Happy Birthday to Van the Man

"Into The Mystic" is one of my all-time fave songs by anybody. Fucking brilliant.

I love "Domino" and I'll throw "Gloria" in there too.

 

1. Into the Mystic
2. Tupelo Honey
3. These are the Days
4. Have I Told You lately...
5. Brown Eyed Girl

Have I told you was my wedding song, but I'll turn the station if Rod Stewart's version comes on. Here's to Van the man!

 

Hard to pick a Top 5 (or 10), but I'll give it a shot. After number 1 they're not in any particular order..

1- Into the Mystic
2- Tupelo Honey
3- Have I Told You Lately (any version but Van's sucks)
4- Domino
5- Jackie Wilson Said (Heaven When You Smile)
6- Crazy Love
7- Real, Real Gone
8- Gloria
9- Bright Side of the Road
10- Full Force Gale

 

OK, so I will:

We were born before the wind
So much 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

And when that fog horn blows
I will be coming home
And when that fog horn blows
I want to hear it
I don't have to fear it

I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will float
Into the mystic

And when that fog horn blows
You know I will be coming home
And when that fog horn whistle blows
I got to hear it
I don't have to fear it

I want to rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float
Into the mystic

It's too late to stop now
Too late to stop now
Too late to stop now
Too late to stop now

 

HUGE Van Morrison fan....I need to see him in concert someday. My personal top 5:

1. Moondance
2. Full Force Gale
3. Jackie Wilson Said
4. Tupelo Honey
5. Gloria

 

I always thought Into The Mystic or Caravan should have been covered by Peter Tosh, either would have made a great reggae cover.

OK Van fans, help me out. I once heard a Van song on, of all things, a local TV feature and they were playing a song that the lyrics, "I'll light a candle for you." It was a beautiful song, and I've never figured out what it was. Help please! Just so you know, I'm not mixing it up with the Stones' Winter, which has the same line.

My list, having only delved into the Van basics. One of those artists I know I should own more of, but never get around to it ...

1. And It Stoned Me
2. Caravan
3. Tupelo Honey
4. Into The Mystic
5. Brand New Day
6. Domino
7. Moondance
8. Sweet Thing
9. Brown Eyed Girl
10. Jackie Wilson Said
11. Queen Of The Slipstream

 

Probably doesn't enter a top 10 conversation, but I have to say I love his new song "Stranded." Puts me in a great mood anytime I hear it when I'm driving home from a desk shift in the wee hours.

 

Hmm ... did some Van research and maybe the song I was looking for was Hymns To The Silence. It has the line "burning the candle at both ends" repeated several times. Don't know for sure, though.

 

another great van moment -- also good for "the blues" thread -- is his duet with john lee hooker on hooker's 1991 release "mr. lucky." it's "i cover the waterfront" and it is incredible.

 

man, there some great songs on "hyms" .... village idiot, professional jealousy, why must i always explain, see me through

 

Title track's not too shabby, either.
Among the underrated tracks, I'd go for "Streets of Arklow." (Hell, all of Side One of "Veedon Fleece"), "It's All In The Game," and "Rave On John Donne" from the great Live At The Royal Concert Hall set.
Warning, though, Van's really hit-or-miss in concert.

 

The only reason I don't play Tupelo Honey every time I get to the local saloon at night is that it sometimes doesn't fit the general mood of the place at that point.

But when others play sets and Tupelo Honey comes up, it's always, "That's for you, SF."

Just a great song; but you're right, a top five list for him is hard to narrow down to.