Aqualung (song)
Encyclopedia
"Aqualung" is a song by the English
progressive rock
band Jethro Tull
, and the title track from their Aqualung album. The song was written by the band's frontman, Ian Anderson
, and his then-wife Jennie Franks
.
Like many of Jethro Tull's songs, "Aqualung" tells a story — in this case, the story of a dirty peadophilic
homeless man.
Aqualung was Jethro Tull's first American Top 10 album, reaching #7 in June 1971.
and his fifth symphony. The song also contains what might well be considered Martin Barre
's most stunning and melodic guitar solo in his entire career. Twenty years after recording the track, Barre reminisced:
The only thing I can remember about cutting the solo is that Led Zeppelin
was recording next door, and as I was playing it, Jimmy Page
walked into the control room and waved to me. How I didn't stop playing I don't know, but I carried on somehow.
In an interview with Ian Anderson in the September 1999 Guitar World
, he said:
The Aqualung character is also mentioned in "Cross-Eyed Mary
", the next song on the album.
"Aqualung" was named the 90th greatest hard rock song by VH1
in 2009.
An alternative mix of "Aqualung", with echo
on Anderson's vocals and the opening guitar riff played twice instead of once, appears on the compilation M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull
. This version also has different acoustic guitar and vocal parts during the second part of the song ("sun streaking cold"), but then reverts to the regular mix starting with "Aqualung my friend."
This is one of Jethro Tull
's most famous songs, but it was not released as a single. Ian Anderson explained why during an interview with Songfacts. He said: "Because it was too long, it was too episodic, it starts off with a loud guitar riff and then goes into rather more laid back acoustic stuff. Led Zeppelin
at the time, you know, they didn't release any singles. It was album tracks. And radio sharply divided between AM radio, which played the 3-minute pop hits, and FM radio, where they played what they called deep cuts. You would go into an album and play the obscure, the longer, the more convoluted songs in that period of more developmental rock music. But that day is not really with us anymore, whether it be classic rock stations that do play some of that music, but they are thin on the ground, and they too know that they've got to keep it short and sharp and cheerful, and provide the blue blanket of familiar sounding music and get onto the next set of commercial breaks, because that's what pays the radio station costs of being on the air. So pragmatic rules apply."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
, and the title track from their Aqualung album. The song was written by the band's frontman, Ian Anderson
Ian Anderson (musician)
Ian Scott Anderson, MBE is a Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work as the leader and flautist of British rock band Jethro Tull.-Early life:...
, and his then-wife Jennie Franks
Jennie Franks
Jennie Franks is an English photographer, actress, and playwright. She may be best known as Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson's first wife, from 1970 to 1974. She is a lyricist and wrote the lyrics to the Jethro Tull song "Aqualung"....
.
Like many of Jethro Tull's songs, "Aqualung" tells a story — in this case, the story of a dirty peadophilic
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
homeless man.
Aqualung was Jethro Tull's first American Top 10 album, reaching #7 in June 1971.
Recording
The original recording runs for 6 minutes and 34 seconds. The first six notes of "Aqualung" may well demonstrate Anderson's clear interest in BeethovenLudwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
and his fifth symphony. The song also contains what might well be considered Martin Barre
Martin Barre
Martin Lancelot Barre is an English rock musician.Barre has been the guitarist for rock band Jethro Tull since 1969. He has appeared on every Jethro Tull album except their debut This Was...
's most stunning and melodic guitar solo in his entire career. Twenty years after recording the track, Barre reminisced:
The only thing I can remember about cutting the solo is that Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
was recording next door, and as I was playing it, Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
walked into the control room and waved to me. How I didn't stop playing I don't know, but I carried on somehow.
In an interview with Ian Anderson in the September 1999 Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
, he said:
The Aqualung character is also mentioned in "Cross-Eyed Mary
Cross-Eyed Mary
"Cross-Eyed Mary" is a song by the English progressive rock band Jethro Tull from their album Aqualung . The song is about "Cross-Eyed Mary", a schoolgirl prostitute who prefers the company of "leching greys" over her schoolmates....
", the next song on the album.
"Aqualung" was named the 90th greatest hard rock song by VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
in 2009.
An alternative mix of "Aqualung", with echo
Echo (phenomenon)
In audio signal processing and acoustics, an echo is a reflection of sound, arriving at the listener some time after the direct sound. Typical examples are the echo produced by the bottom of a well, by a building, or by the walls of an enclosed room and an empty room. A true echo is a single...
on Anderson's vocals and the opening guitar riff played twice instead of once, appears on the compilation M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull
M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull
M.U. – The Best of Jethro Tull, released in 1976, is the first proper greatest hits album by Jethro Tull. It spans the years 1969-75. The earlier Living in the Past compilation mainly dealt with non-album material, but this album only features one previously unreleased song, "Rainbow Blues"."M.U."...
. This version also has different acoustic guitar and vocal parts during the second part of the song ("sun streaking cold"), but then reverts to the regular mix starting with "Aqualung my friend."
This is one of Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
's most famous songs, but it was not released as a single. Ian Anderson explained why during an interview with Songfacts. He said: "Because it was too long, it was too episodic, it starts off with a loud guitar riff and then goes into rather more laid back acoustic stuff. Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
at the time, you know, they didn't release any singles. It was album tracks. And radio sharply divided between AM radio, which played the 3-minute pop hits, and FM radio, where they played what they called deep cuts. You would go into an album and play the obscure, the longer, the more convoluted songs in that period of more developmental rock music. But that day is not really with us anymore, whether it be classic rock stations that do play some of that music, but they are thin on the ground, and they too know that they've got to keep it short and sharp and cheerful, and provide the blue blanket of familiar sounding music and get onto the next set of commercial breaks, because that's what pays the radio station costs of being on the air. So pragmatic rules apply."
Recorded appearances
- Aqualung (1971)
- M.U. - The Best of Jethro TullM.U. - The Best of Jethro TullM.U. – The Best of Jethro Tull, released in 1976, is the first proper greatest hits album by Jethro Tull. It spans the years 1969-75. The earlier Living in the Past compilation mainly dealt with non-album material, but this album only features one previously unreleased song, "Rainbow Blues"."M.U."...
(1976) - Bursting OutBursting OutBursting Out is a 1978 live album by rock band Jethro Tull. It was recorded at various locations during the European Heavy Horses tour of May and June 1978, but it is not certain where each track was recorded...
(1978) - SlipstreamSlipstream (Jethro Tull)Slipstream is a video by Jethro Tull, recorded during the 1980 A tour.It was originally released on VHS, Capacitance Electronic Disc, and laserdisc, and was released on DVDin Brazil in 2003. It is also includedin the bonus dvd edition of A...
(1981) - A Classic CaseA Classic CaseA Classic Case is the 16th album by Jethro Tull, playing with the London Symphony Orchestra, released in 1985. The music was arranged and conducted by David Palmer. The album features band members Ian Anderson, Martin Barre, Dave Pegg and Peter-John Vettese.The album was recorded during the...
(1985) - Original MastersOriginal MastersOriginal Masters is a greatest hits album by Jethro Tull released under Chrysalis Records in 1985. It was the band's third such effort, the first two being M.U. - The Best of Jethro Tull and Repeat - The Best of Jethro Tull - Vol II...
(1985) - 20 Years of Jethro Tull20 Years of Jethro Tull-Disc two:Flawed Gems and Other Sides Of Tull-Disc three:The Essential Tull-LP Track listing:The track numbers shown below are for the five LP set...
(1988) - 20 Years of Jethro Tull: Highlights20 Years of Jethro Tull: Highlights20 Years of Jethro Tull: Highlights is a 21-track distillation of the Jethro Tull box set 20 Years of Jethro Tull.It was released in the US on January 16, 1989, a few months after the original UK release.-Track listing:-See also:...
(1988) - The Very Best of Jethro TullThe Very Best of Jethro TullThe Very Best of Jethro Tull is a greatest hits album by Jethro Tull. It includes some of the band's biggest hits from 1969 to the present day...
(2001) - Living with the PastLiving with the PastLiving with the Past is a live album by Jethro Tull. Disc one contains material from the Hammersmith Apollo performance on November 20, 2001 and features songs from different eras of Tull's history as well as two pieces from Ian Anderson's solo albums: "The Habanero Reel" from The Secret Language...
(2002) - A New Day Yesterday (2003)
- Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro TullIan Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro TullIan Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull is an album and DVD by Jethro Tull frontmanIan Anderson, featuring the Neue Philharmonie Frankfurt, conducted by John O'Hara. The DVD was recorded at the Rosengarten in Mannheim on December 8, 2004....
(2005) - Aqualung LiveAqualung LiveAqualung Live is a live album by Jethro Tull,a live performance of Aqualung before an audience of 40invited guests at XM Studios in Washington, D.C.....
(2005)
Personnel
- Ian AndersonIan AndersonIan Anderson may refer to:* In music:**Ian Anderson , head of the rock band Jethro Tull**Ian A. Anderson , folk musician and editor of Roots magazine**Ian M...
- Vocals, Acoustic GuitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - Martin BarreMartin BarreMartin Lancelot Barre is an English rock musician.Barre has been the guitarist for rock band Jethro Tull since 1969. He has appeared on every Jethro Tull album except their debut This Was...
- Electric GuitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Clive BunkerClive BunkerClive William Bunker is a British rock drummer. He was the original drummer in the British band Jethro Tull....
- Drums, Percussion - John EvanJohn EvanJohn Evan , played keyboards for Jethro Tull from April 1970 to June 1980. He was educated at King's College London....
- PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Jeffrey HammondJeffrey HammondJeffrey Hammond sometimes credited as Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, is a former bass guitar player for the progressive rock band Jethro Tull....
- Bass GuitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
In gaming
- The rendered character of IcarusIcarus-Space and astronomy:* Icarus , on the Moon* Icarus , a planetary science journal* 1566 Icarus, an asteroid* IKAROS, a interplanetary unmanned spacecraft...
in God of War 2 was inspired by Aqualung found on the cover of the album. - A few parts of the song comprise the theme of the critiques of independent game reviewer, "Aqualung".http://www.youtube.com/user/AqualungGameReviews
- This song is a playable song in the music video games Guitar Hero: Warriors of RockGuitar Hero: Warriors of RockGuitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is a music video game and the sixth main entry in the Guitar Hero series for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game was released September 24, 2010 in Europe, September 28, 2010 in North America and September 29, 2010 in Australia...
, Rock Band 2Rock Band 2Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems. It is the sequel to Rock Band and is the second title in the series. The game allows up to four players to simulate the performance of popular songs by playing with controllers modeled after musical instruments...
, and Rock Band UnpluggedRock Band UnpluggedRock Band Unplugged is an expansion of the Rock Band series of music video games released for the PlayStation Portable. The game is developed by Backbone Entertainment in conjunction with Harmonix Music Systems and is distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts...
. - Bob RiversBob RiversBob Rivers is a well-known American rock and roll radio on air personality in the Pacific Northwest as well as a prolific producer of parody songs, most famous for his Christmas song parodies....
made parody ChristmasChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
version, called "Aquaclaus", on his 2002 album, White Trash ChristmasWhite Trash ChristmasWhite Trash Christmas is the fifth Christmas album by Bob Rivers. It was released in 2002, two years after Chipmunks Roasting On an Open Fire...
.
In literature
- The character Aqualung in Matt Jarpe's science fiction fantasy novel, Radio Freefall (2007), may be a reference to this song.
Onscreen
- The song was featured on the November 18, 2010, episode of 30 Rock30 Rock30 Rock is an American television comedy series created by Tina Fey that airs on NBC. The series is loosely based on Fey's experiences as head writer for Saturday Night Live...
, titled "College". - The song is referenced in the 2004 film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron BurgundyAnchorman: The Legend of Ron BurgundyAnchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, or simply Anchorman, is a 2004 American comedy film, directed by Adam McKay and starring Will Ferrell. The film, which was also written by Ferrell and McKay, is a tongue-in-cheek take on the culture of the 1970s, particularly the then-new Action News format...
: Burgundy (Will FerrellWill FerrellJohn William "Will" Ferrell is an American comedian, impressionist, actor, and writer. Ferrell first established himself in the late 1990s as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and has subsequently starred in the comedy films Old School, Elf, Anchorman, Talladega...
) plays a jazz flute solo, during which he plays the beginning of the song and shouts, "Hey Aqualung!" - The song can be heard in "The Incredible Hank" episode of King of the HillKing of the HillKing of the Hill is an American animated dramedy series created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, that ran from January 12, 1997, to May 6, 2010, on Fox network. It centers on the Hills, a working-class Methodist family in the fictional small town of Arlen, Texas...
, while Hank HillHank HillHenry Rutherford "Hank" Hill Age 50 animated series King of the Hill. Hank lives in Arlen, Texas and works at the fictional Strickland Propane selling propane and propane accessories. Hank's voice is provided by series creator Mike Judge. The Economist named Hank Hill as one of the wisest people...
is lifting weights in his garage. - The opening lyric and riff of Aqualung are muttered by Tony SopranoTony SopranoAnthony John "Tony" Soprano, Sr. is an Italian-American fictional character and the protagonist on the HBO television drama series The Sopranos, on which he is portrayed by James Gandolfini. The character was conceived by The Sopranos creator and show runner David Chase, who was also largely...
as he comes into the kitchen in episode #71 ("Live Free or Die" ) of The SopranosThe SopranosThe Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
.