Van Morrison - Listen to the Lion (full version)

Rock

Year2012

Duration11m

7.0

Van Morrison - Listen to the Lion Van Morrison - "Listen to the Lion", taken from his sixth solo album Saint Dominic's Preview (July 1972 Warner Bros). "Listen to the Lion" was first recorded during the sessions for Morrison's third solo album Moondance in 1969 but not used. The longer eleven minute version that is featured on the Saint Dominic's Preview album was recorded during the 1971 sessions at the Columbia Studios in San Francisco and intended for the album Tupelo Honey. I find "Listen to the Lion" uplifting, and heartbreaking at the same time. Van confronts all his dreams, all his doubts and all of the tangled web of the celtic diaspora and mysticism and emerges triumphant. It's almost a hymne. I like to hear a CS Lewis Lion (Aslan) in this song. This song is one of the defining tracks of Morrison's career, comparing it with works such as "The Garden", "Into the Mystic", and "You Don't Pull No Punches, But You Don't Push the River". Photograps: Dorothea Lange and Russell Lee Band: Van Morrison -- vocals, guitar,backing vocals Ronnie Montrose -- guitar, backing vocals Mark Jordan -- piano Bill Church -- bass Connie Kay -- drums Garry Mallaber -- percussion, vibraphone "Boots" Rolf Houston -- backing vocals Lyrics: And all my love come down All my love come tumblin' down All my love come tumblin' down All my love come tumblin' down Oh, listen listen To the lion Oh, listen listen listen To the lion... Inside of me Oh, oh, oh And I shall search my soul I shall search my very soul And I shall search my very soul I shall search my very so-o-oul For the lion For the lion For the lion For the lion... Inside of me Oh, oh, yeah And all my tears have flown All my tears like water flown And all my tears like water flown All my tears like-a water flown For the lion For the lion For the lion For the lion... Inside of me Listen to the lion [14 times] And we sailed, and we sailed... And we sailed, and we sailed... And we sailed, and we sailed... ... sailed to Caledonia And we sailed, and we sailed, And we