Song of the Day 1/10: Jethro Tull, “Skating Away (On the Thin Ice of a New Day)”

Filed in Arts and Entertainment by on January 10, 2023

To give you an idea how long ago the “classic rock” period was, Ian Anderson wrote this song for Jethro Tull’s “War Child” album in 1974, when scientists had concluded Earth was entering a cooling phase. Anderson approached it with his usual apocalyptic existentialism, but the lyrics are impressionistic, so the folk melody and lilting flute make it seem like a metaphor for cautious optimism.

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  1. Arthur says:

    Speaking of cooling phases, i just read on NPR that it is predicted that the ozone layer will be fully repaired in 20 more years. I think this shows that with the right restrictions we can change our future. well not with those in power for the next 15 years

  2. Steve Beard says:

    This is my favorite cover of that great song. Anaïs Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer did this in 2013 while touring to support their amazing album Child Ballads. It was obviously just something they enjoy doing together. Hope you enjoy it.

    https://youtu.be/uIZ-Dd0GuWU