"WarChild"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); Repeat: The Best of Jethro Tull Vol. II (1977); Through The Years (1997); 36 Greatest Hits (1998);
WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
Tributes: A Classic Case (1985)
I'll take you down to that bright city mile
There to powder your sweet face and paint on a smile
That will show all of the pleasures and none of the pain
When you join my explosion and play with my games
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
No unconditional surrender, no armistice day
Each night I'll die in my contentment and lie in your grave
While you bring me water and I give you wine
Let me dance in your tea-cup and you shall swim in mine
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
Open your windows and I'll walk through your doors
Let me live in your country, let me sleep by your shores
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
"Queen and Country"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
The wind is on the river and the tide has turned too late
So we're sailing for another shore, where some other ladies wait
To throw us silken whispers, catch us by the anchor chains
But we all laugh so politely and we sail on just the same
For Queen and Country, in the long dying day
And it's been this way for five long years since we signed our souls away
We bring back gold and ivory; rings of diamonds; strings of pearls
Make presents to the government, so they can have their social whirl
With Queen and Country, in the long dying day
And it's been this way for five long years since we signed our souls away
For Queen and Country, in the long dying day
And it's been this way for five long years since we signed our souls away
They build schools and they build factories with the spoils of battles won
And we remain their pretty sailor boys, hold our heads up to the gun
Of Queen and Country, in the long dying day
And it's been this way for five long years since we signed our souls away
To Queen and Country, in the long dying day
And it's been this way for five long years since we signed our souls away
To Queen and Country, in the long dying day
And it's been this way for five long years since we signed our souls away
"Ladies"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
Ladies of leisure with their eyes on the back roads
All looking for strangers to whom they extend welcomes
With a smile and a glimpse of pink knees and elbows
Of satin and velvet, good ladies, good fortune, ladies
They sing of their heroes, of solitary soldiers
Invested in good health and manner most charming
Whose favors are numbered (none the less well intended)
By hours in a minute, by those ladies who bless them, ladies
"Back-Door Angels"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014);
Minstrel In The Gallery 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015); Songs From The Wood: The 40th Anniversary Country Set Edition (2017)
In and out of the front door ran twelve back-door angels
Their hair was a golden-brown, they didn't see me wink my eye
'Tis said they put we men to sleep with just a whisper
And touch the heads of dying dogs and make them linger
They carry their candles high and they light the dark hours
And sweep all the country clean with pressed and scented wild-flowers
They grow all their roses red and paint our skies blue
Drop one penny in every second bowl, make half the beggars lose
Why do the faithful have such a will to believe in something?
And call it the name they choose, having chosen nothing
Think I'll sit down and invent some fool, some Grand Court Jester
And next time the die is cast, he'll throw a six or two
In and out of the back-door ran one front-door angel
Her hair was a golden brown, she smiled and I think she winked her eye
"Sealion"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
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 like 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
"Skating Away On The Thin Ice of The New Day"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); 'M.U.': The Best of Jethro Tull (1975); Live: Bursting Out (1978); Original Masters (1985); The Best of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection (1993);
36 Greatest Hits (1998); WarChild Remastered (2002); The Essential Jethro Tull (2003); Live: Bursting Out Remastered (2004); 'A' Remastered (2004);
Ian Anderson Plays The Orchestral Jethro Tull (2005); The Best of Acoustic Jethro Tull (2007); All The Best (2012);
A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) (2014); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014);
Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015); Songs From The Wood: The 40th Anniversary Country Set Edition (2017);
Heavy Horses: 40th Anniversary New Shoes Edition (2018); 50 For 50 (2018); 'A': The 40th Anniversary A La Mode Edition (2021); The Chateau D Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024);
Live: Bursting Out: The Inflated Edition (2024)
Bootlegs: Rainbow Theatre London 8 May 1978 (1978); Philadelphia Live 1980 (1980); Caught In The Crossfire (1980); A-OK 2/5/1981 (1981);
Capitol Theatre 10/28/84 (1984);
Songs From The Tower (2023); London Fields (2023)
Meanwhile back in the year One, when you belonged to no-one, you didn't stand a chance son, if your pants were undone
'Cause you were bred for humanity and sold to society, one day you'll wake up in the Present Day
A million generations removed from expectations of being who you really want to be
Skating away, skating away, skating away on the thin ice of a New Day
So as you push off from the shore, won't you turn your head once more and make your peace with everyone?
For those who choose to stay will live just one more day to do the things they should have done
And as you cross the wilderness, spinning in your emptiness, you feel you have to pray
Looking for a sign that the Universal Mind has written you into the Passion Play
Skating away, skating away, skating away on the thin ice of a New Day
And as you cross the circle line, the ice-wall creaks behind, you're a rabbit on the run
And the silver splinters fly in the corner of your eye, shining in the setting sun
Well, do you ever get the feeling that the story's too damn real and in the present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage and it seems like you're the only person sitting in the audience?
Skating away, skating away, skating away on the thin ice of a New Day
Skating away, skating away, skating away
"Bungle In The Jungle"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); 'M.U.': The Best of Jethro Tull (1975); 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: Remixed Classic Songs (1993); 36 Greatest Hits (1998); The Very Best of Jethro Tull (2001);
WarChild Remastered (2002); The Essential Jethro Tull (2003); All The Best (2012); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014);
Minstrel In The Gallery: 40th Anniversary La Grande Edition (2015); The String Quartets (2017); 50 For 50 (2018); 50th Anniversary Collection (2018); 'A': The 40th Anniversary A La Mode Edition (2021)
Bootlegs: Caught In The Crossfire (1980); The Pine Ian's Jig (1980); A-OK 2/5/1981 (1981)
Tributes: A Classic Case (1985)
Walking through forests of palm tree apartments, scoff at the monkeys who live in their dark tents
Down by the waterhole, drunk every Friday, eating their nuts, saving their raisins for Sunday
Lions and tigers who wait in the shadows, they're fast but they're lazy and sleep in green meadows
Let's bungle in the jungle, well, that's all right by me, I'm a tiger when I want love, but I'm a snake if we disagree
Just say a word and the boys will be right there with claws at your back to send a chill through the night air
Is it so frightening to have me at your shoulder? Thunder and lightning couldn't be bolder
I'll write on your tombstone, "I thank you for dinner," this game that we animals play is a winner
Let's bungle in the jungle, well, that's all right by me, I'm a tiger when I want love, but I'm a snake if we disagree
The rivers are full of crocodile nasties and He who made kittens put snakes in the grass
He's a lover of life but a player of pawns, yes, the King on His sunset lies waiting for dawn
To light up His Jungle as play is resumed, the monkeys seem willing to strike up the tune
"Only Solitaire" / "Solitaire"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); 20 Years of Jethro Tull: Flawed Gems and The Other Sides of Tull (1988); Nightcap (1993); WarChild Remastered (2002);
A Passion Play: An Extended Performance (Steven Wilson Stereo Mix) (2014); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); The Chateau D Herouville Sessions 1972 (2024)
Brain-storming habit-forming, battle-warning weary winsome actor spewing spineless chilling lines
The critics falling over to tell themselves he's boring and really not an awful lot of fun
Well who the hell can he be when he's never had V.D. and he doesn't even sit on toilet seats?
Court-jesting, never-resting, he must be very cunning to assume an air of dignity
And bless us all with his oratory prowess, his lame-brained antics and his jumping in the air
And every night his act's the same and so it must be all a game of chess he's playing
But you're wrong, Steve, you see, it's only solitaire
"The Third Hoorah"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
Hoorah!
WarChild, dance the days and nights away, sweet child, how do you do today?
When your back's to the wall and your luck is your all then side with whoever you may
Seek that which within lies waiting to begin the fight of your life that is everyday
Dance with the WarChild, hoorah
WarChild, dance the days and nights away, sweet child, how do you do today?
In the heart of your heart, there's the tiniest part of an urge to live to the death
With a sword on your hip and a cry on your lips to strike life in the inner child's breast
Dance with the WarChild, hoorah
WarChild, dance the days and nights away, sweet child, how do you do today?
"Two Fingers"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild (1974); WarChild Remastered (2002); WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
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
And you place your final burden on your hard-pressed next of kin
Send the chamber-pot back down the line to be filled up again
And the hard-headed miracle worker who bathes his hands in blood
Will welcome you to the final nod and cover you with mud
And he'll say, you really should make the deal as he offers round the hat
You'd better lick two fingers clean, he'll thank you all for that
As you slip on the greasy platform and you land upon your back
You make a wish and you wipe your nose upon the railway track
While the high-strung locomotive with furnace burning bright, lumbers on
You wave goodbye and the sparks fade into night
And as you join the Good Ship Earth and you mingle with the dust
You'd better leave your underpants with someone you can trust
And when the Old Man with the telescope cuts the final strand
You'd better lick two fingers clean before you shake his hand
"Warchild Waltz" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild Remastered (2002)
"Good Godmother"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); WarChild II (2023)
With the briefest wave, in a fearful rush, I climb aboard the omnibus
So far, I failed to make the conductor laugh, but I'll join in with him if he does
Oh, dear Mother: what you doing there?
Don't remind me, get behind me, just sit in your silver chair
There are sandbags out along the Strand, they've all gone raving to a man
Make no excuse for lazybones, no one to guard the old homeland
Oh, good Godmother what you doing here?
Don't alarm me, nothing can harm me if I close my ears
The secretary, the sandwich girl, have left to join the underworld
The files are empty, the lines are dead, the accountant's blood is in the red
Oh, my Godmother what you doing here?
My case is locked and my luncheon box is as full as it appears
Oh, come on, Miss Hatchet, let me take you to a restaurant, where the price is very cheap
And we'll dance all night at the club around the corner, 'til it's time to go to bed...sleep
The walls are shedding a lethal skin of TV-active social sins
It's a simple phase of growing pains, we're all just fast cars in slow lanes
Oh, good Godmother here you come again
It's a pleasant night for sleeping tight with the book of family games
"WarChild II"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); WarChild II (2023)
I'll take you down to that bright city mile
There to powder your sweet face and paint on a smile
That shows unconditional surrender on this armistice day
Each night I'll die in my contentment and lie in your grave
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
Now you bring me water while I give you wine
Let me dance in your tea-cup and you shall swim in mine
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
Open your windows and I'll walk through your doors
Let me live in your country, let me sleep by your shores
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
WarChild dance the days and dance the nights away
"Tomorrow Was Today"
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014); WarChild II (2023)
Silver lights are flashing all along the motorway
Must be at least two thousand travellers who are twenty-one today
They're going down to London Town with a banknote in each hand
They live so they can die in England's green and pleasant land
Well some of them take to the roads and some do wear a tie
Big brother watches all of them, but all must live the lie
We say good night, sleep tight, well, it's a good night, stay bright
Well, it's good night, that is right, tomorrow was today
Well, it's good night, sleep tight, well, it's a good night, stay bright
Well, it's good night, that is right, tomorrow was today
They rise each morning early to workhouse office rules
Grow gardens on their window sills, grow children in their schools
They say good night, sleep tight, well, it's a good night, stay bright
Well, it's good night, that is right, tomorrow was today
Every day's the same, the names have all been changed
The rent is overdue and so is Christmas too
They pay you by the hour for painting Blackpool Tower
Well, me, I'll just sit tight and write my epitaph
But, then again, I may get laid by the laundromat
When the night-light has been lit, I'll squeeze some lady's t...knee
Santa Claus died yesterday, Robin Hood is in the nick
For stealing from the people and giving to the rich
He says good night, sleep tight, well, it's a good night, stay bright
Well, it's good night, that is right, tomorrow was today
Well, it's good night, sleep tight, well, it's a good night, stay bright
Well, it's good night, that is right, tomorrow was today
"The Orchestral WarChild Theme" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"The Third Hoorah (Orchestral Version)" (Instrumental)
music and lyrics by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"MimeSequence" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"Field Dance (Conway Hall Version)" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"Waltz of The Angels (Conway Hall Version)" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"The Beach (Part I) (Morgan Master Recording)" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"The Beach (Part II) (Morgan Master Recording)" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"Waltz of The Angels (Morgan Demo Recording)" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"The Beach (Morgan Demo Recording)" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)
"Field Dance (Morgan Demo Recording)" (Instrumental)
music by Ian Anderson
WarChild: The 40th Anniversary Theatre Edition (2014)