From: ian.foot@uk.sun.com (Ian Paul Foot)
Subject: Re: Any suggestions for Beltane music?
Date: 29 Apr 1993 11:08:24 GMT

[Lyrics for JT's Beltane, found in their 20 year compilation. --Ceci]

Beltane
-------
Have you ever stood in the April wood
And called the new year in
While are the phantoms of three thousand years
Rise as the dead leaves spin?

There's a snap in the grass behind your feet
And a tap upon your shoulder,
And the thin wind crawls along your neck;
It's just the old gods getting older.

And the Kestrel drops like a far-off shot
From a red cloud hanging high.
A-come-a Beltane.
A-come-a Beltane.

Have you ever loved a lover
Of the old elastic truth,
And doted on the daughter
In the ministry of youth?

Thrust your head between the breasts
Of the fertile goddesses [?]
Taken up the cause of love
For the sake of [???].

While the kisses drop like a far-off shot
From soft lips in the rain.
A-come-a Beltane.

A happy old[?] new year to you,
And you're the sons of for one more day
[???].

Have you walked around your parks and town
So [nice and?] orderly,
While the fires are burned on the hills upturned
In far-off wild country,

And felt the chill on your window-sill
As the green man comes around
With his walking cane of sweet hazel
Brings it crashing down,

Sends your knuckles white as the thin stick bites?
But its just your groaning pains.
A-come-a Beltane.

BTW - All Tull lyrics are available on anonymous ftp from
remus.rutgers.edu in /JethroTull.  There's plently of great stuff
about Stone Circles, The Green Man, The Old Gods etc.

From: ian.foot@uk.sun.com (Ian Paul Foot)
Date: 30 Apr 1993 09:47:17 GMT

ksm@abb-sc.abb-sc.com (Ashley) writes:
> 	Hmm, I long suspected that Tull had leanings, but I never
> listened to "Songs From The Wood" so I missed out on this one. All I
> knew is that Ian Anaderson was having trouble with the "Bloody
> Church of England, in chains of history" back on Aqualung. Guess
> it's time to put them in the Pagan Music List.  But I haven't been
> reading in a while and haven't seen much of this discussion, so will
> someone who knows the material well do me the favor of sending a
> review? And the placement question, is Jethro Tull a pagan band or a
> pagan sympathetic band? Or is Ian Anderson obscure about the subject
> like Kate Bush?

I have never heard Ian Anderson describe himself as a pagan, so I
would not classify Jethro Tull as a pagan band. Pagan friendly?
Definitely.  IA has described himself as being "pro God and anti
church" and this really shows on Aqualung.

Tull's most pagan-friendly album is "Songs from the Wood" (1977), a
brilliant folk-rock style album.  Songs of particular pagan interest
are "Jack-in-the-Green", "Cup of Wonder" and "Ring Out, Solstice
Bells".

Other Tull albums of interest may be:

"Aqualung" (1971) - progressive rock classic, which deals with social
issues such as homelessness and child prostitution, as well as a
sustained attack on the establishment Church, in songs such as "My
God", "Hymn 43" and "Wind-Up".

"Thick as a Brick" (1972) - A 40 minute song!  Obscure lyrics with
great music.

"Heavy Horses" (1978) - Folky rock, in a similar vein to "Songs from
the Wood";

"Broadsword & the Beast" (1982) - Folk influenced hard rock.
Described by Tull as "Heavy Metal Mandolin Music"!  Much loved by
British SCA types.  Great artwork on cover.

"20 Years of Jethro Tull" - 3CD boxed set.  Great intoduction to
Tull. Contains some paganish stuff, such as "Beltane". The Celtic
anthem "Coronach" sounds like a cross between Blake's Jerusalem and
"Stairway to Heaven"!

"Cup of Wonder" from "Songs from the Wood" is a great Beltane song. I
got the lyrics from the Tull ftp archive site remus.rutgers.edu in
/JethroTull/Lyrics:

  Cup of Wonder

  May I make my fond excuses for the late-ness of the hour;
  But we accept your invitation, and would bring you Beltane's flower.
  For the May Day is the great day, sung along the old straight track.
  And those who ancient lines did ley will heed this song that calls them back.

  Pass the word and pass the lady and pass the plate to all who hunger.
  And pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.
  And pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.

  Ask the Green Man where he comes from, ask the cup that fills with red.
  Ask the old grey standing stones who show the sun his way to bed.
  Question all as to their ways, and learn the secrets that they hold.
  Walk the lines of Nature's palm, crossed with silver and with gold.

  Pass the cup and pass the lady and pass the plate to all who hunger.
  And pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.
  And pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.

  [Instrumental]

  Join in black December's sadness, lie in August's welcome corn.
  Stir the cup that's ever filling with the blood of all that's born.
  But the May Day is the great day, sung along the old straight track.
  And those who ancient lines did ley will heed this song that calls them back.

  Pass the word and pass the lady and pass the plate to all who hunger.
  And pass the wit of ancient wisdom, pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.
  And pass the Cup of Crimson Wonder.