Ian Anderson's dad was dying at the time Anderson wrote these songs.
Compare Slipstream to Cheap Day Return:
(Here Anderson sings about the mundane which stands as metaphor for a stage and performance, his work, his career)
On Preston platform
Do your soft shoe shuffle dance.
Brush away the cigarette ash that's
Falling down your pants.
(Here Anderson sings about the conflict of pursuing his life in rock versus being there for his dying dad).
And you sadly wonder
Does the nurse treat your old man
The way she should.
(Here Anderson reveals contempt for the idea that stardom could be more important than anyone's life.)
She made you tea,
Asked for your autograph --
What a laugh.
So that bit about pressing on God's waiter your last dime as he hands you the bill likely is about Anderson paying the funeral bill at the church for his dead dad.
And through the turbulence of his life (slipstream) he escaped (paddle right out) of the phoniness of it all (mess).
Ian Anderson's dad was dying at the time Anderson wrote these songs.
Compare Slipstream to Cheap Day Return:
(Here Anderson sings about the mundane which stands as metaphor for a stage and performance, his work, his career)
On Preston platform Do your soft shoe shuffle dance. Brush away the cigarette ash that's Falling down your pants.
(Here Anderson sings about the conflict of pursuing his life in rock versus being there for his dying dad).
And you sadly wonder Does the nurse treat your old man The way she should.
(Here Anderson reveals contempt for the idea that stardom could be more important than anyone's life.)
She made you tea, Asked for your autograph -- What a laugh.
So that bit about pressing on God's waiter your last dime as he hands you the bill likely is about Anderson paying the funeral bill at the church for his dead dad.
And through the turbulence of his life (slipstream) he escaped (paddle right out) of the phoniness of it all (mess).
@WayfarerWex Thank you - this is a very reasonable and thought out response. Explains both songs in a logical way.
@WayfarerWex Thank you - this is a very reasonable and thought out response. Explains both songs in a logical way.