A Literalist Reaction to Jethro Tull - Aqualung

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Dave (the 36-year-old with the impressive beard) was raised almost completely sheltered from pop culture by his strict military family. He was homeschooled his entire life until he entered college. He legitimately has very little knowledge of music and bands from before 2000.
John (the guy in disguise) has been a MUSIC LOVER since he was born in the 1960's. Problem is, he rarely knows or fully grasps the lyrics. Dave, on the other hand, has never heard or rarely overheard the music John chooses to play for him, but tends to take lyrics literally, sometimes to unexpected ends.
John remains in the dark both as a wry play on the situation but also because of legal issues causing his attorney to recommend maintaining a low profile.
We did not write nor do we own the Copyright for the song used in this Educational Video. This is a real, honest reaction to a song Dave have never consciously heard before and/or listened to with intent. Any "facts" offered by John "Doh" are based more on his remembrances than on any actual research. Please feel free to correct him. He loves it.
Fair use principles under Section 107 of the Copyright Act allow the unlicensed use of copyrighted materials for fair use purposes, such as commentary, criticism, teaching, and news reporting.

[@paulhart3812]

Nice reaction. Ian Anderson’s wife was a photo journalist who took photos of the homeless people in London’s Hyde Park in 1970. This song, Aqualung, is based on one of those people (an elderly man) she encountered. She (Jennie Anderson) even wrote the lyrics to this song. It’s probably the only Tull song that Ian didn’t write the lyrics for.

[@scottmoquin]

People always point out the guitar and Ian Anderson's voice, I would like to point out how much the piano carries this song.

[@Maclaine007]

I'm 69 now and I remember the Summer of 1971 in a tiny little town in Northwest Michigan.We would cruse the County listening to 8 tracks.Two must have LPs was Jethro Tull Aqualung and the other Black Sabbath Paranoid. The influence of the music in those days had a lot to do with setting the paths our lives

[@nyrocks5580]

Listen to this whole album in one sitting. Incredible.

[@cpmf2112]

Thank you for "dog-end", I never knew that reference.

[@tomwagner4406]

I've been a Tull Nut for over 50 years and have viewed quite a few reactions to Aqualung and most of the reactors don't get it on the 1st listen, it warms my heart that someone finally got it after the 1st listen

[@lennartforsberg1519]

Growing up in the 1970's with the prog scene, and bands like King Crimson, Yes, ELP, Jethro Tull, Genesis, and some other bands. Even early Mothers of Invention was an early prog band.

[@coils4foil537]

Put it on the playlist, Dave. … and great reaction as always!! Looking forward to the next one.

[@riveralph3687]

Well done, Dave! What a juxtaposition of upbeat music against the very depressing, observational lyrics. This song has always been joy to listen to...until you dig into the story. Appreciate you guys! PS - Martin Barre's scorching guitar work here more than makes up for the dearth of flute. Thanks for teaching me what dog-ends are too!

[@Prone2Thrill]

It's always hard to grasp a person never hearing such an iconic song that has been accompanying another's whole life. Hey John did you hear Toni Iommi (Sabbath guitarist) talk about when he was invited to join Tull? Can you imagine that tone! Try some songs from Stand Up like Nothing is easy or A new day yesterday

[@jermaschinot]

you're flute solo comes immediately just after the end of the song in the incredible Cross Eyed Mary.

[@TheirFinestHour]

Maybe the best start to finish album I ever owned

[@user-gb3in5wd1u]

The movie you might have heard this in could be Anchorman,, as they parody this/Ian.

[@jermaschinot]

"The flowers bloom like madness in the spring I think is blood coughed up on the snow.

[@erickvermeulen9734]

I think most interesting is the two views on this homeless person, when electric guitar plays it is negative, condemning him, while in the acoustic part it is empathic.

[@TogonzoMedia]

I recently bought the Steven Wilson remix/remaster of this album and love it. This album wasn't mastered very well. Steven remarked that he was shocked at how well the analog multitrack sounded versus the master that was used for mass production and asked Ian if he could fix it up to be more like the multitrack tape. Ian gave his blessings and it's phenomenal. Some people don't like it. They like how Aqualung's original patina gave it it's character. They're not wrong, either. Oh, but Dave is gonna adore "Cross Eyed Mary" and not for the two flute solos ... 😊

[@richardpalermo9020]

Love your channel and than too play a song by one of my favorite bands outstanding. If you wanted more flute than you should have done Locomotive Breath off the same album.

[@Ninang363]

In the hospital I work the automatic hand sanitizer things on the walls everywhere run on D Cell Batteries

[@michaelbaucom4019]

The two different tones are representing two different views of Aqualung...the harsher tone is the way (most of)the world sees him(not a good view), the softer tone is that of a person who pities him/is perhaps a friend

[@donaldweis1199]

Vocabulary translation dogend is a cigarette but bog is a public loo or bathroom 😮