Saturday, May 30, 2009

Jethro Tull Poetry

There is a fine line between music and poetry. From some of the earliest stages of Jethro Tull, poetry has played an interesting role in the band's music. From "don't start away uneasy" to Gerald Bostock, and from One Brown Mouse to Ian reciting "Marmion" by Sir Walter Scott, Jethro Tull has a poetic legacy.

It is about time a poet a gave something back! Jakob Chapman's new poetry Collection Decisions 2000 & 8 contains two poems inspired by the music of Jethro Tull. The poem "40 Years" celebrates Tull's 40th anniversary in 2008. The poem "Little Milton" depicts the grown the Gerold Bostock's frustration at not being able to produce poetry:


“Little Milton”
Inspired by Jethro Tull's “Thick as a Brick”

Would have you minded
had I sat that one out?
Never drawn lace
or black curtains
and laid the bricks
of someone else's fortune?
Who wants to be the poet
who lost his fame
in last minute rumpus
all for the unpopular desire
to be unique?

[FLUTE SOLO HERE]

Progressive rock aside
for a quite moments reflection
after reading the morning paper,
who will remember
Gerald Bostock
for anything after '72?
I never asked
to be a visionary
fictitious poet protégé!
I collect my royalties
and dream
about what life would be like
if your wisemen
knew how it feels
to be thick...
as a...

[BRICK]


Jakob Chapman's poetry collection Decisions 2000 & 8 can be purchased here.

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