Monday, June 30, 2008

Beautiful Vision, No Guru No Method No Teacher


The 1980's was a stunning decade for Van Morrison. Even better than the 70's because it seems to me that he was being informed by something more profound in his music and his writing. By this I mean his muse, if you like. No more Caledonia Soul, but a greater intelligence at work.

We have 'Common One', and 'Inarticulate Speech of the Heart', both beautifully realised and totally passionate. Then around this time came ' Beautiful Vision', an extension of the previous album in its optimism and its contentedness:

'Across the bridge where angels dwell
Across the bridge where angels
Across the bridge where angels dwell
Children play

Beyond the place where time is still
Beyond the place where time is
Beyond the place where time is still
Night is day

Close your eyes in fields of wonder
Close your eyes and dream
Close your eyes in fields of wonder
Close your eyes and dream
Along the path where heaven lies
Along the path where heaven
Along the path where heaven lies
All is clear

Ahead where home awaits the heart
Ahead where home is waiting
Ahead where home awaits the heart
Peace is near

Close your eyes in fields of wonder
Close your eyes and dream
Close your eyes in fields of wonder
Close your eyes and dream
Across the bridge where angels dwell
Across the bridge where angels
Across the bridge where angels dwell
Children play.'

Then we have songs that are inspired by new, more complex subject matter:

'I'm a dweller on the threshold
And I'm waiting at the door
And I'm standing in the darkness
I don't want to wait no more
I have seen without perceiving
I have been another man
Let me pierce the realm of glamour
So I know just what I am
I'm a dweller on the threshold
And I'm waiting at the door
And I'm standing in the darkness
I don't want to wait no more.'

There is a distinct Scandinavian influence on tbeen on the same albhis record, as opposed to a an Irish one on the last. But these two songs may have been written around the same time:

'When Lewellen comes around
And he goes through market town
You'll be on the Celtic Ray
Are you ready?
When McManus comes around
On his early morning round
Cryin' "Heron 'a' lay"
You'll be on the Celtic Ray.

Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales
I can hear those ancient voices calling,
"Children, children"

When the coalbrick man comes round,
On a cold November day
You'll be on the Celtic Ray,
Are you ready?

Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall and Wales,
I can hear those ancient voices calling,
"Children, children, children".

Listen Jimmy, I wanna go home.
Listen Jimmy I wanna go home.I
've been away from the Ray too long.
I've been away from the Ray too long.

In the early mornin', we'll go walkin' where
The light comes shining through
On the Celtic Ray.'

This Celtic Ray, with the mother's yearning to keep the children together. And this is similar on 'Irish Heartbeat' from 'Inarticulate Speech of the Heart':

'Oh won't you stay, stay awhile
With your own ones.
Don't ever stray,
Stray so far from your own ones.
This old world is so cold.
Don't care nothin' for your soul
You share with your own ones.

Don't rush away, rush away
From your own ones.
Just one more day, one more day
With your own ones.
For the world is so cold.
Don't care nothin' for your sou
lYou share with your own ones

There's a stranger
And he's standing at your door.
May be your best friend
Might be your brother,
You may never know.
I'm going back, going back
To my own ones.
Back to talk, talk awhile
With my own ones.
For the world is so cold.
Don't care nothing for your soul
That you share with your own ones.'

A couple of more average records followed before Van produced one of his very best: 'No Guru, No Method, No Teacher.'