Known as "Van the Man" by his fans, Morrison first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Northern Irish band Them, writing their 1964 hit "Gloria". A few years later, Morrison left the band for a successful solo career, starting with the album Astral Weeks.
Morrison has pursued an idiosyncratic musical path. Much of his music is tightly structured around the conventions of American soul and R&B, such as the popular singles "Brown Eyed Girl", "Moondance", "Domino", and "Wild Night". An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, loosely connected, spiritually inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz, and stream-of-consciousness narrative, such as his classic album Astral Weeks and lesser known works such as Veedon Fleece and Common One. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic Soul," and Morrison rejects the characterization of his genre of music as Rock, citing Elvis Presley as a non-influence.
He continues to perform regularly and achieved his highest U.S. chart position (number ten on the Billboard 200) with his 2008 album, Keep It Simple.
And The Healing Has Begun
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we'll sing all the songs from way back when
And we'll walk down the avenue again and the healing has begun
And we'll walk down the avenue in style
And we'll walk down the avenue and we'll smile
And we'll say "baby, ain't it all worthwhile?" when the healing has begun
You can wear your Easter bonnet and all the rest
And I want to make love to you yes, yes, yes, when the healing has begun
Louder, when the healing has begun
So good
Whoo
All right, whoo
Yeah
Aah
Whoo
When you hear the music ringin' in your soul
And you feel it in your heart and it grows and grows
And it came from the backstreet rock and roll and the healing has begun
That's where we come from, man
I want you to put on your old summer red dress
Put on your Easter bonnet and all the rest
And I want to make love to you yes, yes and the healing has begun, ow
I can't stand myself
We're gonna make music underneath the stars
We're gonna play to the violin and the two guitars
And we'll sit there for playing in our for hours and hours and hours and hours
And hours and hours and hours and hours, when the healing has begun
And hours and hours and hours and hours, when the healing has begun
Wait a minute, wait
Listen, listen, listen
Listen, I didn't know you stayed up so late
I want you to know I just got home from a, from a gig
And I saw you standing on the street
Just let me move on up here to this windowsill a little bit, here
Yeah, I got some sherry
A drop of port
Yeah, I want you to come on in behind, behind this door here
Oh, let's just move on up this, this letter-box
Why don't we just go up in your front room?
Let's just sit down and take tea
I'll just move over there a little bit now
Yeah, I'm gonna play this Muddy Waters record you got there
Oh, if you just open up a little bit
And let me come on in one some backstreet jellyroll
We're gonna stay out all night long
And then we're gonna go out and roam across the field
Baby you know how I feel when the healing has begun
When the healing, when the healing has begun
When the healing, when the healing has begun
We're gonna dance, we're gonna stay out all night long
We're gonna dance to the rock and roll
When the healing when the healing has begun
Has begun
Now you just
Let me ease on a little bit
Well, dig this
Backstreet jellyroll
When the healing, when the healing has begun
Yeah, when the healing has begun, and the healing, and the healing
Van Morrison's song "And The Healing Has Begun" is all about the power of music to heal and mend broken relationships. The song opens with the singer telling his lover that they will walk down the avenue together and sing all the songs from way back when. The chorus emphasizes that the healing has already begun and they will continue to walk down the avenue in style and say that it's all worthwhile. The second verse sees the singer urging his lover to put on her pretty summer dress and Easter bonnet so that they can make love when the healing has begun. The bridge of the song reiterates the healing power of music, saying that it can ring in your soul and feel it in your heart.
The narrative style of the song is very conversational and creates an immersive and engaging experience. The song tells a short story and the listener can picture the scene of the two lovers walking down the avenue, dressed in their best clothes, and singing along to the music. The song builds up to a climax where the healing has begun and they can finally come together as two people in love. The conversational and laid-back style of the song hides the complexity of the technical aspects of the music.
Line by Line Meaning
And we'll walk down the avenue again
We'll revisit a familiar place
And we'll sing all the songs from way back when
We'll reminisce about old times
And we'll walk down the avenue again and the healing has begun
This walk will signify a fresh start
And we'll walk down the avenue in style
We'll do it confidently and elegantly
And we'll walk down the avenue and we'll smile
We'll be happy during the walk
And we'll say "baby, ain't it all worthwhile?" when the healing has begun
We'll appreciate the journey and its good outcome
I want you to put on your pretty summer dress
I want you to look nice
You can wear your Easter bonnet and all the rest
I want you to wear all your finery
And I want to make love to you yes, yes, yes, when the healing has begun
Our relationship will be rekindled
Louder, when the healing has begun
Amplify the experience
So good
It feels amazing
Whoo
An exclamation of joy
All right, whoo
An expression of enthusiasm
Yeah
An agreement or positive sentiment
Aah
An expression of feeling pleased or satisfied
Whoo
A joyful exclamation
When you hear the music ringin' in your soul
When you feel uplifted and inspired
And you feel it in your heart and it grows and grows
When you feel love and joy intensely
And it came from the backstreet rock and roll and the healing has begun
Our renewed energy comes from humble origins
That's where we come from, man
Our roots are important
I want you to put on your old summer red dress
I want to see you in something nostalgic
Put on your Easter bonnet and all the rest
Wear something festive and celebratory
And I want to make love to you yes, yes and the healing has begun, ow
We'll connect physically, emotionally, and spiritually
I can't stand myself
I'm overwhelmed by joy
We're gonna make music underneath the stars
We'll create art in a romantic setting
We're gonna play to the violin and the two guitars
We'll make beautiful music together
And we'll sit there for playing in our for hours and hours and hours and hours
We'll be entranced by our art
And hours and hours and hours and hours, when the healing has begun
Time doesn't matter when we're deeply connected
Wait a minute, wait
Pause for a moment
Listen, listen, listen
Pay attention to what I'm saying
Listen, I didn't know you stayed up so late
I didn't know you were still awake
I want you to know I just got home from a, from a gig
I want to update you on my evening
And I saw you standing on the street
I noticed you outside
Just let me move on up here to this windowsill a little bit, here
Let me come closer to you
Yeah, I got some sherry
I have something to offer you
A drop of port
I have another drink choice
Yeah, I want you to come on in behind, behind this door here
Come inside with me
Oh, let's just move on up this, this letter-box
Let's go through this doorway
Why don't we just go up in your front room?
Let's spend time together
Let's just sit down and take tea
Let's relax and chat
I'll just move over there a little bit now
Let me adjust my position
Yeah, I'm gonna play this Muddy Waters record you got there
Let's listen to some blues music
Oh, if you just open up a little bit
Let's be open with each other
And let me come on in one some backstreet jellyroll
Let's be intimate
We're gonna stay out all night long
We'll have fun all night
And then we're gonna go out and roam across the field
We'll take a walk in nature
Baby you know how I feel when the healing has begun
We'll feel connected and renewed
When the healing, when the healing has begun
The transformation has begun
When the healing, when the healing has begun
The change is happening now
We're gonna dance, we're gonna stay out all night long
We'll have a great time together
We're gonna dance to the rock and roll
We'll dance to lively music
When the healing when the healing has begun
Our new beginning is here
Has begun
It has started
Now you just
Listen to me now
Let me ease on a little bit
Let me relax for a moment
Well, dig this
Listen carefully to what I'm about to say
Backstreet jellyroll
Slang for illicit pleasures
When the healing, when the healing has begun
Acknowledging the transformation
Yeah, when the healing has begun, and the healing, and the healing
An affirmation of the healing process
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
BottomOceanBlue
And The Healing Has Begun"
And we'll walk down the avenue again
And we'll sing all the songs from way back when
And we'll walk down the avenue again and the healing has begun
And we'll walk down the avenue in style
And we'll walk down the avenue and we'll smile
And we'll say baby ain't it all worthwhile when the healing has begun
I want you to put on your pretty summer dress
You can wear your Easter bonnet and all the rest
And I wanna make love to you yes, yes, yes when the healing has begun
When you hear the music ringin' in your soul
And you feel it in your heart and it grows and grows
And it comes from the backstreet rock & roll and the healing has begun
I want you to put on your pretty summer dress
You can wear your Easter bonnet and all the rest
And I wanna make love to you yes, yes, yes and the healing has begun
We're gonna make music underneath the stars
We're gonna play to the violin and the two guitars
We're gonna sit there and play for hours and hours when the healing has begun
[Spoken:] Wait a minute, listen, listen,
I didn't know you stayed up so late.
I just got home from a gig and I saw
you standing on the street.
Just let me move on up to this window-sill a lot yeah, I got some sherry.
You want a drop of port.
Let's move behind this door here.
Let's move on up behind this letter-box behind this door.
Let's go in your front room,
let's play this Muddy Waters record you got there,
if you just open up a little bit
and let me ease on in this backstreet jellyroll....
We're gonna stay out all night long
And then we're gonna go out and roam across the field
Baby you know how I feel when the healing has begun
When the healing, when the healing
We're gonna stay out all night long
We're gonna dance to the rock & roll
When the healing when the healing has begun
Baby just let me ease on a little bit, dig this backstreet jellyroll
Yasmin Helen McEwen
Always always Van Morrison is the Man who holds my broken body and his voice and his Spirit are the truest Medicine a soul could ever long to hear ~ Sending Van so much Love 💖💖💖💖💖 i listen to many many Van Morrison songs 24 hours 7 days a week bc he is and has brought me such passion and J O Y,
L O V E & C O M F O R T within this Stormy life ~ this song always brings me such great joy and i listen to it when i am happy also when i feel sad and am in a lot of pain i listen to it when i wake up at 4am from dreams that tell me the cancer isnt going to leave my body and that it is time now for me to prepare for my journey to that big celebration in the sky the big Tea Party that reunuion of everlasting light and i wake up hearing this song before i even press play i think
i will get to be with my mom and my granny and my grand parents and my aunt jean and aunt grace and aunt loretta and kaye uncle hoey and all my family who did so dearly love me upon this earth and i will get to sit up on my tall grandpas knee and the days will roll on and on in the green grass fields oh there will be much healing waiting for me up in heaven all my dogs will be waiting for their long walks and even one day
after me my little golden sunshine bear my stalwart companion my most Beloved Mister Hobsy will greet me again and i wake up and he is with me sleeping so peaceful so lovely and i just love him so much it makes me cry and i feel so truly truly blessed and loved by the Lord yes even though i am dying from cancer even now i still feel abundantly blessed all i can think is my mission is making sure that when i go that i have secured a very safe and loving home for him so that he can still be loved in this life and i just hold him now as much as i can and i sit on my porch with my most beloved Hobsy a together we watch the most beautiful sunsets and i Thank the heavenly Father for this great and glorious life that he has given me it wasnt easy sometimes it was real dang hard but i kept going and i had some real bad moments where i got angry or lost my temper and i looked like a fool and an idiot but i felt bad and i asked for His forgiveness and most of all throughout this life i did Believe and i had great Faith and tho the churchgoing crowd will not remember me I did and always have Believed in the Holy Father and The Son and the Holy Spirit No Matter What and i tried very very hard to do good always tried to take the Good Road and not the bad and the Holy Spirit has resided within me and speaks to me and i try very hard to listen
if i saw a man going through the trash can an old man on a bike wearing a trash bag without two nickels to rub together and he was alone and noone talked to him not ever i stopped and tried to speak his language i think he was Russian or mongolian i found a way to look him in the eyes and bring him some water or food sure i like my nice clothes but i always always always tried hard to share and give back
Give back L O V E in glances give back caring in soft words give back thank you's to all the many nurses in the hospitals women and men who were so kind and gentle to me in the scary ambulance times these people were so very gentle with me and helping my scared and hurt body in the gentlest of ways and i could not ask for more when i needed their kindness they came through most of all they were always there to help me get back up after some very serious surgeries the nurses and the doctors but really in this life we have to hold onto
each other so carefully and so gently maybe this will be the song after i go to make my trip up to the sky i dont know i am still trying so hard to stay alive maybe though i have to listen to God the Heavenly Father as maybe he is calling me, Dear child it is time for you
To
Come
Home ~
Wild Irish Blessings to you Sweet Van
Sending you great Thanks and Reverence and Admiration for your Spirit and Music have brought me the most Joy and Love Sending Van So much Love from far away from a Wild Irish Gal who has always Loved you ~
Brave Onwards ~ May the Sun shine Warm upon your face 🍀
Stephen Davis
l have never heard a bad song from Van. His music makes me fall in love with the loves of my life all over again. I am 68 years old. He keeps my soul young. I wish everyone could feel what I feel whenever I listen to his music
Andrew Howard
STEHEN MAN WE ALL FEEL BLESSED TRULY
Marc Isaac
Indeed...Sir.
Ken Penwell
Absolutely! This one inspired me to write to an old love, just to say... hello. Van the man!
Lance Esposito
Fall for the loves of your life again each and every one of them much love elder
Pete Aves
Van’s done a lot of rubbish, but this isn’t!
linshanhsiang
Toni Marcus on violin deserves a standing ovation. I never tire of hearing those exquisite sounds!
jipsigal
Yes, yes… yes! 😊
Fédération des Guides Diplômés de Corse
Same reaction...it's a masterpiece
Matt Cantu
If this song isn’t played at my funeral I’m not going.