"Living In The Past" Is A Song By British Progressive Rock Group Jethro Tull. It Is One Of The Band's Best-Known Songs And Notable For Being Written In The Unusual 5/4 Time Signature Especially Notable From The Beginning Rhythmic Bass Pattern . Recorded Before The Sessions For The Band's 1969 Album "Stand Up" It Wsa Released That Year As A Stand-Alone Single. It Became More Popular After Its 1972 Release On The Compilation Album Of The Same Name. The Living In The Past Songfacts Reports One Of The Most Famous Aspects Of This Song Is Its Nonstandard Time Signature It Uses 5/4. This Puts It In The Category Of "quintuple Meter " Where There's Five Beats Per Measure.