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On Hyndford Street

Take me back, take me way, way, way back
On Hyndford Street
Where you could feel the silence at half-past eleven
On long summer nights
As the wireless played Radio Luxembourg
And the voices whispered across Beechie River
In the quietness as we sank into restful slumber in the silence
And carried on dreaming, in God

And walks up Cherry Valley from North Road Bridge, railway line
On sunny summer afternoons
Picking apples from the side of the tracks
That spilled over from the gardens of the houses on Cyprus Avenue
Watching the moth catcher working the floodlights in the evenings
And meeting down by the pylons
Playing round Mrs. Kelly’s lamp

Going out to Holywood on the bus
And walking from the end of the lines to the seaside
Stopping at Fusco’s for ice cream
In the days before rock ‘n’ roll
Hyndford Street, Abetta Parade
Orangefield, St. Donard’s Church

Sunday six-bells, and in between the silence there was conversation
And laughter, and music and singing, and shivers up the back of the neck
And tuning in to Luxembourg late at night
And jazz and blues records during the day
Also Debussy on the third programme

Early mornings when contemplation was best
Going up the Castlereagh hills
And the cregagh glens in summer and coming back
To Hyndford Street, feeling wondrous and lit up inside
With a sense of everlasting life

And reading Mr. Jelly Roll and Big Bill Broonzy
And “Really The Blues” by “Mezz” Mezzrow
And “Dharma Bums” by Jack Kerouac
Over and over again

And voices echoing late at night over Beechie River
And it’s always being now, and it’s always being now
It’s always now
Can you feel the silence?

On Hyndford Street where you could feel the silence
At half past eleven on long summer nights
As the wireless played Radio Luxembourg
And the voices whispered across Beechie River
And in the quietness we sank into restful slumber in silence
And carried on dreaming in God

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • Gagdad Bob November 10, 2020, 6:29 PM

    Out of politics and into the mystic. The only cure.

  • Gary Foster November 10, 2020, 7:05 PM

    I discovered Van Morrisons music again in 1980 when I came to Kansas City to attend Seminary. It was a time of turmoil and stress for me and Van Morrison’s music brought something special into my life. His music is an indelible part of me still. Hyndford Street made me think of my own time coming up. Special album. I recently bought more of his music. He’s amazing.

  • Dirk November 11, 2020, 7:51 AM

    Awesome. I enjoy taking my wife to Show’s, down in Reno, catch roughly 5 a year. Our last concert was Van Morrison,,, think at GSR. A bucket list show! Amazing Musician, the band was tight, Van and his band truly were enjoying themselves on the stage.

    One of the best shows we’ve seen in along time. Played the Sax, Guitar, Piano. Would highly recommend his show.

    we are currently searching out “Ry Cooder” shows, with the China bug, may be awhile.

  • Van Fan November 11, 2020, 10:12 AM
  • Skorpion November 11, 2020, 10:17 AM

    Brilliant singer, songwriter, and musician. His 1968 album ASTRAL WEEKS is one of my favorite LPs of all time.

  • Joan Of Argghh! November 11, 2020, 3:21 PM

    Saw him –8 years ago–? in an Atlanta venue that was horrible. But Van wasn’t. He was amazing.

  • Gagdad Bob November 11, 2020, 5:35 PM

    Time flies: 10 years ago. Not that I’m checking up on you or anything.