Sperm in the Gutter

[Nonfatman]

Here is a new thread devoted entirely to discussion of some of the more lurid and randy aspects of the Jethro Tull personna, stage act and lyrics, because let's face it, sex has always been a huge and very important part of Tull! I guess we could call this, hmmmm, I don't know, let's see.....maybe our "gutter thread?" Hah...hahahahahahaha! ;D

Okay, I'll start this one off with Cup of Wonder from Songs From the Wood, which I would argue is the single most sexual album ever made by any rock artist or group.

What do you suppose those horny pagans intend to do with (or to) the lady they are passing around the table?

Jeff

[El Gringo]

Yes I've always picked up on that.

And some expressions such as 'tight against the seam' from WOVG I'm starting to incorporate into my everyday gutter talk.

[Nonfatman]

May 22, 2010 15:17:21 GMT -5 El Gringo said:

Yes I've always picked up on that.

And some expressions such as 'tight against the seam' from WOVG I'm starting to incorporate into my everyday gutter talk.

You know what's interesting, Bob? After posting my comment on passing "the lady" which I took literally to mean that they were going to all have carnal knowledge of that lady as part of a pagan fertility rite, I subsequently came across something on Cup of Wonder that suggests that "The Lady" may be a sabbath cake that would have been eaten at the festival. I'm not fully convinced, however knowing Ian, it is entirely possible that he was using "the lady" in both senses, i.e., share the lady sexually and the sharing in the eating of the sabbath cake.

Interesting excerpt from the Cup of Wonder site:

"In the line "pass the word and pass the lady", lady is probably the sabbath-cake which many pagans referred to as "the Lady". Here is referred to witches sabbat, of which Beltane is one of eight. Cakes and ale (or wine) is the traditional sacrament. One would "pass the word" because coven meetings (where a group of witches would work magic together) were, after all, secret affairs."

For more on the subject, see: www.cupofwonder.com/songs3.html#cup

Jeff

[Cousin Jack]

I see that now Jeff I always thought he was referring to the dancing around the women at Beltane but delving more closely into the sexual innuendos in tulls' music it means something else - I'll delve more deeper ;D

[Nonfatman]

May 23, 2010 0:52:05 GMT -5 Cousin Jack said:

I see that now Jeff I always thought he was referring to the dancing around the women at Beltane but delving more closely into the sexual innuendos in tulls' music it means something else - I'll delve more deeper ;D

You know, CJ, I never really considered that the line "pass the lady" could refer to dancing (I thought it just meant pass her in a sexual way.) That's a good observation on your part, and you may well be right. I would think there probably would have been a lot of erotic dancing, as well as sex, at such a pagan feritility festival. It was considered good for the fields.

Or it could simply refer to the witches' sabbath cake that Jan from Cup of Wonder says may have been known as "the lady."

Interesting lyric there.

Jeff

[Blue]

The cakes passed at Sabbats are referred to as "The Lady", some of them are round and others are shaped like the crescent moon and most of the time they have icing though for Lughnasa(h), it's usually a hearth bread. We do dance at Beltane. While the dance isn't overtly erotic, a hand held for a heartbeat longer than it needs to be can be very arousing and sex in the fields to promote fertility was/is and with any luck at all forever will be a very popular way to celebrate the Merrie Month of May in. Oh, and The Lady is not passed. Whomever The Lady pairs with, it's always Lady's choice.

[Nonfatman]

May 24, 2010 17:01:59 GMT -5 Blue said:

The cakes passed at Sabbats are referred to as "The Lady", some of them are round and others are shaped like the crescent moon and most of the time they have icing though for Lughnasa(h), it's usually a hearth bread. We do dance at Beltane. While the dance isn't overtly erotic, a hand held for a heartbeat longer than it needs to be can be very arousing and sex in the fields to promote fertility was/is and with any luck at all forever will be a very popular way to celebrate the Merrie Month of May in. Oh, and The Lady is not passed. Whomever The Lady pairs with, it's always Lady's choice.

Thanks for the explanation, Blue. I really was unaware about The Lady being a cake that is passed around the table until I recently saw it on Cup of Wonder. I had always taken it to mean some kind of sexual rite associated with the festival, but in the context of the rest of the stanza, cake is the much better explanation. Pass the cup, pass the plate, etc., they are obviously sitting around a communal table.

I am very interested in pagan beliefs and customs, and once read a book entitled Pagan Christs, but I can't recall the author's name. He was arguing that many of the practices of Christianity (and Judaism), have their origins in pagan religions. And of course that is what Ian is driving at in Ring Out Solstice Bells. The topic is worthy of an entirely separate thread.

I'm not sure if you saw the series Rome on HBO, which despite some flaws and historical untruths, was an excellent series, examining Rome at the time of the late Republic from the point of view of two army grunts, both of whom were actually mentioned in Caesar's Civil Wars, but in a very minor way. The creators of the series took these two guys (as representative of the types of soldiers who witnessed some of the most important events of the time) and gave them central roles in many of those events. I understood why they were doing it that way, but it gave it a bit of a Forrest Gump feel to it.

Anyway, the first season was remarkable in many respects, but particularly in the way it portrayed the role of the ancient Roman religion as so central to everyday life, and particularly, decisions of state. Although the word "pagans" is sometimes used in a perjorative way, this series showed how deeply and sincerely the Romans believed in their various deities, and did a superb job of showing all the cults and rituals that were practiced. It was actually more of an animist religion than anything else, almost like Native Americans in a way.

Jeff

[Cousin Jack]

I never realised the huge amont of sexual reference in Tulls music till I started to look through it again
Bends like a willow anyone ?

[Morthoron]

Jan 9, 2010 16:09:23 GMT -5 Nonfatman said:

Okay, I'll start this one off with Cup of Wonder from Songs From the Wood, which I would argue is the single most sexual album ever made by any rock artist or group.

I'll certainly agree with you there, NFM. Actually, have you ever dissected the lyrics from 'Hunting Girl' on the same album? Now there's a smutty tune -- with 'Fox and Hound' euphemisms to hide the real action.

I would suggest that everything from the point where Ian says "She took this simple man's downfall in hand / I raised the flag that she unfurled", deals directly with performing cunnilingus.

[Nonfatman]

Jun 12, 2010 23:04:56 GMT -5 Morthoron said:

Jan 9, 2010 16:09:23 GMT -5 Nonfatman said:

Okay, I'll start this one off with Cup of Wonder from Songs From the Wood, which I would argue is the single most sexual album ever made by any rock artist or group.

I'll certainly agree with you there, NFM. Actually, have you ever dissected the lyrics from 'Hunting Girl' on the same album? Now there's a smutty tune -- with 'Fox and Hound' euphemisms to hide the real action.

I would suggest that everything from the point where Ian says "She took this simple man's downfall in hand / I raised the flag that she unfurled", deals directly with performing cunnilingus.

I thought the downfall that she took in hand was his limp dick that she took out of his pants, which he then raised after she unfurled it. But I think you are right about "I'm not inclined to acts refined if that's how it goes." That may well refer to cunnilingus.



Jeff

[Morthoron]

Jun 13, 2010 8:15:06 GMT -5 Nonfatman said:

I thought the downfall that she took in hand was his limp dick that she took out of his pants, which he then raised after she unfurled it. But I think you are right about "I'm not inclined to acts refined if that's how it goes." That may well refer to cunnilingus.

Oh, you're certainly right about the unfurled flag, but there seems to be a...ummm...change of position thereafter:

This highborn hunter had tastes as strange as they come (cum!).
Unbridled passion: I took the bit in my teeth.
Her standing over --- me on my knees underneath.

[Nonfatman]

Jun 13, 2010 8:28:46 GMT -5 Morthoron said:

Jun 13, 2010 8:15:06 GMT -5 Nonfatman said:

I thought the downfall that she took in hand was his limp dick that she took out of his pants, which he then raised after she unfurled it. But I think you are right about "I'm not inclined to acts refined if that's how it goes." That may well refer to cunnilingus.

Oh, you're certainly right about the unfurled flag, but there seems to be a...ummm...change of position thereafter:

This highborn hunter had tastes as strange as they come (cum!).
Unbridled passion: I took the bit in my teeth.
Her standing over --- me on my knees underneath.

It's funny, because when I was young, I didn't immediately recognize why he was repeating the word come, but it did "come" to me later, and you are absolutely right that the repetition of the word is intended as "cum" not "come." ;D

Don't you love it here already?

Jeff

[Morthoron]

Yes, this is hilarious, Jeff.

How about a man desperately in need of Viagra:

'Big bottled Fraulein, put your weight on me,'' said the pig-me to the whore,
desperate for more in his assault upon the mountain.
Little man, his youth a fountain.
Overdrafted and still counting.
Vernacular, verbose; an attempt at getting close to where he came from.
In the doorway of the stars, between Blandford Street and Mars;
Proposition, deal. Flying button feel. Testicle testing.
Wallet ever-bulging. Dressed to the left, divulging the wrinkles of his years.
Wedding-bell induced fears.
Shedding bell-end tears in the pocket of her resistance.
International assistance flowing generous and full to his never-ready tool.
Pulls his eyes over her wool.
And he shudders as he comes.
And my rudder slowly turns me into the Marylebone Road.'

Aside from the overt smut, I still say that Ian Anderson is perhaps the finest lyricist in rock.

[Bogenbroom]

Jun 22, 2010 0:17:08 GMT -5 Morthoron said:

Yes, this is hilarious, Jeff.

How about a man desperately in need of Viagra:

'Dressed to the left, divulging the wrinkles of his years.'

Aside from the overt smut, I still say that Ian Anderson is perhaps the finest lyricist in rock.

One of my all time favorite (sexually oriented anyway) lyrics from Mr. Anderson. Great line.

[wembley]

I agree with Morthoron, those are great if racy lyrics

[Deleted]

Jun 22, 2010 0:17:08 GMT -5 Morthoron said:

Yes, this is hilarious, Jeff.

How about a man desperately in need of Viagra:

'Big bottled Fraulein, put your weight on me,'' said the pig-me to the whore,
desperate for more in his assault upon the mountain.
Little man, his youth a fountain.
Overdrafted and still counting.
Vernacular, verbose; an attempt at getting close to where he came from.
In the doorway of the stars, between Blandford Street and Mars;
Proposition, deal. Flying button feel. Testicle testing.
Wallet ever-bulging. Dressed to the left, divulging the wrinkles of his years.
Wedding-bell induced fears.
Shedding bell-end tears in the pocket of her resistance.
International assistance flowing generous and full to his never-ready tool.
Pulls his eyes over her wool.
And he shudders as he comes.
And my rudder slowly turns me into the Marylebone Road.'

Aside from the overt smut, I still say that Ian Anderson is perhaps the finest lyricist in rock.

One thing I always thought was funny with that passage is how Ian is so clever with the lyrics throughout, and then comes in the extremely blatant "He shudders as he comes". It's almost as he gave up with the witty rhyming and allegories.

[kcrvrrnnr]

The huntress in Hunting Girl to me is a reference to a Mistress in a BDSM sense, dominating the poor git who opened the gate for her horse to pass.

And no mention yet of Velvet Green, or God forbid, Kissing Willie?

[Deleted]

Jun 22, 2012 23:23:22 GMT -5 kcrvrrnnr said:

The huntress in Hunting Girl to me is a reference to a Mistress in a BDSM sense, dominating the poor git who opened the gate for her horse to pass.

And no mention yet of Velvet Green, or God forbid, Kissing Willie?

Haha, yeah, he was hardly subtle with kissing willie. Roll Yer Own comes to mind, too...

[eepie]

i love this thread!
one of my favorite lines on all of SFTW is that "tight against the seam" one... it makes me bite my lip every time!

many years ago when i was listening to this album a lot, i actually had a dream about a guy i was seeing back then, in which he had big curving rams horns like a satyr.  it was a very powerful (and very sexy) image, which i directly attribute to being completely immersed in this album.  

actually, i have had another dream about my current boyfriend that i believe was influenced by SFTW and HH, in which my guy was standing on a rocky outcropping in a green-green field, wind blowing through his long hair, and him wearing a kilt!   another powerful (indeed, lip-biting) image for me, even though nothing overtly sexual was happening.   i do have quite a bit of scottish ancestry, but my guy is actually jewish and italian, nothing remotely scottish/british/celtic about him.   i don't know if i was just projecting in my dream, or if the dream was trying to tell me something about him, still trying to figure that one out!

recently i saw a youtube video of an old interview with ian, where he touched on something along the lines of what i call racial or cultural memories.   i was surprised to hear him mention something like that, because it has been an idea of mine for quite some time.   the idea is hard for me to explain, but basically it has to do with strong feelings and emotions conjured up when listening to certain music, or even looking at certain things, landscapes, woods, the ocean, etc., and it's a very visceral reaction, where i feel like i am remembering on almost a cellular level, where the thing i am hearing or looking at is brushing up against my dna.

ugh, i probably sound loopy to you guys.   i've tried to explain this to my guy, and he doesn't seem to understand it at all, or at least he is not admitting it.   it's a hard thing to get across to someone if they haven't felt anything like that themselves i guess...   does anyone know what i mean?

and now, i am so far off-topic it's not funny!   sorry!

[Michael Crowe]

Dec 29, 2014 23:19:09 GMT -5 eepie said:

i love this thread!
one of my favorite lines on all of SFTW is that "tight against the seam" one... it makes me bite my lip every time!

many years ago when i was listening to this album a lot, i actually had a dream about a guy i was seeing back then, in which he had big curving rams horns like a satyr.  it was a very powerful (and very sexy) image, which i directly attribute to being completely immersed in this album.  

actually, i have had another dream about my current boyfriend that i believe was influenced by SFTW and HH, in which my guy was standing on a rocky outcropping in a green-green field, wind blowing through his long hair, and him wearing a kilt!   another powerful (indeed, lip-biting) image for me, even though nothing overtly sexual was happening.   i do have quite a bit of scottish ancestry, but my guy is actually jewish and italian, nothing remotely scottish/british/celtic about him.   i don't know if i was just projecting in my dream, or if the dream was trying to tell me something about him, still trying to figure that one out!

recently i saw a youtube video of an old interview with ian, where he touched on something along the lines of what i call racial or cultural memories.   i was surprised to hear him mention something like that, because it has been an idea of mine for quite some time.   the idea is hard for me to explain, but basically it has to do with strong feelings and emotions conjured up when listening to certain music, or even looking at certain things, landscapes, woods, the ocean, etc., and it's a very visceral reaction, where i feel like i am remembering on almost a cellular level, where the thing i am hearing or looking at is brushing up against my dna.

ugh, i probably sound loopy to you guys.   i've tried to explain this to my guy, and he doesn't seem to understand it at all, or at least he is not admitting it.   it's a hard thing to get across to someone if they haven't felt anything like that themselves i guess...   does anyone know what i mean?

and now, i am so far off-topic it's not funny!   sorry!

Don't worry, I major in off topic, and have had my wrist slapped by a ruler a couple times here. And yes, I do know what you mean about things brushing up against your DNA. I'm just drawn to some things, mostly woody, earthy things (it's no wonder I was a farmer for some 20 years) and even these strange romantic images. Sometimes I will hear a song for the first time, usually a Celtic type thing, and think I've heard it before. It will touch deeply and sometimes bring a tear, weird things like that, as if I have this hidden memory of something from long ago. Celtic musical forms just stirs my blood and I can't help it. Being that life is in the blood, I suppose there might well be something in the DNA that is passed along that hasn't really been unlocked by science yet, or perhaps it's deeper, spiritual even. Don't know about the ram's horns but I sometimes wish I could sprout antlers just for fun. Be great at parties.

Captain Beyond!! Alright! (As I shamelessly reply to two post at once). Captain Beyond's first album, as you've represented here, is in my top five albums all time. Actually, I have worked for the guy who produced it and even shared the stage with the vocalist Rod Evans once, back in 75 I think it was. He sat in with the band I was in in a club one night. Just came up and did a couple cover songs then a duet with our singer. Sad to say I didn't recognize him and didn't find out who he was until after the show. He had an American girlfriend in the town we were playing in turns out. I also crossed paths with CB's guitarist, Rhino, a couple times over the years. Nice man. Sad to say he passed away last year.

[wembley]

I don't know if this has been touched on but "The examining body examined her body". Medical fetish?

[Bill Baurle]

"I've a tenner in my skintight jeans.
You can touch it if your hands are clean."

[Bill Baurle]

"...I subsequently came across something on Cup of Wonder..."

Crikey, I hope you wiped it off!

[Bill Baurle]

Apr 16, 2015 2:44:17 GMT -5 wembley said:

I don't know if this has been touched on but "The examining body examined her body". Medical fetish?

Touched on? Indeed, I believe 'ee did, randy ole bugga!