Anderson was born on 10th August 1947, the youngest of three children. He spent the first part of his childhood in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was influenced by his father's big band and jazz records and the emergence of rock music, though disenchanted with the "show biz" style of early American rock and roll stars like Elvis Presley. His family moved to Blackpool, Lancashire in 1959, where he gained a traditional education at Blackpool Grammar School. He went on to study fine art at Blackpool College of Art from 1964 to 1966.
In 1963, he formed The Blades with school friends Barriemore Barlow (drums), John Evan (keyboards), Jeffrey Hammond (bass), and Michael Stephens (guitar). This was a soul and blues band, with Anderson on vocals and harmonica. At this time Anderson abandoned his ambition to play electric guitar, allegedly because he felt he would never be "as good as Eric Clapton". He traded his electric guitar in for a flute which, after some weeks of practice, he found he could play fairly well in a rock and blues style. He continued to play acoustic guitar, using it as a melodic as well as rhythmic instrument. As his career progressed, he added soprano saxophone, mandolin, keyboards, and other instruments to his arsenal.
His famous tendency to stand on one leg while playing the flute came about by accident. As related in the "Isle of Wight" video, he had been inclined to stand on one leg while playing the harmonica, holding the microphone stand for balance. During the long stint at the Marquee Club, a journalist described him, wrongly, as standing on one leg to play the flute. He decided to live up to the reputation, albeit with some difficulty. His early attempts are visible in The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus film appearance of Jethro Tull. In later life he was surprised to learn of iconic portrayals of various flute playing divinities, particularly Krishna and Kokopelli, which show them standing on one leg.
While Anderson has recorded a small number of critically acclaimed projects under his own name, and frequently makes guest appearances in other artists' work, he has been identified in the public eye as the frontman of Jethro Tull for forty-four years. This is undoubtedly because a signature motif of Anderson's career has been a highly distinctive stage image, which has often been counter to the prevailing rock music culture. While he has habitually drawn inspiration from British folklore – at different times deploying stylistic elements of mediæval jester, Elizabethan minstrel, English country squire and Scottish laird – at other times he has appeared as astronaut, biker, pirate, and vagrant. His personae often involve a large degree of self-parody.
As a flautist, Anderson is self-taught; his style, which often includes a good deal of flutter tonguing and occasionally singing or humming (or even snorting) while playing, was influenced by Rahsaan Roland Kirk. In 2003 he recorded a composition called Griminelli's Lament in honour of his friend, the Italian flautist Andrea Griminelli. In the 1990s he began working with simple bamboo flutes. He uses techniques such as over-blowing and hole-shading to produce note-slurring and other expressive techniques on this otherwise simple instrument.
He has recorded several songs on which he plays all the instruments as well as carrying out all the engineering and production (such as 1988's "Another Christmas Song"). Anderson's music blends styles such as folk, jazz, blues, rock, and pop. His lyrics are frequently complex, (mostly) tongue-in-cheek criticism of the absurd rules of society and/or religion ("Sossity, You're a Woman"; "Hymn 43"; "Thick as a Brick"). He often combines lyrics with other leitmotifs such as folk, mythological, fantastic ("The Minstrel in the Gallery", "Jack-in-the-Green", "Broadsword and the Beast"). In the 1990s and 2000s, Anderson's songs often capture 'snapshots' of his daily life ("Old Black Cat", "Rocks on the Road").
Eurology
Ian Anderson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Banana smoothie, snails in a jar
Three dodgy sailors, a girl on skates
A little too muscled from doing weights
A family wedding, a sushi bar
Sand in the Seychelles, karaoke star
Lads on the razzle get lost in love
The crumpled sheets of a long hot summer.
Stored images like an acorn, drop
Squirreled away, but still remembered
By the man in the photo shop
Rush hour on Praed Street behind the glass
A picture process, in one hour fast
Intimate portraits of topless wives
Flashed indiscretions, snap-happy lives
The lyrics of Ian Anderson's song Eurology paint a vivid picture of various snippets of life around Europe. The song appears to be a nostalgic reflection on past experiences and memories associated with different places and people the singer encountered during his travels. The opening verse mentions a Morris Minor car, a retro British car known for its distinctive style, parked outside a Cafe Noir, suggesting that these elements recall a typical European ambiance. The next line mentions the bizarre combination of a banana smoothie and snails in a jar, emphasizing the cultural diversity of food available in Europe. The image of three dodgy sailors and a girl on skates could represent general street scenes or even some personal experience of the author. The last line of the first verse describes a girl who's a little too muscular from doing weights, adding a bit of humor and irony.
The second verse describes other glimpses of European life, including a family wedding, a sushi bar in Japan, and lads on the razzle getting lost. The third verse seems to be a reflection on storing memories, like an acorn squirreled away but still remembered. The man in the photo shop could represent the singer himself, who has kept these photos safe to look back upon. The last set of lines in the song describes a photo studio where pictures are processed quickly, and the subjects are often topless wives indulging in indiscretions, which again adds to the humorous tone of the song.
Overall, Ian Anderson's "Eurology" is a nostalgic and humorous song that paints a diverse and colorful picture of life in Europe. The singer seems to capture moments that are poignant and memorable, injecting humor at times and emphasizing the distinct atmosphere and diversity of the continent.
Line by Line Meaning
A Morris Minor, a cafe noir
Describing a setting of a classic car parked in front of a black coffee shop
Banana smoothie, snails in a jar
A list of peculiar items, one sweet and another odd
Three dodgy sailors, a girl on skates
A group of people, including suspicious sailors and a roller-skating girl
A little too muscled from doing weights
Referring to the physique of a person who works out excessively
A family wedding, a sushi bar
Describing a scenario of attending a family wedding and afterwards, sushi dining
Sand in the Seychelles, karaoke star
A person is vacationing in Seychelles includes karaoke singing
Lads on the razzle get lost in love
Young men who frolic and party often find themselves infatuated
Paddington station, rain clouds above
Describing an overcast and rainy scenario at Paddington station
The crumpled sheets of a long hot summer.
Alluding to the memories of a past summer, perhaps a romantic fling
Stored images like an acorn, drop
Memories are preserved like an acorn, waiting to grow into something bigger
Squirreled away, but still remembered
Though memories may be suppressed, they could still be vividly remembered
By the man in the photo shop
A photo shop owner may play a part in preserving memories
Rush hour on Praed Street behind the glass
Observing Praed Street from within a glassed-in structure during the busy hours
A picture process, in one hour fast
Taking pictures at a fast pace or delivering processed images within an hour
Intimate portraits of topless wives
Taking personal pictures of wife without clothing
Flashed indiscretions, snap-happy lives
Either referring to taking unsolicited pictures of people or personal privacy violations
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IAN ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Huff
This man's music has been part of my life since the 70's. He's given me much joy in this life. Thanks, Ian.
Tommy Thompson
Was always taken aback by those who said the flute didn't belong in R&R. Jethro Tull rocks, and Aqualung still sounds great. Me and my friends air-fluted just as hard as we air-guitared.
Marty Costello
Hell yeah. And Jon Luponta just played the fiddle. Forgive my spelling but my ears still rock.
Tommy Thompson
Steven Haywood - You got that right!
Steven Haywood
Tommy Thompson , Ian Anderson is an incredible flute player!
sttgaegoaktd
Neil Angus
Ian Anderson has influenced my life since 1969
A master of masters
Brenda Branson
AHH ...MY SOULS MUSIC!!! THANK YOU VERY KINDLY SIR IAN🏴❤
Javier LLerena
Jethro Tull is part of my life , I grew listening my favorite band , the best prog rock band ever .
Patty Fair
I hope he knows what a treasure he is... please always keep playing
Enrique Granese
Ian Anderson, genio, revolucionario de la música. Su flauta transversal nos transporta. Grandioso!