Slow Marching Band Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Manetherin 

Cover art for Slow Marching Band lyrics by Jethro Tull

The slow marching band concept makes me think of the slow march of time. Maybe the speaker is thanking someone for a long life spent together which has now come to an end, with either the speaker or the subject dying.

At any rate it is a very beautiful song. The best way I could describe it is 'sweet sorrow'