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Van Morrison — Sweet Thing
Album: Astral Weeks
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2216









Released: 1970
Length: 4:14
Plays (last 30 days): 2
I will stroll the merry way and jump the hedges first
And I will drink the clear, clean waterfall to quench my thirst
And I shall watch the ferry-boats and they'll get high
On a bluer ocean against tomorrow's sky.
And I will never grow so old again.
And I will walk and talk in garden's all wet with rain.
Oh, sweet thing, sweet thing
Oh, my, my, my sweet thing.

And I shall drive my chariot down your streets and cry
'hey its me, I'm dynamite and I don't know why'.
And you shall take me strongly in your arms again.
And I will not remember that I ever felt the pain.
We shall walk and talk in gardens all misty wet, misty wet with rain.
And I will never, never, never grow so old again.
Oh, you sweet thing, sweet thing.
Oh, you sweet thing, sweet thing
My, my, my, my, my...

And I will raise my hand up into the night cloud's sky.
And count the stars shining in your eye.
Just to dig it all an' not to wonder that's just fine.
And I will be satisfied not to read in between the lines.
And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain.
And I will never ever, ever, ever grow so old again.
Oh, sweet thing. Oh, sugar baby, oh sweet thing
Sugar baby, sugar baby, sugar baby.
With your champagne eyes
And your saint-like smile.
Comments (229)add comment
 Riccardo_Cabeza wrote:

I rapidly change stations whenever Van Morrison plays. 




That's what I do when U2, REM or RHCP is played. BOFs.
Van is great.
 Riccardo_Cabeza wrote:

I rapidly change stations whenever Van Morrison plays. 



Sometimes I'm in the mood for him, sometimes not. Like pickles.
 Riccardo_Cabeza wrote:

I rapidly change stations whenever Van Morrison plays. 




Same same.
 idiot_wind wrote:

OK. This is much better for a Friday afternoon.

But why not play something from his other albums: Veedon Fleece, St Dominic's Preview, and Hard Nose the Highway? 



You haven't been listening? 
Legal drugs.
HeaVanly
 nmcvaugh wrote:

Ireland's most famous covidiot, everyone.



He's badly in need of money
I rapidly change stations whenever Van Morrison plays. 
 Egrey wrote:
When our pandemic nightmare is finally over, I am gonna play this song, crank the volume to 11, and it will be a glorious day.
 
Why wait? Crank it to 11 now, and maybe all this wretched bullshit will go away faster.  
Ireland's most famous covidiot, eveyone.
Love the Waterboys cover of this one 
 Egrey wrote:
When our pandemic nightmare is finally over, I am gonna play this song, crank the volume to 11, and it will be a glorious day.
 

I suggest doing it anyway.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

You might wanna ease up on your meds.
 

Nope. I'll have what he's having.
When our pandemic nightmare is finally over, I am gonna play this song, crank the volume to 11, and it will be a glorious day.
Timeless and sublime... Thank you RP!
 idiot_wind wrote:
OK. This is much better for a Friday afternoon.

But why not play something from his other albums: Veedon Fleece, St Dominic's Preview, and Hard Nose the Highway? 
 
There are 65 VM songs on the playlist, stuff from most of his albums gets played here pretty frequently.
I think one of the reasons this track  works so well is the playing of the rhythm section.  Connie Kay (drums)and Richard Davis (bass) play like they're in each other's head.  Amazing stuff.
A 10, of course. A great song from a great album, one of the best ever made and one of my top five favorites.
 idiot_wind wrote:
To be born again. 

In another place.

In another time. 
 
we can only wish this for you.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

You might wanna ease up on your meds.
 

Or increase them...
OK. This is much better for a Friday afternoon.

But why not play something from his other albums: Veedon Fleece, St Dominic's Preview, and Hard Nose the Highway? 
Funny how comments for this song seem evenly split between either "godlike" or "fingers on chalkboard" . . . not much in between . . . (I vote for the former)
 DocStrangelove wrote:
mama  mam maam mama
i amjn ras ma ha ma nigh
chep star ayass eyys
is ajust dis alll aaey aaaa
aa ba e satsi a
read betrwsne the liaaa neas

and so on...
 
LMAO Spot on! I do kind of like the song tho. Nah just kidding. I don't like it.
the rhythm of this is just incredible. And jumping in on the first line to create urgency, without losing calm. This song is really brave, and I think it works!
 DaidyBoy wrote:
How can it be that one can come to love a body of work at a certain time of life when I  couldn't bear Van Morrison throughout my life...  This is perfection.
 
Better late than never, DaidyBoy!  {#Cheers}
How can it be that one can come to love a body of work at a certain time of life when I  couldn't bear Van Morrison throughout my life...  This is perfection.
One of the greatest songs ever. A 10 for me.
Bizarrely overrated "Genöle"
To be born again. 

In another place.

In another time. 
Holy God almighty! this is possibly one of the greatest songs of the 20th century. one of the few that i say 10 is not enough.
Ah my favorite Van Morrison song has taken on new meaning after reading "Astral Weeks" by Ryan Walsh about the summer of 68 in Boston. Highly recommend. 
 On_The_Beach wrote:

You might wanna ease up on your meds.

 
....it could be the other way OTB....maybe more Meds is what the DocStrangelove needs....might help with the right arm pain at least....
 DocStrangelove wrote:
mama  mam maam mama
i amjn ras ma ha ma nigh
chep star ayass eyys
is ajust dis alll aaey aaaa
aa ba e satsi a
read betrwsne the liaaa neas
and so on...
 
You might wanna ease up on your meds.
Half a century ago. But unlike some tracks of that time, this one is almost from yesterday. Just beautiful. Listening to this again, now I know why someone I knew years ago began to cry at the mere mention of the album title.  
 thewiseking wrote:
A Poor Man's Nick Drake

 
Hil-ar-i-ous. 


I echo the comment of Dark Heart - a special album, especially in a certain time, in my life
If you don’t conclude that a voice is an instrument you aren’t listening.
Huh? Two different styles of music, and different artistic approach.
 

thewiseking wrote:
A Poor Man's Nick Drake

 


A Poor Man's Nick Drake
I wondered why this one isn't rated higher than 8.  Now I see that 23 people rated this song a 1. 

Could this be one person with 23 accounts? 
 On_The_Beach wrote:
https://conversation.which.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ten-number_shutterstock_65633086.jpg

 
At least!

BillG - your comment about leaving the 8track in the deck for days on end...oh boy those were the days, eh?  I mean not to throw any shade on your AWESOME internet radio station - I do fondly remember the days before we could listen to whatever we want pretty much whenever we want.  Being a bit younger than you (i.e. just after the 8track craze ended) I have similar memories with tapes (and later) CDs.  I was a mix tape master (sort of like John Cusack in "High Fidelity" but less pretentious) and for me The Wall was the tape that stayed in the deck for weeks. 

Ahhh....had we known then that YouTube was coming I don't think we would have believed it, or even understood what it would mean.

Long Live RP!


https://conversation.which.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ten-number_shutterstock_65633086.jpg
Oh, Bill... Astral Weeks is from 1968, not 1970.

This is a classic literature, am album for all those who pretend to know.

Nice!
 DocStrangelove wrote:
Morrison might have well just song one song — they all sound the same.

 
Nope, pas vrai.
I ever think this was from the waterboys, not Van, but it's delicious 😋 
Until now, I didn't realize there were people who didn't like the Van. So sorry for them.
I love this album, it holds a special place in my heart
This album actually came out in 1968, not '70.  Great album for any year.
 DocStrangelove wrote:
Morrison might have well just song one song — they all sound the same.

 

His voice grates on me as much as Bob Dylan's.  I don't know how his songs sounded back when they were new, but I don't think they've aged very well.  I could be wrong, but I have a feeling you had to be a fan back then to appreciate them now.
can't recognize art, your loss dimwit        
Marmite!!!!
{#Clap}
Come on RP listeners... we can get this sweet thing up over 8.0.
 walkerpub wrote: 
Thank you walkerpub, cool article  : )    ("alchemical whammo" !)
I used this song, and a few other cuts from the album, for in-home speaker auditions.  I never got tired of it, but unfortunately my wife and daughter did {#Surprised}
Astral Weeks; a transcendent effort on all counts, musical through spiritual. Veedon Fleece; a perfect companion. Common One; A latter day interpretation.
Veedon Fleece, St. Dominic's Preview, Hard Nose the Highway, Tupelo Honey....are all very good. 

But Astral Weeks is one of a kind.   It's odd, bizarre, beautiful, unpredictable, strange, but very hooky.  
 TerryS wrote:
So, GIM only got it right once?
OK, that sounds about right.
 
Pretty much everything he did up to the mid-80s (roughly 15 albums) was incredible.
As for Astral Weeks, no other artist has done it as well, before or since (in my ever-so-humble opinion, of course).
Sorry you don't like it.
 On_The_Beach wrote:

Nope.
Idiot Wind nailed it.

 
So, GIM only got it right once?
OK, that sounds about right. 
 TerryS wrote:
Well, he has been doing the same shout and talk routine for the last 30 years, so perhaps there have been some other albums like this.
 
Nope.
Idiot Wind nailed it.
 idiot_wind wrote:
This album....this album...this album. 

It must have been a lighting bolt that hit him to create this album.

There is no other album like this. Period.  

 
Well, he has been doing the same shout and talk routine for the last 30 years, so perhaps there have been some other albums like this.
This album....this album...this album. 

It must have been a lighting bolt that hit him to create this album.

There is no other album like this. Period.  
 WonderLizard wrote:

I saw one of his concerts a few years ago—tore the place up one side and down the other. Amazing.

 
I saw him on a bill with Dylan in 97 or 98 when Time out of Mind came out. I love Van but he was so-so that night (Bob went on afterwards and was great).
Others who've seen him say he's phenomenal or just phoning it in. Think it depends on his mood.
 ccwcool wrote:
 I worked in the studio with a number of players/producers that have worked with Van.  I think the reason some people don't get him is that he doesn't record like "pop stars".  He records a performance - the good, the bad and the ugly.  Some of his albums are horrendous from a production viewpoint.  He won't fix bad notes, wavering tempo's... if he likes what that moment produces, that's what goes on the album.  But when it's right, it's magic, pure and simple magic, like Astral Weeks, Moondance, Into the Music and many others.  Want to get your mind blown by Van and his band?  Take a good couple of listens to It's Too Late To Stop Now, one of the best live albums every recorded.  The band, Vans vocal, the arrangements...  Absolutely one of the best performances of any modern-day musician HANDS DOWN!  That's the album that got me hooked - been a big fan ever since.

 
I saw one of his concerts a few years ago—tore the place up one side and down the other. Amazing.
Sir varicose, you say, shouldn't be kneeling then.
Arise, Sir Vanlose! Or should I say George Ivan.
 dhalevi wrote:
The man
 
 
The man with the voice, man...
The man
 
Take a listen to Decemberist's "Lake Song" from their new one - very much influenced by this song I would say 

This whole album - a true masterpiece!
 so correct!

scrubbrush wrote:
10
10
10
10

 


10
10
10
10
So trippy, sweet, floating-like, cool harmonics and melodics, and lyrics that make it seem that you are hearing them for the first time. 

How he do dat?  
 stunix wrote:
Oh 5h1t, I was just getting over that 10 min Neil Young, now this 4r53h013!   I met him, tried to work with him, hated him and still wonder how he got to be on stage with so many great musicians........ in fact, who let him on stage at all?

does that PSD still work,   ahhh yes.

 
Perhaps, there is some explanation for why Van is a legend, and you are here making snarky comments on a internet radio board? There are 'difficult' artists, and there are those who will spend their lives slagging on those more talented. And then there are the rest of us who don't care how the sublime was achieved. We'll just be glad that it happened.
Fond of Van, the song writing, the vocals, the lyrics.

His output is surprising in light of his alcoholism.  Then he did not apparently rely on much on tighter takes, production values or carefully mastering. 

Just curious:  did he ever kick demon alcohol?  And if so, how?
 stunix wrote:
Oh 5h1t, I was just getting over that 10 min Neil Young, now this 4r53h013!   I met him, tried to work with him, hated him and still wonder how he got to be on stage with so many great musicians........ in fact, who let him on stage at all?

does that PSD still work,   ahhh yes.

 
lolz...l33t.
Richard Davis on acoustic bass.  He manages to play rhythm and melody at the same time and still anchor the song.  Absolutely incredible. 
SCIENTOLOGIST! 

Sorry... {#Propeller}


  ccwcool wrote:
 I worked in the studio with a number of players/producers that have worked with Van.  I think the reason some people don't get him is that he doesn't record like "pop stars".  He records a performance - the good, the bad and the ugly.  Some of his albums are horrendous from a production viewpoint.  He won't fix bad notes, wavering tempo's... if he likes what that moment produces, that's what goes on the album.  But when it's right, it's magic, pure and simple magic, like Astral Weeks, Moondance, Into the Music and many others.  Want to get your mind blown by Van and his band?  Take a good couple of listens to It's Too Late To Stop Now, one of the best live albums every recorded.  The band, Vans vocal, the arrangements...  Absolutely one of the best performances of any modern-day musician HANDS DOWN!  That's the album that got me hooked - been a big fan ever since.



  
A great post, ccwcool. I associate Van with all the stories about his snarky behavior but obviously there's a lot more to him than that.

I've only listened to Astral Weeks only once and it didn't really grab me, but then again I did the same thing with Jane Austen. Maybe it's time for another listen. 
 I worked in the studio with a number of players/producers that have worked with Van.  I think the reason some people don't get him is that he doesn't record like "pop stars".  He records a performance - the good, the bad and the ugly.  Some of his albums are horrendous from a production viewpoint.  He won't fix bad notes, wavering tempo's... if he likes what that moment produces, that's what goes on the album.  But when it's right, it's magic, pure and simple magic, like Astral Weeks, Moondance, Into the Music and many others.  Want to get your mind blown by Van and his band?  Take a good couple of listens to It's Too Late To Stop Now, one of the best live albums every recorded.  The band, Vans vocal, the arrangements...  Absolutely one of the best performances of any modern-day musician HANDS DOWN!  That's the album that got me hooked - been a big fan ever since.


love this song - also loved the version by the Waterboys (hint, hint?) 
The man!!
 DriftingDave wrote:
This song reminds me of a certain song from The Rolling Stones.. can't remember the name of it though.
  

Never ocurred to me before, but I bet you're thinking of Moonlight Mile. It's the violins.

   
The road to Belfast ...... memories memories
 stunix wrote:
Oh 5h1t, I was just getting over that 10 min Neil Young, now this 4r53h013!   I met him, tried to work with him, hated him and still wonder how he got to be on stage with so many great musicians........ in fact, who let him on stage at all?

does that PSD still work,   ahhh yes.

 
I have heard that his contracts specify exactly 60 minutes, no encores, no chat, no                   well, you get the picture.
 DriftingDave wrote:
This song reminds me of a certain song from The Rolling Stones.. can't remember the name of it though.
  Dude, are you sure that was the Stones? I was thinking it was someone else...but I'm not 100% sure...
:-)
Oh 5h1t, I was just getting over that 10 min Neil Young, now this 4r53h013!   I met him, tried to work with him, hated him and still wonder how he got to be on stage with so many great musicians........ in fact, who let him on stage at all?

does that PSD still work,   ahhh yes.
 bev wrote:
{#Sunny}

You know, I pondered on that for a little while. Then I listened to it surround me some more and just FELT those lyrics turning my heart all sunny and Yes. Yes it is one of the most beautiful songs in recorded history. Yes it is.
 
Thirded.
 scrubbrush wrote:
one of the most beautiful songs in recorded history

 

{#Sunny}

You know, I pondered on that for a little while. Then I listened to it surround me some more and just FELT those lyrics turning my heart all sunny and Yes. Yes it is one of the most beautiful songs in recorded history. Yes it is.
This first few notes... gotta be Astral Weeks! So sweet indeed.
 BerkeleyAlice wrote:
I really prefer The Waterboys version of Sweet Thing. It's much more evocative and soulful.

 
Me too! It's on "Fisherman's Blues", if anyone is interested in looking it up. A very good album indeed.
That God that this is a relatively short song.
For I can do not but stop, listen and reflect whilst it plays.

marvelous classic...
 
Yup, when I hear the notes of Van singin' about the ferries on the ocean I feel high...  
This was of an Excellence that didn't hold a single thing back, ever!
Another exquisite song off one of the most perfect albums, ever...
 Cynaera wrote:

My personal preference is the urge to cut off my own head with a rusty chainsaw. But, to each his own. And I really love this song, so no chainsaw here.{#Sunny}
 


 expatlar wrote:
I just turned it up to 11. While watching the Knicks whup the Lakers on mute. Life is good.
 
That. is. awesome.

This is a such a trippy and wonderful album. A very special moment in time captured on vinyl. This song is the shining example of it.

Play the whole freakin album!
these comments on this page are so right on. love this song. and van.
Hearing this song accidentally—like this, on Radio Paradise—always sends goosebumps down my spine. It's an affirmation of the beauty of existence and its burgeoning possibilities. Whitman's "Yawps" or Wordsworth's "spots of time." Exultation and ecstasy. Melodic joy.
To me, songs like this, or Cul Del Sac encapsulate the essence of Van the Man.
One of the greatest voices of my generation.  Combining such a wide and diverse musical palate that also honors the roots of music is quite a feat.  Van will always be the Man.
 shutter wrote:
I have never, ever, been able to enjoy anything sung by Morrison.  It's just fingernails on a blackboard to me.  The style, the tone - pretty much everything.  I've tried but just can't get past it.
 
And for me it's completely inconceivable that anyone could not enjoy this blissful masterpiece.
This is a flat-out 10.
Somewhere in the 80s he started phoning it in (IMHO) but everything up to "Into The Music" was excellent.
I love the way the music seems to reflect Van's euphoric verbal ramblings. It's like there's this ode to joy filling up the background of the song and then there's Van, in a semi-vegitative state mumbling semi-conscious words that only he can connect to reality. It's so seductive, you just want to be in the same place as Van is at that particular instant.
Not really my cup of tea.
Not such a fan of Van anymore...maybe it's b/c he seems like such a prick (I do usually try not to let personal character get in the way of the music), although I'm not sure that's the only reason. Hmmm....
Just about everything off this album rates a 9 or 10

all I can say about Van The Man.. {#Dance}
sooo good!
 
 shutter wrote:
I have never, ever, been able to enjoy anything sung by Morrison.  It's just fingernails on a blackboard to me.  The style, the tone - pretty much everything.  I've tried but just can't get past it.
 
its sad if you limit your enjoyment of music to those singers with pretty voices

 shutter wrote:
I have never, ever, been able to enjoy anything sung by Morrison.  It's just fingernails on a blackboard to me.  The style, the tone - pretty much everything.  I've tried but just can't get past it.
 
you read my mind

 scrubbrush wrote:
one of the most beautiful songs in recorded history
 
I fully agree. Bill must come up with a rating that transcends "godlike". This masterpiece deserves much more than a mere 10.

 scrubbrush wrote:
one of the most beautiful songs in recorded history
 
Agree 100%.
I have never, ever, been able to enjoy anything sung by Morrison.  It's just fingernails on a blackboard to me.  The style, the tone - pretty much everything.  I've tried but just can't get past it.
 dkrstic wrote:
every time I hear his whining voice I have an urge to jump through the window. 

 

Call it whiny, and hate it if that's how you feel.  To me that voice is more packed with emotion than nearly any other singer you will hear. 
one of the most beautiful songs in recorded history
 dkrstic wrote:
every time I hear his whining voice I have an urge to jump through the window. 

 

At least they will be clean windows thanks to Van!{#Wink}
The older I get, the more I like Van!
I really prefer The Waterboys version of Sweet Thing. It's much more evocative and soulful.