Irish Sufism: Van Morrison

Van Morrison

“silence is the language of god,

all else is poor translation.”

― Rumi

In the early 1980’s Van Morrison turned out a series of amazing records that seemed to be deliberate and contemptuous steps away from the popular music industry of which he was a gold-plated superstar.  His music had always been woven with mysticism. Spiritual things are not strange elements of Van’s music. But starting with Common One in 1980 and stretching across the next half dozen albums to Poetic Champions Compose in 1987, Van the Man seemed unable to sing about anything other than God, the spiritual quest and his experience of mystical ecstasy.

I’ve always loved the two bookends of this series, which coincided, not surprisingly, with a dramatic slowdown in the sales and broadcasting of his music. Common One, which is the focus of tonight’s post reminds me of a dervish dance. Free, twirling, absolutely oblivious to all but in sync with everything. The record’s essence is joy and peace and fulfillment and its styles cover free jazz, proto slam poetry and sweet hymns.

Rumi

As he sighs at the end of the epic Summertime in England, “Can you feel the silence?, he connects with Jalaluddin Rumi the greatest Sufi poet whose famous couplet about God opens this post.

Who said Sufis always have to be Muslim long beards?

            Track Listing:

            01 Haunts Of Ancient Peace

02 Summertime In England

03 Satisfied

04 Wild Honey

05 Spirit

06 When Heart Is Open

Listen here.