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Ian Anderson — The Secret Language of Birds
Album: The Secret Language of Birds
Avg rating:
6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 726









Released: 2000
Length: 4:12
Plays (last 30 days): 0
This sparkling wine is all but empty.
Too late for trains and no taxis.
I know the feeling. Seems all too contrived.
There was no master plan but the fact is:
you must stay with me and learn the secret language of birds.
A tentative dawn about to be breaking
on a Rousseau garden with monkeys in hiding.
The truth of the matter, yet to be spoken
in words on which everything, everything's riding.
Now stay with me and learn the secret language of birds.

Circled by swallows
in a world for the weary.
Courted by warblers; wicked and eloquent trilling.

Lie in the stillness, window cracked open.
Extended moments, hours for the taking.
Careless hair on the pillow, a bold brushstroke.
Painted verse with a chorus in waiting.
Stay with me and learn the secret language of birds.
Comments (81)add comment
Yikes! 
A bit of trivia. Anderson owns a decent chunk of South Skye, on Strathaird. It's amazing how rich you can get playing the flute. 

Personally I'd prefer to listen to 5 minutes of real birds tweeting.
Never understood how people like this guy's music. Guess I wasn't given the right tastebuds.
Something only an engineer would wonder; how does he sing and play the flute at the same time?
More of the same... Jethro Tull v2.0.
The fun continues ~
Nice antidote to Yat-Kha
And this is exactly why I keep listening to RP.  Otherwise, I would never have heard this gem.  {#Laughing}
 Grammarcop wrote:
You may be able to learn the secret language of birds, but you'll never be able to speak it. You have a larynx to form sound. Birds have a syrinx. Your larynx is located in your throat. A bird's syrinx is located at the base of a bird's trachea. That leaves you physically unable to accurately produce the sounds made by songbirds. 

Thinking like a bird — I'm guessing — is much easier since my wife regularly accuses me of having bird brains.  

 

I like this 
First song up this morning when turning on RP. After 20 seconds of this, it's a bad omen for the day.  
I am definitely leaning towards the grim end of the ratings spectrum with this one.  In the 60's perhaps, but as recent as this?  
You may be able to learn the secret language of birds, but you'll never be able to speak it. You have a larynx to form sound. Birds have a syrinx. Your larynx is located in your throat. A bird's syrinx is located at the base of a bird's trachea. That leaves you physically unable to accurately produce the sounds made by songbirds. 

Thinking like a bird — I'm guessing — is much easier since my wife regularly accuses me of having bird brains.  
I can easily imagine Renaissance Faires nationwide banning Ian for being so OTT.  His singing reminds me of Richard Thompson's: they try too hard.
Haven't really followed Anderson post-Tull. Very nice.
 Kaw wrote:
Nice distribution of ratings.

 
Very bimodal 
This is also why I listen to RP {#Cheers}
 hayduke2 wrote:
Super!

 
Agree!
maybe he means birds as in uk english words for chicks
"Chirp, chirp, tweet, tweet" . . . think I got it.
I love tull, seen em 4 times, but RP keeps playing the odd 5hit.   Im not moaning, I just wish I heard more good tull on here or they'll get rated off the playlist.
Super!
2 the asshat who said the lyrics r gay

U MUST LIVE IN A CAVE 
 RobGraham wrote:
This track was first introduced on the Jethro Tull Album Jtull.com. This is a different mix but still very pretty. I haven't looked at the comments on this song yet but my personal thoughts are that there is no such thing as a bad Ian anderson song, Jethro Tull or not
 
indeed

tune is ok every once in a while, but the lyrics are really gay.


Nice distribution of ratings.
at last, more from Ian.......been a long time.......{#Dance}
Mangoman wrote:
Absolutely! And, ditto for guitars! They're just supposed to quietly back the saxophones!
Tull's playing Phoenix next month...argh...still don't have tix. Pretty good tune.
FilmSurgeon wrote:
Flute rock. Blargghhh!
Absolutely! And, ditto for guitars! They're just supposed to quietly back the saxophones!
TonyT wrote:
A fine song off a great album from a great musician and showman, Ian Anderson. There are better songs on the record, such as "The Habanero Reel", but even the worst on the record are pretty good, in my estimation. The fact that I. Anderson/Jethro Tull continue to delight their fans, make new music, and tour after all these years is a testament to their creativity and integrity as musicians. It's easy to sell out after ten years, but takes a boatload of talent to make a 30-something year career out of being a popular musician, as Anderson and Tull have. Critics should consider at least that much.
Well said, Tony! Cheerio!
A fine song off a great album from a great musician and showman, Ian Anderson. There are better songs on the record, such as "The Habanero Reel", but even the worst on the record are pretty good, in my estimation. The fact that I. Anderson/Jethro Tull continue to delight their fans, make new music, and tour after all these years is a testament to their creativity and integrity as musicians. It's easy to sell out after ten years, but takes a boatload of talent to make a 30-something year career out of being a popular musician, as Anderson and Tull have. Critics should consider at least that much.
I know this is a familiar refrain on RP, but this is definitely NOT the best song on the CD. Ironically, "The Secret Language of Birds, Pt. II" is IMHO the best song Anderson has recorded in the past 18 years, whereas this is kind of a dull and listless version of the same. Maybe I'll upload it....
Shesdifferent wrote:
I like Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull...but you need to expand your playlist of him. I know you guys rotate some of the same sets, but add some new cuts from this artist.
just upload files :P
This song is totally gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that...
Egrey wrote:
This album should be entitled, "The Secret Language of Sucking."
He's not so secretive about it...
I like Ian Anderson and Jethro Tull...but you need to expand your playlist of him. I know you guys rotate some of the same sets, but add some new cuts from this artist. :roll:
I wish a bird would come and peck my eardrums out.
This album should be entitled, "The Secret Language of Sucking." This song reminds me of the jazz flute scene from Anchor Man...in a bad way. No mas, por favor.
First time hearing this-wasn't aware of this solo album. Will take a few more listens but I like it so far.
Flute rock. Blargghhh!
Master composer, full showman, musical genius. Even though a bit subdued, his solo albums still show his talent.
This track was first introduced on the Jethro Tull Album Jtull.com. This is a different mix but still very pretty. I haven't looked at the comments on this song yet but my personal thoughts are that there is no such thing as a bad Ian anderson song, Jethro Tull or not
Tull = Great Ian = One legged dog... (yes you read that right)
masterhead wrote:
Ian, don't listen to this mundane comments and keep playing your exquisite Music with that graceful voice..with or without the Tull..you are always welcome at my home...
Same here. A 9.
Ian, don't listen to this mundane comments and keep playing your exquisite Music with that graceful voice..with or without the Tull..you are always welcome at my home...
Ok, so it's not my favorite tune on RP. But once again, variety is good. The local Clear Channel station plays no Tull/Ian Anderson except Aqualung, which they usually play 2-3 times during an eight hour work day.
Art_Carnage wrote:
Turns out, it's just "tweet, tweet". What a disappointment.
First you may have to master a human language before you try translating from your cousin's language. Bird Brain!!
I like the acoustic guitar.
Oof. This one really downgrades as it goes along. I started it at 4. Then knocked it to 3, 2, finally just gave up and put it at 1.
Ho Lee Cow
Turns out, it's just "tweet, tweet". What a disappointment.
If this brings anything to mind... its a man who left his band to do opening themes for 80s sitcoms... (and no, i'm not saying thats what he did, what i think he did, or what he might have considered doing)
I think this guy needs to talk to humans not birds. No getting stoned will not make this song sound better. :P
I loved Tull in the 80's but I'm really tired of it now - and this just sounds like fluffy Tull
BigCalm wrote:
Maybe you have to be stoned to appreciate this track? :?
i dunno. maybe you you should listen to it stoned and report back here afterwards! just kidding...
rah wrote:
is anyone else out there put in mind of Spinal Tap's early career?
yeah, i can hear it, but i also hear jethro tull, which is the real deal. probably sounds cheesy to a non-tull fan, but i like it cuz i like tull. the melody kinda reminds me of "bungle in the jungle" era tull.
Maybe you have to be stoned to appreciate this track? :?
is anyone else out there put in mind of Spinal Tap's early career?
This song is so darned eclectic. It's way eclectic. It's overwhelming in its eclecticity. It defines ecleticism, one might say, and perhaps, might even be referred to appropriately as the definition of eclecticism. It is so eclectic, I can't fathom it. It is too eclectic for me.
That sucks.
I wish there was a rating beneath Sucko-barfo...this song certainly deserves it.
Anything Ian Anderson has done old or new, is better than 90% of the music available. However, there are better cuts on this CD.
That was just daffy.
And all along I was thinking Styx had the dumbest lyrics. Silly me...
is it my connection, or did anyone else hear that cd-skipping effect just then? not that it spoilt my enjoyment of Mr Anderson, v. pleasant.
Originally Posted by Gonzo: Damn... why can't he go get lost in the woods or something. Somebody take that flute away from him, yak!
I agree, I fear. Oh well, a song that's TOO eclectic for me once in a while is better than no eclectic radio at all! :p
Damn... why can't he go get lost in the woods or something. Somebody take that flute away from him, yak!
Ah cool... same set! This time I only missed Doves.
Damn, I turned down the volume during this godawful song and missed Doves, Equation and Springsteen. :(
Originally Posted by Jacques: Nice, but only nice. This material sounds like it could have been a b-side of a single from the "Songs From the Wood" period... you know, the "Fairport Tull" years, which were far richer than the later "Twisted Tullster" years (when Tull won the grammy for best heavy metal recording)... what the heck wa that all about... Does Tull have a retrospective "very early years & rare stuff" CD boxed set, that I'd pay for... Cheers Jacques
Probably one of the better Tull collections is the one that came out in the cigar box package, there was a nice booklet and I believe 4 cd's. There was a subset of this package subsequently released. Smaller collections are prone to incongruous mixes and choppy flow as you might suspect, especially from a group like Tull that started out somewhat bluesy. When it comes to musical composition there are vert few Mozarts & Beethovens and thus it is indeed quite a feat to be profilic over ones entire career of writing songs. People change, thus the emotions that drove the young artist change over the years. Couple that with the fact that before they even sign that recording contract they may already have the cream of their creativty all ready and waiting to be recorded. The the record contract, press another disk, ready or not, now it's a job, whatever will I write about ?? Unfortunately for Ian and his fans, his throat has been ravaged over the years, couple that with some injuries that ensued from his histrionics on the stage, and of course father time ... Of course we change but we expect the artist to stay in the bag they were that attracted us to them ... For Tull info, checkout their web site (the web master is a band member too ) www.jethrotull.com (or as they say click here ;o) ) I am very happy to have seen them at their peak when Ian was at his best (he actually could sing sans technology and his histrionic acrobatics were great - quite a showman) , the times were a bit different. What a show they could put on. If you are a Tull fan of the early era, check out the short lived band Wild Turkey (Glen Cornick erstwhile bassplayer with Tull) was with them - they actually opened for Tull for a while). Also, check out Carmen (former Tull member John Glascock, the Amarels brother & sister - billed as Flamenco Rock) You might enjoy them ...
Very nice.
Nice, but only nice. This material sounds like it could have been a b-side of a single from the "Songs From the Wood" period... you know, the "Fairport Tull" years, which were far richer than the later "Twisted Tullster" years (when Tull won the grammy for best heavy metal recording)... what the heck was that all about? Does Tull have a retrospective, a "very early years & rare stuff" CD boxed set, that I'd pay for... Cheers Jacques A Few More Thoughts...: (June 6, 2002): After repeated listening to this tune on Radio Paradise I have grown to like it quite a bit. It's not classic Ian Anderson, but it's solid and well written. I've upped my 6 to an 8. Let's say it grew on me. Jacques
Excellent. Ian is the man. Although it pales in comparison to early Tull stuff. :D
Excellent! :D