Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day
Jethro Tull · Original Masters [1985]
When you belonged to no one,
You didn't stand a chance, son,
If your pants were undone.
'Cause you were bred, for humanity
And sold to society
One day you'll wake up, in the present day
A million generations removed from expectations
Of being who you really want to be.
Skating away, skating away, skating away,
On the thin ice of the new day
So as you push off from the shore,
Won't you turn your head once more
And make your peace with everyone.
For those who choose to stay
Will live just one more day,
To do the things they should've done.
And as you cross the wilderness,
Spinning in your emptiness
If you have to, pray.
Looking for a sign, that the universal minds
Has written you into the passion play.
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
And as you cross the circle line,
Well the ice wall creaks behind
You're a rabbit on the run.
And the silver splinters fly
In the corner of your eye,
Shining in the setting sun.
Well do you ever get the feeling
That the story's too damn real
And in the present tense.
Or that everbody's on the stage
And it seems like you're the only
Person sitting in the audience
Skating away, skating away, skating away
On the thin ice of the new day
Skating away, skating away, skating away
Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day
Released on the 1985 compilation Original Masters, this track by Jethro Tull stands as a quintessential example of the band's progressive rock evolution. The song features the distinctive flute work of Micky Waller and showcases Ian Anderson's intricate guitar melodies, characteristic of the group's mid-career output. While often associated with their earlier folk-rock roots, the recording demonstrates Anderson's growing proficiency in complex time signatures and atmospheric textures. The piece captures a reflective mood, utilizing the band's signature acoustic instrumentation before the full-scale orchestral arrangements of their later work. It remains a staple of their discography, illustrating the transition from their 1970s folk-rock period to the more polished, studio-crafted sound of the 1980s.