Enlightenment (Van Morrison song)
"Enlightenment" is a single written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1990 album Enlightenment. The song was also included on the 1993 compilation album The Best of Van Morrison Volume Two.
| "Enlightenment" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Van Morrison | ||||
| from the album Enlightenment | ||||
| A-side | "Enlightenment" | |||
| B-side | "Avalon of the Heart" | |||
| Released | September 1990 | |||
| Recorded | October 1989 | |||
| Genre | Celtic, folk rock | |||
| Length | 4:04 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Van Morrison | |||
| Producer(s) | Van Morrison | |||
| Van Morrison singles chronology | ||||
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Biographer Brian Hinton comments "'Enlightenment' is actually the opposite of what it sounds: it is full of doubt, not affirmation. 'I'm meditating and still I'm suffering.' He seems to be saying everything is a state of mind, you can choose to live in heaven or hell."[1]
In a Rolling Stone review, John Swenson writes that the album Enlightenment is a sequel to Avalon Sunset and enables Morrison to have a new start (musically and spiritually). "Morrison is so pleased with his new start that he can even poke fun at his quest on the title track. 'I'm in the here and now and I'm meditating/And still I'm suffering but that's my problem,' he sings. 'Enlightenment, don't know what it is' – and he doesn't sound disturbed at all."[2]
Personnel on original release
- Van Morrison – vocals, harmonica
- Bernie Holland – guitar
- Georgie Fame — electric piano
- Alex Gifford – synthesizers
- Brian Odgers — bass guitar
- Dave Early — drums
Notes
- Hinton, Celtic Crossroads, p.293
- Swenson, John (1 November 1990). "Enlightenment Music Review". Rolling Stone Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2008.
References
- Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison, Sanctuary, ISBN 1-86074-169-X