In the Garden (Van Morrison song)
Encyclopedia
"In the Garden" is a spiritually inspired song written by Northern Irish
singer-songwriter
Van Morrison
and included on his 1986 album No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
.
.
The lyrics of "In the Garden" contain a line which gives the album its name: "No Guru, no method, no teacher/
Just you and I and nature/And the Father in the garden." Some of the words also fall back to Astral Weeks
territory with mentions of "childlike visions", "into a trance" from the song, "Madame George
" and "in the garden wet with rain" from "Sweet Thing
".
According to Morrison, the song is based upon a form of transcendental meditation
, which takes about ten minutes before a person arrives at a degree of tranquility.
Biographer Johnny Rogan
has highlighted the song as one of the defining tracks of Morrison's career, comparing it with works such as "Into the Mystic
", "Listen to the Lion", and "You Don't Pull No Punches, But You Don't Push the River
". He also believes that "Morrison himself recognises 'In the Garden' as perhaps the key recording in the Eighties career."
, Morrison's video film released in 1990.
It was included on The Best of Van Morrison Volume Two
In 1993. A live version was one of the songs on the 1994 album, A Night in San Francisco
. The compilation album issued in 2007 Still on Top - The Greatest Hits
contains a remastered version of the song.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
and included on his 1986 album No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
This album was hailed by most critics as a return to form and gave Morrison his best reviews of any of his albums in the eighties. John Wilde in Sounds remarks, "the crescendos here are never dampened by their subtle nature and never fall short of blinding. The whole album aches with a steady...
.
Recording and composition
The album version of the song was recorded in 1985 at Studio D at the Sausalito & Record Plant in Sausalito, CaliforniaSausalito, California
Sausalito is a San Francisco Bay Area city, in Marin County, California, United States. Sausalito is south-southeast of San Rafael, at an elevation of 13 feet . The population was 7,061 as of the 2010 census. The community is situated near the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, and prior to...
.
The lyrics of "In the Garden" contain a line which gives the album its name: "No Guru, no method, no teacher/
Just you and I and nature/And the Father in the garden." Some of the words also fall back to Astral Weeks
Astral Weeks
Astral Weeks is the second solo album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in November 1968 on Warner Bros. Records. It was Morrison's first album after Warner Bros. had been able to free him from his contract with Bang Records...
territory with mentions of "childlike visions", "into a trance" from the song, "Madame George
Madame George
"Madame George" is a ten-minute song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It appears on the album Astral Weeks, released in 1968. The song features Morrison performing the vocals and acoustic guitar...
" and "in the garden wet with rain" from "Sweet Thing
Sweet Thing (Van Morrison song)
"Sweet Thing" is one of the songs included on Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison's 1968 acclaimed second album Astral Weeks. It was on the first side of the album, that was under the heading: In the Beginning...
".
According to Morrison, the song is based upon a form of transcendental meditation
Transcendental Meditation
Transcendental Meditation refers to the Transcendental Meditation technique, a specific form of mantra meditation, and to the Transcendental Meditation movement, a spiritual movement...
, which takes about ten minutes before a person arrives at a degree of tranquility.
Biographer Johnny Rogan
Johnny Rogan
Johnny Rogan is an author of Irish descent best known for his books about music and popular culture. He has written influential biographies of The Byrds, The Smiths and Van Morrison. His writing is characterised by "an almost neurotic attention to detail", epic length and a sometimes hostile...
has highlighted the song as one of the defining tracks of Morrison's career, comparing it with works such as "Into the Mystic
Into the Mystic
"Into the Mystic" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his 1970 album Moondance. It was also included on Morrison's 1974 live album, It's Too Late To Stop Now....
", "Listen to the Lion", and "You Don't Pull No Punches, But You Don't Push the River
You Don't Pull No Punches, But You Don't Push the River
"You Don't Pull No Punches, but You Don't Push the River" is a nine-minute song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It appears on the album Veedon Fleece, released in 1974.-Song origins:...
". He also believes that "Morrison himself recognises 'In the Garden' as perhaps the key recording in the Eighties career."
Other releases
"In the Garden" was one of the songs performed and featured on Van Morrison The ConcertVan Morrison The Concert
Van Morrison: The Concert is the second video released by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, first released in 1990. Recorded in New York the previous year, the concert featured two special guests and long-time friends Mose Allison and John Lee Hooker, each of whom performed some of...
, Morrison's video film released in 1990.
It was included on The Best of Van Morrison Volume Two
The Best of Van Morrison Volume Two
The Best of Van Morrison Volume Two is a compilation album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison released in 1993.Morrison chose the tracks for this album himself. It is mostly drawn from his work during 1984-1991. "Real Real Gone" from the 1990 album Enlightenment was the only song...
In 1993. A live version was one of the songs on the 1994 album, A Night in San Francisco
A Night in San Francisco
A Night in San Francisco is a live album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in 1994. Guest artists were John Lee Hooker, Junior Wells and Jimmy Witherspoon as well as Morrison's daughter, Shana Morrison...
. The compilation album issued in 2007 Still on Top - The Greatest Hits
Still on Top - The Greatest Hits
Still on Top – The Greatest Hits is the third compilation album to be issued by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison in 2007 . It was released...
contains a remastered version of the song.
Personnel on original release
- Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
- vocal - David HayesDavid Hayes (musician)David Hayes is an American bass guitar player.Hayes has worked with Van Morrison, The Rowans, Terry & The Pirates, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Country Joe McDonald and others....
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Jeff LabesJeff LabesJef Labes is an American keyboardist, best known from his work with Van Morrison and Bonnie Raitt. He has also arranged for string and woodwind instruments on numerous albums.-Career:...
- pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Chris Michie - guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Baba Trunde - drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....