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Jethro Tull — Up To Me
Album: Aqualung
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1887









Released: 1971
Length: 3:11
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Take her to the cinema
And leave you in a Wimpy bar
You tell me that we've gone too far
Come running up to me
Make the scene at cousin Jack's
Leave him to put the bottles back
Mends his glasses that I cracked
Well that one's up to me, hey

Oh, it's up to me
It's up to me

I buy a Silver Cloud to ride
Pack the tennis club inside
Trouser cuffs hung far too wide
Well, it was up to me
Tyres down on your bicycle
Your nose feels like an icicle
The yellow fingered smoky girl
Is looking up to me, yeah

Whoa, you know it's up to me, yeah

Well I'm a common working man
With a half of bitter, bread and jam
And if it pleases me I'll put one on you, man
When the cuppa fades away

Whoa, it's up to me
Whoa, I said, it's up to me, yeah

The rainy season comes to pass
The day-glo pirate sinks at last
And if I laughed a bit too fast
Well, it was up to me
Take you to the cinema
And leave you in a Wimpy bar
You tell me that we've gone too far
Come running up to me, hey

Whoa, you know it's up to me, yeah
I said it's up to me, yeah
Comments (208)add comment
 itaytay wrote:

Proof that a flute is not meant to be in Rock and Roll.  Liked them as a kid but a listen  later in life  and thought , "I liked this ?" 



Posted 2 months ago by swtobias508    [ Reply ]
ya know...their first six albums are very, very, good. 
Posted 7 months ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
Regular rotation in friends first apartment where we all hung out for  weekends.
Posted 9 months ago by KPC1    [ Reply ]
Nice guitar fills from the under-appreciated Martin Barre.
Posted 9 months ago by SchoepTone    [ Reply ]
Excellent!  But, Benefit is my favorite Jethro Tull album.
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 ecojot wrote:


Ian Anderson said he didn't write it as a concept album


Then he tossed out "Thick As a Brick" to make up for it.
Posted 2 years ago by jsd52756    [ Reply ]
Exquisite!
Posted 2 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Oh my. Everyday and education with RP. Jethro Tull from Blackpool, Lancashire, England. I will place a very sure bet that getting out of Blackpool was their greatest joy at the fame and fortune Aqualung and such brought to them.
Posted 2 years ago by MysteryMan    [ Reply ]
 On_The_Beach wrote:

A little of your whining goes a long way. Whine less often. And by less I mean never.



I dunno. It was a clever line. I disagree, but it was clever.
Posted 3 years ago by dray2009    [ Reply ]
 jmjohall wrote:
Never get tired of Tull!  Except Aqualung.  I could do without ever hearing that song again...
 

Awww- C'mon   You know you like it
Posted 3 years ago by grhorn    [ Reply ]
Ah, Aqualung.  Such mis-deeds undertaken in those 1970's years while under your spell...lol 
Posted 3 years ago by Chwkbud    [ Reply ]
 jmjohall wrote:
Never get tired of Tull!  Except Aqualung.  I could do without ever hearing that song again...
 
Me too if i ever hear that song again i will scream bloody murder 
Posted 4 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
I love this song. I love Tull!!!!!
Posted 4 years ago by Steve_Bumgardner    [ Reply ]
 neptunejeff wrote:
One of the first classic concept albums....than you RP  
 

Ian Anderson said he didn't write it as a concept album
Posted 4 years ago by ecojot    [ Reply ]
Never get tired of Tull!  Except Aqualung.  I could do without ever hearing that song again...
Posted 4 years ago by jmjohall    [ Reply ]
One of the first classic concept albums....than you RP  
Posted 4 years ago by neptunejeff    [ Reply ]
god, how I hate their music
Posted 5 years ago by itaytay    [ Reply ]
Wore this album out in college. Still not tired of it.
Posted 5 years ago by Donzi    [ Reply ]
Posted 5 years ago by sunflowerbee    [ Reply ]
I used to be able to count on RP to introduce me to amazing new music. Now it seems to be 80% obscure classic rock that is obscure for a reason.

Posted 5 years ago by jukes1    [ Reply ]
This is bliss. Kisses my fingertips!
Posted 5 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
Is this a remastered or remixed version?  Things sound a little more present than I'm used to.
Posted 5 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
 ahess247 wrote:
A little Jethro Tull goes a long way. Play it less often. And by less often I mean never. 
 
A little of your whining goes a long way. Whine less often. And by less I mean never.
Posted 6 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 fredriley wrote:

Wimpy Bars are still going, though few are the survivors of the onslaught of Macdonald's and Burger King. There's one in the Broadmarsh Centre in Nottingham for sure.

  

I'll gladly pay you on Tuesday for a hamburger today
 
 
 
 
 

Posted 6 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
You know it's the best radio out there when you tune in and you listen to "the yellow fingered smoky girl is looking up to me"!
Posted 6 years ago by wyrd    [ Reply ]
A little Jethro Tull goes a long way. Play it less often. And by less often I mean never. 
Posted 7 years ago by ahess247    [ Reply ]
 oppositelock wrote:
Bowie followed buy Tull.  Must have gone into my record collection.  ;)
 

 
PSD'd from Bowie to Jethro Tull and China Girls was still on when it ended.
Posted 7 years ago by the_jake    [ Reply ]
 impediguy wrote:
Dan Auerbach is no Jethro Tull.
 
Does he aspire to be an 18th Century agriculturist?  Does he even aspire to be Ian Anderson? 
Posted 7 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 impediguy wrote:
Dan Auerbach is no Jethro Tull.

 
   or Ian Anderson for that matter.. {#Tongue-out}
Posted 8 years ago by moodfood    [ Reply ]
Aqualung on Original Master Recording...nom nom nom. 
Posted 8 years ago by Angry_Old_Man    [ Reply ]
Dan Auerbach is no Jethro Tull.
Posted 8 years ago by impediguy    [ Reply ]
 LowPhreak wrote:

If it were up to me, we'd never hear Metallica {#Razz} and hear Tull at least once a day.

 
LowPhreak for President!!!
Posted 8 years ago by Lindo525    [ Reply ]
Yeeeeeeah!
Posted 8 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
Bowie followed buy Tull.  Must have gone into my record collection.  ;)
 
Posted 8 years ago by oppositelock    [ Reply ]
Perfect sequence after Blackstar of David Bowie! Thanks Bill!
Posted 8 years ago by marcoshs    [ Reply ]
 Webfoot wrote:
Hey, they beat Metallica for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Grammy in 1989.

 
If it were up to me, we'd never hear Metallica {#Razz} and hear Tull at least once a day.
Posted 9 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
 oldfart48 wrote:
more, more, more, tull rules what happened to ian anyway? one hell of a music genius.

 

Still farming in Scotland I believe.. owns quite a Large estate that encompasses the working farm.
Posted 9 years ago by Toke    [ Reply ]
God, how many Aqualung albums did I wear out back then!? LOUD, with headphones, toking from a four finger lid.
Posted 10 years ago by stalfnzo    [ Reply ]
I'm enchanted by Tull's Rock from that time, likewise swept away by Robert Nye's novels "Falstaff" and "Merlin"!  
fine Olde English from Nixon's days


Posted 10 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Hey, they beat Metallica for the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Grammy in 1989.
Posted 10 years ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
Blimey, Wimpy Bar.  When we used to eat burger, egg and chips off of a plate with a knife and fork.  Like grown ups.
Posted 10 years ago by DaidyBoy    [ Reply ]
 Kaisersosay wrote:
Is this Ron Burgundy?  Jazz flute

 
DUH
Posted 10 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
{#Sunny}MORE, MORE, MORE !!!!!!  TULL IS DAKINE
Posted 10 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
This was one of the first albums I ever bought. Sometime in the early 70's
Posted 11 years ago by zerosomething    [ Reply ]
Back in those days, the Tricky Dick Nixon days of horrific Inflation, daily news of Fall of Rome scandals and senseless bloody civil rights struggle, with the New Color TV-Broadcast obscenity of the war in VietNam playing as a grim backdrop, this was the perfect alternative soundtrack, the real deal, with hard-hitting cynicism, snarky witticism and madhouse lyricism, and Oh, how we through the tutelage of our righteously enlightened elders rightly nightly worshipped it so! Cross-Eyed Mary, Mother Goose, Aqualung -- Oh, the Dickensian lore these characters were steeped in! and Whoah, the way Ian and JTull jammed out with it all! I love how it still proves itself so presently worthy of providing us with such cathartic Rock Poetry in this the latest episode of the current season of the newest version of Babylon.
Posted 11 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Really wish I would have heard more Tull when I was young.  All we heard on the radio was Aqualung, Locomotive Breath, and Bungle in the Jungle.  Good songs, but there was so much more to them that I am only now getting exposed to.  Keep it coming!
Posted 11 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
This sucks!
Posted 11 years ago by anyalein    [ Reply ]
 oldfart48 wrote:
more, more, more, tull rules what happened to ian anyway? one hell of a music genius.

 
Well, we all get older. He's 66 now.
Posted 11 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
 unclehud wrote:



The origin of grunge clothes, hair, and beards.

 
sorry, bro,  we are still here, and it started many years before grunge was a drip down.......war types {#Propeller} have short hair and uniforms..
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 calypsus_1 wrote:

Original Jethro tull by ~Kissa21
©2007-2010 ~Kissa21

This is this was 1968
 


The origin of grunge clothes, hair, and beards.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
more, more, more, tull rules what happened to ian anyway? one hell of a music genius.
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
Yesssss. Awesome Album.  Don't know how this song got a 7 rating !!!!!
Posted 11 years ago by KennyShabs    [ Reply ]
What a great album!
Posted 11 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
 Boy_Wonder wrote:
"Take you to the cinema
And leave you in a Wimpy Bar"

Now that dates this.... and me! 

 
Wimpy Bars are still going, though few are the survivors of the onslaught of Macdonald's and Burger King. There's one in the Broadmarsh Centre in Nottingham for sure.
Posted 11 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
For some reason, every time I hear Jethro Tull, I think of The Hobbit, or people that dress up and go to Renaissance festivals.
Posted 11 years ago by leafmold    [ Reply ]
sounds nice on this morning.
Posted 11 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
"Take you to the cinema
And leave you in a Wimpy Bar"

Now that dates this.... and me! 
Posted 11 years ago by Boy_Wonder    [ Reply ]
Tull shook my world.
1970; heard Teacher, from Benefit.
Everything changed. I was 16 years old.
What a master, Anderson!
Posted 11 years ago by gjeeg    [ Reply ]
This was my first 8 track tape, and for months it was the only one I had. I almost wore it out. No one complained when we had to listen to it over and over for hours while driving around in my parents car! Great stuff.


Posted 11 years ago by pmikep    [ Reply ]
A great Concept Album!       There are many of these running for office!     {#Clap}
Posted 12 years ago by dew34    [ Reply ]
 ziakut wrote:
Oh yes.
 
Oh yes. And yes. Well played, Sir William.
Posted 12 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
Oh yes.
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]

Nicely chosen.


Posted 12 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
 oppositelock wrote:
I totally agree.  I have been listening to Jethro Tull most of my life, as a matter of fact "Thick As A Brick" was the first album I ever bought and I have to say that "Heavy Horses" is my favourite work from them of all time.  Ian's vocals and flute work are supreme as well as the construct of each song.................wonderful!!! 

One of my favorites.
 


Posted 12 years ago by Jayleen    [ Reply ]
 martinc wrote:

What a silly comment? Make you happier if he didn't wear a watch...that's just goofy. I saw him recently, great show and not sure if he was with or without watch. Really didn't matter.
  
It was meant to be a "silly comment", not a discourse on how Time is a man-made construct.  It may be a bit fanciful to call the comment "goofy", though.
{#Propeller}
Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 alanthecowboy wrote:

Give Heavy Horses a shot, if you haven't already.  Their finest and most coherent album, in my opinion.
 

One of my favorites.
Posted 12 years ago by oppositelock    [ Reply ]
right not the best track from the album - but 
in the early 2000's I was listening on the car radio to some lovey dovey song which was also by or called aqualung - had a very sad moment thinking that in 1971 we could have something like Aqualung with a bit of social comment and interest and in 2003 or whatever we are back to airwaves full of lovey dovey anodine nothingness. What a progressive generation we turned out to be! (not)  mind you IA/JT ended up singing about girls with long legs in his male menopause which was not exactly worlds news either.
Posted 12 years ago by LizzyA    [ Reply ]
A double shot of Hell.  The Decemberists followed by Jethro Tull. I must be paying for my sins.
Posted 12 years ago by schayler    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:


Does he really need to wear that watch while performing?  I guess it matches his Rolex® codpiece.
 
What a silly comment? Make you happier if he didn't wear a watch...that's just goofy. I saw him recently, great show and not sure if he was with or without watch. Really didn't matter.
Posted 12 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
 More_Cowbell wrote:

 

Does he really need to wear that watch while performing?  I guess it matches his Rolex® codpiece.

Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 bam23 wrote:
I once thought that I liked Jethro Tull, largely based on early FM radio. Then I listened more in recent years and realized that there is a kind of clunkiness to their music. It does not really flow, it's composed of discrete pieces that they rarely merge adequately. Still, some good songs have come out of this morass.
 
Give Heavy Horses a shot, if you haven't already.  Their finest and most coherent album, in my opinion.

Posted 12 years ago by alanthecowboy    [ Reply ]
I will be picking up the Steven Wilson mixed 40th anniversary edition.
Posted 12 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
Always like that line, The yellow fingered smokey girl is looking up to me. {#Lol}
Posted 13 years ago by CCinSB    [ Reply ]
I once thought that I liked Jethro Tull, largely based on early FM radio. Then I listened more in recent years and realized that there is a kind of clunkiness to their music. It does not really flow, it's composed of discrete pieces that they rarely merge adequately. Still, some good songs have come out of this morass.
Posted 13 years ago by bam23    [ Reply ]
Now that's crescent fresh
Posted 13 years ago by samsamsupersam    [ Reply ]
One my wife's favourite bands.
Took me a while to get to enjoy them, and even was bored (shame on me) at a live show they had here in Israel.

But - came around and quite like them now!
Most Interesting music they have.
Posted 13 years ago by shokkas    [ Reply ]
 Throbbin wrote:
Reminds me of my old home, and tuff times ay school. But great track. Saw Ian last year, still out there playing - never too old eh. Time for a nice cup of tea - Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day anyone? 
 
Was that at St Albans? I was at that gig - excellent ;-)
Posted 13 years ago by ianmoff    [ Reply ]
Reminds me of my old home, and tuff times ay school. But great track. Saw Ian last year, still out there playing - never too old eh. Time for a nice cup of tea - Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day anyone? 
Posted 14 years ago by Throbbin    [ Reply ]
Saw them every time they came out to the Forum in LA - Ian Anderson played eight different instruments and Rex Reed at the time called him untalented and their music inaccessible - loved it then, love it now
Posted 14 years ago by mernamiranda    [ Reply ]
is this Jack Black singing?
Posted 14 years ago by kootzy    [ Reply ]
Is this Ron Burgundy?  Jazz flute
Posted 14 years ago by Kaisersosay    [ Reply ]

Posted 14 years ago by More_Cowbell    [ Reply ]
and the great sets just keeps going. thanks.
Posted 14 years ago by alisavox    [ Reply ]

Original Jethro tull by ~Kissa21
©2007-2010 ~Kissa21

This is this was 1968

Posted 14 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Couldn't get to the mute button fast enough!
Posted 14 years ago by weevilkinevil    [ Reply ]
I remember this song as a pause between the other epics on this record.
Posted 14 years ago by listen_n_sf    [ Reply ]
...thanks for playing this...
Posted 14 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
I really like this one, but Broadsword would be cool to hear some time....

Posted 14 years ago by katearhar    [ Reply ]
 PeorgieTirebiter wrote:
Back! Back, I say! Back to 1971 where you belong!
 
I wouldn't mind, for a little while at least.

That was a good year for me... 
Posted 14 years ago by Propayne    [ Reply ]
Niice...  thank you all those years ago for giving us this LP/CD, Ian!  Epic then, epic now, epic ALWAYS!!
Posted 14 years ago by bubink    [ Reply ]
There are so many better Tull tracks to choose...
Posted 14 years ago by dsmith1010    [ Reply ]
I'm in a Tull lovin' mood....Upped it to a 9 {#Drummer}
Posted 14 years ago by sandpebble    [ Reply ]
It just occurred to me that the Decemberists owe a bit of a debt to these guys.
Posted 14 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
 shakylegs wrote:
November 5, the day after Barack Obama was elected president.
And here I was, hoping for change.
Alas, there's still Jethro Tull on Radio Paradise.
   Hannio wrote:


On the other hand, so much else has changed.  Right?  Work with me here, people.
 
   Some things are not supposed to be messed with,,{#Yes}
  

Posted 14 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
 jonahboo wrote:
PERFECT ALBUM
 
Agree!!

Posted 15 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
 shakylegs wrote:
November 5, the day after Barack Obama was elected president.
And here I was, hoping for change.
Alas, there's still Jethro Tull on Radio Paradise.
 

On the other hand, so much else has changed.  Right?  Work with me here, people.


Posted 15 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
PERFECT ALBUM
Posted 15 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
 MediaGrrl wrote:
hello, Spinal Tap.
 
Allo Allo! {#Wave}

Album

The Boys


Posted 15 years ago by peter_james_bond    [ Reply ]
hello, Spinal Tap.
Posted 15 years ago by MediaGrrl    [ Reply ]
hmmm i dont like it....
Posted 15 years ago by gorgi    [ Reply ]
Liking that a lot 10 out of 10 always Jethro Tull fan, it is like a home football team to me, I am a Jethro Tull hooligan and will always vote 10/10 (even for their crappiest stuff - no, just kidding). Great song of great album, very fresh, even after 38 years or so.


Posted 15 years ago by woodshit    [ Reply ]
Back! Back, I say! Back to 1971 where you belong!
Posted 15 years ago by PeorgieTirebiter    [ Reply ]
the best! vot eto ispolniaut!! molodzy!.... ^)) i love such music
Posted 15 years ago by Dmitrii    [ Reply ]
I was a little girl when this came out, my older sisters told me that 'Cross-Eyed Mary' was my song.  I thought this was great until I became old enough to hear/understand the lyrics...Children can be sooooo cruel  {#Lol}

Love the Album
Posted 15 years ago by MaryM    [ Reply ]
This is why I LOVE RP.  I really have never liked Jethro Tull but I have only heard what gets radio play on those crappy old style stations.  I have never heard this song and, now this is good. 
Posted 15 years ago by kingfish2004    [ Reply ]
PERFECT ALBUM
PERIOD
Posted 15 years ago by Wonderloaf    [ Reply ]
Lost Tull gem. How many are there?
I grew up on this magic

Posted 15 years ago by gjeeg    [ Reply ]
Was always one of my favorite tracks on Aqualung, but has been completely forgotten by mainstream radio — you'd think the title track and Locomotive Breath were the only two songs on the album. Thanks for digging this out!
Posted 15 years ago by radiojunkie    [ Reply ]
My only Jethro Tull story...a short time after the album Benefit came out ("Teacher"—great song that understandably stood out), Reprise allegedly sponsored a contest run through some local FM station: "The first caller to phone in the correct total minutes of all the songs on the album would win..." Took out my copy, and...there were no song times on the label, sleeve, or jacket. Considered playing and timing each track, but no one could be that strung out.

Found out later that the "contest" was a gag. Guess I was the last one on the block to know that Benefit lacked playing times. Coulda hated Tull, but ended up hating Reprise and FM in roughly that order.

Posted 15 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 ddimartino wrote:
This Band was another unique addtion to the British invasion of the late 60's.

The early version with Glenn Cornick on bass quitar Martin Barre and Ian Anderson 
https://blog.libero.it/scheggedivetro/2315027.html   

Check out albums Stand UP and Benefit.

Live, these guys were one of the great bands to see, right up there with the Who and led Zepp! 
 
 



I also like This Was a lot, although I'm well aware that LP had Mick Abrahms on lead guitar. He left JT to form Blodwyn Pig, of course.
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
lyrically amazing. that's about it for me
Posted 15 years ago by SuzenJueL    [ Reply ]
 doctorespinoza wrote:
This is one of Jethro Tull's rare covers. The original was by a band called "Motherboy":


 

You seem to have forgotten the smiley to indicate you're having us on.

Posted 15 years ago by maryte    [ Reply ]
 shakylegs wrote:
November 5, the day after Barack Obama was elected president.
And here I was, hoping for change.
Alas, there's still Jethro Tull on Radio Paradise.
 
Yeah, some things in America are still ruled by old white men.
Posted 15 years ago by Papernapkin    [ Reply ]
This Band was another unique addtion to the British invasion of the late 60's.

The early version with Glenn Cornick on bass quitar Martin Barre and Ian Anderson 
https://blog.libero.it/scheggedivetro/2315027.html   

Check out albums Stand UP and Benefit.

Live, these guys were one of the great bands to see, right up there with the Who and led Zepp! 
 
Posted 15 years ago by ddimartino    [ Reply ]
November 5, the day after Barack Obama was elected president.
And here I was, hoping for change.
Alas, there's still Jethro Tull on Radio Paradise.
Posted 15 years ago by shakylegs    [ Reply ]

Jethro Tull was an amazing band and their concerts were always outstanding.  Their mix of traditional Celtic music with rock's booming beat remains distinctive and classic.  Though "Up To Me" is not among my favorites, I have several of their tunes on my "play it at my funeral" CD (Dun Ringall, Jack A Lynn, Kelpie, and Grace), and one of their album covers on my shoulder (Roots to Branches).  

Tull will always be part of my eclectic musical taste, and a group of Brits whose musical genius compares to the Beatles and Stones. 

Rock On!

                    {#Notworthy} 

{#Bananajam}  {#Boohoo}  {#Guitarist}   {#Drummer}

                    
                     {#Clap}



Posted 16 years ago by RedTopFireBelow    [ Reply ]
Thank you, RP! {#Music}
Posted 16 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
 matt832 wrote:

Can we have a 0 rating ——PLEASE!


It really does not get much worse than this....  Jethro Tull should be put to rest - permanently ( that picture of that bad truly says it all... )

Posted 16 years ago by Fooboy    [ Reply ]
In public I would never admit I have the potential to like Tull. Hearing this song, I know I do! Secretly...!

Posted 16 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
The first record I ever bought. Late 70s. Well I'm a common working man with a half of bitter -- bread and jam and if it pleases me I'll put one on you man -- when the copper fades away. The rainy season comes to pass -- the day-glo pirate sinks at last -- and if I laughed a bit to fast. Well it was up to me. Arguably, the most original rock band ever. Who can you honestly compare them to?
Posted 16 years ago by Chazar    [ Reply ]