A Walk with Aqualung – Lick Your Fingers Clean

Greetings Dear Reader,

This song was intended for the original album but the technology prevented it.  Some years later I encountered this song.  It was reworked into Two Fingers on the Warchild album.  I think it would be a disservice to the work to not comment on it here.  Keep in mind that I was in a much different place mentally when Warchild came out in 1975 and when I heard this song live for the first time.  

I love the imagery of the offering plate being a chamber pot.  Again Ian Anderson fits a very honest message into the song without being preachy or snarky.  The key for me is when he talks about election.  Most people do not realize that he is speaking of one of the vast arguments of faith. 

Some believe that we are chosen (elected) by God to be perfected by God.  If we pretend perfection and do not realize how far we have to go to be like Christ then we are dishonest.  If we pretend that we are perfect we will not crucify the flesh as we are required.

If we are not going to accept God over the institutes of the church then we should be sure that we make a good deal with the church.  Remember that the Christian church is guilty of selling salvation in many ways.  Faith, however, cannot be bought. 

If we are going to buy into the systems of religion we had best do so in a way that leaves us a good name with them.  If we are going to truly follow Christ we had best adopt some humility and realize the depth of our failure to be what God wishes us to be as his followers.

By the time I heard this song I was already on a path that included Christ and following him.  I still had much to learn about what that meant but God was slowly healing my mind and heart. 

Lick Your Fingers Clean – Ian Anderson

I'll see you at the weighing in

When your life's sum-total's made.

And you set your wealth in godly deeds

Against the sins you've laid.

So you place your final burden

On your hard-pressed next of kin:

Send the chamber pot back down the line

To be filled up again.

Take your mind off your election

And try to get it straight.

And don't pretend perfection ---

You'll be crucified too late.

And he'll say you really should make the deal

As he offers round the hat.

Well, you'd better lick your fingers clean; I thank you all for that.

And as you join the good ship earth

And you mingle with the dust

Be sure to leave your underpants

With someone you can trust.

And the hard-headed social worker who bathes his hands in blood

Will welcome you with arms held high

And cover you with mud.

And he'll say you really should make the deal

As he offers round the hat.

Well, you'd better lick your fingers clean, I thank you all for that.

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."