FIRST TIME REACTING TO | Jethro Tull "Aqualung"

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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS

[@balanceseeker]

Jethro Tull wrote this about the homeless problem in England. Initially, he expresses the view of others looking at "Aqualung," who sees this dirty old man who won't get a job. Then they take you through different views so you can see the different perspectives of the issue. Instead of being a dirty old man, he is a lonely man down on his luck, dependent on charity, freezing to death in the English cold, which has messed up his lungs. It's pretty powerful.

[@tristanrl1940]

I believe I had read somewhere Anderson’s wife wrote or had contributed bits of the lyrics

[@adrianbrown1492]

@@tristanrl1940 Yes Anderson's wife wrote the lyrics.

[@brianhowells1547]

He got the inspiration from photos of the homeless taken by his wife who was a photographer.

[@johncamarano183]

Jethro Tull is a "SHOW". The musical talent is on full display and the messages in the songs are hard hitting and unapologetic. The two 'voices' Ian uses are the outside voices of others looking at Aqualung and the inner thoughts of Aqualung himself. Looking down on homeless has been an issue for a long time. Dog Ends are bent cigarette butts, Bogs are bathrooms, and Salvation Ala Mode is the food the Salvation army hands out to those in need. One of the biggest issues homeless have is boredom and that is what the line 'taking time the only way he knows how' is all about. Aqualung is a breathing device for underwater use, it makes a distinct rattling sound and heavy breathing...think Darth Vader like sounds. Great react as always.

[@tonydelapa1911]

THIS. Very nicely written. 👏👏👏

[@davidzimmerli489]

You are a supreme educator!

[@donjackson5522]

Thank you. Never knew all those details of what the lyrics meant.

[@richardreinertson1335]

Precise, succinct, and correct. This song is a masterpiece, and the musical talent and showmanship is off the charts.

[@brentsnavely424]

This is one of the best explanations of this song I've ever seen. I love Jethro Tull. I love this song. Over the years I have spent a lot of time figuring out part of it, then forgetting what it's about. Then figuring it out again. Then forgetting again. Perhaps this full explanation will stick in my head.

[@lynnieiapichino1121]

It is Ian’s take on homelessness!! ☮️💙💙💙

[@distanceismyplastercast]

This song is about a real homeless person, that the singer actually knew and used to chat too. The electric part is how other people view him, as an old pervert, sitting in the park, ominously watching the children play. The acoustic part is the reality of the man he talked too. That he is a lonely old man, with a crippled leg and tuberculosis (aqualung) who is sitting on a park bench trying to get warm, while he waits for a Salvation army center to open so he can get warm and a have a cup of tea and something to eat. And in fact he is the one that is scared because people actually abuse him (don't start (run) away, it's only me). So basically, don't judge by appearances. In British slang, a "dog end" is a cigarette butt, and a "bog" is a toilet. The Salvation or Sally Army are a volunteer charity that help the homeless, poor etc.

[@nitab1971]

This album tells a story, and should be listened to from start to finish in order. I wore this vinyl out back in the day.

[@senacht]

The army up the road is a reference to Salvation Army Missions. Salvation served on the side with bowl of soup and some tea. You really need to listen to the entire album to get the full story of Aqualung’s life and how he came to be where he is, an old homeless man wandering lonely with a severe respiratory condition, hence the nickname Aqualung.

[@Peter-oh3hc]

Thanks. Explained salvation army so much better than I could

[@tobintechlv]

Yes another example of a song that really needs to be listened to with the rest of the album to get the whole story

[@DanDunbar-w4u]

It's crazy you fell in love with Jethro Tull without ever hearing Aqualung. This is easily their most well-known and successful song.

[@farfromperfek]

I am honored that I am the one who started you down the Jethro Tull rabbit hole. My journey started due to Ms. Atwood, my humanities teacher. This was her favorite band and would play his albums in class. Listen to "Bouree" no vocals but will blow you away.

[@soultrampamplification8425]

Probably the greatest concert I ever saw. Circa '72 when they were on their "Thick As A Brick" tour where they also performed the entire Aqualung Album. This was Tull at their peak. They blew the roof off the place. The Hammond organ blasting Leslie cabs was mind numbing. "Aqualung" is social commentary on homelessness. The quiet acoustic parts are Aqualung as he lives is life. The rock'n parts are how society perceives him. You have to listen to it a few times to get the real meaning.

[@PanheadJeff58]

Your first Tull show will make you want more... My father bought me Thick as a Brick for my 15th birthday. I'm 65 it's still my favorite album.

[@MrHugemoth]

I'm 70 and grew up with Jethro Tull. No other band compares.

[@Rick-or2kq]

One of my favorite bands, Ian Anderson vocals, flute a musical genius and great performer, this band is on another level. I have been listening to them for 50 years! You should delve into them they have a huge catalogue of music. I recommend the album "Thick as a Brick", to start with.

[@martinl8574]

This song speaks of the two perspectives on the homeless. One is societies negative viewpoint and the other is ones own personal point of view. The two distinct voices sung express both perspectives. Agualung refers to his labored breathing and a "dog end" is a crushed out cigarette butt. It's a deep powerful song!

[@mtnprivy]

Ian Anderson chose a historic agriculturalist to name his band after. Jethro Tull invented the seed drill ! That's why you should listen to HEAVY HORSE because its also the farming theme!

[@mibutler]

Martin Barre, a great guitarist. I used to play air guitar to this solo as a teenager.

[@keith6485]

Glad to see the ring is back.

[@andrewspam]

"Deep sea diver sounds" refers to the rattling, bubbly breath of someone with a lung problem (probably TB) because the "flowers blooming" refers to coughing up flecks of blood.

[@michaelkorte4081]

The hardcore beginning refers to how the public sees a homeless man as dangerous.. Acoustic part shows his actual life, just trying to survive the night.

[@nach2821]

OK Britt. You are my new guilty pleasure. You are quite funny and I appreciate how much you appreciate the songs you react to. Going down the rabbit hole watching your vids. Thanks.

[@SixStrings165]

British lingo and references are missed by contemporary listeners. Social outrage colors the listeners ability to hear the message which is hidden in plain sight by the use of metaphor and artistic expression. I love your openness to this great legendary artist. Love your reviews and expressions

[@cmanayf4354]

In my top 5 favorite bands. Thx for the reaction Britt!

[@randybowers1236]

Love your reaction.

[@macmacdaddy7378]

My favorite Jethro Tull song is Wondering Aloud. It shows a sensitive side to the band. One of the sweetest songs ever. The last line of the song is a mantra I've tried to live by since the late 1970's. *smile*

[@mikell5087]

This was the biggest "hit" song Jethro Tull had early in their career. It was not a pop hit, they were rarely heard on pop radio, but on album radio this was a big hit. Don't worry if you don't know what album radio is, its not a thing anymore. Back in the day, pop music could be found on AM radio, but the good stuff was on FM.

[@martinl8574]

A Bog is an English word for a swampy marsh

[@freeforever6971]

Yes this band played a concert just down the road from me in 1976!

[@Christopher-Baltimore]

Their song Cross-Eyed Mary rocks

[@RJTheBikeGuy]

It's about an sickly old homeless man. Aqualung is referring to the sound of his breathing which is rough. The song has a couple view points. One from the people who see him. And then his view point.

[@kimacronym2521]

Even 50 years later, it feels spot on, politically as well as musically. I always get tears in my eyes, thinking how a human creature (Aqualung) endures this kind of life. This is perhaps one of the most artistic albums of all Time, lyrically and musically. You have to question whether they receive the appreciation they deserve for this.

[@pmR32red]

👍 Thank you.

[@steveszanto1581]

Love Tull! Saw them twice and they do NOT disappoint. Ian Anderson is a modern day bard for sure.

[@richardlawrence6619]

Such a great band to see live. Great reaction, hope the comments help you to appreciate it more.

[@j.woodbury412]

Ian Anderson hated that people called the album Aqualung a "concept album" so he decided to make what he called the "mother of all concept albums", which of course turned out to be the epicl 43 minute long, single track album, Thick as a Brick. Which was followed by the even longer- and in my opinion better- A Passion Play, also an album consisting of a single track.

[@gablen23]

Yes, the first time I heard "Thick as a brick" in a record store, the salesman was freaked out that there were only two songs on it, because he wanted to jump to the next songs on the CD player, but there were no more :D

[@j.woodbury412]

@@gablen23 Lol! I think I was the same way. I'd never heard of a song taking up an entire album.

[@friedemannkemm63]

​@@j.woodbury412Michael Oldfield did some.

[@j.woodbury412]

@@friedemannkemm63 That's true. Tubular Bells is a great album, and I have listened to it, But Thick as a Brick was the first one I ever heard.

[@astonsfan]

Taxi Grab is a great tune by TULL !!!

[@ianbennett1491]

New here. I love your enthusiasm. 🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿. England.

[@FlamesCagney]

"Dress like Pirates".. yes J.T is awesome. Need to Try some Adam and the Ants.

[@RJ-oy7cq]

Aqualung is just a way of saying the homeless man is ill with lung problem where he's drowning in moisture.

[@Tsongkapa1]

Compassion for the homeless and broken, well before it was a thing anywhere else.

[@kellysimon4718]

A dog-end is an extinguished cigarette

[@coffee-xg6my]

A "bog" in British slang is a restroom. So, I guess he went into a restroom to get out of the cold?

[@johndoe-gt6gp]

I first saw JT in a small venue in Denver, Mammoth gardens, a converted old skating rink, when they were touring/promoting their second album Standup. I watched from less than 15 feet from the band. It was pretty incredible. Then had the pleasure of seeing them again at Red Rocks 3 years later when they were promoting Aqualung. Unbelievable show after the tear gas had settled from the police setting off tear gas to ward off the gate crashers. The police finally gave up and it was on with the show. That delayed the show a bit. But it was great once they started rolling.

[@212x3]

Take a hit of acid, then go to a Renaissance fair. That is the Jethro Tull experience.

[@carlduncan7528]

Ian's wife was a photographer. She took a picture of a homeless man that led Ian to write a song about how the public view homeless people sketchy and evil. The softer parts are the truth of it.

[@jameshendrick6476]

A bog is a English term for a swamp.

[@clutchpedalreturnsprg7710]

Hello, Jacques Cousteau invented the Aqua-Lung.

[@douglasfrazier2856]

Ian Anderson decided to do some socially responsible music, a sort of protest against the UK social safety net which wasn't working - the character Aqualung is a homeless guy, the point of the song is to demonstrate the low quality and general misery of impoverished people in England - since you like their style, you might especially enjoy their longer compositions, like Velvet Green or Minstrel in the Gallery (good live versions of both on youtube) - Anderson often composes in the style of a first symphonic movement, A-B-A format -- exposition, development, recapitulation -- but the arrangements are always complex, the band is quite up to them, and Anderson does put on a performance - the wise-fool bard, the singing jester with a sardonic twist

[@williambill5172]

The songwriter had watched a lonely street person for a while and tried to imagine his world...

[@mikerant4135]

Dog end is a cigarette stub. The 'duality' of the song is a comparison between the perseption of 'outsiders' and the 'reality' of the asthmatic vagrant's life.

[@dougj7295]

He (Ian Anderson) wouldnt perform at the original Woodstock because he is ant-drug and anti-drink. Besides being incredibly wealthy as the songwriter of this extremely succuessful band in the 70's - he also ran one of the biggest salmon farms at the time in Scotland. He has some recent youtubes performing with a small 5 piece orchestra that are beautiful (Life is a Long Song).

[@christopherbittell6501]

Ian didn’t write this song, his wife wrote it, as a poem. It is indeed to bring awareness to the plight of the homeless in England though. The alternating lyrics represent how society sees this man, as opposed to how someone who’s taken the time, to know him and understand him, ultimately sees him. The moral; don’t judge a book by its disheveled and sadly unkept cover…….😢

[@P-M-869]

Before listening to your reaction, LOL. Next Cross-Eyed Mary, it is the follow-up song.

[@NameOptional-p9u]

by the way...love your hair! I am sure it is a "winner" with your husband too.

[@dccyo444]

Something tells me that you could probably find explanation of the lyrics from Ian Anderson himself

[@tomhansen4576]

Ian Anderson is the genius artist that is Jethro Tull that performed musical theater as opposed to concerts.

[@jermaschinot]

"salvation ala mode, and a cup of tea" referring to getting some relief from his dreary existance at Salvation Army. "The flowers bloom like madness in the spring" refers to Aqualung coughing up blood, staining the snow a splattere red. Poetic genius

[@DanielZ5]

"I don't know the words except park bench"

[@droom700]

Two observers of the same situation and how they see completely different stories… 1 sees a predatory dirty hobo and the other sees a poor homeless guy down on his luck trying to survive. The whole watching little girls is deliberate to highlight the extremes, one person sees a pervert and the other doesn’t even mention it cause they understand it either passes him by or he observes reminiscing of more innocent times. Aqualung is the breathing apparatus used by divers, this is how the homeless guy sounds taking deep breaths… again can be perceived as innocent (health issues) or sinister! The whole album is a masterpiece 👍👍

[@bobdelp2023]

HEY YOU! WHAT'S UP CUTIE 😊 GREAT THAT YOU COULD GET INTO SOME OF IAN AND THE BAND, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE STUDIO VERSION BECAUSE OF THE COVER YOU HAD UP, EITHER WAY THEY'RE AWESOME STUDIO OR LIVE! 😊 IT'S REALLY A SONG ABOUT THE HOMELESS AND HOW WE TREAT THEM BRIT. HIS WIFE JENNY TOOK A BUNCH OF PHOTOS AND THEN IAN PUT THEM TO LYRICS SO! SO THERE YA GO 😊 TAKE GREAT CARE AND ENJOY! FUNNY NO FLUTE IN HIS BIGGEST HIT BY FARRRRRR, THAT CRACKS ME UP ALWAYS

[@bryanhale5254]

Aqualung would be like youre a diver and your using an oxygen tank

[@joel65913]

Something equally great but very different from the band is the song "Bouree" (pronounced Bore-a). It really spotlights Ian Anderson's mastery of the flute.

[@Cicero207]

Ian's wife was a photographer. She was showing him a picture of a homeless man. The intro/outro is how the public sees the homeless as dirty perverts. The middle sections reflects the true darkness of being sick and homeless.

[@johnlackey1244]

Have you added Ian Anderson to your PDC yet?

[@pattardn]

The greatest band on the planet's contribution to homelessness.

[@chip582002]

Ian Anderson has never really followed standard verse and chorus in his songs. He's like a rock n roll conductor of an orchestra, and is as far as the song I've always assumed he is writing about the despicable life of pervert predator. I usually just listen to the music. He's english

[@ed.z.]

Aqualung is an old homeless and bent. Cold, lonely and quite sad. It’s a drama.

[@thatcanadianwhitetrashguy]

Aqualung is a Theme Album of Characters in a Oliver Twist Period Town. This is Why Ian Dances and Acts like a 1700's Minstrel Troubadour spreading News and Stories Musically. Cross Eyed Mary is the Next Character on the Album.

[@billth716]

A bog is a bar in medieval times

[@georgeseanor]

It’s a concept album, one song out of context always sounds confusing

[@Angus4277]

I would love to see you react to some Frank Zappa preferably something from Joe's Garage Acts 1, 2, or 3.

[@42Mrgreenman]

It confused me for a long time as an American, but when Ian says, "He bends to pick a dog-end, and goes down to the bog and warms his feet." A "Dog-end" is a cigarette butt, and the "Bog" is a public bathroom (many English refer to toilet paper as bog-roll), indicating that Aqualung is homeless...

[@matthewdooley7855]

I had no idea that "bog" was Brit slang for bathroom!

[@kensmith5694]

Yes, he is homeless and sick and bored with nothing to do. "spending time the only way he knows". Basically the Salvation Army will only feed a person near the meal times and the possible places to sleep are only used at night. This leaves a lot of free time.

[@mikecaro5031]

You saved me having to write that out lol ty Perfect

[@curiousman1672]

Ian Anderson is truly a genius. The Songs From The Wood album is soul healing. The first year they gave a heavy metal grammy it was given to JT.........completely surprised they accepted it as it was so tone deaf. We all need a little 15th century flavored minstrel music now and then. Brilliant.

[@jeffpawlinski3210]

This song is about a homeless man and the two perspectives of seeing him. One of disgust and one of empathy and compassion. The lyric, "The Army's up the road, Salvation a la mode is referring to the Salvation Army homeless tenant where Aqualung would grab a cup of tea and seek (hopefully) empathy.

[@kensmith5694]

Yes, and I take it as the two perspectives are in the same mind. The singer hits on the fact he is a pervert, and also that he is pathetic and also that he has lost hope and there is nothing the singer can do. Somehow, I always took it that the lungs were broken in military service and he gets no help from that either.

[@dancarter482]

@@kensmith5694 The "Little Girls" are the ones with "Bad intent" - Cross-Eyed Mary and the gang.

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Not to repeat what everyone else has said but I probably will. This is the title track and a massive hit from his most iconic album, Aqualung. And that photo that you see there is the album cover which is meant to portray Aqualung. And it is such a brilliant and skating look at the plight of the homeless and how they are regarded by Society vs. The reality of it.

[@pamagnolia]

This song deals with our reaction to the homeless population. Jethro Tull vocalist and flute player Ian Anderson wrote the song and called it "a guilt-ridden song of confusion about how you deal with beggars, the homeless." Elaborating in the 40th anniversary reissue of the album, he said, "It's about our reaction, of guilt, distaste, awkwardness and confusion, all these things that we feel when we're confronted with the reality of the homeless. You see someone who's clearly in desperate need of some help, whether it's a few coins or the contents of your wallet, and you blank them out. The more you live in that business-driven, commercially-driven lifestyle, you can just cease to see them.

[@markferrett700]

Love me some Jethro Tull. Perhaps the most unique sounding band ever. A blend of rock,folk,blues......no other band sound like them. That's the best compliment I can give.......you really should listen to anything off of their "Songs from the Wood "......Great reaction as per usual👍👍 A dog end is a discarded cigarette!!!! It's a song about homelessness, a hobo.......a poor old sod is an English phrase meaning....a wretched soul down on his luck.......hope that helps!!!! I'm a poor old sod from London 😂😂😂😂

[@magicbrownie1357]

Ian Anderson is one of the most expressive and interesting performers in Rock history.

[@gregorykenfield3134]

My favorite line in the song is "and the flowers bloom like madness in the spring." He's speaking of this man's funeral.

[@micscwisby7798]

Yes, in my mind "me" always has been the Grim Reaper, telling Aqualung not to be afraid because he will take him to a better place where his leg doesn't hurt and the flowers bloom in the warm sun.

[@gordoncameron5082]

Interesting. That line always set me wondering (sometimes aloud😊). I did read recently though that it might refer the old man coughing up blood onto snow covered ground and the blood ‘blooms’ like blossoms in the snow

[@gregorykenfield3134]

@@gordoncameron5082 ...I've never heard that one. I favor the funeral explanation due to the previous line, which mentions taking a "last breath."

[@gregorykenfield3134]

@@micscwisby7798 ...interesting. I've always assumed that "me" was just the person who didn't see Aqualung as a bad man. Something to think about!

[@johnclibbens6803]

Just the return of warm weather, I think.

[@bfbartholomew]

The song is about perspective on a homeless guy. The intro characterizing him as somewhat threatening and even dangerous. But in reality he is just an old man trying to get through another day.

[@-R.Gray-]

The first negative view of Aqualung is based on the impressions, fears, and conclusions that people jump to about the homeless. One of the best examples of his live flute playing is on "My God" from the Isle of Wight concert in 1970. They are a British band.

[@Bob.L.Shirley]

Hey, Britt! So glad you're getting into Tull but like some others I wish you'd catch the studio versions first. I think hearing the initial version would help you catch the "extra sprinkles" Ian and the gang insert live. Great reaction anyway!

[@davidbordonaro1631]

always the studio version first

[@danquerry3436]

Yes! I wish reactors would do this!

[@farfromperfek]

Martin Barre (guitarist) tells a great story on the recording of Aqualung. At that point, if he didn't nail the guitar solo by the second take, Ian would just make it a guitar solo. Just as he was about to do the first take Jimmy Page of Led Zepplin walked into the studio to watch and say hello. Martin had to turn his back on Jimmy and recorded the solo in one take.

[@rockymountboy]

Ian would make it a FLUTE solo.

[@Rbl7132]

This song is a song of compassion to one of those kind of homeless men who we see walking alone who have fallen into such self-neglect they look like they are wearing Hollywood designed filthy clothes from head to toe, everything filthy. And the agonizing lonliness and invisibleness of such men on this earth. Nobody will love them, care for them Yes, the lyrics reveal the depraved heart and thoughts of such men, whose sexual emptiness leads them to staring lustfully at little girls. The song is inspirational to me to reach out and love such people. No it is not glorifying pedophilia is just being real. I took one of these guys home and I literally puked in my car from the smell. I had to use scissors to cut his pants off when I got to the house so he could shower. I found him laying in the shrubbery at a gas station like a discarded candy wrapper.

[@KevinPugh-hq8rc]

A "bog" is a freshwater wetland of soft spongy ground - or in UK colloquialism a bog is also a toilet or water closet ...

[@waynedavenport6053]

Have you listened to 'Skating away on the thin ice of a new day' or 'Bungle in the Jungle' both very different but great!

[@mikekerby814]

He is showing the difference between what society thinks this old Homeless man does, then he speaks of what is reality an old Homeless man dying of pneumonia living on the street.

[@lynnieiapichino1121]

☮️💙💙💙🔥🔥Ian is genius!!

[@dantallman5345]

Per Wikipedia, Jennie Anderson, Ian’s wife, photographed homeless people hanging out along the Thames river. One person (or likely a picture of him after the film was developed) captured their attention and they wrote a song together about him. Lyrics are credited to Jennie and Ian. Seems like 3 perspectives are given musically and lyrically: (1j harsh, judgmental, distant from subject… (2) softer, almost dreamy, empathetic, sentimental, closer to subject (3) faster, compressed, matter of fact…like a newspaper maybe

[@Xandrosi]

"... spitting out pieces of his broken lung." An emotional rendition that calls attention to the horrors of homelessness.

[@markdraine3571]

Broken luck .

[@Xandrosi]

@@markdraine3571 I would have sworn it was lung. You're right.

[@moniqueleroux2198]

I imagine a homeless man and the stereotypes people associate with him.

[@tnottolini]

I think you need to pause the video some more. Puh-leeze!!

[@terenzo50]

I'd start with the original studio version. Live records are for people who already know the music.

[@ralphpeed3596]

The band name is that of a British Agronomist

[@CollinZaffke]

studio version plis

[@dagmar.6954]

Jethro Tull are a British progressive rock band formed in 1967. The group’s founder Ian Anderson plays flute & acoustic guitar & is the lead singer & quite a showman. They've had a lot of different members over the years. They had a lot of great songs such as "Thick As A Brick", "Songs From The Wood", "A New Day Yesterday", "Cross-Eyed Mary", "Bungle In The Jungle", "Sweet Dream", "Life’s A Long Song" etc.",

[@davidbordonaro1631]

I hope she reacts to all of your suggests

[@kensmith5694]

Skating Away

[@bartondonnelly5293]

The studio version is so much better.

[@mikemiller3069]

Aqualung is a homeless guy who is a little "pervy" as he eyes little girls "with bad intent". He has (at least the way I interpret it) a female counterpart named "Cross-eyed Mary". Some guys I used to play in a band (or two) with had a band in-between named, "Cross-eyed Mary". Perhaps the song about her should be your next Jethro Tull reaction. It is aptly titled, "Cross-eyed Mary"😀 I know that other people told you what the British meaning of "bog" is but it also has is the name for a kind of swampy area that looks like solid ground and has grasses and reeds coming out of it but the whole thing is actually floating on water. In a nature park in Minneapolis, there is a feature called the "Quaking Bog". I know that is unrelated to the story in the song but I think it's kind of cool anyway.

[@JayCross]

Another song about a misunderstood older man that you might enjoy is "Art Lover" by the Kinks. It's not as theatrical, and is a lot more cheerful sounding. The Kinks have a huge number of great story songs. --- Answering your final question, an Aqualung is a SCUBA (underwater breathing aparatus). In the song Anderson describes the sound of the old mans breathing as though it is through one of these. The man probably has pneumonia.

[@reverbscherzo7850]

Great comparison! That whole album (Give the People What They Want) is full of lyrics you really have to listen to.

[@rogueleader4181]

Seen Tull live 3 times! Always masterful musicianship! Aqualung is about society's judgement and fear of this homeless man. The narrator sees him differently. Salvation Army is the army up the road. Dog end is a cigarette butt. Martin Barre is highly underrated. Brilliant guitarist.

[@davidbordonaro1631]

3times for me also - always had a GIANT beach ball that the crowd bounced around

[@tonydelapa1911]

Right on concerning the narrator. In a song with many great lines, I think “Aqualung, my friend, doncha start away uneasy…it’s only me” is the most humane part of the song.

[@JeffreyLemsl-vi9qf]

Just saw him a week ago.can still shred it.

[@ramblingbill9101]

Always loved this song. Could never really understand the words but who cares it’s still great.

[@stevedotwood]

It's two different takes on a homeless man. The 2nd take (acoustic slow part) is empathy. Ian Anderson is Scottish. Their whole catalog is intelligent lyrics and progressive folk-rock, hence the medieval/old England style.