Songs from the Wood is their tenth studio album, released February 1977. Inspired by English pagan folklore and countryside living, it signaled a stylistic change. Performing in a wide-ranging folk rock style which combined traditional instruments and melodies with hard rock drums and electric guitars, it is rooted in the band’s complex progressive rock style. It’s the first album to include David Palmer (now Dee Palmer) as an official member of the band, who after eight years of serving as the band’s orchestral arranger had joined as a second keyboardist in early 1976.
Compared to previous Jethro Tull albums, Songs From the Wood saw greater writing contributions from other members of the band besides Anderson, particularly from new keyboardist Palmer and guitarist Martin Barre. Palmer wrote significant portions of several songs, including the title track, “Hunting Girl”, “Velvet Green”, “Ring Out, Solstice Bells” and “Pibroch (Cap in Hand)” and also introduced the portative pipe organ to the rest of the band, an instrument which became a major element of the album’s classical folk sound. The band made use of a variety of other instruments and recording techniques to contribute to the album’s folk theme, including medieval-era percussion played by Barlow such as nakers and a tabor as well as a reverse echo guitar effect played by Barre on “Pibroch (Cap in Hand)” to imitate the sound of bagpipes.
Source: wikipedia
There’s a light in the house in the wood in the valley.
There’s a thought in the head of the man.
Who carries his dreams like the coat slung on his shoulder,
Bringing you love in the cap in his hand.
And each step he takes is one half of a lifetime:
no word he would say could you understand.
So he bundles his regrets into a gesture of sorrow,
Bringing you love cap in hand.
Catching breath as he looks through the dining-room window:
candle lit table for two has been laid.
Strange slippers by the fire.
Strange boots in the hallway.
Put my cap on my head.
I turn and walk away.
Songwriter: Ian Anderson
This is the remastered version of it:
Tao Talk 
I like the remastered version…what an intro…they slip in a lot of things in the song.
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I agree it’s a sophisticated song! It’s one of my favorite “new” songs I discovered doing this A2Z.
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He has one of those voices that makes any song his…
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Enjoyed that. Thank you.
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You’re welcome š
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At the beginning part of the intro there’s a bit that reminds me of a humming beehive. All kinds of stuff going on – this feels like the most complex of the songs so far.
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I agree with you on its complexity. I love the use of the medieval instruments in it.
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Mm, listening to the original now. I love that sound. Very layered. They do have this folk-rock sound on some of their songs I’ve noticed. It kind of reminds me of some of the Beatles songs where it’s like rock is just starting and it isn’t all rock yet. Does that make sense? Definitely rock but also definitely other things. I love it when a good pop/rock song successfully brings in more “traditional” sounds. Really interesting. I like this one a lot!
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So happy you like this one. You’re right it starts out rock and then…
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It’s pretty cool how they mixed folks elements and traditional instruments with rock!
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Yes, it’s a real tasty soup š
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I like all these information about the band, new guy, new sound!
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FrĆ©dĆ©rique I am happy you are enjoying the series. I’m enjoying yours immensely. So many fabulous repurposing ideas!
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A great song and I just love the intro!
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It is a different kind of intro, like angry bees battling or something like that š
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That’s exactly as I hear it!
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Wow. This is excellent… I really like the very folky bits and how that electric guitar sits with it all.
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Glad you like it, J! It is pretty badass š
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I’m not familiar with this album. Good stuff. (K)
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It is!
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I love how experimental they are. But 8 minutes is a bit long!
Black and White: S for Shangri-La
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Thanks for listening (no matter how much of it you got through) and commenting, Anne š
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The opening instrumentals was a bit too much for me, so I fast forward a piece to enjoy the lyrical portion which was more to my enjoyment.
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Thank God for fast-forward and happy you found a part of it you enjoyed š
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