Meanwhile back in the year one
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 everybody'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


Lyrics submitted by knate15

Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of A New Day Lyrics as written by Ian Anderson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Skating Away (On the Thin Ice of a New Day) song meanings
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  • +3
    My Interpretation

    I think this song is, as many Tull songs are, about casting away conventional thought and forced beliefs and then dealing with the pressures of being an individual with different views.

    As in the case of religion, when you start believing in what so many others around you do not (and they believe it very important), it feels like you are leaving them, mentally and spiritually.

    Who else views things the same way you do? If there aren't big buildings to collect in, signs, and evangelists telling you what to believe in, how do you know? Typically, independent thinkers feel alone for this reason. However, I think there is a much deeper meaning to the "only person sitting in the audience" line.

    puzzudon October 23, 2009   Link

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