Van Morrison componeerde de meeste songs van zijn meesterwerk Veedon Fleece in Ierland. Zijn terugkeer naar Ierland – nadat hij acht jaar lang “in ballingschap” (zijn eigen woorden) in de VS had gewoond – leverde een van de meest betoverende albums uit de geschiedenis van de populaire muziek op. Deze Ierse fabel met zijn ondoorgrondelijke tekst (wat was nou eigenlijk Linden Arden’s misdaad en waarom was één hand op zijn rug gebonden?) is wat mij betreft het hoogtepunt van dit verstilde, mystieke album.
Linden Arden stole the highlights
With one hand tied behind his back
Loved the morning sun, and whiskey
Ran like water in his veins
Loved to go to church on Sunday
Even though he was a drinking man
When the boys came to San Francisco
They were looking for his life
But he found out where they were drinking
Met them face to face outside
Cleaved their heads off with a hatchet
Lord, he was a drinkin’ man
And when someone tried to get above him
He just took the law into his own hands
Linden Arden stole the highlights
And they put his fingers through the glass
He had heard all those stories
Many many times before
And he did not care no more to ask
And he loved the little children
Like they were his very own
You say, “Someday it may get lonely”
Now he’s livin’, livin’ with a gun
