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Post by Nonfatman on Jan 27, 2010 13:59:45 GMT -5
May I suggest the song MITG as the next one up for discussion here on Look Into the Song? I think it is Tull's greatest hard rock song, and arguably one of the best rock riffs in the history of rock music. But I have never fully understood, and have always been rather put-off, by the lyrics and how he describes concert goers in such a derogatory way. Infant-bleating one line jokers? Static-humming panel beaters? What is going with the lyrics in this song....what is the meaning behind them? Is it all somehow made okay because, in the end, the Minstrel looks through his looking glass and realizes that he is just like them?  Ian has too often shown a tendency at times to denigrate audience members, in his lyrics ("my word's but a whisper your deafness a shout" may be another example") and also his periodic rants or dressing downs of concert-goers during live shows. I'm sure that it is well-deserved at times, but there have been several occasions (one blatant one in particular) when he went off on some fans for no reason....because they were late returning to their second row seats, which was not their fault because the restroom lines at the venue were so long that not all the people could not use the restrooms before the second half of the show began. Jeff |
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Post by TM on Jan 27, 2010 14:53:33 GMT -5
I always thought he was referring to Mix, and not the 'audience' when he sung "static humming panel beaters."
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Post by tootull on Jan 27, 2010 15:52:40 GMT -5
Jan says it all for me. ;D www.cupofwonder.com/minstre2.html#minstrel"he polarized (...),he titillated (...), he pacified (...)" This is the last Tull song that I've heard on radio...to date. I see all of you in this.  Minstrel In The Gallery The minstrel in the gallery looked down upon the smiling faces. He met the gazes observed the spaces between the old men's cackle. He brewed a song of love and hatred, oblique suggestions and he waited. He polarized the pumpkin-eaters, static-humming panel-beaters, freshly day-glow'd factory cheaters (salaried and collar-scrubbing). He titillated men-of-action belly warming, hands still rubbing on the parts they never mention. He pacified the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating, one-line jokers, T.V. documentary makers (overfed and undertakers). Sunday paper backgammon players family-scarred and women-haters. Then he called the band down to the stage and he looked at all the friends he'd made. The minstrel in the gallery looked down on the rabbit-run. And threw away his looking-glass - saw his face in everyone. Ian Anderson |
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Post by Nonfatman on Jan 27, 2010 16:12:44 GMT -5
I always thought he was referring to Mix, and not the 'audience' when he sung "static humming panel beaters." It's confusing. I always it thought it referred to front row fans pounding on the vertical riser of the stage while singing along, but now I'm seeing that it is a British expression for auto-body repairmen. But your interpretation seems valid too. We need to take a close look at these lyrics. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panel_beaterJeff |
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Post by Nonfatman on Jan 27, 2010 16:16:24 GMT -5
I just read Jan's interpretation, and it's very good, but still there are lines in the song that I do not understand.
Jeff
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Bogenbroom
One of the Youngest of the Family
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Post by Bogenbroom on Feb 7, 2010 15:49:17 GMT -5
...but still there are lines in the song that I do not understand. Jeff Such as? |
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Post by Nonfatman on Feb 8, 2010 13:31:14 GMT -5
...but still there are lines in the song that I do not understand. Jeff Such as? Almost all of it, really. Firstly, I don't see why he wrote about his audience in such an unbecoming way. And who cares how he views his fans, anyway? It's an odd subject for a song, and I've always been put off by the lyrics, although musically it is astounding, one of the best hard rock riffs ever, perhaps the best ever, and certainly one of Ian's best vocal tracks. But lyrically, it seems so self-important, almost as if he was having delusions of grandeur or something. Who cares how he judges the ordinary folks in the audience? What does he mean by "polarizing" the "pumpkin-eaters, static humming panel beaters and freshly day-glow'd factory cheaters." And also what does he mean by "pacifing the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating one-line jokers," etc., etc. And why is he "looking down" on the audience as if they are a bunch of rabbits. Don't get it. Am I missing something here? Jeff |
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Bogenbroom
One of the Youngest of the Family
Posts: 63
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Post by Bogenbroom on Feb 11, 2010 11:07:58 GMT -5
Hmmm, well for one, I usually assume a large degree of separation for two areas (concerning Ian's lyrics): Cultural slang (yanks and brits don't often speak the same language) and time (much of this stuff was written before I was born). Another thing I assume when listening to Ian is that some stuff is written for fun or to lyrically fit and may not have a whole lot of meaning behind it. I don't say those things to automatically dismiss something that doesn't make sense at first blush but there's only so much delving one can do given the circumstances. We may conjecture as much as the next but unless Ian comes out and states his intent, the adage "your guess is as good as mine" can often fit. To your "delusions of grandeur" comment...who's to say he WASN'T? He's only human of course. When you reach a certain status it's easy to believe the praise being heaped upon your head (or so I've read, no personal experience in that matter here  ). Add to that Ian's inherent cynical nature I think the "minstrel looking down" on his crowd quite apt. |
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Post by Nonfatman on Feb 11, 2010 11:27:27 GMT -5
You raise some good points BB. Excellent discussion on this one, exactly what we are looking for with this Look Into the Song sub-board.
Paul has suggested that we get into Flying Dutchman next, an excellent choice for discussion, so Paulie, why don't you start off with your thoughts on that one and then we'll all jump in.
Jeff
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Post by TM on Feb 11, 2010 17:58:44 GMT -5
Almost all of it, really. Firstly, I don't see why he wrote about his audience in such an unbecoming way. And who cares how he views his fans, anyway? It's an odd subject for a song, and I've always been put off by the lyrics, although musically it is astounding, one of the best hard rock riffs ever, perhaps the best ever, and certainly one of Ian's best vocal tracks. Actually Jeff I think it's an interesting topic, although I know exactly what you're saying. Ian surely seems to denigrate his audience, although in the end he wises up realizing he's no better then them.
And threw away his looking-glass - saw his face in everyone.But lyrically, it seems so self-important, almost as if he was having delusions of grandeur or something. Who cares how he judges the ordinary folks in the audience? Ian was clearly quite full of himself back then. Of course at the same time having wrote "I have no time for Time Magazine or Rolling Stone..." Obviously today Ian would be all too happy to gain interest from either. But I think it's interesting to read his observations even if it's not becoming of him. What does he mean by "polarizing" the "pumpkin-eaters, static humming panel beaters and freshly day-glow'd factory cheaters." And also what does he mean by "pacifing the nappy-suffering, infant-bleating one-line jokers," etc., etc. And why is he "looking down" on the audience as if they are a bunch of rabbits. Don't get it. Am I missing something here? Jeff This is tough. Usually I just totally disregard his lyrics and simply focus on the music when Ian goes off using esoteric terms. Although now with google at our finger tips he's much easier to follow. But what I can tell you is this: Ian is referring to the British drama film from 1964 called The Pumpkin Eaters: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pumpkin_EaterThe panel beater line as I suggested in the past makes sense in that he's referring to the guys handling the mixing console. Who knows the plight of the rest of these souls Ian's singing about? Ian was surely trying to make us work and I'm not inclined to work that hard for entertainment purposes. Besides I have one of those nappy-sufferers at my door who currently needs pacifying. |
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Post by Nonfatman on Feb 13, 2010 15:50:26 GMT -5
Well, perhaps you are right, Paul, it was an interesting topic for a song, as look at how much discussion it generates! But I am uncomfortable with The Minstrel (Ian) thinking he is somehow better than his audience, even if he realizes at the end he is no different, why should he have thought that to begin with? The way Ian was so full of himself, and the way he sometimes treated his fans and audience members with disdain has bothered me over the years (as has his penchant for putting down this country), although I would have to say that I have had more positive experiences than negative ones the three or four times I have met him, including one particularly positive experience that you already know about!
The pumpkin eater reference you supplied was interesting, but who is the pumpkin eater, is it the Anne Bancroft character or the Peter Finch character? And I still don't understand how it is being used within the context of the song. The static humming panel-beater line is baffling: Your interpretation definitely seems solid, but then the phrase "panel-beater" is a British expression for autobody repairman, and it is followed in the song by the freshly day-glowed "factory-cheaters" which I suppose refers to factory workers?
Who knows, but all-in-all you are right. There is too much wordplay and alliteration going on in this song to really understand exactly what he is talking about. Usually I do not like songs if I don't love the lyrics, but Minstrel in the Gallery has always been an exception for me, because the music is just so fucking great.
Jeff
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). Add to that Ian's inherent cynical nature I think the "minstrel looking down" on his crowd quite apt.