01 June 2013

A Walk with Aqualung – Locomotive Breath

Greetings Dear Reader,

It is unfortunate but a little theological history is necessary to delve properly into this song.  First and hopefully obvious is that “Old Charlie” is an archaic euphemism for the devil.  Since this is the focus of the chorus it is important but more on that later.  The next item and more in keeping with the religious theme of the B side is and understanding of who the “all time loser” is. 

In the ultimate struggle for the souls of men it is the devil who is also the ultimate loser.  From a theological perspective the entire thing begins with Lucifer’s rebellion against God and his interference with men.  The “all time winner” then is God.  It was Lucifer who led the rebellion against God and “caught” the angels who fell with him.

“Gideon’s Bible” is a reference to the organization called The Gideons who are known for leaving Bibles in hotel rooms.  Page one would be the first chapter of Genesis.  This is significant in that the first line of Genesis is simply, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

With this as the backdrop it seems clear to me that the story is simple.  How it impacted me is not so simple.  I did not have the same impact on me back then.  I did not have the theology to understand the song and because of life I saw myself as “the all-time loser.” 

Anger and pain combined with this feeling set me on a path toward destruction.  It would be at the last moment when I found that I would rather live.

Locomotive Breath – Ian Anderson

In the shuffling madness
Of the locomotive breath
Runs the all-time loser
Headlong to his death

Oh, he feels the piston scraping
Steam breaking on his brow

Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train, it won't stop going
No way to slow down
Oh, oh

He sees his children jumping off
At stations one by one
His woman and his best friend
In bed an' having fun

Oh, he's crawling down the corridor
On his hands and knees

Old Charlie stole the handle
And the train, it won't stop going
No way to slow down
Yeah, yeah

He hears the silence howling
And catches angels as they fall
And the all-time winner
Has got him by the balls

Oh, he picks up Gideon's Bible
Open at page one

I thank God, he stole the handle
And the train, it won't stop going
No way to slow down

No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down
No way to slow down

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

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