Song of the Day: Aqualung (by Jethro Tull)

Posted on April 27, 2026 by Arleigh

Are you ready to go on a trip that’s grimy, gritty, and a little psychedelic all at the same time? If you’ve never heard “Aqualung” by Jethro Tull, this is exactly the kind of ride it throws you into. Right from the start, it grabs you with one of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock—gritty, bluesy, and instantly memorable. It sets the tone perfectly, especially as Ian Anderson starts painting this vivid picture of a rough, almost mythic street character. It’s not just a song you listen to—it’s one you sort of step into, like you’re walking past Aqualung yourself and catching fragments of his story.

What really hooks me is how the song shifts gears without ever feeling disjointed. One minute it’s raw and cynical, the next it softens into this oddly reflective, almost sympathetic tone. That contrast is what makes it stick. It’s gritty but thoughtful, like it’s judging the world while also quietly questioning it. And Anderson’s vocal delivery just sells all of it—half sneer, half storytelling.

But let’s talk about the moment—the guitar solo around the 3:30 mark. Martin Barre absolutely lights the track on fire there. It’s not flashy in a show-off way, but it’s got this sharp, biting tone that cuts right through everything. The phrasing feels deliberate, almost like he’s speaking through the guitar, adding another emotional layer to the song. It’s the kind of solo that doesn’t just decorate the track—it elevates it, giving the whole thing a surge of intensity right when you need it.

By the time the song wraps up, it leaves this weird mix of grit, empathy, and lingering tension. That’s why it sticks with you. “Aqualung” isn’t just a classic because it’s old—it’s because it still feels alive, unpredictable, and a little uncomfortable in the best way. Between that iconic opening riff and the punch of Barre’s solo, it hits you from both ends. If you’re even slightly into rock with personality, this is one you’ve gotta sit with, preferably loud enough to really feel that solo hit.

Aqualung

Sitting on a park bench
Eyeing little girls with bad intent
Snot running down his nose
Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes
Hey, Aqualung
Drying in the cold sun
Watching as the frilly panties run
Hey, Aqualung
Feeling like a dead duck
Spitting out pieces of his broken luck
Whoa, Aqualung

Sun streaking cold, an old man wandering lonely
Taking time the only way he knows
Leg hurting bad as he bends to pick a dog-end
He goes down to the bog and warms his feet
Feeling alone, the army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode and a cup of tea
Aqualung my friend, don’t you start away uneasy
You poor old sod, you see, it’s only me

Do you still remember
December’s foggy freeze?
When the ice that
Clings on to your beard was
Screaming agony (Hey!)
And you snatch your rattling last breaths
With deep-sea-diver sounds
And the flowers bloom like
Madness in the spring

Sun streaking cold, an old man wandering lonely
Taking time the only way he knows
Leg hurting bad as he bends to pick a dog-end
He goes down to the bog and warms his feet
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
Feeling alone, the army’s up the road
Salvation a la mode and a cup of tea
Aqualung my friend, don’t you start away uneasy
You poor old sod, you see, it’s only me
Me-me-me-me-me
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

(Guitar Solo @3:30)

[Bridge]
Dee-dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee
Dee-dee-dee-dee
Aqualung, my friend, don’t you start away uneasy
You poor old sod, you see, it’s only me

(Outro)
Whoa, Aqualung

Great Guitar Solos Series

Song of the Day: Black Hole Sun (by Soundgarden)

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Arleigh

“Black Hole Sun” is one of those songs where Chris Cornell’s voice feels like the main character of its own little surreal movie. The way he drags out phrases, bends notes, and shifts between soft intimacy and howling power makes the whole thing feel heavy and hazy at the same time. You can almost feel the song stretching out like a long, strange afternoon in a half‑real town, and for a lot of people it became the entry point that pulled them headfirst into the Soundgarden rabbit hole with the Superunknown album.

Kim Thayil’s guitar work is what keeps that dream from ever feeling safe. His riffs throughout the track are already weird and slightly off‑kilter, but when the solo hits at 2:56, things get properly discordant. Instead of a neat, singable melody, the lead line feels jagged and uneasy, like the song is momentarily glitching out and refusing to sit in one place. That solo gives the song its signature discordant sound, almost like light and matter being pulled down into the black hole the title hints at.

The solo only lasts a little over 20 seconds, but it’s perfectly placed: it erupts right when the song’s tension peaks, then fades just quickly enough to let Cornell’s voice regain control and pull you into the next verse. The contrast between Thayil’s warped, dissonant lead and Cornell’s smooth, almost crooning delivery is what makes the track feel both beautiful and unsettling at the same time.

If you’re trying to get into Soundgarden, “Black Hole Sun” is a great entry point not just because it’s catchy, but because it shows how perfectly Cornell and Thayil balance each other. Cornell gives the song its soul and mystery, while Thayil’s discordant guitar solo reminds you that there’s something quietly wrong under the surface — and for countless fans, it was the hook that dragged them deep into the rest of Superunknown and the band’s wider catalog.

Black Hole Sun

In my eyes
Indisposed
In disguises no one knows
Hides the face
Lies the snake
And the sun in my disgrace
Boiling heat
Summer stench
Neath the black, the sky looks dead
Call my name
Through the cream
And I’ll hear you scream again

Black hole sun
Won’t you come
And wash away the rain?
Black hole sun
Won’t you come
Won’t you come
Won’t you come

Stuttering
Cold and damp
Steal the warm wind, tired friend
Times are gone
For honest men
Sometimes, far too long for snakes
In my shoes
Walking sleep
In my youth, I pray to keep
Heaven send
Hell away
No one sings like you anymore

Black hole sun
Won’t you come
And wash away the rain?
Black hole sun
Won’t you come
Won’t you come

(guitar solo @2:56)

Hang my head
Drown my fear
Till you all just disappear

Black hole sun
Won’t you come
And wash away the rain?
Black hole sun
Won’t you come
Won’t you come

Black hole sun
Won’t you come
And wash away the rain?
Black hole sun
Won’t you come
Won’t you come (Black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won’t you come (Black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won’t you come (Black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won’t you come (Black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won’t you come (Black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won’t you come (Black hole sun, black hole sun)
Won’t you come
Won’t you come

Great Guitar Solos Series

Song of the Day: Highway Star (by Deep Purple)

Posted on April 19, 2026 by Arleigh

If you’ve never heard Highway Star by Deep Purple, you’re honestly missing one of the purest shots of adrenaline rock music has to offer. This isn’t just a song—it’s basically a speeding ticket set to music. From the second that opening riff kicks in, it feels like you’re already going 90 mph with the windows down, even if you’re just sitting still. It’s loud, fast, and unapologetically obsessed with the thrill of the road.

What really hooks you is how everything in the song feels like it’s racing forward. Ian Gillan’s vocals don’t just ride the music—they chase it. The lyrics are simple but perfectly on-brand: cars, freedom, speed, and that reckless confidence that makes you want to push things just a little further than you probably should. It’s not trying to be deep; it’s trying to make you feel like you’re behind the wheel of something dangerous, and it absolutely nails that vibe.

And then there’s the guitar solo—starting around 4:04—which is where the song goes from great to legendary. Ritchie Blackmore doesn’t just shred; he constructs this wild, almost classical-sounding run that somehow still feels like it belongs on a straight highway at full throttle. It’s precise but still raw, like controlled chaos. You can practically hear the engine revving in every note. It’s the kind of solo that makes you rewind the track immediately just to hear it again.

Honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising if Highway Star has indirectly helped highway patrol rack up thousands—maybe millions—of speeding tickets since it came out. It doesn’t matter what you’re behind the wheel of—a Honda Civic, a Pontiac GTO, a Ford F-150, or even an AMC Gremlin—once this song kicks in, it burrows into your brain like a worm and suddenly you want to become an avatar of speed on the blacktop. This is not a song you play if you’re trying to drive responsibly—it practically dares you to press harder on the gas. And I’ll admit, even I wasn’t immune; once it started blasting through my car’s stereo, I ended up becoming one of those statistics myself. So yeah, if you’re checking it out for the first time, maybe don’t listen to it on your commute… unless you’re cool with funding your local police department.

Highway Star

Nobody gonna take my car, I’m gonna race it to the ground
And nobody gonna beat my car, it’s gonna break the speed of sound
Ooh, it’s a killing machine
It’s got everything
Like a driving power, big fat tires and everything

I love it and I need it, I bleed it

Yeah, it’s a wild hurricane
Alright, hold tight, I’m a highway star

Nobody gonna take my girl, I’m gonna keep her ’til the end
And nobody gonna have my girl, she stays close on every bend
Ooh, she’s a killing machine
She got everything
Like a moving mouth, body control and everything

I love her, I need her, I see her

Yeah, she turns me on
Alright, hold on tight, I’m a highway star

And nobody gonna take my head, I got speed inside my brain
And nobody gonna steal my head now that I’m on the road again
Ooh, I’m in heaven again
I’ve got everything
Like a moving ground, an open road and everything

I love it and I need it, I’ve seen it

Eight cylinders, all mine
Alright, hold on tight, I’m a highway star

(guitar solo @4:04)

I love it and I need it, I bleed it

Yeah, it’s a mad hurricane
Alright, hold on tight, I’m a highway star
I’m a highway star
I’m a highway star

Know Your Enemy

Huh
Yeah, we’re comin’ back in with another bombtrack
Think ya know it’s all of that, huh
Ayo, so check this out, yeah

Know your enemy
Come on

Born with insight and a raised fist
A witness to the slit wrist
As we move into ’92
Still in a room without a view
Ya got to know, ya got to know
That when I say go, go, go
Amp up and amplify, defy
I’m a brother with a furious mind
Action must be taken
We don’t need the key, we’ll break in
Something must be done
About vengeance, a badge and a gun
‘Cause I’ll rip the mic, rip the stage, rip the system
I was born to rage against ’em
Fist in ya face in the place and I’ll drop the style clearly
Know your enemy

Know your enemy
Yeah
Ayo, get with this, ugh

Word is born
Fight the war, fuck the norm
Now I got no patience
So sick of complacence
With the D, the E, the F, the I, the A, the N, the C, the E
Mind of a revolutionary, so clear the lane
The finger to the land of the chains
What? The “land of the free”?
Whoever told you that is your enemy
Now something must be done
About vengeance, a badge, and a gun
‘Cause I’ll rip the mic, rip the stage, rip the system
I was born to rage against ’em
Now action must be taken
We don’t need the key, we’ll break in

I’ve got no patience now
So sick of complacence now
I’ve got no patience now
So sick of complacence now
Sick of, sick of, sick of, sick of you
Time has come to pay

Know your enemy

(guitar solo @3:52)

Come on
Yes, I know my enemies
They’re the teachers who taught me to fight me
Compromise, conformity
Assimilation, submission
Ignorance, hypocrisy
Brutality, the elite
All of which are American dreams
All of which are American dreams
All of which are American dreams
All of which are American dreams
All of which are American dreams
All of which are American dreams
All of which are American dreams
All of which are American dreams

Great Guitar Solos Series

Song of the Day: Dazed and Confused (by Led Zeppelin)

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Arleigh

Today’s Song of the Day is Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused”, that hypnotic Yardbirds cover Jimmy Page transformed into a sprawling psychedelic monster on their 1969 debut. Robert Plant’s otherworldly wails float over John Paul Jones’s prowling bass and John Bonham’s primal drums, crafting this foggy, trippy atmosphere that’s perfect for zoning out late at night. But let’s be real, it’s Page’s six-string sorcery that cements it as essential listening.

The real magic erupts at the 3:53 timestamp in the official release cut, when Page launches into his legendary guitar solo—a blistering torrent of bent notes, ferocious pentatonic dives, and those eerie, talkbox-esque squeals that sound like the guitar’s possessed. He’s wringing every ounce of emotion from his Telecaster, stacking fuzz, echo, and vibrato into a wall of controlled chaos that feels like a bad acid trip turned triumphant. It’s raw, innovative shredding that grabs you by the soul and doesn’t let go.

Live versions took it to another level, ballooning into 10+ minute odysseys with Page’s violin bow creating those haunting drones before he dives back into the frenzy—check the ’73 Madison Square Garden tape for the ultimate freakout. This solo isn’t just flashy; it’s Page channeling pure rock alchemy, paving the way for metal and jam gods alike. Crank it up and feel the daze.

Dazed and Confused

Been dazed and confused for so long, it’s not true
Wanted a woman, never bargained for you
Lots of people talkin’, few of them know
Soul of a woman was created below, yeah

You hurt and abuse, tellin’ all of your lies
Run ’round, sweet baby, Lord, how they hypnotize
Sweet little baby, I don’t know where you been
Gonna love you, baby, here I come again

Every day I work so hard
Bringin’ home my hard-earned pay
Try to love you, baby
But you push me away

Don’t know where you’re goin’
Only know just where you’ve been
Sweet little baby
I want you again

Ah, ah, ah, ah
(Did you ever look up my woman?)
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Aah-ah, aah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah

Aah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, aah
Oh, yeah, alright

Been dazed and confused
For so long, it’s not true
Wanted a woman
Never bargained for you

Take it easy, baby
Let them say what they will
Tongue wag so much
When I send you the bill

Oh yeah, alright

Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh

Great Guitar Solos Series

Song of the Day: Neverending Journey (by Uematsu Nobuo)

Posted on January 1, 2026 by Arleigh

“Neverending Journey” by Nobuo Uematsu from Lost Odyssey is one of those tracks that just pulls you right into the game’s vibe without trying too hard. It kicks off super chill with soft strings and light woodwinds, creating this mellow, reflective mood like you’re wandering through old memories that won’t fade. The orchestral start feels patient and open, giving every note space to settle in before things pick up.

Then comes that smooth shift where the electric guitar riffs crash in — bold, distorted, and full of grit, but it flows naturally from the gentle opening. It’s like Uematsu’s flipping the switch from quiet nostalgia to raw determination, blending classical swells with rock edge in a way that screams the game’s themes of endless struggle. The guitar doesn’t steal the show; it amps up the emotion, turning introspection into something with real forward drive.

That mix is why the track sticks with you — Uematsu nails the immortal wanderer’s paradox, weary but unbreakable. From serene strings to guitar-fueled resolve, it captures Kaim’s story perfectly, making you feel the weight and hope of a journey with no end. It’s a standout that proves game music can hit as deep as any epic soundtrack.

Song of the Day: Layla (by Derek & The Dominoes)

Posted on November 28, 2025 by Arleigh

“Layla” is still one of those solos guitar players treat like a rite of passage. It’s not just the famous riff; the way Clapton and Duane Allman tear into the lead lines makes the whole first half feel like it’s permanently on the edge of falling apart, in the best way. The solo really starts to bloom once the main riff gives way to the verse lead around the 2:20 mark, with the piano-driven section kicking in later at about 3:10 on the original studio version.

A big part of why musicians and fans rate it so highly is the balance between flash and feel. The bends, slides, and quick little runs are impressive, but they always come back to short, singable phrases instead of just running scales. Allman’s slide work, especially those pushed, “beyond the fretboard” high notes, is a huge talking point among players because it sounds wild and emotional while still landing dead-on pitch.

People also love how the solo feels like one long emotional unraveling rather than a neat, contained spotlight moment. The guitar gradually hands things over to the piano section instead of ending on a standard rock climax, so the solo feels like it spills into that second movement of the song. That journey—from searing, tangled guitar lines to that almost resigned, melodic outro—is a big reason “Layla” keeps showing up on “greatest solos” lists and in conversations between working guitarists and casual fans alike.

Layla

What’ll you do when you get lonely
And nobody’s waiting by your side?
You’ve been running and hiding much too long
You know it’s just your foolish pride

Layla
You’ve got me on my knees
Layla
I’m begging, darling, please
Layla
Darling, won’t you ease my worried mind?

I tried to give you consolation
When your old man had let you down
Like a fool, I fell in love with you
You turned my whole world upside down

Layla
You’ve got me on my knees
Layla
I’m begging, darling, please
Layla
Darling, won’t you ease my worried mind?

Let’s make the best of the situation
Before I finally go insane
Please, don’t say we’ll never find a way
And tell me all my love’s in vain

Layla
You’ve got me on my knees
Layla
I’m begging, darling, please
Layla
Darling, won’t you ease my worried mind?
Layla
You’ve got me on my knees
Layla
I’m begging, darling, please
Layla
Darling, won’t you ease my worried mind?

[guitar solo]

Great Guitar Solos Series

Song of the Day: Cliffs of Dover (by Eric Johnson)

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Arleigh

Eric Johnson’s “Cliffs of Dover” is a bright and lively piece that grabs your attention from the beginning. The guitar work is smooth and confident, combining clear melodies with quick, well-executed runs. It feels like Johnson is having fun exploring different sounds, and that sense of ease makes the song enjoyable to listen to whether you’re a musician or not.

What really stands out is the tone of the guitar—clean, crisp, and well-balanced. Johnson shows great control, shifting between fast passages and slower, more expressive bends without losing the smooth flow of the music. The main solo starts about 2 minutes and 45 seconds in, and this is where the balance of technical skill and musicality comes through most clearly.

The track manages to be both intricate and accessible, with memorable themes that stick in your head after just one listen. Its upbeat and positive vibe has helped it remain popular over the years, earning respect from guitar players and fans alike. It strikes a nice balance between being impressive and inviting, which is part of why it’s still well-regarded today.

Great Guitar Solos Series

Song of the Day: Eruption (by Van Halen)

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Arleigh

Time to get back to our “Greatest Guitar Solos” series with a short but awesome rock instrumental from the one and only Eddie Van Halen.

“Eruption” was part of the band Van Halen’s self-titled debut album in 1978 and announced the arrival of one of rock’s guitar gods in Eddie Van Halen. Just like Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing”, this track was short (less than two minutes) but was very influential with future musicians.

The song itself has Eddie Van Halen mixing it classical music structures and cadences (he uses a section of “Etude No. 2” by Rodolphe Kreutzer in the beginning of the track. Eddie’s use of classical musical theory and melding it with the face-melting technique of hard rock will usher in an era of rock guitarists from all genres from hard rock to black metal where classical music is not seen a stodgy music, but a strong basis and foundation to create of the great rock songs for the next half-century.

Great Guitar Solos Series

Song of the Day: Plush (by Stone Temple Pilots)

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Arleigh

My latest pick for “Song of the Day” takes me back….way back to those early days post-high school. Only a couple years removed from graduating high school and maneuvering my ways through the turbulent seas of what would be my college years, it was only typical that music would be one of the few things that would anchor things for me during my Adrift Years.

Stone Temple Pilots is part of what I consider as the Big Four of alternative rock of the 1990’s or as some would label that particular sound as “grunge”. Alternative rock, grunge or just plain old hard rock, Stone Temple Pilots made their mark in the early 90’s rock scene with the second single off of their 1993 debut album Core.

“Plush” has always been one of my favorite songs of that era. I played that song on repeat and was one of my go-to Stone Temple Pilots track until “Interstate Love Song” a year later came along. The song was carried by Scott Weiland’s iconic vocals and its dark lyrics. I never knew how dark a song “Plush” was until finding out from a Weiland interview that it was based on a true story of a girl who had been kidnapped and murdered in the early 90’s.

Whether a song inspired by a true-crime story or a metaphor for a failed relationship (as Weiland has said the lyrics represented), “Plush” will remain one of those songs from my young adult years that I would revisit every year to reminisce.

Plush

And I feel that time’s a wasted go
So where you goin’ ’til tomorrow?
And I see that these are lies to come
So would you even care?

And I feel it
And I feel it

Where you goin’ for tomorrow?
Where you goin’ with the mask I found?
And I feel, and I feel when the dogs begin to smell her
Will she smell alone?

And I feel so much depends on the weather
So, is it rainin’ in your bedroom?
And I see that these are the eyes of disarray
So would you even care?

And I feel it
And she feels it

Where you goin’ for tomorrow?
Where you goin’ with the mask I found?
And I feel, and I feel when the dogs begin to smell her
Will she smell alone?

When the dogs do find her
Got time, time to wait for tomorrow
To find it, to find it, to find it
When the dogs do find her
Got time, time to wait for tomorrow
To find it, to find it, to find it

Where you goin’ for tomorrow?
Where you goin’ with the mask I found?
And I feel, and I feel when the dogs begin to smell her
Will she smell alone?

When the dogs do find her
Got time, time to wait for tomorrow
To find it, to find it, to find it
When the dogs do find her
Got time, time to wait for tomorrow
To find it, to find it, to find it

To find it
To find it
To find it

Song of the Day: The Rocker (by Thin Lizzy)

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Arleigh

So, it looks like it’s St. Patrick’s Day here in Through the Shattered Lens. For my lone contribution to all things Irish I present “The Rocker” by Dublin, Ireland’s very own Thin Lizzy.

A song that was part of their 1973 album release Vagabonds of the Western World and it features the Dublin trio of Phil Lynott on bass guitar, Eric Bell on lead guitar and Brian Downey on drums. The song itself has the Thin Lizzy rock sound with Irish folk music influence.

I’ve chosen this song as my choice since it also qualifies as having one of the great rock guitar solos in history. Eric Bell’s guitar solo actually occurs throughout the length and breadth of the song. It’s sometimes hard to hear that there’s even a guitar solo but the whole song could be looked at as being a guitar solo from start to finish with Eric Bell being the lead and only guitar with Phil supporting on bass.

“The Rocker” by Thin Lizzy is not a song that many fans today would ever think is a major classic, but rock aficionados, especially of music of the late 60’s through the 70’s would not hesitate to have this song as one of the classics.

The Rocker

I am your main man if you’re looking for trouble
I take no lip, no one’s tougher than me
I’d kick your face, you’d soon be seeing double
Hey, little girl, keep your hands off of me

I’m a rocker
I’m a rocker
I’m a roller too, baby
I’m a rocker

Down at the juke joint, me and the boys are stompin’
Bippin’ and boppin’ and telling a dirty joke or two
In walked this chick and I knew she was up to something
And I kissed her right there, out of the blue

I said, “Hey baby, meet me, I’m a tough guy
Got my cycle outside, you wanna try?”
She just looked at me and rolled them big eyes
“Said, I’d do anything for you, for you’re a rocker”

I’m a rocker
I’m a roller too, honey
I’m a rocker

I love to rock and roll
I get my records at the Rock On stall
Sweet rock and roll
Teddy boy, he got them all

Rocker

I love to rock and roll
I get my records at the Rock On stall
Sweet rock and roll
Teddy boy, he’s got them all

I’m a rocker

Great Guitar Solos Series