Jethro Tull - Flying Colours Lyrics






Shout if you will, but that just won't do.
I, for one, would rather follow softer options.
I'll take the easy line; another sip of wine,
and if I ignore the face you wore it's just a way of
mine to keep from flying colours.

Don't lay your bait while the whole world waits
around to see me shoot you down --- It's all so second-rate.
When we can last for days on a loving night;
or for hours at least on a warm whisper given.
You always pick the best time to rise to the fight.
To break the hard bargain that we've driven.
Once again we're flying colours.

I thought we had it out the night before,
and settled old scores, but not the hard way.
Was it a glass too much? Or a smile too few?
Did our friends all catch the needle match --- did we
want them to?
In a fancy restaurant we were all aglow
keeping cool by mutual permission.
How did the conversation get to where we came to blows?
We were set up in a red condition
and again we're flying colours.

Shout --- but you see it still won't do.
With my colours on I can be just as bad as you.
Have I had a glass too much? Did I give a smile too few?
Did our friends all catch the needle match --- did we
want them to?
We act our parts so well, like we wrote the play.
All so predictable and we know it.

We'll settle old scores now, and settle the hard way.
You may not even live to outgrow it!
Once again we're flying colours.





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Jethro Tull Flying Colours Comments
  1. J.... G....

    Doesn't anyone Like Freddie mercury?

  2. M.... ....

    My childhood brought me here.

  3. P.... W....

    I love this album it's the best this is his greatest ever woooooooooh!!!!!!!!!!

  4. S.... G....

    Brilliant song!

  5. �.... K....

    It seems Ian had some hard times with his wife......

    �.... K....

    Who hasn’t ?... still a great song ...

    �.... K....

    @bogen broom I don't know if other Tull fans have the same expirience, but it often happened that a new Tull song fits perfectly in my current life situation.When this album came out (1982) I had serious problems with my girlfriend then.

  6. J.... R....

    Flying colors a great song from Jethro tull👍👍

  7. D.... V....

    Not a single bad track on this album..all masterpieces! Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull..in a class of their own!

    D.... V....

    True words, Dave...true words indeed!! This was the album the band was touring when I first saw them in Toronto back in '82. One of the best shows I've ever seen. One hell of a theatrical performance.

  8. S.... M....

    In a fancy resturant we were all a glow..

  9. K.... T....

    I never got on with my ex wife neither this says it all

  10. K.... T....

    Ex wife lots of flying colours back in the 80s

  11. M.... E....

    awesome awesome awesomeness

  12. K.... T....

    This album is the best. Heavy horses is the second best

    K.... T....

    Kevin Thomas other way round but close 😁

  13. B.... F....

    the best

  14. J.... ....

    My favourite track from this album. Can you guess my favourite track from the following album?

    Hint: It's about elevated temperature.

    J.... ....

    Me too. Radio Free Moscow, Saboteur and Heat are my favourite three.

  15. D.... D....

    My favourite !!!!

    Dziś śniło mi się to, to jest ZNAKOMITE! Dlaczego tak mało znane? Bo mało mówi się o nim w mediach, bo w radiu nie mają gustu!

    D.... D....

    potwierdzam polecam polski cytrus

  16. R.... S....

    great song.

  17. W.... G....

    Finally discovered this fantastic album after all these years!!! I've been a Tull fan since the early 70's but never came across this one. There will never be another Ian Anderson! Sick duck!!!

  18. P.... S....

    Induct Jethro Tull into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We're here on Facebook. Stop by. Post your positive thoughts on Tull/Ian.First concert. Favorite album...etc. We're always open and no two drink minimum.

  19. M.... ....

    The mighty Tull!

  20. A.... S....

    My favourite song from this LP.

  21. J.... B....

    An utterly sublime track from one of Tull's finest. Beautiful arrangement underpinned by a melancholic edge.
    Takes me back to some of the happiest days of my life.

  22. I.... N....

    A great song, a great album!

  23. R.... P....

    Martin Barre's in fine form on this track.

  24. M.... M....

    my favourite album, some of his best work on here

  25. S.... M....

    I literally cannot believe I am adding only the thirteenth comment on one of best songs from one of the best albums ever. I am surrounded by a world full of plebs.

    S.... M....

    35 years sill brilliant

    S.... M....

    Stephen Mead My favorite song from the album. And one of my favorite Jethro Tull releases. A few times this song has hit close to home. Tonight is yet another, sadly.

    S.... M....

    james edwards Sorry, James....I Can Relate....

    S.... M....

    Stephen Mead I loved this in the 80s and obviously I'm listening now superb can't beat it

    S.... M....

    Yes brilliant album had the character painted on my old flat wall hated having to paint it over too sell flat awesome album

  26. s.... c....

    Thats ma boy x

  27. R.... S....

    One of my favorite albums from my favorite band. I've been a frothing Tull fan from Day One. (Well, OK... since 1980.) This was one of the cooler album covers, too. Even better than the one with the record player stylus on the tree stump on the back cover of "Songs From The Wood". (Fellow Tullheads will know of what I speak, there.)

  28. p.... ....

    Love it. Took a while to get into

  29. R.... P....

    The music on this album is sensational. It takes some work getting used it, but well worth the effort.

    R.... P....

    Robert Parums , absolutely agree! It took me a lot of plays of this album over the years, but I have ended up loving it a lot.
    sttgaegoaktd

  30. C.... M....

    Great song! always reminds me of a relationship I was once in. I wondered if Ian Anderson was observing us then wrote this song.

  31. m.... ....

    Broadswoard... With John Peter Vettese at the keyboards, this can't be remade so easily, an Album full of creativity in the musical performance, inspiration as in the stories

  32. F.... ....

    One of my favourite albums alongside Songs From The Wood, both fucking epic with or without weed

    F.... ....

    Benefit and Crest of a Knave are amazing too.

  33. m.... ....

    such awesome brilliant song

  34. M.... v....

    What an amazing song.. And that intro... I know nobody else thinks this, but IMO this is their best album. Well, my favorite album. Every song is amazing.

    M.... v....

    This is one of my favourite Tull albums just after the fantastic Bursting Out double-live album.

    M.... v....

    is the only album from jethro I truly love, but one of my top albums

  35. G.... ....

    I agree, this is a great album, but it's song are rarely played at concerts. Unfurtunately because i'm watching him live soon.

  36. r.... ....

    thx for uploading this , its on of the best rock albums ever , every track is amazing