Summertime in England - Van Morrison

[@KravMagoo]

This is the first album by Van Morrison that I ever bought, back in my high school days. I have listened to many of his other albums, but I have yet to find one I like as much as this one. Then, come to find out the critics lambasted this album when it came out, roasting Van and calling this posturing. I don't know...do critics have to get lobotomized in order to become critics?? THIS IS VAN'S BEST ALBUM AND THIS IS THE BEST SONG ON HIS BEST ALBUM...and it's far too short at almost sixteen minutes. Can you feel the liiiiiiiight???

[@billk9856]

Agree, my favourite album of all time. And my favourite track on the album. Does things to me and moves me like no other.

[@inyamboyeta1604]

Truly one of the great songs of the century

[@coletrickle3166]

I hate flying.. I listen to this every time I fly and it puts me at ease. Van the man

[@adrianmichaelhingaia4715]

just one of Vans many great albums

[@MsEldee]

All the poets. A true tribute.

[@dcarberry1263]

There is a sound quality that takes you away from even the music to evoke ideas and emotions. The bass and the drums work together to create the sound of a fire with crackling sounds. The horns and the vocals act like flames. Later, the saxophones personifies a young woman wailing and Van's vocals sound like sobbing as well. Van begins with an invitation "Will you meet in the country in the summertime in England". He refers to Wordsworth, Coleridge, Blake, Joyce such that this will not be a simple song. "Wordsworth and Coleridge were smoking up in Kendal". Van is taking us on a sort of drug trip as supported by Pee Wee's saxophone drawing in long breaths as if smoking a joint. The vocals combined with the bass create a turning sensation then supported by the image of the red dress "dangling all around your body". It is about now where the song becomes very funky. The influence of James Brown becomes apparent. (Pee Wee Ellis worked for James Brown.) This is a bridge to another part and Van begins to describe the woman as the strings come and he references the sounds of Mahalia Jackson, the gospel singer and the girl's suffering, where she wants to be to be called Common One. The music shifts again it starts to feel like a funeral march. "Oh my Common One with the suffering so fine. Take a walk with me." You can then hear how Van's vocals begin to sound like tears"And I will show you it ain't why why why why, it just is." The strings add to this, but then we come back to the refrain with the invitation to meet him in the country with her red dress dangling around her body. Remember this is a drug trip, but now he mentions T.S. Elliot the poet who joined the church. We are moving from a drug trip to something spiritual. "Will you meet me down by Avalon in the summertime of England in the church of St Joan." The strings come in creating the "light". The funeral march returns with the description of the girl suffering. The horns begins to sound like sobs, and Van sobs with "it ain't why why why why, it just is". The two are talking in sobs. The saxophone becomes the girl crying which increases in intensity. The drums and the bass work to increase the intensity further. Somehow the sobbing slows and one feels lifted and gently carried to a soft peaceful place. Wow.

[@wilfriedmathias2236]

Das war mein erstes Album von Van Morrison, epische und zeitlos schöne Musik!

[@robynedmanson4059]

dance pumps on...twirling round the back yard.. nice and loud.....ohh god the...... sawing strings..the bass..hi hat..and the serious fucking horn section this is quite extraordinary..I'm not sure I have ever heard anything like this before

[@philmccarthy1841]

Personally , this is my favourite Van Morrison album . I know the critics didn't particularly like it so much but who cares. There's a mystical , celtic feel , that maybe some people don't get . Some critics seem to want to over -intellectualise music , but sometimes you just have to listen and lose yourself in it and rejoice in the way it makes you feel.

[@judithmaxfield4046]

You'e so on it! Your Irish roots know the special Truth in our psyche of Being. This my favorite of Van's work and the heart that gave Common One the Irish soul. Thanks, Judith Mulholland-Carson.

[@Tony78454]

Irish!? It's black gospel inspired. He says "Mahalia Jackson came through the ether" in the song. Mahalia Jackson was a great black gospel singer, I named my daughter after her. this is his attempt at a gospel album however he's Irish so ofc it would have some flavor of that. Van in interviews and the documentary has made clear he is just doing black american music. Its one of my favorites too, although i like the album that was stolen from van the best, only on vinyl btw. Also if you haven't heard mahalia jackson check her out sounds like this song but less production.

[@nthabisengmalete8700]

beautiful song!

[@frankdoubleUdoubleL]

Masterpeace!

[@MsEldee]

How can someone sing "why why why why why why why why" and make it sound so. amazing. : Van Morrison.

[@Heene1028]

It just is....and that’s all! ♥️🎼

[@bartolomemartinezmartinez5154]

para mi la mejor cancion de van es majica por momentos viva ese gitano

[@前橋みき]

This is a very very special- fab!

[@davidayer2168]

前橋みき So desu yo na! Has an improvisational quality but carefully crafted

[@Bajahobo]

awesome version

[@pamelamacneil3950]

Fantastic! Thx for posting.

[@MsEldee]

Ma Man.

[@AndoDouglas]

Didja ever hear about/didja ever hear about/didja ever hear about/Wordsworth and Coleridge? They were smokin' up in Kendal by the lakeside in the long grass. Can you meet me in the country in the tall grass? Down by Avalon?

[@mucciaccioVincenzovm74]

sorry in current english what is the traslation of this slang: Didja? Did i?

[@rogermorgan23]

did you

[@mucciaccioVincenzovm74]

thanks

[@patriciathewisher2315]

Went to the church of st John X 4 down in Avalon in 2013 June

[@jillcopeland5551]

saw Van last week 02 manchester he did not do this summertime I mean as he could have killed it for me had a million digs to this danced like I invented it I love this man but stage presence .........

[@davidayer2168]

jill copeland What's 'a million digs'? And can you say more about seeing him live 02?

[@jillcopeland237]

ever since I found Van I have been beyond blown away by his music mastery as a writer and his music has kept me alive I was a heroin addict for over 30 years and established a ritual I always injected to.Common One which gave me the biggest rush when I stopped I could nt listen to this track now I play it a dozen. xs a week and I. love it the digs is slang for injecting heroin.i am not saying for a moment that anyone should try it it was a personal ref. which is why I used the expression I now have COPD.Heart disease and am.very I'll. at my.funeral I. want Common One and Take me back played and last thing I want while dying is to here Common One . That's it really but thank you for reading .Jill Copeland

[@davidayer2168]

Thanks for sharing - much love

[@jillcopeland5551]

Jill Copeland oh thank god i thought i had lost mail I d written you

[@davidayer2168]

Would be interesting to hear about, thanks

[@patriciathewisher2315]

I bought my mum blue rosary beads at the cathedral shop and went on to the next town and phoned her from a pub garden and told her I was sending her a letter and some rosary beads from Glastonbury and when I next called she was distraught as the package arrived but no beads. They contacted the post office all to no avail. We both were upset. Who would steal rosary beads? After she died I found what I think were them in her room. I believe Deirdre took them. Deirdre is evil. Deirdre couldn't bear me making my mother happy. I did find her sister Pat's grave in Bournemouth and took photos for her and she was v happy about that. I did borrow some flowers off another grave for the photos. Didn't want her to think pat had no flowers

[@patriciathewisher2315]

It just is

[@dwjlpg]

My story time one oh my treasury in the sunset

[@billymallon1350]

wordsworth and coleridge they were smoking up kendall

[@MsEldee]

Do you think it was dope they were smoking.

[@anthonydoyle7370]

@@MsEldee op ium. 'twas a big thing back then and very popular.

[@patriciathewisher2315]

Gonna go lie down for a bit. No more Ronnie til later this evening. I'm tired now. No one here to fuck me into even more exhaustion. X

[@Elevenated]

any, every

[@ABridgeToAwareness]

always two... and sadly more... that? must say... "I" don't like this? and if asked ....not in eons could "they" tell who has the ugly need to ... say? and still lost as the last out-breath.... missing..... funny dance with no partner.....