In the days before rock and roll.

I miss my blog too. But no….

Quick Van story. I actually saw the man in a town called Donghadee. In the post office. Decades ago. I was nine or twelve. I was unaware of who he was at the time, though he was pointed out to me by an uncle. No big fuss. In the Irish way. But that’s not my story.

I was writing once, a marathon session, and I had Van on CD, the one he did with The Chieftans. Without warning tears began streaming down my cheeks. And, generally, I do not cry. In fact it’s a very rare occasion. Very rare. I’m not certain of the title of the track, but the song had to do with wandering and Your Own Ones.

The song had everything to do with family and separation and return. It still blows me away that music – especially the lyrics – can have such a powerful effect on the unconscious.

Duh!

I’ve still never been able to draw a distinct and clear line back to those days and that place – it’s a crooked path – but somewhere within me there is a place and time of absolute beauty and contentedness and solitude that transcends mere nostalgia. It’s odd that this happiness is inextricably linked with a sort of melancholy and longing. I think that, for me, is the universal appeal of someone like Van Morrsion. His music that is. And it’s not just personal. There is a childishness there, that works on a mystic plane. Lost innocence I suppose.

Sorry, I’m babbling and making very little sense.

But, then what else is new? And maybe there is no making sense of it. Maybe there only ever is the poetic.

Again, all the best.

Eoin: Bridezilla, say it ain’t so! Well, production weddings are daft, so I suppose I’m glad for her.

BMO: Paul Durcan has west of Ireland ancestry (Westport, Co. Mayo), but his accent isn’t unusual for middle-class Dublin of his generation. You’re thinking of “Justin”, the spoken-word piece he did with Van a few years back, yes?
Also, I miss your blog—any chance you’ll reinstate it?

As to why it is off: The lady prepareth too much, methinks.

Paul Dercan may have been born in Dublin but there’s no way he was reared there. Is there? Was he? I never would have guessed it from his accent. Thanks for the link, Derbla.

Sorry to hear Guiness ruined things for you.
Still won’t stop me from having one though.

Cheers.

dervala, come back to canada, we need you up here!

i’m waiting for a Ranger Tim blog. waiting . . .