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.
Healing Game
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Back on the corner again
Back where I belong
Where I've always been
Everything the same
It don't ever change
I'm back on the corner again
In the healing game
Down those ancient streets
Down those ancient roads
Where nobody knows
Where nobody goes
I'm back on the corner again
Where I've always been
Never been away
From the healing game
Where the choirboys sing
Where I've always been
Sing the song with soul
Baby don't you know
We can let it roll
On the saxophone
Back street Jelly Roll
In the healing game
Where the homeboys sing
Sing their songs of praise
'Bout their golden days
In the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like you're proud
Sing the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like you're proud
Sing the healing game
Sing the healing game
Sing the healing game
Sing it in your name
Sing the healing game
The song "The Healing Game" by Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker is a contemplative song about returning to the familiar place where one feels most comfortable. The opening lyrics convey this by saying, "Here I am again, back on the corner again, back where I belong, where I've always been." The repetition of "again" and "always" emphasize the comfort and familiarity of being in that place. The lyrics continue to describe this place as unchanging, but not in a negative sense. It's a stable and reliable place to return to.
The lyrics also speak to the healing power of music. The "healing game" refers to the act of making music and the way it can bring people together. The song describes singing with "soul" and playing music on the saxophone and "Jelly Roll," a reference to the blues musician Jelly Roll Morton, who is known for his influential style that combined ragtime and jazz. The mention of the "choirboys" and "homeboys" also speaks to the idea of community and how music can bring individuals from different backgrounds together. The song is a reminder that no matter how much things may change, the healing power of music remains a constant.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I am again
I am back in my familiar place
Back on the corner again
Returning to the usual spot
Back where I belong
In the place where I feel at home
Where I've always been
This is where I have been for a long time
Everything the same
Nothing has changed
It don't ever change
It never changes
I'm back on the corner again
I am in my usual spot again
In the healing game
In the activity of repairing and restoring
Down those ancient streets
Traveling through old roads and streets
Down those ancient roads
Going through ancient paths
Where nobody knows
In a place where nobody is familiar with
Where nobody goes
In a deserted place
I'm back on the corner again
I am in my usual spot again
Where I've always been
This is where I have been for a long time
Never been away
I have never left
From the healing game
From the activity of repairing and restoring
Where the choirboys sing
Where the singers in the choir sing
Sing the song with soul
Sing with deep feeling
Baby don't you know
You should know
We can let it roll
We can allow the music to flow
On the saxophone
Through the use of a saxophone
Back street Jelly Roll
Playing music in the old, bluesy style
In the healing game
In the activity of repairing and restoring
Where the homeboys sing
Where the local musicians sing
Sing their songs of praise
Sing songs that honor and respect their past experiences
'Bout their golden days
About the glory days of the past
In the healing game
In the activity of repairing and restoring
Sing it out loud
Sing it with enthusiasm
Sing it in your name
Sing it as if it belongs to you
Sing it like you're proud
Sing it with confidence and pride
Sing the healing game
Sing in the activity of repairing and restoring
Sing it out loud
Sing it with enthusiasm
Sing it in your name
Sing it as if it belongs to you
Sing it like you're proud
Sing it with confidence and pride
Sing the healing game
Sing in the activity of repairing and restoring
Sing the healing game
Sing in the activity of repairing and restoring
Sing it in your name
Sing it as if it belongs to you
Sing the healing game
Sing in the activity of repairing and restoring
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ulrich Fiebach
"The Healing Game"
Here I am again
Back on the corner again
Back where I belong
Where I've always been
Everything the same
It don't ever change
I'm back on the corner again
In the healing game
Down those ancient streets
Down those ancient roads
Where nobody knows
Where nobody goes
I'm back on the corner again
Where I've always been
Never been away
From the healing game
Where the choirboys sing
Where I've always been
Sing the song with soul
Baby don't you know
We can let it roll
On the saxophone
Back street Jelly Roll
In the healing game
Where the homeboys sing
Sing their songs of praise
'Bout their golden days
In the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like you're proud
Sing the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like you're proud
Sing the healing game
Sing the healing game
Sing the healing game
Sing it in your name
Sing the healing game....
boxiko2
Here I am again
Back on the corner again
Back where I belong
Where I've always been
Everything the same
It don't ever change
I'm back on the corner again
In the healing game
Down those ancient streets
Down those ancient roads
Where nobody knows
Where nobody goes
I'm back on the corner again
Where I've always been
Never been away
From the healing game
Where the choirboys sing
Where I've always been
Sing the song with soul
Baby don't you know
We can let it roll
On the saxophone
Back street Jelly Roll
In the healing game
Where the homeboys sing
Sing their songs of praise
'Bout their golden days
In the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like you're proud
Sing the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like you're proud
Sing the healing game
Sing the healing game
Sing the healing game
Sing it in your name
Sing the healing game....
JC Ramírez
Here I am again
Back on the corner again
Back where I belong
Where Ive always been
Everything the same
It dont ever change
Im back on the corner again
In the healing game
Down those ancient streets
Down those ancient roads
Where nobody knows
Where nobody goes
Im back on the corner again
Where Ive always been
Never been away
From the healing game
Where the choirboys sing
Where Ive always been
Sing the song with soul
Baby dont you know
We can let it roll
On the saxophone
Back street jelly roll
In the healing game
Where the homeboys sing
Sing their songs of praise
bout their golden days
In the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like youre proud
Sing the healing game
Sing it out loud
Steve Wexler
This song and hundreds and hundreds of vans songs can be enjoyed for the next 100 or more years. His music is endless and has no boundaries. they are Timeless Treasures never to collect dust. Van gets straight to our core like no other musician performer.
Robert Charles Verity
Agree 💯
Carol Andersen
You can say that again!
Georgiana Punea
Once his music gets deep into your heart and soul and then runs into your blood then you get addicted forever ❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏
Carol Weidig
@Van Morrison are you still paying attention?
Carol Weidig
YOU, Georgiana Punea, are absolutely Right. Praises to ALL.
unterwant
and it creates happiness .....
vantastic !
Simon Benson
I thank God for three things: His word to us in the Bible, the plays of William Shakespeare and the music of Sir Van Morrison.
grant smythe
Yes indeed. People need reminding that the Bible is some of the finest prose and poetry in this world.
Katherine Moorhead
@Bob Haskell someone answered that's why it was called the British Invasion. Haha. I grew up in 60s and the music forever effected my life! How could I forget? I'm one of those absent minded professors. Lol