jethro tull underrated???? they sold over 60000000 of their albums copies. During the seventies they were at the same level of popularity as led zeppelin... and for many many years, JT was the only band with concerts always sold out...
Got to watch them live, their studio work is superb but live gives it another level, watching Ian Anderson, what a character, crazy cool and truly original band
The live performance of this track is brilliant. But then everything by Tull is great. Ian Anderson who sings, self-taught flute, keyboard, guitar, writes the songs, can do it all, musical genius and a fabulous front-man.
Their first album "This Was" they were a Blues Band (Wasn't every English band of the sixties) Mick Abrahams, left and helped found the blues band, Blodwyn Pig. (Just an FYI) 😎
Tull is one of the Gods of Prog Rock. Saw them do the legendary Thick as a Brick in the early 70's. Amazing. I could argue that singer/songwriter/guitar player/flutist Ian Anderson has more talent than all of them. You're scratching the surface here. Please continue this journey. And do watch some of their live performances.
This song is a metaphor for population growth (the train won't slow down) which God set in motion with Adam and Eve. when Ian sings "he picks up Gideons bible, Open at page one, I think God he stole the handle, And the train it won't stop going.." The intro to this song is just amazing!
Ian is self-taught on the flute. He incorporates many different sounds by manipulating the instrument, his breath, and his mouth. It almost sounds like beatboxing, only with the added dimension of a flute.
I’ve loved this song since I first heard it in the early 70s. My favorite part of it is during the solo when he comes up for air and goes “glub”. Ian Anderson was a wonderful musician, vocalist songwriter, and was always unique.
after all these years jethro tull is still one of my favourite bands-one of the most entertaining live bands-i have seen them 5 times and doesnt it sound like a train going through your living room-yry aquaqlung cross eyed mary and living in the past
The man’s life is the train, and they stole the handle and his life is spinning out of control, at least that’s what I hear, either way it’s a fantastic piece of music
You need to watch the live concert at Red Rocks in Denver Colorado in 1971. I was there. It got crazy. 2,000 people without tickets gatecrashed but he still played!
Jethro is on of the old classics..... Remember that I always nearly killed my speakers with Locomotive Breath. I loved ( still do of course) the guitar riffs...so right channel full up left one nearly zero ....and then....all what the amplifier got in it.......
Picture it this way, "He sees his children jumping off stations one by one his woman and his best friend in bed and having fun." He sees all this, yet he can do nothing about it. He doesn't know if his children lived or died jumping off a train that's out of control. His woman is cheating on him with his best friend yet that's the least of his problems. "He's crawling down the corridor, on his hands and knees." He's trying to get to the front of the train before it obliterates him, everyone on the train and everyone waiting for it at the last station.
Jethro Tull was the group I followed mostly, going to many concerts in the New England, New York areas. Interesting background on Aqualung, the album title along with the song. Locomotive Breath which was on that album. When it came out, many of the newly progressive rock fans, called Aqualung, a concept album. While Ian didn't mean it to be one, he figured he would show them up, and produced his ultimate parody of a concept album, with his next one, 'Thick as a Brick', a parady of an early teen, named Gerald Bostock, who won the school prize. Not to be outdone, Ian made is next album a parady of religion, specifically Easter, with, 'Passion Play'. He then returned to amore folk rock selection with the album, War Child.
There is a cover of this song by Bonfire German rock band it's very different quite heavy. Not saying this is bad by any means just very used to the Bonfire version I'm used to hearing when we went to bike raleighs, great reaction as usual🇬🇧
The train is an allegory. His breath is like a locomotive because he feels betrayed by everyone who should love him, his children, his wife, his best friend. He may now be on his way toward some violent remedy to all this. No way to slow down.
There is no real meaning to the song. It's just awesome voice. Awesome! Awesome instruments! Great flute solo that you never hear in a hard rock song and he's kind of crazy which makes it even better
I love hearing peoples own interpretation. I actually prefer it over the songs original meaning often. I like hearing how it connects with the audience
The train is a metaphor for the runaway population growth that was seen as a major disaster in the making since the global population had doubled in just the twelve years prior to the penning of this song.
I'm pretty sure (or I hope) that's a misunderstanding. As I see it It's simply a metaphor for a life in modernity (Llike Chaplins Modern Times). I have read that Ian supposedly has said that it's about overpopulation, but suspect that either the journalist has conflated -the word about with - inspired by, or that Ian simply has been overwhelmingly sarcastic (he has been known to be that). You can't make a coherent connection between speed (and Charlie/God/faith) to overpopulation, without leaving something out and I think Ian was a better writer than that. The overpopulation thing would in my opinion devaluate this brilliant lyric.
@@Rapatacoosh - Actually, it's both an indictment of modern society and angst about population growth going crazy, the train metaphor was about runaway population growth. Back when this song was written Paul Ehrlich's book The Population Bomb was making big waves. Ian Andersen talked about this in several of his interviews.
@@RMForbes505 Ok, but to return to my original statement, that kind of diminish the brilliance of the writing. If the writer has to explain what the metaphor is about them it's not a good one (that's why i hope that his phrasing was 'inspired' by, and the articles simply praphrasing). There's nothing in the lyrics specifically suggesting over population.
@@Rapatacoosh - We didn't need it explained to us back in the early 70's because most people were aware of the news that our global population had doubled over the previous dozen years when the previous doubling took over 80 years. It was a topic of much discussion back then.
The train is a metaphor for the population explosion that is destroying our world...... out of control and heading for unstoppable disaster...... just like a train accelerating down a never ending hill without any brakes. The lyrics are hard to decipher without help, or an in depth knowledge of Ian’s sense of humour . I recommend live performances from 1972 to early 1980’s .... before Ian got his throat problems. My God is usually a great live starting point..... but all the tours were different. The one where they are dressed in medieval gear with padded shoulders etc..... they looked a little like court jesters from Shakespeare’s time. lol
@@Paul-wo3qh Yes, i think so but I didn’t see that tour........ not even sure if they did Australia at that time. I stopped seeing them after the A tour. Almost stopped after the War Child tour......... a brilliant start to the concert followed by the rubbish from the War Child album. lol
@@Paul-wo3qh I didn’t like Aqualung at first. Partly because it was a poor recording quality like This Was and partly because the music lacked the quality of Stand Up and Benefit. Also because Ian was trying to be a tenor when he is a baritone. That was the eventual source of his throat problems. lol
@@Rassskle Hmmmm interesting. Aqulaung was the 1st cassette tape I bought of Jethro Tull. Loved it so much went and bought Minstrel in the Gallery then Thick as a Brick. Me Perth you eastern states?
♥ “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13 ♥
First time I've heard you stop and talk during the song, you must have had a warning from the clueless clowns at RUclips, I'm guessing. Keep up the good work!
Jethro Tull is very underrated.
The best flute work in a rock song..
Love these guys...
Glad to see you enjoyed them... your smile gives it away.
Big fan of Tull including the old stuff... songs from the Wood is still my favorites.
You know what gets me? When people think Jethro Tull is just somebody in a band.
The songs are why they are up at the top of the list for bands for me )
jethro tull underrated???? they sold over 60000000 of their albums copies. During the seventies they were at the same level of popularity as led zeppelin... and for many many years, JT was the only band with concerts always sold out...
He uses his voice while playing the Flute. It makes for a amazing and unique vibration.
NOT A BAD WAY TO HAVE AN INTRODUCTION TO IAN AND THE BAND! 😊 MUSICAL GENIUSSSS ON SO MANY LEVELS FOR SURE!💯
Ya gotta see him live. Ridiculously talented entertainer. Cross-eyed Mary.
When you start exploring Tull, you'll find out how deep THAT rabbit hole goes.👍
Got to watch them live, their studio work is superb but live gives it another level, watching Ian Anderson, what a character, crazy cool and truly original band
Most recommended, Thick as a Brick Live at Madison Square Garden. Best video ever of any band!
He is self-taught on the flute. His facial expression is worth checking out. Still have my Augalung album from 1971.
You know when it brings a smile to your face, it can't be wrong.
The live performance of this track is brilliant. But then everything by Tull is great. Ian Anderson who sings, self-taught flute, keyboard, guitar, writes the songs, can do it all, musical genius and a fabulous front-man.
"My God" is my favorite flute performance.
Their first album "This Was" they were a Blues Band (Wasn't every English band of the sixties) Mick Abrahams, left and helped found the blues band, Blodwyn Pig. (Just an FYI) 😎
Tull is one of the Gods of Prog Rock. Saw them do the legendary Thick as a Brick in the early 70's. Amazing. I could argue that singer/songwriter/guitar player/flutist Ian Anderson has more talent than all of them. You're scratching the surface here. Please continue this journey. And do watch some of their live performances.
you really need to do a live show review of Jethro Tull.
the lead singer/flutist/ front Ian Anderson is quite the showman!!!
I suggest "Thick As A Brick"
or maybe "Songs from the Wood" or live "Locomotive Breath"? a slight difference from studio.
This song is a metaphor for population growth (the train won't slow down) which God set in motion with Adam and Eve. when Ian sings "he picks up Gideons bible, Open at page one, I think God he stole the handle, And the train it won't stop going.." The intro to this song is just amazing!
Glad you're doing Jethro Tull. They have a lot of great songs to choose from.
Ian is self-taught on the flute. He incorporates many different sounds by manipulating the instrument, his breath, and his mouth. It almost sounds like beatboxing, only with the added dimension of a flute.
And the flute, I mean seriously, what a cool twist to have a dude that can actually jam out, on a flute
I’ve loved this song since I first heard it in the early 70s. My favorite part of it is during the solo when he comes up for air and goes “glub”. Ian Anderson was a wonderful musician, vocalist songwriter, and was always unique.
He makes some very interesting sounds while playing that flute haha
after all these years jethro tull is still one of my favourite bands-one of the most entertaining live bands-i have seen them 5 times and doesnt it sound like a train going through your living room-yry aquaqlung cross eyed mary and living in the past
The man’s life is the train, and they stole the handle and his life is spinning out of control, at least that’s what I hear, either way it’s a fantastic piece of music
The train essentially is a metaphor for life.
Jethro Tull (Ian Anderson) mostly wrote about the ills of society. The is about the population explosion.
Ills of society. I can get behind that
My favorite Jethro Tull song!
You need to watch the live concert at Red Rocks in Denver Colorado in 1971. I was there. It got crazy. 2,000 people without tickets gatecrashed but he still played!
glad you played the studio version to experiance the glorious intro
I love Jethro Tull - one of the best concerts I ever went to, in 1974, Sydney.
I think I just saw a Tull fan being born! Awesome!
Listen to "My God" best flute solo ever (do the live version.
Progressive blues rock at it very British best.
Jethro is on of the old classics.....
Remember that I always nearly killed my speakers with Locomotive Breath.
I loved ( still do of course) the guitar riffs...so right channel full up left one nearly zero ....and then....all what the amplifier got in it.......
Great reaction, This song is basically about a guy who's life is a train wreck
Facts. The train is his life carreening out of control. The kids getting of at stations is kids growing up. And thw his wife has an affair. Etc etc.
Great song 🤘
Picture it this way, "He sees his children jumping off
stations one by one
his woman and his best friend
in bed and having fun."
He sees all this, yet he can do nothing about it. He doesn't know if his children lived or died jumping off a train that's out of control. His woman is cheating on him with his best friend yet that's the least of his problems. "He's crawling down the corridor, on his hands and knees."
He's trying to get to the front of the train before it obliterates him, everyone on the train and everyone waiting for it at the last station.
THE TRAIN OF LIFE!!! 😊
A classic.
Jethro Tull was the group I followed mostly, going to many concerts in the New England, New York areas. Interesting background on Aqualung, the album title along with the song. Locomotive Breath which was on that album. When it came out, many of the newly progressive rock fans, called Aqualung, a concept album. While Ian didn't mean it to be one, he figured he would show them up, and produced his ultimate parody of a concept album, with his next one, 'Thick as a Brick', a parady of an early teen, named Gerald Bostock, who won the school prize. Not to be outdone, Ian made is next album a parady of religion, specifically Easter, with, 'Passion Play'. He then returned to amore folk rock selection with the album, War Child.
There is a cover of this song by Bonfire German rock band it's very different quite heavy. Not saying this is bad by any means just very used to the Bonfire version I'm used to hearing when we went to bike raleighs, great reaction as usual🇬🇧
Sounds worth checking out !
The train is an allegory. His breath is like a locomotive because he feels betrayed by everyone who should love him, his children, his wife, his best friend. He may now be on his way toward some violent remedy to all this. No way to slow down.
There is no real meaning to the song. It's just awesome voice. Awesome! Awesome instruments! Great flute solo that you never hear in a hard rock song and he's kind of crazy which makes it even better
For me, Old Charlie and the All Time Winner are god, His life is going on around him and he has no control of it.
I love hearing peoples own interpretation. I actually prefer it over the songs original meaning often. I like hearing how it connects with the audience
The train is a metaphor for the runaway population growth that was seen as a major disaster in the making since the global population had doubled in just the twelve years prior to the penning of this song.
I'm pretty sure (or I hope) that's a misunderstanding. As I see it It's simply a metaphor for a life in modernity (Llike Chaplins Modern Times). I have read that Ian supposedly has said that it's about overpopulation, but suspect that either the journalist has conflated -the word about with - inspired by, or that Ian simply has been overwhelmingly sarcastic (he has been known to be that). You can't make a coherent connection between speed (and Charlie/God/faith) to overpopulation, without leaving something out and I think Ian was a better writer than that. The overpopulation thing would in my opinion devaluate this brilliant lyric.
@@Rapatacoosh - Actually, it's both an indictment of modern society and angst about population growth going crazy, the train metaphor was about runaway population growth. Back when this song was written Paul Ehrlich's book The Population Bomb was making big waves. Ian Andersen talked about this in several of his interviews.
@@RMForbes505 Ok, but to return to my original statement, that kind of diminish the brilliance of the writing. If the writer has to explain what the metaphor is about them it's not a good one (that's why i hope that his phrasing was 'inspired' by, and the articles simply praphrasing). There's nothing in the lyrics specifically suggesting over population.
@@Rapatacoosh - We didn't need it explained to us back in the early 70's because most people were aware of the news that our global population had doubled over the previous dozen years when the previous doubling took over 80 years. It was a topic of much discussion back then.
His life's misery is a runaway train that won't slow down.
Ian Anderson said this song is about out of control world population.
I think that was just a fuzzy bass. Digeridoo was the only instrument Tull Never used.
It is all a metaphor.
Metaphor for over population and non stop capitolism
STAND UP album & weed.
The train is a metaphor for the population explosion that is destroying our world...... out of control and heading for unstoppable disaster...... just like a train accelerating down a never ending hill without any brakes.
The lyrics are hard to decipher without help, or an in depth knowledge of Ian’s sense of humour .
I recommend live performances from 1972 to early 1980’s .... before Ian got his throat problems.
My God is usually a great live starting point..... but all the tours were different.
The one where they are dressed in medieval gear with padded shoulders etc..... they looked a little like court jesters from Shakespeare’s time. lol
That would be The Minstrel in the Gallery album
@@Paul-wo3qh Yes, i think so but I didn’t see that tour........ not even sure if they did Australia at that time.
I stopped seeing them after the A tour.
Almost stopped after the War Child tour......... a brilliant start to the concert followed by the rubbish from the War Child album. lol
@@Rassskle the best albums I think were Minstrel in the Gallery and of course Aqualung
@@Paul-wo3qh I didn’t like Aqualung at first. Partly because it was a poor recording quality like This Was and partly because the music lacked the quality of Stand Up and Benefit.
Also because Ian was trying to be a tenor when he is a baritone. That was the eventual source of his throat problems. lol
@@Rassskle Hmmmm interesting. Aqulaung was the 1st cassette tape I bought of Jethro Tull. Loved it so much went and bought Minstrel in the Gallery then Thick as a Brick. Me Perth you eastern states?
The song is about the runaway train of overpopulation.
☮️💙💙💙🔥🔥Ian’s take on overpopulation!!
Try aqualung great band, ian anderson is very talented
♥ “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ~ Romans 15:13 ♥
First time I've heard you stop and talk during the song, you must have had a warning from the clueless clowns at RUclips, I'm guessing. Keep up the good work!
When I started, I used to stop and share thoughts during the song. Now I try to wait until the end to share my thoughts 😄
Groove, no. I would call it insistant, pounding like a locomotive.