The 30 Best Van Morrison Songs, from Gloria to Days Like This

What is Van Morrison's most famous song?

"Brown Eyed Girl" is Van Morrison's most famous song, a 1967 top ten hit that is still one of the most played songs on American radio. "Moondance", "Into the Mystic", "Crazy Love" and "Have I Told You Lately" are his most loved songs, especially at weddings, and "Gloria", recorded with his first band, Them, is a garage-rock classic.

Van Morrison's biggest songs

1. "Brown Eyed Girl", 1967: his first solo hit, a number ten single.
2. "Moondance", 1970: a jazzy, swinging title track and a wedding favorite.
3. "Into the Mystic", 1970: a spiritual, romantic song from Moondance.
4. "Crazy Love", 1970: a tender love song sung in a gentle falsetto.
5. "Have I Told You Lately", 1989: a devoted love song later covered by Rod Stewart.
6. "Domino", 1970: a horn-driven number nine hit, his biggest US single.
7. "Gloria", 1964: the garage-rock anthem he wrote and sang with Them.
8. "Wild Night", 1971: an upbeat single from Tupelo Honey.
9. "Tupelo Honey", 1971: a sweet, slow love song and the title track of the album.
10. "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)", 1972: a joyful tribute to the soul singer.

Songs with Them and his early solo years

11. "Here Comes the Night", 1965: a dramatic Them hit.
12. "Baby, Please Don't Go", 1964: Them's version of the blues standard, with "Gloria" on the B-side.
13. "T.B. Sheets", 1967: a harrowing, nine-minute blues from his first solo album.

Songs from Astral Weeks (1968)

Astral Weeks sold slowly at first but is now considered one of the greatest albums ever made, a dreamlike mix of folk, jazz and soul recorded with jazz musicians in New York in just a few sessions.

14. "Astral Weeks", 1968: the hypnotic title track.
15. "Sweet Thing", 1968: a rapturous love song.
16. "Cyprus Avenue", 1968: a song named after a street in Belfast.
17. "Madame George", 1968: a long, mysterious story song that many call his masterpiece.

Van Morrison Moondance songs

Moondance, released in 1970, is his most popular album. Beyond the title track, "Into the Mystic" and "Crazy Love", these are its essential songs:

18. "And It Stoned Me", 1970: the opening song, inspired by a childhood memory of a country stream.
19. "Caravan", 1970: an exuberant song about music on the radio, famous for his performance in The Last Waltz.
20. "Come Running", 1970: a bright, catchy single.
21. "Brand New Day", 1970: a gospel-tinged song of hope.

The album's other tracks, "These Dreams of You", "Everyone" and "Glad Tidings", round out one of the most consistent records of the era.

Songs of the 70s

22. "Blue Money", 1971: a playful number 23 hit from His Band and the Street Choir.
23. "Listen to the Lion", 1972: a long, soulful epic from Saint Dominic's Preview.
24. "Warm Love", 1973: a gentle love song from Hard Nose the Highway.
25. "Bright Side of the Road", 1979: an optimistic single from Into the Music.

Songs of the 80s and 90s

26. "Someone Like You", 1987: a romantic ballad from Poetic Champions Compose.
27. "Whenever God Shines His Light", 1989: a gospel duet with Cliff Richard.
28. "Real Real Gone", 1990: an upbeat single from Enlightenment.
29. "Days Like This", 1995: a hopeful title track that became linked to the Northern Ireland peace process.
30. "Precious Time", 1999: a bright, rootsy single from Back on Top.

Who is Van Morrison?

Van Morrison was born on August 31, 1945, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and grew up listening to his father's records of blues, jazz and soul. He first found fame as the singer of Them, whose "Gloria" and "Here Comes the Night" became 60s classics, then moved to the United States and went solo in 1967. Nicknamed "Van the Man", he has released more than 40 studio albums, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993 and was knighted in 2015.

The story behind Brown Eyed Girl

"Brown Eyed Girl" was recorded in New York in 1967 for Bang Records and reached number ten, and its upbeat, nostalgic sound made it one of the most played songs in radio history. Morrison originally called it "Brown-Skinned Girl" before changing the title. He has often said he does not consider it one of his best songs, but audiences have never stopped requesting it.

Celtic soul: Van Morrison's sound

Van Morrison's music is often called Celtic soul. He grew up on Ray Charles, Lead Belly, Jackie Wilson and the blues, and he mixes American R&B, jazz and gospel with the folk melodies of Ireland. On stage and in the studio he improvises freely, repeating and stretching a single phrase until it becomes a kind of chant, and his 1988 album Irish Heartbeat with The Chieftains brought traditional Irish songs to a whole new audience.

Van Morrison albums to start with

• Astral Weeks (1968): his dreamlike masterpiece.
• Moondance (1970): his most popular album, full of classics.
• Tupelo Honey (1971): warm, rootsy and romantic.
• Saint Dominic's Preview (1972): with "Jackie Wilson Said" and "Listen to the Lion".
• Avalon Sunset (1989): with "Have I Told You Lately".
• The Best of Van Morrison (1990): the essential collection of his hits.

Famous covers of Van Morrison songs

Many artists have had hits with his songs. The Shadows of Knight took "Gloria" into the US top ten in 1966, and Patti Smith and The Doors made their own versions famous. Rod Stewart's 1993 cover of "Have I Told You Lately" became a top five hit, and John Mellencamp and Me'Shell Ndegeocello had a hit with "Wild Night" in 1994.

Van Morrison songs for a wedding

Few artists are played at more weddings. "Crazy Love", "Have I Told You Lately", "Into the Mystic", "Someone Like You" and "Tupelo Honey" are favorite first dances, "Moondance" works for a jazzy cocktail hour, and "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Jackie Wilson Said" fill the dance floor with guests of every generation singing along. For more, see our first dance songs and old love songs.

Van Morrison songs for a road trip or a summer evening

For a drive, play "Brown Eyed Girl", "Domino", "Wild Night", "Caravan" and "Bright Side of the Road". For a slow summer evening on the porch, "And It Stoned Me", "Sweet Thing" and "Warm Love" set the mood perfectly as the sun goes down. For more, see our road trip songs and songs about summer.

Van Morrison songs for a memorial

"Into the Mystic", "Days Like This" and "Whenever God Shines His Light" are often chosen for memorials and celebrations of life, and "Have I Told You Lately" can be a moving farewell to a husband or wife. For more, see our Irish funeral songs.

A love song as personal as Crazy Love

Van Morrison's love songs feel written for one person. A personalized song can be truly written for yours: their name, how you met and the moments only you two share. It makes a moving wedding, anniversary or Valentine's Day gift.

How to create a personalized love song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: jazz, folk, acoustic and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or details about them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a love song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.