Jethro Tull - A Passion Play (Part 1) Lyrics

I've been a Tull fan since 1970. The only problem I can fault this piece of music is its length. It's to short!

One would want to be escorted into the great beyond by one's friends.

Ian said he enjoyed recording Thick As A Brick more but this recording shines in a more sophisticated way.

Saw this performance at the Hampton (Va) Coloseum in the 70’s...
Wonderful!

this lp is so incredibly dense musically, BUT if you listen carefully, not one note is illogically placed. It is a craft of such rich genius that not 1 idiot "rock musicologist of 1973 who all
seemed to pillory this truly astounding work of genius could really even tap into its genuine depth. like a grosse fugue of r&r but unfortunately not written by someone with the
clout of Beethoven. what morons those critics were! kudos to you mr anderson

My Absolute Favorite! The ENTIRE BAND are performing at their absolute BEST! (After just completing "Thick As A Brick".! This is the best "incarnation" of Jethro Tull, in the Midy,70's.! Mastin Barre is

I saw Tull do Passion Play at the Bayfront Arena in St.Petersburg,Fla,wonderful concert! They did most of Aqualung as the encore!👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I was a big Tull fan, but no matter how tried, I just did not like a Passion Play. I have relistened now, and while I still don't love it, it is miles above anything from today, and in contrast to today's "music", without a doubt, sounds like the work of art it is.

this is intelligent music - al most like classic.... I love it!

There was a hush in the Passion Play 🎶🥀

Just seen Ian. At hills stadium. Gr8 memories. Thanks Ian. ✌

it all started with the benefit album.........

Like this better than taab tbh

The critics tore this one up. When music is as ahead of its time as this is, the majority just don’t get it. Listening now on my iPhone w ear buds in on July 23 2019, I’m thinking time still has not caught up with this gem.

And back in 1975 as a 16 year old boy, as I wore this record out and my parents phone got busy signals I remember thinking this music is ahead of its time. I couldn’t understand how some of my friends didn’t like it. ?

Just like those who were jailed because they knew the earth wasn’t flat, that the earth revolved around the sun, the genius probably will always be misunderstood. And criticized.

2050? Maybe by then time ‘might’ catch up with the Play...And here am I, 61, not 16 , getting goosebumps listening to this incredible music.

How does it feel to be the play indeed!

Lifebeats
Instrumental part

Prelude
Instrumental part

The Silver Cord
"Do you still see me even here?"
(The silver cord lies on the ground.)
"And so I'm dead", the young man said - over the hill (not a wish away)
My friends (as one) all stand aligned, although their taxis came too late
There was a rush along the Fulham Road
There was a hush in the Passion Play

Such a sense of glowing in the aftermath ripe with rich attainments
All imagined sad misdeeds in disarray the sore thumb screams aloud
Echoing out of the Passion Play

All the old familiar choruses come crowding in a different key:
Melodies decaying in sweet dissonance
There was a rush along the Fulham Road
Into the Ever-passion Play

And who comes here to wish me well?
A sweetly-scented angel fell
She laid her head upon my disbelief
And bathed me with her ever-smile
And with a howl across the sand
I go escorted by a band of gentlemen in leather bound
NO-ONE (but someone to be found)


Re-Assuring Tune
Instrumental part

Memory Bank
All along the icy wastes there are faces smiling in the gloom
Roll up roll down, Feeling unwound? Step into the viewing room
The cameras were all around. We've got you taped; you're in the play
Here's your I.D. (Ideal for identifying one and all.)
Invest your life in the memory bank; ours the interest and we thank you
The ice-cream lady wets her drawers, to see you in the passion play

Take the prize for instant pleasure
Captain of the cricket team
Public speaking in all weathers
A knighthood from a queen

Best Friends
All of your best friends' telephones never cooled from the heat of your hand
There's a line in a front-page story, 13 horses that also-ran
Climb in your old umbrella
Does it have a nasty tear in the dome?

But the rain only gets in sometimes and the sun never leaves you alone

Critique Oblique
Lover of the black and white it's your first night
The Passion Play, goes all the way, spoils your insight
Tell me how the baby's made, how the lady's laid
Why the old dog howls in sadness


And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away
On the bony shoulders of a young horse named George
Who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision
(The examining body examined her body.)

Actor of the low-high Q, let's hear your view
Peek at the lines upon your sleeves since your memory won't do
Tell me: how the baby's graded, how the lady's faded
Why the old dogs howl with madness

All of this and some of that's the only way to skin the cat
And now you've lost a skin or two, you're for us and we for you
The dressing room is right behind
We've got you taped, you're in the play
How does it feel to be in the play?
How does it feel to play the play?
How does it feel to be the play?

Man of passion rise again, we won't cross you out:
For we do love you like a son, of that there's no doubt
Tell us: is it you who are here for our good cheer?
Or are we here for the glory, for the story, for the gory satisfaction
Of telling you how absolutely awful you really are?

There was a rush along the Fulham Road
There was a hush in the Passion Play


Forest Dance No.1
Instrumental part

oh, where was i? then? & moreover, where am i now? thank u so much jethro tull, my sweetheart group. i think i was doing my o levels & then college. god where has my life gone???

an absolute masterpiece!

Absolutely amazing, brilliant musicianship!

I love how this and Thick as a Brick together tell a cyclical life and death story.

MOO Never noticed that connection!

Brilliant on many musical levels. Apparently music peaked in the early 70s, and has been trying to gasp for air ever since then, with a few exceptions of course.

Good rock was between 1968 and 1976. The years of prog. Most before and after was rubbish, except Beatles.

Lovely!

It wasn't actually put together in 17 days. When they went into tax exile in France and spent time writing they stitched together the product of that session. You can see this in the separate individual tunes that are elsewhere here on YouTube under Chateau banner that are recognisable throughout Passion Play.

If Mr Anderson is ambivalent about this album, it is a pity. I can say with the certainty of a long experience of following JT's music--from obsessive praise in my youth to the staid reflection of maturity--that this album holds up incredibly well. It is complex without showing off. It is successfully daring in its departures from previous traditions and is a stand-out of inventiveness in popular music--both in the songwriting and its arrangements.
If the one complaint might be about it is its lyrical content (whether creative or pretentious), then it says more about the grumbler if they allow silly lyrics to dissuade them from this excellent musical work. (I never understood the uproar over the lyrics in the first place.)

i saw the fore shortened tour when they played the whole thing, just unworldly epic.

As much as I dig this song, I have to admit I think some parts are rather corny. I just feel this should've been cut down a bit and it wouldve been seen in a better light. Still an awesome song, but just kind of long-winded.

Jethro Tull rocks

always topical @ this time of year !!! " Johnny Cash was a troubled but devout christian !!! " now that the man in black is gone Ian "Henderson" Anderson lol has to carry that mantle !!!

This is so original , people have a hard time understanding

If you like this, you should love Thick as a Brick.

I like TAAB, but I love this album.

Impossible not to whistle to it from minute 3 to minute 21

Love the sound and feel of the bit starting at 20:22 🙂

A journey begins. :D

Very heavy and experimentally creative music ! Very confusing cerebral lyrics !! But interesting. Love all the changes and progression.
Never a dull moment ! 🤨

Is IA the king of prog???

Gentle Giant but different

I wish they would have stretched out 20:23 to 21:29 a little bit longer , so I could loop it ! 😉 heheh
That goes for 11:42 to 12:24 as well 😁✔❤😃

I saw them perform this live at Madison Square garden the year it came out. The critics hated it.They couldn't understand why Tull would do another concept album after Thick as a Brick. Ian said he'd never perform live again. I loved it from day one. The composition is unique, and a challenge for even the most talented musician. The fact he plays 17 instruments, wrote the music and lyrics for 11 platinum albums should stand as testimony to his greatness.

CAPTMAHI Jesus and I thought I was lucky seeing them do the abridged Thick as a Brick with a full orchestra. That's peanuts compared to seeing them do this at MSG the year it came out. Lucky you. I'm jealous..

This album is an epic piece of work, and whether it pleases your ear or not, from a compositional standpoint, it is a masterpiece.

You won’t hear one like this anytime soon.

Well said.

Don't get it. Played this lp once years ago and thought it sucked. ZZZZZZZZZ.....

Saw them do this live in Detroit - awesome show - the crowd went wild.

The MSG 73 show was the best concert we ever saw, and we've seen everyone...

🍍🍍🍍21:35

to bandfromthe band yes exactly this is where raw talent comes in . UNDERRATED

Oh YES!!!

passion play? did tull ever do anything other than brilliant ?

Ian Anderson is definitely in the top five musical Geniuses of all time I stick David Bowie in there somewhere too

Zappa, Anderson, Morse (Neil)

Stuart Stein: what about Gentle Giant? 🙁😥

A classic...but, compared to the Chateau D'Herouville tapes, it sounds hurried, as if they wrote/rehearsed/recorded the album in a rushed manner. If it was a double album with all of the abandoned tracks included, it would have been a masterpiece. BTE, Ian Anderson is a narcissistic arrogant self-absorbed ego-maniac who, all of these years later, STILL refuses to stop touring and performing despite the fact that he MUST know that his voice is pitiful and pathetic. I just watched aclip of him in Phoenix 3 months ago "singing" Aqualung.....and it was terrible. Unfortunately, I now have that image/sound of Anderson seared into my memory bank, and I would rather have it removed.

Hi, I'm the 21st schizoid man

I like it when Ian tours. I don't care about what you think about his voice. Not the only musician on the stage. And it's not bragging when it's true.

I need a 12 step program. I just keep listening over and over

Listen to it 12 times in a row. You'll be cured with whatever ale's you.

The best remastering effort ever. I hear instruments that never came through on vinyl. Tull’s best album. Definitely in the top ten progressive rock albums of all time!

1. A Passion Play 2.Thick as a Brick 3.Songs From the Wood !!!
Try this piece : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlMX9XLf3oM Italian Prog at is best

This album was all over the place... it had it's moments but overall it was just to damn inconsistent to remain focused on listening to it till the end... just my opinion....

Thanks
haiti.falconscafe.com

mapcpc.falconscafe.com

Barriemore Barlow is the best drummer in the history of Rock. Period.

The verse, "She laid her head upon my disbelief and bathed me with her ever-smile".....my God. Ian is a profound, dude....but man that hurts.

Very good

Yeah. I love that phrase! It does hurt, doesn't it, it's so exquisite.

For me, Tull was always a mixed bag. Some of his material was genius while most of it fell quite short. And once he got into the 80s, he just repeated himself with quite a bit of mediocre work. That being said, almost anything from the 70s was worth a listen, and Passion Play being no exception, even though the critics lambasted it. Ah, but what do they know?

You must remember that a critic is born every minute. Take a look around . Opinions are like ass holes, every one has one and they usually stink .

Frankincensed You do know that Jethro Tull is the name of the band, and not the name of the guy, right?

Jethro Tull rocks with the best of them. But who else has the balls to rock a smokin' Hot flute!, talent beyond greatness & fame.
ROCK IT LIKE NO OTHER!

11:44, my ass has been right and properly kicked. Fantastic stuff

Sadly an orphan album of Ian Anderson.

This must've been an actual play. If it wasn't there should be: i had no idea jethro tull would make an album like this!....nice piece of work

The passion play is a universal term for the story of the crucifixion of christ

Greg Mead thanks

I saw this live. Saw many shows including Skynyrd, Humble Pie, Grand Funk, Uriah Heep, FogHat & many more too numerous to list. This was the most entertaining show of all.

I saw it live too, at the Forum in L.A. Pretty damned intense...

As for my money ,Ian Anderson is a bonafide genius.....absolutely astonishing.

@Mark Rago Great composers need great musicians and talant.

@tixximmi1 Indeed they do. Zappa was a very demanding, genius composer who twisted together juxtaposed genres. He expected his band members to be sober and at their best during practice, auditions, shows, and in studio. He didn't tell them how to live their personal lives, but he was also a quintessential pop culture era composer and experimenter. Ruth Underwood, George Duke, Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio, Beefheart (was not always sober and/or at his best, but his ear for the abstract, faux Howlin Wolf voice, and his ambitious, other worldly band compositions made him desirable. That, and Frank's childhood buddy), the Brecker brothers, Flo & Eddie, Carl Lewis Black, he surrounded himself with talented, dedicated, adventurous musicians.

@Mark Rago You mean James Carl Inkanish (Black) Don't know who the Lewis part was. I'm familiar with Zappa and how he ran his business. I got to see him some two dozen times. Not unlike Ian Anderson who I got to spend some time with when he was starting Strathaird.

@tixximmi1 Anyways Ian and Frank both cream of crop. Take care my friend

To me the best tull album.

Is that right ??? I've been listening to this for 45 years ??? Wow ... Just wow.

Me as well ,sucks don't it.

Critique Oblique is performed so much better on the Chateau D'isaster recordings. At least it made it on this album. John Evan saves it with his piano performance.

Evans was good.

@tixximmi1 He was amazing!!!!

Here I am at the ripe old age of 60. My 15 year old granddaughter said "I don't understand what my friends see in this music they listen to. It's garbage". She and her 13 year old sister are into the Beatles big time. I tossed this out to them as well as Thick as a Brick and they went nuts. I'm so thrilled that what I listened to in my high school days in 1975 is still appreciated by the newer generation. Long live Jethro Tull!

Love that story!

You should really introduce them to the Lamb lies Down on Broadway by Genesis. Nothing better than when Gabriel led the band. To this day after seeing hundreds upon hundreds of shows, I've not witnessed a better live performance.

Kapitanleutnant . Thompson...Well, you certainly gave a real good advice to your granddaughter, even though you left out AQUALUNG, which is, in my opinion, together with THICK AS A BRICK, the summit of creativity achieved by Jethro Tull. I think you are doing your nephews a great favour, introducing them to the music of the '50s, '60s and '70s !!!...Greetings from Italy.

there's still good music being made though a lot of it's not rock music. You may have to actually open your mind and seek it out though.

Schools Out
Killer
Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
Foxtrot
Trick of the Tail

What about the crap being produced now? The idiots couldn't even play "chopsticks" on a piano.

Still my favorite Tull

Mine, too! It's extraordinary!!!!

I wish the whole song was still on here.

The "Man" has to get his cut . Shameful wouldn't you say ?

Yes, definitely. It's ridiculous. They have the entire version of "Thick as a Brick", all 43 minutes, but they have to cut this one? That makes absolutely no sense. I've seen videos on here that are over an hour long but they have to cut this one? Uh-uh! Ain't buying it!

How in the hell did the band and Ian Anderson put this entire album together in only 17 days? How did these guys who were only in their 20's put this amazing music together? Half of this Band didn't even study music! Barrie Barlow, Tull's drummer, learned all of this by ear!! So did bassist Jeffery Hammond-Hammond This is genius songwriting and playing it doesn't get any better than this...

Masterpiece, indeed.

@Goof E. Washington Indeed, agreed..

@arkanoiddudeA point on which I was corrected by a Scotsman in New Windsor, New York. And never forgot.

@Barry Weinrich True!

@Anthony St James The Chateau D'saster tapes rock!

Magical.

If this was not Tull's finest work, it was damn close.

I think his "finest work" is subjected. For me, It's a masterpiece.

Bursting Out Live was clearly Tull's finest recording. No question.

John Ryan Wait, so how can this be close second to TAAB, and at the same time slightly below Aqualung at the same time?

Minstrel is their best to me.

It WAS their extraordinary album!!!

Went to this concert in1973. My friends took me for my birthday. Not sure if they liked it but I certainly did. I love that he combines progressive rock with classical and changes keys so often. Have the vinyl and cd. Amazing album!

Prudence Patnoad Me too! was in 10th grade in 1973, awesome to see them everytime!!

I adore Side One of this classic...especially as it sets up Side Two which I like even more.

There was little critical notice of this piece of work because it was WAY over their heads. This is a magical trip from a superior mind. Nothing like it anywhere anytime. Even Mozart would faint with ecstasy.

Mozart would have made fun of this little silly song for sure !!!!!!!

Mozart would be happy to kick back with the headphones on and a good bottle of wine in the candelit dark

De-evolution is real. This was stoner music 45 years ago.

An awful lot of my stoner mates didn't get it when it was new. Its stop start nature cost it a lot of fans.

E Nelson I wouldn't say that, considering how anti drug Ian has always been.

TheTdw2000 I read an interview with Ian Anderson where he said (I'm paraphrasing) he's not necessarily against marijuana unless people are blowing it in his face, but I do believe he was always very against hard stuff like coke and heroin, and he didn't want to work with musicians who did those drugs. Similar thing to King Crimson...use of hard drugs was not allowed in that band. If you think about it, progressive rock musicians were generally not big drug users...some members of both Yes and Genesis did occasionally smoke weed from things I've read, but none of them were doing lines and shooting up before shows. When did you ever hear of any member of a prog band dying from an overdose?

It won't ever get any better than this.

Bob Baisden Except maybe Thick as a Brick, and/or Aqualung albums...😎Just my opinion, they are all great, so a toss up for sure!

It keeps gettin better my freind , just got to find it !

Masterpiece!

Feel like watching cinema

"A Passion Play (Part 1)"

[Lifebeats (Instrumental)]

[Prelude (Instrumental)]

[The Silver Cord]

"Do you still see me even here?"
(The silver cord lies on the ground.)
"And so I'm dead", the young man said
over the hill (not a wish away).
My friends (as one) all stand aligned
although their taxis came too late.
There was / a rush along the Fulham Road.
There was / a hush in the Passion Play.

Such a sense of glowing in the aftermath
ripe with rich attainments all imagined
sad misdeeds in disarray
the sore thumb screams aloud,
echoing out of the Passion Play.
All the old familiar choruses come crowding in a different key...
Melodies decaying in sweet dissonance.
There was a rush along the Fulham Road
into the Ever-passion Play.

And who comes here to wish me well?
A sweetly-scented angel fell.
She laid her head upon my disbelief
and bathed me with her ever-smile.
And with a howl across the sand
I go escorted by a band of gentlemen in leather bound
NO-ONE (but someone to be found).

[Re-Assuring Tune (Instrumental)]

[Memory Bank]

All along the icy wastes there are faces smiling in the gloom.
Roll up roll down, Feeling unwound? Step into the viewing room.
The cameras were all around.We've got you taped you're in the play.
Here's your I.D. (Ideal for identifying one and all.)
Invest your life in the memory bank ours the interest and we thank you.
The ice-cream lady wets her drawers, to see you in the passion play.
Take the prize for instant pleasure, captain of the cricket team
public speaking in all weathers, a knighthood from a queen.

[Best Friends]

All your best friends' telephones never cooled from the heat of your hand.
There's a line in a front-page story, 13 horses that also-ran.
Climb in your old umbrella. Does it have a nasty tear in the dome?
But the rain only gets in sometimes and the sun never leaves you alone,
you alone, you alone, you alone, you alone, you alone.

[Critique Oblique]

Lover of the black and white it's your first night.
The Passion Play, goes all the way, spoils your insight.
Tell me how the baby's made, how the lady's laid,
why the old dog howls in sadness.

And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders
of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.
(The examining body examined her body.)
Actor of the low-high Q, let's hear your view.
Peek at the lines upon your sleeves since your memory won't do.
Tell me: how the baby's graded, how the lady's faded,
why the old dogs howl with madness.
All of this and some of that's the only way to skin the cat.
And now you've lost a skin or two, you're for us and we for you.
The dressing room is right behind, We've got you taped, you're in the play.
How does it feel to be in the play?
How does it feel to play the play?
How does it feel to be the play?

Man of passion rise again, we won't cross you out...
for we do love you like a son, of that there's no doubt.
Tell us: is it you who are here for our good cheer?
Or are we here for the glory, for the story, for the gory satisfaction
of telling you how absolutely awful you really are?
There was / a rush along the Fulham Road.
There was / a hush in the Passion Play.

[Forest Dance #1 (Instrumental)]

Plot synopsis[edit]
Ronnie Pilgrim recognises his own death and, in ghostly form, attends his own funeral, before traversing a purgatorial desert and "icy wastes", where he is visited by a smiling angel guide (Act 1). Pilgrim is next admitted into a video viewing room by a Peter Dejour, and events of Pilgrim's life are replayed by a projectionist before a demanding jury.[6] After a long-winded and bizarre evaluation process, the sardonic jury concludes that they "won't cross [Pilgrim] out", suggesting that he has led a mostly decent life and so will be admitted into Heaven, which corresponds with the sudden start of a cheerful "Forest Dance" melody (Act 2).
At this time, the main plot is interrupted by an unrelated, spoken-word comedic interlude (narrated by Jeffrey Hammond with an exaggerated Lancashire accent) backed by instrumentation. Presented as an absurd fable, the interlude details (with much wordplay) the failure of a group of anthropomorphic animals to help a hare find his missing eyeglasses.[7]
The "Forest Dance" melody resumes, and Ronnie Pilgrim now appears in Heaven, two days after his judgment at the viewing room, communicating two unexpected thoughts: "I'll go to the foot of our stairs" (an expression of surprise) and "pie in the sky" (an expression of scepticism about the fulfilment of a reward). Pilgrim's dissatisfaction with Heaven appears to be linked to its mundane atmosphere where most of its residents endlessly reminisce, chronically obsessing over the living. Therefore, unable to adapt, Pilgrim goes to G. Oddie & Son to frankly request a relocation to Hell, feeling that he has a "right to be wrong".[7] Descending into Hell, Pilgrim is confronted by Lucifer (named "Lucy" in the album's fictitious programme), who asserts his cold authority as Pilgrim's "overseer" (Act 3). Pilgrim immediately finds Hell even worse than Heaven and flees, understanding himself now as neither completely good nor evil, wishing that he could trade his "halo for a horn and the horn for the hat I once had". He speaks with a Magus Perdé about his dilemma and, having sampled and rejected both extremes of his afterlife options, he finally stands on a Stygian shore as a "voyager into life". On this beach, other people and animals also prepare to "renew the pledge of life's long song". The final triumphant lyrics include the phrases "ever-burning fire", "ever-door", "ever-life", and moving "from the dark into ever-day", so that the play concludes with a strong implication of eternal rebirth (Act 4).[8]

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.

Oh yes for sure Thankyou !

FAR OUT ! 🤓

'' Into the Ever Passion Play.'' Wore out the vinyl album version. Not critically acclaimed, but I love this record...

All drummers would bow to this. A portion of those would give up drumming altogether. Barriemore redefined how to play rock drums. Neil Peart? Nah. Copycat. Minstrel in the Gallery took double-bass mainstream. Even Neil couldn't play Flying Dutchman off Stormwatch. No human can.

And you'll never hear Barlow's name mentioned when people are discussing the great rock drummers. Tull's music has always been dismissed by the so-called critics & experts, proving their narrow-mindedness. This was the first band I discovered on my own, i.e. not through my older brothers & sister. Anderson is one of the most accomplished acoustic guitar players ever.

BARRIEMOREBARLOW Neil Peart has often mentioned those that came before him as influences, such as Barlow, Bruford, Collins.

Most 70s Tull albums were bashed by the critics. In my opinion they never made a bad album up until A. Couldn't care less what some jackoff critic thinks about anything.

This was the 2nd concert I saw. I fell in love with this album.