Cross-Eyed Mary
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| "Cross-Eyed Mary" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Jethro Tull | |
| from the album Aqualung | |
| Released | 19 March 1971 |
| Recorded | December 1970 – February 1971 |
| Studio | Island, London |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:06 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | Ian Anderson |
| Producer(s) |
|
"Cross-Eyed Mary" is a song by the British progressive rock band Jethro Tull from their album Aqualung (1971).[2]
The song is about "Cross-Eyed Mary", a schoolgirl prostitute[3] who prefers the company of "leching greys" over her schoolmates. It was intended as a companion piece to "Aqualung", the opening album track about a homeless man.[citation needed] The Aqualung character is given a cameo in "Cross-Eyed Mary".[citation needed]
"Cross-Eyed Mary" was ranked the 12th best Jethro Tull song in the book Rock - Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check.[4]
Recorded appearances[edit]
- Aqualung (1971)[2]
- Repeat – The Best of Jethro Tull – Vol II (1977)[5]
- 25th Anniversary Box Set (1993)[6]
- The Best of Jethro Tull – The Anniversary Collection (1993)[7]
Personnel[edit]
- Jethro Tull
- Ian Anderson – vocals, acoustic guitar, flute
- Martin Barre – electric guitar
- John Evan – piano, organ, mellotron
- Jeffrey Hammond – bass guitar
- Clive Bunker – drums, percussion
- Additional personnel
- Terry Ellis - producer
Iron Maiden version[edit]
| "Cross-Eyed Mary" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Iron Maiden | |
| A-side | "The Trooper" |
| Released | 1983 |
| Genre | Heavy metal |
| Length | 3:52 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | Ian Anderson |
| Producer(s) | Martin Birch |
- Iron Maiden[8] has covered the song, which has been released in different ways (see Piece of Mind, "The Trooper", The First Ten Years and Best of the 'B' Sides). In a 2022 interview with BraveWords, Anderson discussed his thoughts about Maiden's cover, stating, "A spirited rendition by a young Bruce testing out his vocal range in a key not really suited to him!”[9]
In popular culture[edit]
 | This section contains a list of miscellaneous information. (February 2017) |
Films and TV[edit]
- The song made an appearance in the first season of the UK version of Life on Mars.[10]
- The song is featured in the soundtrack of the movie Breaking the Waves.[11]
Music[edit]
- The song has been covered by Elf (featuring Ronnie James Dio) in their 1972 live concert.
- The band Clutch covered "Cross-Eyed Mary" for the Sucking the 70s compilation.
References[edit]
- ^ Schick, Elizabeth A. (1998). Current Biography Yearbook, 1998. H.W. Wilson. p. 26. ISBN 9780824209575.
Two other songs on Aqualung, 'Cross-Eyed Mary' and 'Locomotive Breath,' have also become hard-rock classics.
- ^ a b "Aqualung - Jethro Tull | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Ian Anderson interview, Disc and Music Echo, 20 March 1971". Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2008.
- ^ Rehe, Christoph (2013). Rock - Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check: alle Alben, alle Songs. Ein eclipsed-Buch (in German). Sysyphus Sysyphus Verlags GmbH. ISBN 978-3868526462.
- ^ "Repeat: The Best of Jethro Tull, Vol. 2 - Jethro Tull | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "The 25th Anniversary Boxed Set - Jethro Tull | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "The Best of Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection - Jethro Tull | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Iron Maiden - Piece of Mind - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "BETWEEN A ROCK AND A PROG PLACE: IAN ANDERSON TALKS JETHRO TULL HISTORY – "I FIND THAT QUITE A DIFFICULT PROPOSITION TO SINGLE ONE ALBUM OUT"". BraveWords. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ ""Life on Mars" Episode #1.4 (TV Episode 2006)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Breaking the Waves (1996)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
