Cup Of Wonder
The Annotated Jethro Tull Lyrics Page

Annotations, information, comments, references

An introduction to "Stormwatch"

In 1978 Ian started writing songs for a new album that can be considered as the third one in a trilogy about the relation human and nature. This environmental theme, portraying a way of life that Ian sees as full of meaning with a sense of community and respect for nature, was very prominent on "Songs From The Wood" and explored further on "Heavy Horses".

In a BBC-documentary, the band band can be seen rehearsing and performing "Dark Ages", a song from "Stormwatch" which was released in 1979. Ian explains how the song is about his idea that humanity was in the late 1970's entering something akin to the Dark Ages of several hundred years ago. This is mainly the result of destruction of the environment. So the album title comes from Ian's idea that he is watching a storm coming, that will put mankind into a kind of winter in which the environment will be destroyed. One could say that both lyrics and album cover contain a warning for what is going to happen to the world if modern society doesn't change it's manic strive for economic growth at the expense of nature and environment.

The album cover shows Anderson bundled up in coat and mittens holding a set of binoculars. In the lenses of the binoculars are images of oil rigs and lightning bolts. The green and brown imagery of the previous two album covers has been replaced by blue, gray and black. The band logo takes the form of a digital readout like that of an alarm clock. The album presents itself in a very contemporary vein. Nonetheless it is easy to see it as the last in a trilogy. It doesn't look to nature or the past for a better way of life but instead calls for action in the present to save nature lest humanity suffer a terrible fate. This is illustrated on the back of the album cover. It portrays a coastal area with oil refineries on land and oil rigs off in the sea. The whole area is covered with massive amounts of snow while a gigantic polar bear rampages along the coast. In the clear sky are several birds, the constellation of Orion (the name of one of the songs) and an angel, presumably representing Gabriel who has come to blow his horn signalling the Apocalypse. (Unfortunately, the angel's face is obscured by a bar code.)

Ian Anderson and Barriemore Barlow during the Stormwatch tour. You will find more on George Cassuto's Jethro Tull Stormwatch Tour Pics Page (Thanks George for lending me this one).

Annotations

North Sea Oil

• The album begins with "North Sea Oil", which describes the greed which fuels the petroleum industry: "Riggers rig and diggers dig their shallow grave, but we'll be saved and what we crave is North Sea Oil" and the dangers of pollution for the environment. However most North Sea oil is transported by pipeline, with few pollution incidents. The only significant spill in the last 30 years of petroleum extraction occurred over 10 years after the song was written. In terms of affecting the Scottish environment, it's mainly been in industrialising rural areas.  The Shetland Isles are almost unspoilt, apart from the massive oil refinery at Sullem Voe. Oil rigs were constructed in the Scottish lochs and bays for years, ruining the views. The deep waters around Skye were used this way (see 'Broadford Bazaar'), which might have been Ian's inspiration. A significant point in understanding the song is the way the British government has made use of the oilfield resource. They could have promoted slower, steady extraction, covering Britain's energy costs and trade balance for decades, maybe longer. Instead, they went for all-out, intense development with immediate profits - which won't last. I suspect Ian disapproves. I have no political bias in saying that; governments of all parties have behaved the same way.
  * Neil R. Thomason
  

Orion

• In this song Ian seems to plea for help from the heavens: "Orion, light your lights: come guard the open spaces from the black horizon to the pillow where I lie." This reminds of the appeal in "Weathercock" from the Heavy Horses album: "Good morning weathercock: make this day bright. Put us in touch with your fair winds. (...) Point the way to better days we can share with you". Even though the album is, as Anderson himself described it, "more socially oriëntated", nature is still used to great effect.

Home

• "Home" follows in the tradition of "Fires at Midnight" and "Journeyman. In it Anderson extolls the virtues and stability of homelife: "And 'though I've been away, left you alone this way, why don't you come awake, and let your first smile take me home".

Dark Ages

• The centerpiece of the album, "Dark Ages", follows. The song laments not only the coming of a metaphorical winter for humanity but also the fact that people seem to be apathetic to their fates:
  "Come and see bureaucracy
  make its final heave,
  and let the new disorder through
  while senses take their leave....
  Take their pick
  and try the trick
  with loaves and fishes shared,
  and the vicar shouts
  as the lights go out
  and no-one really cares".

Warm Sporran

• The first half of the album ends with an instrumental piece. It would seem that Anderson is seeking shelter from the storm about to begin.

Something Is On The Move

• The second half begins with "Something's On the Move". Here the warnings have been ignored and the metaphorical winter descends upon the world:
  "Driving all before her
  un-stoppable, un-straining
  her cold creaking mass
  follows reindeer down".

Old Ghosts

• As the storm unfolds, Anderson still seeks to counter it in "Old Ghosts":
  "I'll be coming again like an old dog in pain
  Blown through the eye of the hurricane
  Down to the stones where the old ghosts play".

Dun Ringill

• Once again Anderson refers to ancient tradition as a source of inspiration and comfort for modern man. In the song, he perhaps describes a ritual taking place:
  "We'll wait in stone circles
  til the force comes through
  lines join in faint discord
  and the stormwatch brews
  a concert of Kings
  as the white sea snaps
  at the heels of a soft prayer
  whispered."
  Could it be that this stormwatch-character refers to a kind of druid, that averts here the approaching dangers? Is Anderson saying that he and a small group of others will take refuge from the oncoming "winter" by taking refuge in more "earth-friendly" ways of living and "ride the storm out" as it were?
  * "Songs from the wood", John Benninghouse; adaptation Jan Voorbij

• There is a place called Dunringill. It lies on the shores of Loch Slapin, Isle of Skye, which form part of the Strathaird estate once owned by Ian Anderson - now owned by the John Muir Trust which is a conservation body. The ruins of Castle Ringill, 900 years ago the seat of the Clan Fingon, are just a few hundred yards away from the house Anderson once lived in. An attractive and secluded spot.
  * Graeme Robertson, Habitat Scotland, Hazelmount, Heron Place, Portree, Isle of Skye, IV51 9EU, Scotland UK, url: http://www.merger.demon.co.uk/sitc/

(* Maps: http://uk.multimap.com/)

• "We'll wait in stone circles" . Two examples of stone circles, built in the neolithic era. Both are situated on the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides near Stornoway. There a many of these stone circles on the British and Irish isles. Scientists have developed several theories about these monuments considering them as places for worship and ceremony, burial and devotion, calendars etc.These photographs were made by © Diego Meozzi ( dmeozzi@micronet.it ).
  * Jan Voorbij

Flying Dutchman

• The last song with lyrics is "Flying Dutchman". The title refers to a legendary Dutch ship whose captain is doomed to sail the seas until the Day of Judgment. For those who don't follow Anderson's course of action, an unhappy life awaits:
  "So come all you lovers of the good life
  on your supermarket run....
  look around you, can you see?
  Staring ghostly in the mirror--
  it's the Dutchman you will be
  ...floating slowly out to sea
  in a misty misery".

Elegy

• The album ends with a David Palmer instrumental, "Elegy". Here ends our trilogy. The appropriation of images from folklore and nature, which were present before, come to a climax here. The conflict between urban and rural, past and present is made clear. And Ian Anderson predicts dire consequences if our present course of greed and environmental destruction is continued.

• Some comments on 'Elegy' - the song, written by David Palmer, is actually about the death of his father. It even has lyrics, which Palmer himself sung on a album he recorded sometime back in the earlier 90's. These notes were taken from a "A New Day" from some time back. But I feel that most fans, including myself, have associated this song with the passing of John. Also, John Glascock fell very ill during the recording of Stormwatch but he did not die until three weeks after the albums release, which is why no mention of his death makes it to the cover. Someone on the Tull newsgroup several months/years back made notes of the albums release date and John Glascock's date of death.
  * Matt Willis