by Robert Wilkinson
Today is the birthday of one of the truly great 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," "Tupelo Honey," 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. 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.
We begin with a BIG treat! Here's Van fronting for his band Them in the 60s doing a live performance of his smash hit "Gloria"
From the same period, here's Van and Them doing "Baby Please Don't Go."
From 1965 in Paris, Van and Them doing a great live performance of “Mystic Eyes" and “Gloria.”
From their 1965 performance at the NME, here's Them doing "Here Comes the Night"
Here's Van lip synching his first hit for Dick Clark, "Brown Eyed Girl." From many years later, here's Van live doing "Brown Eyed Girl."
From the very amazing "Moondance" album, here are some of its gems!
Here are Van and Carlos Santana doing "Moondance" live in the studio!
"Into The Mystic" Here's a great live performance of "Into the Mystic" - let it buffer for a few before you begin!
A great 7 minute version of "Tupelo Honey"
Here's Van in a duet with Ray Charles doing "Crazy Love"
Van on Letterman with Georgie Fame in 1989.
From 1997, Van and the band live doing some great ones!
Here’s Van’s official website: vanmorrison.com.
Here's a link to the 2009 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 I'll finish this birthday tribute by offering you 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 dreamWhere 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 I'm 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 Standing 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 Standing in the sun darlin
With your arms behind you And your eyes before
There you go Taking good care of your boy
Seeing that hes got clean clothes Putting 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
Looking straight at you coming 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
Ain't nothing but a stranger in this world
I'm 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 mirrorAnd you comb your hair And grab your coat and hat
And you walk, wet streets Tryin to remember
All the wild breezes In your memory ever.
And everything looks so complete When you're 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 everything 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 © 2012 Robert Wilkinson
Thanks so much for posting, Van is one of my all time favorites. He truly symbolizes the integration of Virgo and Pisces. Saw an interview of him, and he acknowledges that he creates and plays his music from a deep, indescribable place. Truly a transcendant and spritual being --love to get lost in his music.
Posted by: grace | September 02, 2012 at 09:38 AM