The poem by Patrick Kavanagh from which this song derives is sad and beautiful in in its own right. Based on the Irish ballad "The Dawning of the Day," "On Raglan Road" (the poem) was written for Hilda Moriarty, Kavanagh's great, unrequited love. In "Hilda," Kavanagh declares, "I shall die in a ditch / Like a dog or a bum / Poet dead in a ditch / Unless you come." Van Morrison's rendition captures this dark side of Kavanagh's poem as well as its thwarted passion.
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
Born in 1963 in Derry City. Catholic mother and Protestant Father. Proud and loving of both through eternity. Thank you Van as a Protestant to play Celtic music with Catholics. We are all Celts of the old paths and ways. Slainte Agus Saoirse.
Robert Johnston alright brother listen to Mr Celtic Reggae raglan road youtube version its really different but I love it and I'm a dub in London married to loyal subject who I love its a funny world lol
Many, many decades ago (nineteenth century), a Catholic man from Limerick went on a business trip to Belfast and met a Protestant lass who stole his heart. They had to go to this new land called America to be together. Their spirit still lives on in my Irish-German soul. Listening to Van & the Chieftans perform this song sends chills to me. T
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
Votre Carrickfergus a accompagné la cérémonie d'hommage à l'homme que j'aime pour son dernier voyage, il y a quelques semaines... C'était magnifique, bouleversant, déchirant ... Cette chanson était l'une de ses préférées, et elle nous a souvent accompagnés 🙏@@vanmorrisonofficial-_
Van Morrison and the Chieftains go deep into my soul as my mother's people are from Donegal and the Scottish Highlands. This music speaks to my heart and calls my spirit back to those places loved so much by my McCarron family. God Love you Van and the Chieftains ,and know that I surely do love you too.
This live performance of Raglan Road by Van is absolutely sublime. As much as I love Luke's version, and undoubtedly Luke's rousing ballad singing style is quite simply the best there is, the tone and timbre of Van's voice here makes this version of Raglan Road, in my opinion, the best there is.
I never knew my Irish mother but this song brings up deep feelings that don't visit very often. Only Irish music does it. God bless Van Morrison and his people.
@Felix X and Kathleen Quinn Wonderful comments. I'm Irish, and it does the same to me. It's other worldly at times, the sounds and how they make you feel. A soulful language.
Yes, you've said it perfectly. I met him once, nearly 50 years ago, and attempted to convey it, but of course it came out all wrong, as normally happens when you meet someone who has affected you profoundly. He said, "Far out." I mean what could he say? 😀
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
@@vanmorrisonofficial-_ Hi Van Oh yes been to your concerts all over the world ,vip tickets lots of times and I’ve bought your merchandise and paid for your music on Spotify.
Van's dynamic range on this is impressive, in his typical way. Belting out at nearly shouting level one minute, whispering the next, but it all feels so natural. Also love the use of brushes and the sparse, almost hypnotic drumming he adds to the performance. And of course the Chieftains deliver as usual. I keep coming back to this video over and over. Wish there was a better audio quality version.
The album “Irish Heartbeat” is a truly great album. I’m from Belfast and I’ve lived abroad for over 20 years now, the album never falls to move me. It’s one of Ivan’s greatest achievements as a singer - and he knows it.
There's no one like him. No one was quicker to come to Sinead O'Connor's side after her SNL protest backlash. The subject of her protest was, and is, still valid.
Hi , I'm Jane - Born In South Liverpool - UK, In The 1960s My Father Was born and raised In North Liverpool & he Worked As A Iron & Steel Work Labourer, working on the South Liverpool Docklands. My Mother Was Born & Raised In Cape- Town , S. Africa - before at 19 years old, she had travelled to London In The 1950's to Live and Work. Throughout my life, I have come through children's home's. With no family support ..I sought employment and a new life in East Sussex. My journey to me is one of inner strength, character and of a free -spirit personality, . I Am Born & Raised , Liverpool / Irish Throughout My Family History. Music & Dance Are My Life & Soul... And Even Though I may be almost sixty years old.. The Fire Within My Belly Keeps Me Young & Alive. Thankyou For Your Sharing ! 👍🏼 _ Liverpool Scouse -Not English. I Love This Raglan Road Song 👏👏👏🇮🇪
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
I have seen Van blow a harp and a sax, but this the first time I have seen him on the pots and pans. I absolutely love his version with the Chieftains. It is definitive.
Pure unadulterated beauty. My eyes well with tears. Gorgeous. Van sings it perfectly. Every Irish cell in my body stands in honor of this amazing song. Thanks for sharing. 💚🎶🍀
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤❤❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
I am a Canadian whose paternal ancestors are all Irish. Most of them from Monaghan, as far as I know. Most of them leaving the Belfast Harbour in 1839. Is this why I happen to believe Van Morrison's voice is beyond anything I have ever heard or will ever hear in my lifetime? Is this why, regardless of how many walls I have put up to protect my battered heart he just comes sailing through them all? Could anything that isn't love do this?
Maurice Dickson also has a beuatiful version of this song. I recommend. But van Morrisson is a genious. As a matter of fact, We share the same base of musical and poetic culture, wich emerged around the north sea basin centuries ago. I am Norwegian, and we find a lot of connection between west-nordic and celtic tradition.
wonderful comments Sir Van has the ability to carry me on a journey from the first album Astral Weeks he has been the soundtrack to my life ,you could ask what is my favourite song? i cannot answer it changes with every day
***** I use the word "evil" lightly, but he is mean & rude to his paying audience/fans - heck many times I've seen him in concert he just turns his back to the crowd and does what he wants. He could sing the phone book and I would eat it up.!
Not evil, just suffers from major stage fright. When he played with The Band, they practically had to push him out on stage because he was so nervous, but he ended up being the show stopper, absolutely epic performance, something not unexpected from Van the Man
+Michael Mitchell - chilling indeed. Van Morrison has an almost haunting effect on me at times, as in this song/performance, where he takes me places I would never have been, otherwise. God bless Mr. Morrison, grouchiness and all. He's one of the greatest musicians of our time!
A PROFOUNDLY MOVING performance from the ALWAYS SUPREME ARTIST, VAN MORRISON of a WONDERFUL classic Irish SONG ------ TRULY MAGNIFICENT!.--- LOVE ❤️ Evelyn O'Connor
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
This was the first occasion I saw Van on TV. He appears like a slightly shabby Literature teacher, and performs the song from the rear of the stage. When he opens his mouth, the most soulful sound emerges. A voice so unusually moving, he makes you rethink all of your assumptions about what singing is.
"... their 1988 collaboration 'Irish Heartbeat'." ...which was -- and is -- one of the finest albums ever, whatever the genre. I never get tired of it, almost 25 years on.
My family is from Belfast. Raglan road was the center of much violence during the "troubles". This is about a Protestant falling in love with a Catholic.
Patrick Kavanagh was originally a farmer from Co. Monaghan and moved to Dublin and lived at one point on Ragland Road. This is where he met Hilda Moriarty originally from Dingle, Co.Kerry. She moved to Dublin and lived on Raglan Road in 1944.She was studying to be a physician. The poem Ragland Road was inspired by her.When they met She was 22 and he was 40. She thought of Patrick only as a friend. This has more to do with a age gap. Dr. Hilda Moriarty married someone else and was in practice in Co. Limerick. Slan
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
My mom's parents came to US on a boat from county mayo about 1916. My dad's ancestors landed in canada in 1800's. I can see/hear so much of my ancestral heritage in van's music. Thanks van.
Luke Kelly's version is definitely the best, but I'm glad that great singers like Van carry this magnificent song forward, and make people aware of Luke Kelly's version as well.
Van the Man can inflect his voice so well, and put power into the music. I remember Irish traditional music during the 60s and 70s - it was so flat, no personality at all - it was no wonder that young people gravitated to rock-n-roll. Thin Lizzie did a great job of bringing trad music into the modern age, as does van the man here, so let's ignore John McCrea - either he is part of that old expressionless Irish generation, or else he doesn't understand artistic interpretation.
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
Vans version of this is the definitive one. I've heard this sung by dozens of artists. But Vans version on The Chieftains "Irish Heartbeat" album literally makes one weep. There is no finer unrequited love song or story than this one. . done by this group of people. .
Am always glad to receive positive comments from my lovely fans,it's my pleasure bringing sweet melody to my lovely fan,❤ ❤❤hope you don't stop listening to my music and thanks for your sincere compliment I really appreciate,have you been to any of my concerts?
@@vanmorrisonofficial-_ Not yet, but we will make it happen/get to one. There’s many tracts untapped, brand new (for me) that it’s astounding any artist can create a library, but especially one so vast and varied. My Dad told me about the newly released album @ just a year and a half ago, still need to pick that one up . 2024 will be the year, checking for a touring schedule, right now, in fact, so thank you for commenting
To everyone dissing Van, mind that he is a blues/soul singer having his first run in traditional music, plus he was past his prime vocally at this point and still did an excellent job singing it while drumming. True musical genius he is, and Luke Kelly, but cut this fish out of water some slack, he did better than nearly anyone else
I love Van's music. I grew up on it. I'm Irish. I bopped to Brown-eyed Girl as a Dublin teenager. His total body of work was a release and an inspiration to me. I still listen to him, my adult daughters listen to him. But he his an incomplete human being, a man who lacks the capacity to engage or trust others. A man who holds his audience in contempt. He is a monumental, elemental, example of a paranoiac. And even if I'm not a shrink - if it's not obvious to others, then....
This song goes out o my brother Kevin (Cleveland Police badge 1095) its been 8 years since the passing of my dearest brother. Thank you for having this on utube.
Van world class .Remember on holidays in Zante Greece 18 years ago .Met a barman from Zambia asked what did he know about ireland . His answer Van Morrison and Munster Rugby Two irish icons
