[citation needed] According to the composer, Ian Anderson, he wrote the tune in approximately one hour in his room at a Holiday Inn 'on the banks of the Charles River,' Boston, Massachusetts, on 12 February 1969.

He and his manager, Terry Ellis, were checking in 'a day off here before the show,' ahead of a three-day residency 13 – 15 February 1969 at the Boston Tea Party rock club.

Anderson described overdubbing his vocals in San Francisco during mid-March;[9] but conflicting reports identify 18 March at United Western Recorders, Los Angeles, California, as correct.

[5] It was also the date "Driving Song" was recorded,[7] released as the b-side of Jethro Tull's fourth single, "Living in the Past", on 2 May 1969 to UK audiences.

"Living in the Past" was ranked the fifth best Jethro Tull song by Rock – Das Gesamtwerk der größten Rock-Acts im Check.