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.
Dweller On The Threshold
Van Morrison Lyrics
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And I'm waiting at the door
And I'm standing in the darkness
I don't want to wait no more
I have seen without perceiving
I have been another man
Let me pierce the realm of glamor
I'm a dweller on the threshold
And I'm waiting at the door
And I'm standing in the darkness
I don't want to wait no more
Feel the angel of the present
In the mighty crystal fire
Lift me up consume my darkness
Let me travel even higher
I'm a dweller on the threshold
As I cross the burning ground
Let me go down to the water
Watch the great illusion drown
I'm a dweller on the threshold
And I'm waiting at the door
And I'm standing in the darkness
I don't want to wait no more
I'm gonna turn and face the music
The music of the spheres
Lift me up, consume my darkness
When the midnight disappears
I will walk out of the darkness
And I'll walk into the light
And I'll sing the song of ages
And the dawn will end the night
I'm a dweller on the threshold
And I'm waiting at the door
And I'm standing in the darkness
I don't want to wait no more
I'm a dweller on the threshold
And I cross some burning ground
And I'll go down to the water
Let the great illusion drown
I'm a dweller on the threshold
And I'm waiting at the door
And I'm standing in the darkness
I don't want to wait no more
I'm a dweller on the threshold
Dweller on the threshold
I'm a dweller on the threshold
I'm a dweller on the threshold
Dweller on the threshold
Dweller on the threshold
Dweller on the threshold
Van Morrison's song "Dweller On The Threshold" is a reflective journey of a person who has seen without perceiving and who seeks a deeper understanding of their true self. The lyrics suggest that the persona is waiting at the door of enlightenment and is a "dweller on the threshold." The threshold acts as both a physical and metaphorical barrier between the persona and the light. They are standing in the darkness and long to penetrate the realm of glamor to know what they truly are.
The persona grapples with their own darkness, but they are also aware of the presence of the angel of the present and the mighty crystal fire. They want to be lifted up and consumed by this fire to travel even higher. The persona aims to cross the burning ground and go down to the water to let the great illusion drown, so they can walk out of the darkness and into the light, singing the song of ages.
In short, the song is a journey of self-discovery, where the persona aims to understand their true nature and escape the darkness into a brighter reality.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a dweller on the threshold
I am in a state of limbo, waiting for something to happen
And I'm waiting at the door
I am in close proximity to my goal, but unable to reach it
And I'm standing in the darkness
I am in a place of uncertainty and confusion
I don't want to wait no more
I am tired of being stuck in this state of limbo and want to move on
I have seen without perceiving
I have experienced things without truly understanding their significance
I have been another man
I have gone through changes that have transformed me into a different person
Let me pierce the realm of glamor
Allow me to see past the illusions that surround me
So I know just what I am
So that I can understand my true identity
Feel the angel of the present
Become aware of the current moment and all it has to offer
In the mighty crystal fire
In the powerful purity of the present moment
Lift me up consume my darkness
Take away my doubts and fears and lift me up to a higher state of being
Let me travel even higher
Allow me to experience even greater levels of spiritual enlightenment
As I cross the burning ground
As I face the challenges that are in front of me
Let me go down to the water
Let me cleanse myself of negative energy and emotions
Watch the great illusion drown
Witness the destruction of the illusions that have been holding me back
I'm gonna turn and face the music
I am going to confront the reality of my situation
The music of the spheres
The harmony and beauty of the universe
When the midnight disappears
When the darkness and confusion fade away
I will walk out of the darkness
I will emerge from my state of uncertainty and confusion
And I'll walk into the light
I will embrace enlightenment and understanding
And I'll sing the song of ages
I will celebrate the wisdom and insights gained from my experiences
And the dawn will end the night
A new beginning will emerge from the end of a challenging period
Dweller on the threshold
A person in a state of uncertainty and limbo
Dweller on the threshold
A person waiting for enlightenment and understanding
Dweller on the threshold
A person who is facing challenges and illusions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HUGH DERMOT MURPHY, VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind