Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison, OBE (generally known as Van Morrison or Van… Read Full Bio ↴Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison, OBE (generally known as Van Morrison or Van The Man) (born 31 August 1945) is a Grammy Award-winning artist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He's a singer, songwriter, author, poet, and multi-instrumentalist, who has been a professional musician since 1958. He plays a variety of instruments, including the guitar, harmonica, keyboards, drums, and saxophone. Featuring his characteristic growl - a unique mix of folk, blues, Irish, scat, and Celtic influences - Morrison is widely considered one of the most unusual and influential vocalists in the history of rock and roll. He has received numerous music awards during his career, including six Grammy Awards (1996–2007); inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (January 1993), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (June 2003), and the Irish Music Hall of Fame (September 1999); and a Brit Award (February 1994).

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.

Into The Mystic
Van Morrison Lyrics

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We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won
As we sailed into the mystic

Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Smell the sea and feel the sky
Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic

And when that foghorn blows
I will be coming home
And when the foghorn blows
I wanna hear it

I don't have to fear it
And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And magnificently we will float into the mystic

When that foghorn blows
You know I will be coming home
And when that foghorn whistle blows
I gotta hear it

I don't have to fear it
And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
Just like way back in the days of old
And together we will float into the mystic
Come on, girl

Too late to stop now

Overall Meaning

Van Morrison's "Into The Mystic" is a song about spiritual yearning, self-discovery, and the beauty of nature. The first stanza sets the scene with a description of the poetic and mythical place referred to as the "mystic." The singer, along with fellow seafarers, was born "before the wind" and "younger than the sun," suggesting that they have been around long enough to experience the world's wonders. They embark on a journey on a "bonnie boat" to sail into the mystic. The second stanza captures the essence of a sailor's life, where they smell the sea, feel the sky, and allow their soul and spirit to fly into the mystic.

The third stanza speaks of the foghorn, which symbolizes the journey's end, and the hope of returning home. The singer longs to hear the sound of the foghorn, which signifies his long-awaited homecoming. He affirms that he does not fear the unknown, and wants to share his adventurous spirit with his loved one, to rock her "gypsy soul" just like they would have in the days of old. The final stanza expresses the singer's desire to not just enter the mystic alone but to convince his beloved partner to sail with him. The song ends with an affirmation that it's too late to turn back now, implying a sense of uncertainty but also excitement about what lies ahead.

Line by Line Meaning

We were born before the wind
We came into this world before the gust that carries us through it

Also younger than the sun
We arrived even more recently than the star that lights our way

Ere the bonnie boat was won
Before we acquired our beautiful vessel

As we sailed into the mystic
We moved forward unhesitatingly towards our mystical destination

Hark, now hear the sailors cry
Listen closely to the calls of those who have traversed the same waters

Smell the sea and feel the sky
Inhale the brine and sense the expanse overhead

Let your soul and spirit fly into the mystic
Unfurl your innermost self and soar towards the unknown

And when that foghorn blows
Once the warning signal sounds

I will be coming home
I will be returning to my place of belonging

And when the foghorn blows
When the howl of the foghorn resounds

I wanna hear it
I crave to perceive it with my ears

I don't have to fear it
It does not need to incite any fear within me

And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
I wish to move your free and restless spirit

Just like way back in the days of old
Similar to how we danced long ago

And magnificently we will float into the mystic
In a splendid manner, we will drift towards our mysterious destination

When that foghorn blows
Once the warning signal resounds

You know I will be coming home
You understand that I will be returning to my home base

And when that foghorn whistle blows
When the shriek of the foghorn echoes

I gotta hear it
I long to hear it with all my being

I don't have to fear it
It does not need to incite any fear within me

And I wanna rock your gypsy soul
I desire to move your free and restless spirit

Just like way back in the days of old
Similar to how we danced long ago

And together we will float into the mystic
In unison, we will drift towards our mysterious destination

Come on, girl
Encouraging the female to embark on this mystical journey with him

Too late to stop now
We have already begun, and there's no turning back

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Van Morrison

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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