from Oannes *

Ενα ακόμα τραγούδι από την εποχή που τα αριστουργήματα ήταν ρουτίνα για τον Ian Anderson – τιμώμενο συνθέτη του μήνα.
Προέρχεται από το War Child, το αντιπολεμικό opus των Jethro Tull, άλμπουμ – επιστροφή στις τραγουδιστικές φόρμες μετά τη σφαγή των δυο προηγούμενων [Thick s A Brick, A Passion Play] από τους “κριτικούς” της εποχής.
Η σφαγή εννοείται, θα συνεχιζοταν και με αυτό, εξ ίσου ανορθόδοξο παρά τη μικρότερη διάρκεια των κομματιών.

✻

Another song from the time when masterpieces were routine for Ian Anderson – honored composer of the month.
This comes from War Child, Jethro Tull’ s anti-war opus, an album – return to “standard form song’” after the massacre of the previous two [Thick s A Brick, A Passion Play] by the “critics” of the era.
The massacre, of course, would continue with this one, equally unorthodox, despite the tracks’ shorter duration.

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❝ Over the mountains, and under the sky —
riding dirty gray horses, go you and I.
Mating with chance, copulating with mirth —
the sad-glad paymasters (for what it’s worth).
The ice-cream castles are refrigerated;
the super-marketeers are on parade.
There’s a golden handshake hanging round your neck,
as you light your cigarette on the burning deck.
And you balance your world on the tip of your nose —
like a SeaLion with a ball, at the carnival.
You wear a shiny skin and a funny hat —
the Almighty Animal Trainer lets it go at that.
You bark ever-so-slightly at the Trainer’s gun,
with you whiskers melting in the noon-day sun.
You flip and you flop under the Big White Top
where the long-legged ring-mistress starts and stops.
But you know, after all, the act is wearing thin —
as the crowd grows uneasy and the boos begin.
But you balance your world on the tip of your nose —
you’re a SeaLion with a ball at the carnival.
Just a trace of pride upon our fixed grins —
for there is no business like the show we’re in.
There is no reason, no rhyme, no right
to leave the circus `til we’ve said good-night.
The same performance, in the same old way;
it’s the same old story to this Passion Play.
So we’ll shoot the moon, and hope to call the tune —
and make no pin cushion of this big balloon.
Look how we balance the world on the tips of our noses,
like SeaLions with a ball at the carnival. ❞

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Enjoy!

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As always, I’m happy to hear your thoughts, however I’d highly recommend a direct dialogue with the …’source’ [why comments are closed here], so please visit Oannes’ page where you can also listen to the song!

More about these reblogs

* For my friends who didn’t know, or first timers here, Oannes [aka Socratis Papahatzis] is my husband, partner in life and music and the one with my undying admiration. Together we have a band MK-O [the music of Marina Kanavaki & Oannes]. So, it’s my pleasure to share with you his [and sometimes mine] musical selections. • Do visit his site. He has my highest recommendation!