Ian Anderson now runs a salmon farm, and in an interview there he said he wrote this song about the scary exponential rise in World Population since he was born (1947), and unchecked rampant Capitalism. (an economic system that creates winners and losers). So the way I see it Locomotive breath = Life, The Train = Expanding Population, Old Charlie = God (revealed in the last verse.) The song relates the losers experience as he travels in the reality of more and more people chasing less and less resources. Just my opinion, he never elaborated, so it's all still up for grabs.
I saw Jethro Tull in Toronto on their Crest of a Knave tour and Ian Anderson is the epitome of the old time showman. He can sure cover a stage. I tell people about that show to this day.
The train is a metaphor for the song character's life, and it's heading for an inevitable crash, because he's on drugs. 'Charlie' is a slang name for cocaine, and it's that drug that has taken over and stolen his ability to put the brakes on his runaway life. For some others they may survive it's grip, but for this character there is no way to slow down, the handle to the brakes is now gone. It's likely his life was heading in the wrong direction anyway, his wife was having an affair with his best friend, and he has become an addict. He has now lost his wife, she's got off at one of the stations (or point in their marriage) when she saw the way his world was heading and the danger to their kids. Ian Anderson, unusually, for a rock hero has always rejected the hedonistic lifestyle of his peers, from very early on, as an art student, he had seen the damage illegal drugs had caused to those around him. Ian's Scottish parents were always loving and supportive of his music career and that must have kept him grounded in his youth.
I’ve always seen locomotive breath as a metaphor for his anger. They borrow on that theme because his life is now out of his control like a runaway train.
@@LiteralistReactions Hope there's no offence, as my own son has Asperger's Syndrome and one of the aspects of this form of autism is that understanding metaphors has taken him a very long time to acclimatise to, but I was wondering if Dave has ever tried any tests for this? My son has adapted so well, but he used to take most things quite literally and be very pedantic about how words are defined. I don't think the way he views things has changed, but he has just learnt not to get into awkward discussions about words. It caused problems at school because he would take on the teachers if he thought they weren't using the words 'correctly'. If you ask for his opinion he will be brutally honest, whoever you are. There is much more awareness these days than there was 30 years ago, when it was quite hard to get a diagnosis for our son, so many people may go through life finding interaction and language difficult or confusing, but never get the answers why they may be 'out of step' with others.
None taken... Dave has another disorder, it's called win the argument disease aka contrarios-assholanasia. Of course, I kid. Dave is very aware of both the intended and literal meanings behind song lyrics. He just plays the literalist game to make me prove him wrong using only the lyrics as evidence. Frankly, he'd have been a good lawyer.
@@kathyratino962 Kathy, that could also be true, but the excessive use of snorting or smoking cocaine would destroy the sinuses, damage the whole respiratory system and cause hardening of the arteries and lungs restricting breathing. The 'locomotive breath' could be weakness too.
Jethro Tull is second to none as a live act. However they usually leave off the piano intro when they play "Locomotive Breath", which I think detracts from the song's, um, locomotiveness, in the way that it starts off VERY slow and gradually picks up steam.
The live version from 1977 includes an elaborated piano intro which is amazing, and since it's an encore, includes extended music with the British anthem Land of Hope and Glory, another piece with Ian at the organ, and finishing with the last refrain of 12 Back Door Angels. And the whole band gets in on the comedic performing. It is also their peak lineup of players throughout the 1970's.
Yep. If you are a loser life is too fast, people leave you, your wife cheats, things are a mess. If you are the winner, life is moving fast, things are happening, excitement at every turn. Same life same speed, different outlooks and outcomes. Which is cause or effect, I leave to philosophers.
@@LiteralistReactions The song is about life - you can't slow it down, you are just barreling ahead. Your fellow passengers (your family, friends) are doing their own thing, and your children at some point decide to jump off your train and go live their own lives.
Jethro Tull is one of the most underrated bands of the 70's - My God is a must listen! You have great song content - I guess John D'oh is to thank! Ron Burgundy kicks some ass on that flute eh!
The train that wont stop going is world population -- Ian has many songs that speak on social issues -- and yes as pointed out the lyrics in this are incorrect --- wow i can see how some lyrics can be miss heard but these didnt come close in parts
You are absolutely right, Kathleen. Two that come to mind in this same era are "Life's a Long Song", and "Wondering Again". Ian is magnificent! Come to think of it, Benefit was almost exclusively a social commentary. Thick as a Brick, holey shit. It doesn't end. Crest of the Knave! Dear Lord!
1. Lyrics wrong in several places. "no way TO slow down" is correct. 2. Train is a metaphor for this loser's life. A runaway train, out of his control.
As an old git I have seen many theories over the years as to the metaphorical meaning behind the lyrics. All I can say is that Ian Anderson says (and I guess he should know, as he wrote the song) it refers to the accelerating overpopulation of the planet. I also know that Anderson has always been vehemently anti drug culture, and find it at the very least discourteous to claim he has feelings of guilt from drug use (accepting that nicotine and alcohol are obviously drugs). Would be interesting to know where "annaclarafenyo8185" gets her most determined and defamatory assertion from.
Well, Thick as a Brick was a concept album, maybe Anderson thought to make album because people thought this was ;-) 'I will teach you what a concept album is', boom, two sides of a vinyl album. This song Locomotive Breath is a jewel, chord progression is very attractive.
Old Charlie has been known as a name for the Devil, like "Old Nick", which could make sense since God obviously takes hold of the handle in the last verse. Anyway the whole thing is clearly a metaphor, and is not about a train at all. Also the lyrics on screen are wrong in several places.
@@LiteralistReactions yeah ok sorry but had not picked up the starship trooper vid for some reason. The other song you did was not Jon Anderson however so did not figure in my comment.
Ian Anderson's approach to poetry is completely different than Jon Anderson's approach. Ian was very old school like the great poets, Wordsworth or Emily Dickinson. His lyrics are carefully crafted and deliberate, there are definite meanings and themes there. Jon Anderson's lyrics are stream of consciousness for the most part. I've seen interviews with him where he said that mostly he just smokes a lot of pot and just writes down whatever comes to mind. He himself says he doesn't even know what his lyrics mean. Don't get me wrong, I love his lyrics, it's just another approach to writing.
your not holding it correctly ... its not about technique its about the amount of pleasure achieved thats what she sai.... nope yes its me again im stalking your channel by watching the content the train is life and the passage of time but i enjoy your interpretationalismness and all of its originalityment very close to subbing ... dont stop
Gee I guess your are a literalist! You are unclear on the concept of poetry which uses symbols and metaphors to make its point. Here's my take on this song. The "Locomotive Breath," is Death, it can't slow down, nothing you can do about it. The all time loser is all the beta-males, all the losers whom life just runs right over; his woman is even cheating on him with his best friend. By the way Ian Anderson is a great guitarist! Just not electric guitar.His acoustic playing is awesome! Check out "Salamander" or "Cold Wind to Valhalla."
And, in actuality, Ian Anderson is a very good guitar player and mostly plays acoustic with a very idiosyncratic style
You're correct about the guitar - very accomplished and creative. As a flautist he is second to NONE !!
@@tomoleary7935
Ian Anderson now runs a salmon farm, and in an interview there he said he wrote this song about the scary exponential rise in World Population since he was born (1947), and unchecked rampant Capitalism. (an economic system that creates winners and losers). So the way I see it Locomotive breath = Life, The Train = Expanding Population, Old Charlie = God (revealed in the last verse.) The song relates the losers experience as he travels in the reality of more and more people chasing less and less resources. Just my opinion, he never elaborated, so it's all still up for grabs.
Big Tull fan. Love their old stuff. Song from the Wood may still be my favorite album. The title song and The Whistler are unlike anything else.
I saw Jethro Tull in Toronto on their Crest of a Knave tour and Ian Anderson is the epitome of the old time showman. He can sure cover a stage. I tell people about that show to this day.
Doh, here... I have a handful of Tull concerts on DVD. He's a madman.
Ian Anderson says this song is about Overpopulation. I always thought it was about Jealousy, "The Rage of a Man" hence the out of control locomotive.
The train is a metaphor for the song character's life, and it's heading for an inevitable crash, because he's on drugs. 'Charlie' is a slang name for cocaine, and it's that drug that has taken over and stolen his ability to put the brakes on his runaway life. For some others they may survive it's grip, but for this character there is no way to slow down, the handle to the brakes is now gone. It's likely his life was heading in the wrong direction anyway, his wife was having an affair with his best friend, and he has become an addict. He has now lost his wife, she's got off at one of the stations (or point in their marriage) when she saw the way his world was heading and the danger to their kids. Ian Anderson, unusually, for a rock hero has always rejected the hedonistic lifestyle of his peers, from very early on, as an art student, he had seen the damage illegal drugs had caused to those around him. Ian's Scottish parents were always loving and supportive of his music career and that must have kept him grounded in his youth.
Doh, here... That's a different take on the lyrics to some degree than what I've been reading on these comments. Interesting! Thank you!
I’ve always seen locomotive breath as a metaphor for his anger. They borrow on that theme because his life is now out of his control like a runaway train.
@@LiteralistReactions Hope there's no offence, as my own son has Asperger's Syndrome and one of the aspects of this form of autism is that understanding metaphors has taken him a very long time to acclimatise to, but I was wondering if Dave has ever tried any tests for this? My son has adapted so well, but he used to take most things quite literally and be very pedantic about how words are defined. I don't think the way he views things has changed, but he has just learnt not to get into awkward discussions about words. It caused problems at school because he would take on the teachers if he thought they weren't using the words 'correctly'. If you ask for his opinion he will be brutally honest, whoever you are. There is much more awareness these days than there was 30 years ago, when it was quite hard to get a diagnosis for our son, so many people may go through life finding interaction and language difficult or confusing, but never get the answers why they may be 'out of step' with others.
None taken... Dave has another disorder, it's called win the argument disease aka contrarios-assholanasia. Of course, I kid. Dave is very aware of both the intended and literal meanings behind song lyrics. He just plays the literalist game to make me prove him wrong using only the lyrics as evidence. Frankly, he'd have been a good lawyer.
@@kathyratino962 Kathy, that could also be true, but the excessive use of snorting or smoking cocaine would destroy the sinuses, damage the whole respiratory system and cause hardening of the arteries and lungs restricting breathing. The 'locomotive breath' could be weakness too.
You should do the Live version of "Locomotive Breath" from 1982--amazing performance by Ian Anderson who is quite the showman!
Jethro Tull is second to none as a live act. However they usually leave off the piano intro when they play "Locomotive Breath", which I think detracts from the song's, um, locomotiveness, in the way that it starts off VERY slow and gradually picks up steam.
The live version from 1977 includes an elaborated piano intro which is amazing, and since it's an encore, includes extended music with the British anthem Land of Hope and Glory, another piece with Ian at the organ, and finishing with the last refrain of 12 Back Door Angels. And the whole band gets in on the comedic performing. It is also their peak lineup of players throughout the 1970's.
The train out of control is a metaphor for his life. "Old Charlie" is a pet name in the UK for God.
No way to slow down. The lyrics were incorrect (trust me). Old Charlie is god, the train is life.
Yeah... wasn't sure about those lyrics, or ANY lyrics that don't come directly from liner notes (remember those?). Thanks!
Yep. If you are a loser life is too fast, people leave you, your wife cheats, things are a mess. If you are the winner, life is moving fast, things are happening, excitement at every turn. Same life same speed, different outlooks and outcomes. Which is cause or effect, I leave to philosophers.
@@LiteralistReactions The song is about life - you can't slow it down, you are just barreling ahead. Your fellow passengers (your family, friends) are doing their own thing, and your children at some point decide to jump off your train and go live their own lives.
"old Charlie" is ancient British slang for the devil, not God, and the locomotive breath is a man high on cocaine.
@@don-o-seven1437 Nonsense. it's about finding God and quitting cocaine abuse. It's completely autobiographical.
I always thought that "Charlie" was a reference to cocaine and it was making his life a runaway train.
Jethro Tull is one of the most underrated bands of the 70's - My God is a must listen! You have great song content - I guess John D'oh is to thank! Ron Burgundy kicks some ass on that flute eh!
As they should. - JD
hey guys. don't know how i missed this one. i always thought he said "no way to slow down" lots of love
This should be got. What’s the dude on the run, is he wanted?🤪😂🤨🤔
Doh, here... define "wanted"
The train that wont stop going is world population -- Ian has many songs that speak on social issues -- and yes as pointed out the lyrics in this are incorrect --- wow i can see how some lyrics can be miss heard but these didnt come close in parts
You are absolutely right, Kathleen. Two that come to mind in this same era are "Life's a Long Song", and "Wondering Again". Ian is magnificent!
Come to think of it, Benefit was almost exclusively a social commentary. Thick as a Brick, holey shit. It doesn't end. Crest of the Knave! Dear Lord!
@@lewismaddox4132 Prog music has a lot of social commentary. Ian is brilliant at it.
1. Lyrics wrong in several places. "no way TO slow down" is correct.
2. Train is a metaphor for this loser's life. A runaway train, out of his control.
Life, death and the craziness of the ride. Charlie is your supreme being. Peace!
Jethro Tull needs to be watched not just listened to. Pull up the video!!!
Doh, here... couldn't agree more, baby steps with Dave, baby steps.
I believe the meaning of the song was that his problems started slowly and grew like a snowball, the train gaining speed is a metaphor.
I think the lyric is "no wat to slow down"
As an old git I have seen many theories over the years as to the metaphorical meaning behind the lyrics. All I can say is that Ian Anderson says (and I guess he should know, as he wrote the song) it refers to the accelerating overpopulation of the planet. I also know that Anderson has always been vehemently anti drug culture, and find it at the very least discourteous to claim he has feelings of guilt from drug use (accepting that nicotine and alcohol are obviously drugs). Would be interesting to know where "annaclarafenyo8185" gets her most determined and defamatory assertion from.
The rumor is this song is about over population
It's about over population. Great song, great album.
It's not a 'classical music' piano intro, guys. It's full-on bluesy.
🤗 This is going to be good! 😁🐰
I thought it was “sirens howling” but “silence howling” sounds more profound.
Doh, here... words are funny, lyrics are funnier.
Well, Thick as a Brick was a concept album, maybe Anderson thought to make album because people thought this was ;-) 'I will teach you what a concept album is', boom, two sides of a vinyl album. This song Locomotive Breath is a jewel, chord progression is very attractive.
Old Charlie has been known as a name for the Devil, like "Old Nick", which could make sense since God obviously takes hold of the handle in the last verse. Anyway the whole thing is clearly a metaphor, and is not about a train at all. Also the lyrics on screen are wrong in several places.
I’d love to hear you try to interpret the lyrics of Jon Anderson of YES. No one else in history has managed it so theres a challenge for you.
Doh, here... we've already begun that task... see our other vids.
@@LiteralistReactions yeah ok sorry but had not picked up the starship trooper vid for some reason. The other song you did was not Jon Anderson however so did not figure in my comment.
@@scifimonkey3 If you're still tuned in, we've added more YES.
Ian Anderson's approach to poetry is completely different than Jon Anderson's approach. Ian was very old school like the great poets, Wordsworth or Emily Dickinson. His lyrics are carefully crafted and deliberate, there are definite meanings and themes there. Jon Anderson's lyrics are stream of consciousness for the most part. I've seen interviews with him where he said that mostly he just smokes a lot of pot and just writes down whatever comes to mind. He himself says he doesn't even know what his lyrics mean. Don't get me wrong, I love his lyrics, it's just another approach to writing.
your not holding it correctly ... its not about technique its about the amount of pleasure achieved
thats what she sai.... nope
yes its me again im stalking your channel by watching the content
the train is life and the passage of time
but i enjoy your interpretationalismness and all of its originalityment
very close to subbing ... dont stop
Pop growth. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locomotive_Breath#Background You can't play an instrument wrong, just poorly
You've got the lyrics wrong. Ian Anderson sings "NO WAY TO SLOW DOWN", not "NO WAY IT COULD SLOW DOWN"
Those lyrics are botched. It is difinitively, "No way to slow down!" Ain't no could, whatsoever!
Wow taking the lyrics LITERALLY is not the way to listne to any music actually
Doh, here... I'm working on him, but it's all good fun, anyway.
@@LiteralistReactions Our world, in general, is immersed in metaphor. There's no escaping it.
Doh, are you running from the law? Just kidding. . . a little.
Doh, here... ummm, define "running" and "the law"
@@LiteralistReactions I don’t mean either of those things literally… If that’s what you’re asking.
Why would you show a pan?
Good question.
Gee I guess your are a literalist! You are unclear on the concept of poetry which uses symbols and metaphors to make its point. Here's my take on this song. The "Locomotive Breath," is Death, it can't slow down, nothing you can do about it. The all time loser is all the beta-males, all the losers whom life just runs right over; his woman is even cheating on him with his best friend. By the way Ian Anderson is a great guitarist! Just not electric guitar.His acoustic playing is awesome! Check out "Salamander" or "Cold Wind to Valhalla."