Thursday, June 27, 2013

Into the Mystic



     I stumbled over some vintage Van Morrison the other day on my way to somewhere else.  Isn't that how it often is?  On your way to one place, you find the real treasure along the path?  The cosmos gets us like that.

     I hadn't listend to this little piece of Van in a long time and it knocked me over when it fell from the sky.  Thing is, you know, I am still wrapping my head around my friend's death and then this little wondersong stops me in my spinning.  It is such a powerful, sensual, and haunting almost hymn. Some  might even claim magical and spiritual. What I know to be true is that it made me pause for a minute and just be. That's a good thing in my book.

     Life is finite.  I know that:  "We were born before the the wind, also younger than the sun"
 
     The call is to live it to the fullest:  "Smell the sea and feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic."

    Make room for love:  "I will rock your gypsy soul, just like back in the days of old."

    And make room for acceptance:  "We will magnificently fold into the mystic."

     The thing is, I hold Van Morrison's music close.  Common Irish roots?  Don't know, doesn't matter. His music makes me feel alive.  This is one song that I wouldn't mind hearing someday, on a warm summer evening, as I say goodbye to this world that has held me for lots of years.

 

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

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

And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like back in the days of old
Then magnificently we will fold into the mystic

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

And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like back in the days of old
And together we will float into the mystic

Too late to stop now?

20 comments:

  1. Exquisite post, JT. "Rock your gypsy soul..." Made my day.

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  2. And now I'VE stumbled onto Van Morrison on my way to somewhere else.
    Thank you.

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    1. You are welcome. :)
      That guy knocks me socks off.

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  3. I need to introduce myself to Mr. Morrison's music. Sounds right up my alley :)

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    1. Oh, you will be happy to make his acquaintance, Keith!

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  4. Oh, yeah, I love that song.
    Ever since the movie Dream a Little Dream.

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    1. Well, I don't know the movie (big surprise, I know!) but I've had this sone in my head since senior year of high school. Beautiful.

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    2. IT's great old 80s movie. Jason Robards is wonderful. You should see it.

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  5. Beautiful song, beautiful post.

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    1. Thanks, Tim. It's one of those songs that speaks volumes.

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  6. I don’t know the music of Van Morrison. But I was certainly moved by your poetry.
    “…on a warm summer evening, as I say goodbye to this world that has held me for lots of years.”

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    1. Thanks, Lynda. Yes, that seems like a peaceful time and way to finish this part of the story.

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  7. Wonderful song! "Rock your gypsy soul" is beautiful.

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  8. Well, you've stumbled upon a vintage Morrison that I'm not familiar with. Loved this. It did indeed launch my soul and spirit into the mystic.....

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    1. I'm surprised you are not familiar with this one. It was on the 1970 Moondance album. I'm glad you listened to it. I thought you might like it.

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  9. This song has always been my favorite Van Morrison song! I listen to it and sing it regularly!

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  10. Love it too and it's one of my fav's on my I-Pod. So sorry about your friend... my condolences.

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