Ian Anderson - flute, vocals, acoustic guitar
Martin Barre - electric guitar, mandolin, marimba
Barriemore Barlow - drums, glockenspiel
John Glascock - bass, guitar, vocals
John Evans - piano, organ, accordion, synthesizers
David Palmer - portative organ, synthesizer
Skating Away On The Thin Ice Of The New Day / Lyrics
Meanwhile back in the Year One - when you belonged to no-one -
You didn't stand a chance son, if your pants were undone.
'Cause you were bred for Humanity and sold to Society -
One day you'll wake up in the Present Day -
A million generations removed from expectations
Of being who you really want to be.
Skating Away-ay! Skating Away-ay!
Skating Away-ay on the Thin Ice of the New Day-ay-ay-ay-ay.
Ay-ay-ay-ay!
So as you push off from the shore, won't you turn your head once more -
And make your peace with everyone?
For those who choose to stay, will live just one more day -
To do the things they should have done.
And as you cross the wilderness, spinning in your emptiness:
You feel you have to pray.
Looking for a sign that the Universal Mind(!)
Has written you into the Passion Play.
Skating Away-ay! Skating Away-ay!
Skating Away-ay on the Thin Ice of the New Day-ay-ay-ay-ay.
Ay-ay-ay-ay!
And as you cross the Circle Line, well, the ice-wall creaks behind -
You're a rabbit on the run.
And the silver splinters fly in the corner of your eye -
Shining in the setting sun.
Well, do you ever get the feeling that the Story's too damn real and in
the present tense?
Or that everybody's on the stage, and yet it seems like
You're the only person sitting in the audience?
Skating Away-ay! Skating Away-ay!
Skating Away-ay on the Thin Ice of the New Day-ay-ay-ay-ay.
Ay-ay-ay-ay!
Skating Away-ay!
Skating Away-ay!
Skating Away