Thick As A Brick

Album: Thick As A Brick (1972)
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  • Really don't mind if you sit this one out
    My words but a whisper your deafness a shout
    I may make you feel but I can't make you think
    Your sperm's in the gutter, your love's in the sink
    So you ride yourselves over the fields and
    You make all your animal deals and
    Your wise men don't know how it feels
    To be thick as a brick

    And the sand-castle virtues are all swept away in
    The tidal destruction, the moral melee
    The elastic retreat rings the close of play
    As the last wave uncovers the newfangled way
    But your new shoes are worn at the heels and
    Your suntan does rapidly peel and
    Your wise men don't know how it feels
    To be thick as a brick

    And the love that I feel, is so far away
    I'm a bad dream that I just had today and you
    Shake your head and
    Say it's a shame

    Spin me back down the years
    And the days of my youth
    Draw the lace and black curtains
    And shut out the whole truth
    Spin me down the long ages, let them sing the song Writer/s: Ian Anderson
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 47

  • Shone from Serbia, Belgrade.Jethro Tull is the best band in all music world. Long live Ian, and Your musician too.
  • Precious from PhillyThe legends (worded in the ancient tribal hymn) lie cradled
    In the seagull's call.
    And all the promises they made are ground beneath the sadist's fall.

    He is referring to the ancient Hebrew tribes. Their songs/hymns of God's promises in their lives came to ruin under the grinding influence of Lucifer's fall from heaven. The Sadist. He was their enemy and appears to have done everything within his power to destroy them and their faith.
    Yet, as promised, a remnant returned in 1948. We will see how much damage was done.

    O Father high in heaven smile down upon your son, expresses God's ongoing frustration with those he loves. We have locked Him in his golden cage and lived by rules that prevert what it is He wants. He is the God of everything; He's inside you and me.

    Anderson toys with us, with our generation, with fools and people who don't think, who harmonize lines in the hellish chorus, instead of picking up Gideon's Bible open at page one, where we will find the words written about this One, The Dawn of Creation, The Maker of all things.
  • Rollin Waters from UkIan popped by again last week for a pint and we reminisced about the entire post-Vietnam media-driven, low intellectual dosage sound-bite mentality that permeated American radio, (and culture) at that time. The entire album was intended as a discreet, symbolic middle-finger to the over-controlled music industry at the time.
    "Also one of my best pieces!" he admitted.
  • Kevin D. from IrelandActually In Las Vegas 1972 Jethro Tull played the whole of Aqualung album, took a twenty minute break and played Thick as a Brick in its entirety.
    The opening were The Eagles who were introduced as Linda Ronstants back-up band.
    Best show in my life and I've seen them all.
  • Jeffrey Nolan from Stowe , Vt 05672Thick as a Brick is without a doubt thee most complex music ever recorded in the history of music , any genre , any time frame, including but not limited to the greats o classical , country, R and B , Motown , Bluegrass , The Blues etc , etc. No frontman , lyricist , self taught flutist, self taught guitarist , self taught Mondolin , as well as the ancient middle ages Glockenspiel instrument. Period. No ifs , and, or but's, that is my FINAL RULING on Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull.
  • Lars from DenmarkThe best in the world
  • Mh from Illinois John Evan's keyboard work around "Do you believe in the day" ranks with or better than any other keyboard work ever.
  • Hector M Vazquez from Tustin Ca. The first time I play this album , I can’t believe my ears , touching social standards , memories and this doubt or duality everybody have like a human in our lives , poetry , sarcasm , nobody understands how is to be Thick as a brick.
    This album is for me , a master piece , lyrics and music , words who open minds and music who hit your brain hard.
  • Cybershaman from All Points In Between...The advantage of being an old fart ... I have the album with the newspaper intact.
  • Anthony from Columbus, OhRE: Patrick from On.'s comment. IMHO, it is the exact opposite. The wise men he refers to are actually not wise at all. A truly wise person is aware that no matter how much they know, there is an infinite amount yet to be learned. The only people who don't know how it feels to be 'thick as a brick', are those dim enough to believe they know it all. Which also may be a sly reference to the critics.
  • Roger from Dallas, TxSeeing both the Aqualung and Thick as a Brick tours was, (considering the era) a total trip. They still evoke sharp memories. Masterpiece.
  • Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaRumour has it that Ian Anderson is planning to release Thick As A Brick II for 40th anniversary in May or June 2012!
  • Margret Hamilton from St. Paul, MnOk, so the critics hated it. We hate the critics. So we're even.
  • Joe from Grants Pass, Ori don't 'bout any any of you, but my fingers get sore just listening to this... LUVIT !!; also Barriemore one of my all-time favs, along with Cozy Powell
  • Tanner from Okemos, MiJethro do you think it is long enough yet?
  • Patrick from Kingston, OnI am surprised there hasn't been a comment on the title itself. As per the lyric, "and your wise man don't know how it feels, to be thick as a brick." Is probably one of the greatest thoughts written in a rock lyric. The only thing a wise man will never, ever know or learn is what it is like to be stupid. Great observation.
  • Mario Anthar from Tijuana, MexicoThis is a complete musical experience.
    It's beautifil and bright, complex and simple, so full of intensity and magic.

    "The dawn creation of the kings has begun..." is beyond description.

    About the critics. In my opinion, the previous album had created quite a buzz around the media, drawing the attention of main stream business, opening new markets and getting full support from all those involved in getting the thick as a brick album out and promoting it.
    top selling album for 3 weeks is proof of that.

    My guess is that by the time the powers that be realized this was not the radio friendly "in bed and having fun" sort of album they unleashed the dogs.

    By the way, who cares about the critics.

    Greets from Mexico.
  • Matt from Victori, TxI love this album, but feel "A Passion Play" may be even more challenging/rewarding. Both of them are life changers.
  • David from Bala Cynwyd, PaTo add on what Jeff (from Detroit) stated, Ian Anderson was upset that the critics considered the Aqualung album a concept album...
    consequently, his attitude (towards the critics) was "OK, you want a concept album, I'll give you a concept album that's over-the-top and bombastic."...so as much as one can appreciate the composition/musicianship of TAAB, it was really meant as a send-up album...in the end, TAAB scored well with the J-Tull fans...
  • Tom from Marble Falls, ArJohn from Jasper, Canada, Gerald Bostock IS Gerald Bostock! That was literally the name of the kid on the front cover. He's still alive and well, living in England.
  • Marley from Springfield, NjThis song truly is a masterpiece. It is beautiful but also rocking at the same time.
  • Eric from Lake Orion, Miis it me or does most of the song sound like rush composed it
  • Eric from Lake Orion, Mito really find out about the recording buy the cd "thick as a brick" and the last song if u will is an interview with the band
  • Kevin from Jacksonville, FlIn an interview with Martin Barre, he stated he was terrified the first couple times they had to play this entire best live in 1972. The music is so complex with a lot of changes and odd time signatures strung together, he was afraid he would mess up or forget some of the parts. Passion Play in 1973 must have been even more unnerving to pull off.
  • Andy from Rockaway , NyPure concept.Anderson would always end his concerts in the 70's with...........THICK AS A..................audiance: BRICK.
    Great Music!!
  • Tim from Davis, CaI dissagree with Robert from Chicago, the best veresion to put on you iPod is the whole thing! (and it's the easiest to find, on iTunes anyway).
  • Heather from Los Angeles, Ca"...and the love that I feel is so far away...." my favorite lyric in the song.
  • John from Jasper, CanadaGerald Bostock is Ian Anderson.Ian and band were fans of Monty Pythons Flying circus tv show that was bein shown on tv at the time.
  • Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaThe beauty that is Jethro Tull is these guys would do ANYTHING to prove they COULD play any instrument ever known to man, & could sing any style ever done! True masters & this song/album tops it all!
  • Robert from Chicago, IlThere are other edits of this song found elsewhere in the Tull catalog. There's a second edit found on the "Repeat: Vol.II" collection which is roughly the 11:00 to 14:00 segment. Another version appears on FM radio occasionally combining the first three minutes of the song (Main Theme) with the "Comic Books, Super Crooks" segment found towards the end of Side I, tagging on the last 30 seconds of the "Finale" from Side II. The latter is my favorite for those who want one to put on their iPod. I have no idea where to find this version, but I think it might be on the "Anniversary Collection" 2-CD set. It's around 6 minutes long.
  • Gabriel from Paris, FranceLyrically and musically one of the Jethro Tull's more complex albums of all times, "the mother of all concept albums" as Anderson use to refers when asked and a response to people calling Aqualung a concept album. The music for this album developed, as they did for previous records, along the way during live shows and rehearsals in north london. Lyrically it is supposed to be based on a poem written by a 8-year old boy called Gerald "Little Milton" Bostock, a fictional character invented by Anderson (photo on album cover). This album contains a lot of details of the british-kind of humor of the time, specially regarding Monty Phyton's Flying Circus show.
  • Micheal from Little Rock, AkThick as a Brick os the coolest song ever because he plays the flute and sings during the song and I like the sound of the flute and the melody of the song.
  • Angie from Ocean Springs, MsTull puts on a hellofa show, fo show!
  • Saul from Lowell, MaIan Anderson doesn't just write songs... he writes what has commonly been called a "masterpeice"

    "Thick as a Brick can be compared to ANY masterpiece written by Beethoven,Bach, or any other of these brillant men...wish i could meet Ian before I "mingle with the dust"
  • Chris from Paradise, CtThis is the best rock song in the history of rock and roll....Ian anderson is amazing on the flute!!!!!!
    Does anyone know what it means????
    -Chris Galea-
  • Tressa from Eaton Rapids, MiIts a great song!!! One of their best. I recently saw them in concert a few weeks ago. They were great!!!
  • Erik from Cherry Valley, Ilthe critics hated it because it is so long, they fail to realize the masterpiece that it is

    Jethro Tull is a great reason why I love progressive rock, they don't write music around 3 minute radio slots, they take thier time with it and the result is awesome
  • Dan from Omaha, NePrimarily because of this song/album, but also because of their other work, I think Jethro Tull is the most deserving group to be in the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame that has yet to be inducted. I find myself listening to this album and soul searching.
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesRe: the last comment - Charlie, I assumed you meant Part 1, but I now see that you meant the entire work
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesCharlie, the critics hated it, like they hated the TAAB album, because it was ahead of it's time, and they simply weren't ready for it
  • Rabin from London, Englandmy favourite album.followed by songs from the wood,minstrel in the gallery,stand up.must make time to listen tull more often. rabin.rbose@ealing.gov.uk
  • Andrew from TorontoGreat song and album design,one of the many things lost in the CD age.The CD is great though because u can listen without having to flip the record over as is the case with many CD releases from 60,s and 70,s.This album in my top five Tull releases but in my opinion lags behind Stand Up and Aqualung.
  • Nessie from Sapporo, JapanPete, that "Robin Hood" feel is from the open tuning used for the guitar. Awesome guitar work on this one, their best song.
  • Pete from Nowra, AustraliaJethro Tull great sound ....sorta takes me back to the Robin Hood and his band of merry men days
  • Jeff from Detroit, MiI believe that critics called aqualung a "concept album", however, in Anderson's opinion, it was not. He wrote Thick as a Brick to show them what a real concept album was.
  • Charlie from Thomaston, Ctwhy did the critics hate it?
  • Ken from Hartland, MiAs mentioned on the Aqualung post, Ian swears this was his first concept album.
    I also have heard that he had quite a time collecting royalties from some countries due to the fact that in keeping with the newpaper claim, he actually listed the song as wirtten by Ian Anderson and Grerald Milton Bostock. I have heard he had to take out assumed names in some countries to get his "other" half. Anyone else have any info on this?
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