Why this page?
This site is my personal tribute to
Jethro Tull, the band that in their 33-year existence
turned out to be a musical love for life and to their
music and lyrics that got so intensely intertwined
with my personal history. Back in 1968 I was a 16
year old youngster who in those days could not
foresee, that this band would have such an impact.
Well, I'm glad it happened.
Ever since I bought Aqualung in 1971 I
toyed with the idea to "do something" with
these captivating lyrics. I started studying them,
making notes, treating these songs like the poetry I
had to study for the French, English and Dutch
classes I took at that time and that I loved so much.
When I got access to the internet six
years ago I noticed to my astonishment that I wasn't
the only one who studied Ian's lyrics, for they were
discussed there by people from all continents. All
these comments and information in newsgroups, forums,
websites and by email shouldn't be lost in my
opinion. So I started gathering them and while
corresponding with my dear Tull-friend Kyle Barnett,
who sadly passed away in June 1998, the idea rose to
start a project.
The decisive motive for designing my own
website however sprang directly from my profession. I
work at a teachers' trainings college and therefore
am interested in how the internet can contribute to
education. So, just to fathom the character of this
relatively new medium, I decided to learn myself how
to develop an informative website on one subject.
Maybe the new acquired skills and experiences could
help me when training students in applying the
internet for educational purposes in primary
education?
The author's identity revealed,
hiking in Cornwall, looking for Pussy Willows, Heavy
Horses and Jacks-In-The-Green.
So here it is. "Cup Of Wonder"
was designed to offer a possibility to study Ian
Anderson's lyrics. Apart from all the songs written
between 1968 and 1999 you will find all kinds of
background information and comments on the contents
of the lyrics, references made in the texts,
additional information such as maps, pictures,
relevant links to other websites, etc. The site is
primary text-based and I added only illustrations
where I thought them functional and supporting the
annotations.
I want to state that I do not have the
pretention to know or understand it all and if I am
to be considered an expert on Tull lyrics, remember
that I would only be so because of the help of fans
from all over the globe. Apart from the factual
information presented here, I added many of my
personal interpretations. It has never been my
intention to over-intellectualise or dissect
Anderson's lyrics in a way that would harm the
integrity of his art. On the contrary: the aim of
"Cup Of Wonder" is to evoke discussions and
appreciation of the lyrics. An important feature of
Ian's art is that it can be interpreted in many ways.
To put it more strongly: there are as many Jethro
Tulls as there are Tull-fans. So why not exchange our
views?
This site will be permanently under
construction, as long as the discussions continue and
Jethro Tull keeps on going. Every week new
information is added and I have some new features in
store for you. If you have any comments, information
or remarks, that may lead to appreciate Ian
Anderson's lyrics even more than they already do now,
please feel free to email me. Once I have found them
serious I will add them to the song(s) in question,
crediting 'the informer'. I thus hope to create a
platform for studying, discussing and most of all
enjoying the lyrics of our songsmith and "singer
of these ageless times", Ian Anderson.
Take care,
Jan
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