Poodledoc, Jr Meets Jethro Tull

One of the delights of having a child, other than doing math homework together, is sharing music. Now I know the time is fast approaching when basically any music I like Jr will think just plain sucks. So.............I'm doing my best to educate him to old time rock and roll. Now, for me, "old time" means the late 60's and early 70's. I've gotten him to enjoy groups like Yes, King Crimson, and now..........Jethro Tull. Perhaps I find joy in the irony that these guys (well, actually just Ian Anderson, lead singer and flute player) are still around, playing music, at MY age! Imagine that!




One thing I like about Jethro Tull was their ability to mingle the sinister, the darkness with the light. They are often able to "play" with that tension. Like the cover of Aqualung, which always held a grim fascination with me.....

I'll close with the lyrics to Poodledoc, Jr's current favorite Tull song, Locomotive Breath. You can draw your own conclusions as to what it's about.

In the shuffling madness
of the locomotive breath,
runs the all-time loser,
headlong to his death.
He feels the piston scraping
steam breaking on his brow
old Charlie stole the handle and
the train won't stop going
no way to slow down.
He sees his children jumping off
at the stations - one by one.
His woman and his best friend
in bed and having fun.
He's crawling down the corridor
on his hands and knees
old Charlie stole the handle and
the train won't stop going
no way to slow down.
He hears the silence howling
catches angels as they fall.
And the all-time winner
has got him by the balls.
He picks up Gideons Bible
open at page one
old Charlie stole the handle and
the train won't stop going
no way to slow down.