Somehow seems appropriate for upcoming election debates

...in the US and Canada.


Jethro Tull, playing The Clasp live in 1982 (first 4 minutes), studio track here, the lyrics here.

Synthetic chiefs with frozen smiles, holding unsteady courses
Grasp the reins of history high on their battle horses.
And meeting as good statesmen do before the TV eyes of millions
Hand to hand exchange the lie, pretend to make the clasp.

Jethro Tull was one of my favorite bands between 1968 and 1973, when I stopped following them. Someone gave me a whole collection of their later works about two years ago and the consistent quality they have maintained since 73 surprised me. Looking back forty years I can see why this band still appeals to me: Ian Anderson's personal mythology and mine overlap significantly. His use of symbolism in The Clasp really hits home.