"Life Is a Long Song" is a song composed by Ian Anderson and first recorded by Jethro Tull. It was released as the lead track on an EP of the same name on 3 September 1971,[1] which reached No. 11 in the UK charts.[2] The song later appeared on the 1972 compilation album Living in the Past.[3]
| "Life Is a Long Song" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Jethro Tull | |
| from the EP Life Is a Long Song / Up the Pool | |
| Released | 3 September 1971[1] |
| Recorded | 17 May 1971 |
| Studio | Sound Techniques, London |
| Genre | Folk rock |
| Label | Chrysalis |
| Songwriter(s) | Ian Anderson |
| Producer(s) | Ian Anderson |
The song is centred around Anderson's acoustic guitar playing,[4] and the lyrics talking about everyday life, concluding that "the tune ends too soon for us all".[5] It is the first Jethro Tull recording to feature drummer Barriemore Barlow, who had joined the group shortly before.[2]
Fairport Convention covered the song on their 1997 album Who Knows Where the Time Goes.[6]
References
editCitations
- ^ a b "DISC & MUSIC ECHO". Jethro Tull Press. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
- ^ a b Rees 1998, p. 44.
- ^ Rees 1998, p. 187.
- ^ "Jethro Tull's 10 Greatest Guitar Moments". Guitar World. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Top 10 Jethro Tull songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
- ^ "Who Knows Where The Time Goes". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
Sources
- Rees, David (1998). Minstrels in the Gallery – A History of Jethro Tull. Firefly. p. 187. ISBN 978-0946-719228.