Mother Goose

Jethro Tull's 'Mother Goose' is a whimsical and surreal journey through various scenes in London, filled with eccentric characters and curious events. The song opens with the narrator walking by Hampstead Fair, where he encounters Mother Goose, a figure from nursery rhymes, who is unexpectedly set free and starts screaming. This bizarre encounter sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is filled with similarly strange and fantastical imagery. The mention of a foreign student asking about elephants and lions in Piccadilly Circus adds to the surreal atmosphere, blending reality with fantasy.

As the narrator continues his walk, he observes a group of schoolgirls sobbing by a bathing pond, a scene that evokes a sense of nostalgia and melancholy. The narrator reflects on his own schoolboy days, suggesting a disconnect between his past and the present. This theme of disconnection is further explored through the various odd characters he meets, such as a bearded lady who warns him about misbehaving and a chicken-fancier with a long red beard. These characters add to the song's dreamlike quality, creating a sense of a world that is both familiar and strange.

The song's lyrics are rich with metaphor and cultural references, painting a vivid picture of a London that is both real and imagined. The mention of labourers digging up gold and Johnny Scarecrow stealing a coat from a snowman adds layers of meaning, suggesting themes of greed, theft, and the passage of time. Jethro Tull's unique blend of folk rock and progressive rock, combined with Ian Anderson's distinctive voice and flute playing, creates a musical backdrop that perfectly complements the song's surreal and whimsical lyrics. 'Mother Goose' is a captivating exploration of memory, fantasy, and the eccentricities of life.