Happy Birthday 2010 to Irish Magical Celt Van Morrison

by Robert Wilkinson

Today is the birthday of one of the ultimate musical talents on Earth, the legendary Van Morrison. If Van The Man had written only "Gloria" or "Brown Eyed Girl," his place in music history would be secure forever. When you add "Astral Weeks," "Madame George," "Moondance," "Into the Mystic," "Caravan," "Wild Night," and dozens of other amazing compositions, this guy is for the ages.

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland and raised on American blues legends like Jelly Roll Morton, Lead Belly, Muddy Waters, and Ray Charles, this unique singer, songwriter, poet and Master of Celtic soul became one of the best of all time. Reclusive, temperamental, eccentric, the Belfast Cowboy is a true genius of our times.

"We were born before the wind Also younger than the sun Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic Hark, now hear the sailors cry Smell the sea and feel the sky Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic..."

He ranges across all kinds of musical styles from scat to rock to Keltic to blues. His music is deep, moving, infectious, and I doubt he's ever done a performance on autopilot.

In past years I've found some amazing videos. Unfortunately, they ALL have been removed from you tube. On top of that, when we go to his official website, vanmorrison.com, there are none there either. I suspect he's redoing the entire website, so we'll just have to wait until he's figured out what he wants to do.

Here's a link to last year's birthday celebration where I posted his lyrics to "Dweller On The Threshold," along with metaphysical commentary about that most important component enabling us to go from fear of the unknown into "The Angel of the Presence." It's clear that Van the Man has studied some of the source material from HPB and Alice Bailey.

So today we'll revisit the lyrics of a couple of his songs, which are deep enough poetry to have their own place in modern Western literature. Anyway, Van, thank you for being alive and "blowin' your mind." You have made millions of lives more joyous and mystical through your love of bein' yourself. Happy Birthday!

"All the girls walk by, dressed up for each other....." And now, two of my favorites from his earlier years.

ASTRAL WEEKS

If I ventured in the slipstream Between the viaducts of your dream
Where immobile steel rims crack And the ditch in the back roads stop
Could you find me? Would you kiss-a my eyes?
To lay me down In silence easy
To be born again To be born again
From the far side of the ocean If I put the wheels in motion
And I stand with my arms behind me And Im pushin on the door
Could you find me? Would you kiss-a my eyes?
To lay me down In silence easy
To be born again To be born again
There you go Standin with the look of avarice
Talkin to huddie ledbetter Showin pictures on the wall
Whisperin in the hall And pointin a finger at me
There you go, there you go Standin in the sun darlin
With your arms behind you And your eyes before
There you go Takin good care of your boy
Seein that hes got clean clothes Puttin on his little red shoes
I see you know hes got clean clothes A-puttin on his little red shoes
A-pointin a finger at me And here I am
Standing in your sad arrest Trying to do my very best
Lookin straight at you Comin through, darlin
Yeah, yeah, yeah If I ventured in the slipstream
Between the viaducts of your dreams Where immobile steel rims crack
And the ditch in the back roads stop Could you find me
Would you kiss-a my eyes Lay me down In silence easy
To be born again To be born again
To be born again In another world
In another world In another time
Got a home on high
Aint nothing but a stranger in this world
Im nothing but a stranger in this world
I got a home on high
In another land So far away So far away
Way up in the heaven Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven Way up in the heaven
In another time In another place
In another time In another place
Way up in the heaven Way up in the heaven
We are goin up to heaven We are goin to heaven
In another time In another place
In another time In another place
In another face

WILD NIGHT

As you brush your shoes And stand before the mirror
And you comb your hair And grab your coat and hat
And you walk, wet streets Tryin to remember
All the wild breezes In your memry ever.
And evrything looks so complete When youre walkin out on the street
And the wind catches your feet And sends you flyin, cryin
Ooh-wee! The wild night is calling.
And all the girls walk by Dressed up for each other
And the boys do the boogie-woogie On the corner of the street
And the people passin by Just stare in wild wonder
And the inside juke-box Roars out just like thunder.
And evrything looks so complete When youre walkin out on the street
And the wind catches your feet And sends you flyin, cryin
Ooh-wee! The wild night is calling.

(Lyrics by Van Morrison)

Article Copyright © 2010 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Jorge Torres]

Great Musician !!!

Blessings !!!

[kelly]

How cool. I was reading another one of your articles--cannot recall which one and have been reading your archives--and I noticed that you used a line of Van Morrison's: the dweller on the threshold. What a great piece of art: " So I know just what I am . . . I'm waiting at the door . . . standing in the darkness."

I've been a fan for a long, long time. Cleaming Windows? And the heavenly When God Shines His Light? Warm Love?

Too many great songs to name. Had no idea that he and I almost share the same birthday!

Thanks, Robert. Always such good stuff to read here. Gets me out of that big scary world for a while.

[Morvah]

Thanks Robert, Always good to be reminded of such a very great artist and magician.
Shanti

[Beth in San Diego]

Longtime listener of Van....Alan Watts Blues, Moondance, Cloud Hidden, Ordinary Life, Queen of the Slipstream, Gypsy in My Soul, Why Must I Always Explain, and Tupelo Honey Thanks for this post to honor a great musician and soul of the ages;

[Lee Renninger]

Thanks Robert! I'm listening to the Astral Weeks album as I write--caught one more time up on Cyprus Avenue...Great stuff--thanks for bringing it to mind. And I have to say that The Way Young Lovers Do is an amazingly great piece. Hadn't listened to it in a long time.

[Quicksilver]

Hi Robert and followers!
YouTube is loaded with Van Morrison. Rememories, thanks for reminding me.
Have not heard "the man" in some time.