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Aqualung and Jethro Tull

ungelesene_bettlek

ungelesene_bettlek

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I am a German speaking peason who wonders what "Aqualung" means, especially when talking about the great song/concept album by Jethro Tull. I know that Ian Anderson (who is the main figure of the band Jethro Tull) is very much against marijuana, espescially when smoked at his concerts (I remember a story where Ian Anderson refused to play because of someone in the audience was smoking marijuana).

I like smoking marijuana and I am enjoing Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson (going to a concert with him in a couple of weeks), so I wounder what you think? Can you explain the therm "Aqualung" to me in this sence?
 
just a quick online search indicates that "aqualung" is a type of underwater diving suit
Aqua-Lung was the first open-circuit, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (or "SCUBA") to reach worldwide popularity and commercial success.This class of equipment is now commonly referred to as a diving regulator or demand valve. The Aqua-Lung was invented in Paris during the winter of 1942–1943 by two Frenchmen: the engineer ?mile Gagnan and Naval Lieutenant ("lieutenant de vaisseau") Jacques Cousteau. It allowed Cousteau and Gagnan to film and explore more easily underwater.
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and the lyrics of the jethro tull song are explained like this (on wikipedia - i can't verify its accuracy)

The lyrics convey a story of a homeless man named Aqualung. In stanzas 1 and 2, he is shown as a dirty tramp, who can't but evoke a sense of hopelessness and disgust, as not a single person in the world would ever help him. Aqualung is alone and sick, doomed to "bend to pick a dog-end" (British slang for a discarded cigarette butt). In stanza 3, he sees a light of hope for compassion, arising in encounter of the very storyteller (Aqualung my friend, don't you start away uneasy). But still, in stanza 4 the inevitable seems to happen, and a poor creature is "snatching <his> rattling last breaths". The indifference to grief is nevertheless reigning on earth, "and the flowers bloom like madness in the spring".

The lyrics compare the tramp's unhealthy breathing to "deep sea diver sounds", referring to the actual aqualung device.
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i can understand why some bands don't want to play in (cigarette) smoky rooms night after night - i used to play gigs in clubs before smoking was banned in venues in australia, and it was pretty gross, as i wasn't a cigarette smoker.

but being pissed off enough to refuse to play sounds pretty uptight to me - especially for a big band.

anyway, i hope you enjoy the show. smoke a fatty for me ;)


should we maybe move this to the music discussion subforum?
 
@ spacejunk:

of course I know all the stuff you have written. I would just like to get some more opinions. Also from other people, please!

About moving the tread? I don't know, sorry.

PS: I know a little bit about etymology and that both German and English belong to the very same subcategory of Germanic languages (even the sub-category of west Germanic languages). Sorry! ;)

PPS: I hope this was not a little impolite or even rude. Peace to all of you! :)
 
Got to say, I saw Jethro Tull back in the day and totally enjoyed their shows. However, recently saw them performing at some festival on Palladia (cable channel featuring live performances) and Ian kept missing the down beat and was behind singing the lines repeatedly. It got so annoying I had to turn the channel and for the record, I was really looking forward to seeing their show!
 
My favorite's are Cross-Eyed Marry and Locomotive Breath.

Aqualung.. hmm.. Probably since the homeless man has so much snot in his nose, as spoken of in the song, and he smokes, bringing the mucus down into his airway, his lungs are full of moisture?

Or am i full of shit.
 
madness00 said:
My favorite's are Cross-Eyed Marry and Locomotive Breath.

Aqualung.. hmm.. Probably since the homeless man has so much snot in his nose, as spoken of in the song, and he smokes, bringing the mucus down into his airway, his lungs are full of moisture?

Or am i full of shit.
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Sounds good to me. BTW, Locomotive Breath was the song I saw on the tube where he kept missing the downbeat. Drives me crazy just thinking about it! That was actually the first song I heard of theirs and fell in love with them. I too really like Cross-Eyed Marry and even though I didn't like the wbole record as much, I still really enjoy "Thick as a Brick".
Great use of a flute in rock music. Nice memories!
 
madness00 said:
My favorite's are Cross-Eyed Marry and Locomotive Breath.

Aqualung.. hmm.. Probably since the homeless man has so much snot in his nose, as spoken of in the song, and he smokes, bringing the mucus down into his airway, his lungs are full of moisture?

Or am i full of shit.
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I think your explanation, whilst logical - aqua, water, in the lung - is really far off the mark.
He tells you the meaning in the lyrics!
Deep sea diver sounds! Thats the easiest understandable reference! The tramp sounds like hes using an aqualung so he gives him the nickname.
I seriously doubt theres anything more nuanced or hidden about it. The meaning is referred to multiple times with the description of him smoking dog-ends ...and other stuff I forget right now.
Great track, great band.
Ian Anderson has lost his mojo though. I saw Jethro Tull in 2010 and his voice was broken and weak. He couldnt hit most notes and sounded croaky. I asked a few folk if he had a cold. Unfortunately most fans there said 'no, he always sounds like this these days' ... i was sad.
 
This deserves this:

EllipticalImaginativeAnemone-max-1mb.gif


Sounds like Jethro Tull isn't worth seeing anymore. How did you come to the conclusion Ian Anderson is against cannabis? (maybe it is obvious and a search would tell me but hey not coming back in here, however I did enjoy Jethro Tull greatly when my pothead friends and I downloaded his stuff for free on Napster back when it was legal and free).
 
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