarily belong to the P.A. man
Some angel from the midwest is regretting being undressed with no suntan
His polaroid a-snapping, the head carpenter is rapping on the gates of dawn
Sitting lonely with a warm beer, the girl with dental braces wishes that she hadn't gone
Crew nights, no bar fights or reader's wives, thin walls and late calls and nine lives
Crew nights, no flashlights or folding knives, best boots and road suits and nine lives
"The Curse"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)
Young Gladys was a silky maiden, at thirteen, she was going strong, yeah, oh, Gladys
Nicely filled out, fully laden, but down below there was something wrong, yeah, oh, Gladys
Nobody told her about those secrets that ladies have to hide
Mom had no words to describe the things that happened inside
Need someone to help me, I feel that there's a curse on me, oh
Went down into the local disco, for what used to be the one and nines, yeah, oh Gladys
Felt a searching hand to frisk her, along the length of her water line, yeah, oh Gladys
Now Gladys knew she was in no condition, in no mood to play
Up cracked her knee in a soft spot, nothing got in her way
I want no one to touch me, I feel there's a curse on me, oh
Directed down to the local drugstore, Got fixed up, now she's doing fine, yeah, oh Gladys
Equipped with various kinds of apparatus, you know the feminine hygiene kind, yeah, oh Gladys
Must have been a man to do this thing, who won her fall from grace
That day he programmed me, you should have seen the smile on his face
He said "you'll need someone to help you when you feel like cursing me", oh
"Rosa On The Factory Floor"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993)
She moves with machinery for the fancy sports car trade
Part of the industrial process, she sees that they stay made
She works from early A.M., they work her to the bone
When I call her in the evening, she's too tired to lift the phone
Damned if I'll wait for her and I'll be damned if I don't
Damned if I only see that Rosa on the factory floor
Signed on for the duration, they say she came from the East
With her tool bag and her coveralls to pay the rent at least
She doesn't talk with workers on the rest of the line
And over in the canteen, she's alone most of the time
Somewhere in her history is a lock without a key
She doesn't trust the management and she won't trust me
We're two different animals, we live jungles apart
She circles round her freedom and I circle round her heart
"A Small Cigar"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); 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)
A small cigar can change the world, I know, I've done it frequently at parties where I've won all the guests' attention
With my generosity and suave gentlemanly bearing, a little flat tin case is all you need, breast-pocket conversation opener
And one of those ciggie lighters, that look rather good, you can throw away when empty
Must be declared a great success, my small cigars all vanish within minutes
Excuse me, mine host, that I may visit a nearby tobacconist
To replenish my supply of small cigars and make the party swing again
I know my clothes seem shabby and don't fit this Hampstead soiree
Where unread copies of Rolling Stone, well-thumbed Playboys decorate the hi-fi stereo record shelves
If you ask me they're on their way to upper-middle-class oblivion
The stupid twits they roll their only one cigarette between them
My small cigar's redundant now in the haze of smoking pleasure
Call it a day, get the hell away, go down the cafe for a cup of real tea
By the tube station, there's a drunk old fool who sells papers in the rush hour
I hand to him ten small cigars, he smiles, says, 'Son, God bless you'
A small cigar, has changed his world, my friend, a small cigar, has changed the world again, a small cigar
"Man of Principle"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993)
One day he'll walk from out of this place, you'll see a quiet determination on his face
He'll tow no lines, suffer no fools, but he'll raise three cheers to the losing team from the other school
A little dedication, a little pair of daddy's shoes to fill, complete education, one day he'll be a man of principle
And the battle's on, and he'll play to win, feel the blue blood rushing quick beneath his skin
And grim they stand and hard they fall, harder still when their backs are up against the wall
Gonna get your attention, but he's carrying his cross to the other hill, with divine intervention he can be a man of principle
In the evening light, with a fair-ground girl, he stops himself as his head begins to whirl
And he walks her home and there's a kiss goodbye, she feels a chill as she looks him in the eye
Well, there's a time and a place now and it's not tonight she'll bend his will, slow realization, she's looking at a man of principle
Hung from the highest station by his old school tie undressed to kill, he could be a real sensation, but he's a man of principle
A little dedication, a little pair of daddy's shoes to fill, complete education, one day he'll be a man of principle
Gonna get your attention, but he's carrying his cross to the other hill, with divine intervention he can be a man of principle
"Commons Brawl"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)
All right and honourable gentlemen and lady, too
Will kindly try to restrain themselves in derring-do
As verbal hard graffiti flies and echoes wall to wall
Our precious model of democracy, it's the House of Commons brawl
One member from some dark mill town, furious did cry
As spittle frothed on folded chin to damn the lie
Let's serve this brief amidst the rush of boohs and loud catcalls
Let's finish this right here and now at the House of Commons brawl
Kick, punch with the government, as with jackets off they charged heaven bent
Scratch, gouge went the other side, as the party firmly did divide
Another day in the lives of those who would guide us through
It follows that we should by their example do
But there again I think for less for Guy went to the wall
The wrong house but the right idea to end the Commons brawl
"No Step"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)
I looked out of my window, saw a stencil black, no step, no step
There were nervous mothers with children crying in the back, no step, no step
Someone bought me my ticket, now I'm on the wing
Hope my angels are watching me, do I hear them sing? No step, no step
Those afterburners cut in and kicked us high, no step, no step
The thin air shimmered, the sun cut through and burned my eye, no step, no step
Someone bought me my ticket, now I'm on the wing
Hope my angels are watching me, do I hear them sing?
No step, no step, no step, no step, no step, no step, no step, no
Give me a jet stream schooner or a crew-legged goose, no step, no step
I'm a clear-air jockey when they turn me loose, no step, no step
Someone bought me my ticket to the captain's seat
Will the shakes soon leave me, will I find my feet?
No step, no step, no step, no step, no step
"Drive On The Young Side of Life"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)
Your mother, she protected you and softened every blow
And brought you up to fear the worst, to be careful as you go
And the learned educators with drip-feed facts to fill
You up to here with reason, well-meaning overkill
If you find yourself a-growing to be old before your time
Get off the endless corridor, set your soul out on the line
Drive on the young side of life
When the pressure pains are building and you're forced to join the crush
In the race to mediocrity, so respectable and plush
And while the child within is raging and threatens to break out
Get off the endless corridor, make a timely turnabout
Drive on the young side of life
"I Don't Want To Be Me"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993)
Got a grand house out in the country, marble pillars holding the door
Empty bottles lining the wall from the night before
Got a Roller out in the garage, but the wheels are stuck to the floor
Got no reason to go anywhere, no friends call anymore
I don't want to be me, I don't want to be me
I know it's hard to see, but I don't want to be me
Had me playing down at the palace, I was declared the belle of the ball
Made the boys take my goods and chattels away, now I'm staring at an empty hall
I don't want to be me, I don't want to be me
I know it's hard to see, but I don't want to be me
Pardon me, I'm on my way, pardon me but I'm going
Taking on the simple life and I feel the grass roots growing
I'm going to ride the ragged road, diamond spurs jangling into the sunset
No circuits running overload, well maybe I'm not done yet
Now there's nothing left in the cupboard and three bears been eating my soup
My life is one big critical mess, if you take a look
And the butler's off in Ibiza on expense account gone berserk
But I can't check out of this crazy world without being a jerk
I don't want to be me, I don't want to be me
I know it's hard to see, but I don't want to be me
"Broadford Bazaar"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); Heavy Horses Remastered (2003); The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007); Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition (2019)
Dirty white caravans down our road sailing, Vivas, Cortinas, weaving in their wake
With hot red-faced drivers, horns flattened-fifths whaling, putting trust in blind corners as they overtake
And it's "Oh, come willing now, spend a shilling now, stack up the back of your new motor car"
There's home-dyed woollens and wee plastic Cuillins, the day of the Broadford Bazaar
Out of the north, no oil-rigs are drifting and jobs for the many are down to the few
Blue-bottled choppers, they visit no longer, like flies to the jam pots they were just passing through
And it's "Oh, come willing now, spend a shilling now, stack up the back of your new motor car"
Where once stood oil-rigs so phallic, there's only swear-words in Gaelic, to say at the Broadford Bazaar.
All people come down for the opening, crofters and cotters, white settlers galore
And up the hill, there's an old sheep that's dying, but it had two new lambs born just a fortnight before
And it's "Oh, come willing now, spend a shilling now, stack up the back of your new motor car"
We'll take pounds, francs and dollars from the well-heeled and stamps from the Green Shield, the day of the Broadford Bazaar
"Lights Out"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993); The Broadsword and The Beast: The 40th Anniversary Monster Edition (2023)
Last light's out, they're all abed and something's in my room creeping down towards me on the wall
Daddy said it's just some flickering headlight through the gloom, making shapes through trees outside the hall
But what the hell does he know? He doesn't feel the dread, the cold restricting terror in the dark
I've seen that silhouette before, something the newsman said, something about some monster in the park
It's you, you're the man on the TV screen, it's you front page face of the dead
Locked up in the light of day, at night come out to play, to terrorize me there above my bed
The air is still and heavy now, there's thunder in the sky, he's dreaming up some message he can send
I'm scared completely helpless and I think I'm going to cry, are grownups brave or do they just pretend?
His face is growing clearer, I can see his eyes glow red, my teddy bear's the only friend I can feel
The shadow's hand slips down the wall and touches teddy's head, I now suspect that shadow will touch me
It's you, you're the man on the TV screen, it's you front page face of the dead
Locked up in the light of day, at night come out to play to terrorize me there above my bed
It's you, you're the man on the TV screen, it's you front page face of the dead
Locked up in the light of day, at night come out to play to terrorize me there above my bed, yeah, it's you
"Truck Stop Runner"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993)
Stopped off on a long drive down from the high country
Spent a long time sitting here, long time counting hot miles
Oh, oh I'd like a cup of black coffee and a piece of sweet cake
But the girl in the print dress doesn't want my money, she won't take it
She says, oh she says, oh she says, I just know you're a Leo, I can tell you've got a lion's heart
She went on in this way for a while like some 60's sister playing a part
Oh this cup of black coffee gonna do me just fine
Through the dust in the mirror tiles, I can see that door, keep it close behind
Oh she says, she says, come on over to my house, make a journey here sometime
You know there's a party going on, a ladder in my stocking you can climb, there's a ladder you can climb
Oh she looked so liberated, she was looking fit to start
She got this back to front and sideways, wore her sleeve upon her heart
Oh, oh, just one more coffee's, 'bout all I can take
Have to do a truck stop runner now, I'm not man enough to make it, she says, she says
Oh she says, she says, come on over to my house, make a journey here sometime
You know there's a party going on, a ladder in my stocking you can climb, there's a ladder you can climb
Stopped off on a long drive down from the high country
Spent a long time sitting here, long time counting hot miles
Oh, oh I'd like a cup of black coffee and a piece of sweet cake
But the girl in the print dress doesn't want my money, she won't take it
Oh she says, she says, come on over to my house, make a journey here sometime
You know there's a party going on, a ladder in my stocking you can climb, a ladder in my stocking you can climb
Truck stop runner, I'll be a truck stop runner, truck stop runner, truck stop runner, truck stop runner
"Hard Liner"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
Nightcap (1993)
Hard liner, she brings ice when I bring fire
She's a hard liner, tightrope cross Niagara, she'd cut the wire
Never feel a thing, walked the sidewalk of another strange avenue
Kicked my heels and wished my feet were in some other shoes
But I'm not running from that hard liner, well she brings ice when I bring fire
She's a real hard liner, how does she retain my heart's desire?
It's a funny thing, knows what she wants, knows how to get it, too
Scares me with cold logic, scares me with the witch's brew
But I keep on drinking, hard liner
Hard liner, I'm framed and I'm hanging on the wall
She's a hard liner, I'm like some big game trophy, hat-stand in the hall
But I remember warm and loving nights
Her hair, restaurants, swaying bust, headlights, it's a funny thing
Hard liner, yeah, she brings ice when I bring fire
Hard liner, tightrope 'cross Niagara, don't cut my wire
Hard liner, hard, hard liner, she brings sun when I bring rain
She's a real hard liner, yeah, we've got it all crossed up again
Hard liner, hard liner, now I don't think we can stay in the same town