It was recorded on the fifth and last day of the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, where Jethro Tull were second on the bill between The Moody Blues and Jimi Hendrix.
The third album, Benefit, released four months prior to the festival, which also supplies three tracks to their IOW set, was the first to feature pianist John Evan, who provides extra colour and sophistication to their music - not that Tull ever really lacked either with Anderson's flute slashing its way through the heavy grooves of their rhythm section
One of the great rock frontmen, Anderson is amusing and insightful in his descriptions of Jethro Tull's development before and after 1970, his analysis of their performance at the Isle of Wight and the fractious atmosphere that prevailed over the course of the festival. His commentary is well-balanced and self deprecating and he makes the perfect guide to this fascinating footage.
Lyrics
People, what have you done Locked Him in His golden cage Golden cage Made Him bend to your religion Him resurrected from the grave From the grave
He is the God of nothing If that's all that you can see You are the God of everything He's inside you and me
So lean upon Him gently And don't call on Him to save you From your social graces And the sins you used waive You used to waive
The bloody Church of England In chains of history Requests your earthly presence at The vicarage for tea
And the graven image you know With His plastic crucifix He's got him fixed Confuses me as to who and where and why
As to how he gets his kicks He gets his kicks Confessing to the endless sin The endless whining sounds You'll be praying 'til next Thursday to
All the Gods that you can count
Songwriters: Ian Anderson My God Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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