Van Morrison » Tracks » Moondance

Van Morrison – Moondance (4:32)

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About This Track

“Moondance” is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and is the title song on his 1970 album Moondance. It was not released as a single until 1977.

The song is played mostly acoustic, anchored by electric bass, with accompaniment by piano, guitar, saxophone, and flute with the instruments played with a soft jazz swing. It’s a song about autumn, the composer’s favorite season. Towards the end of the song, Morrison imitates a saxophone.

“Moondance” is the most frequently played song by Morrison in concert, as it is the only song known to have been played over 1,000 times.

Morrison on the writing of the song

With “Moondance” I wrote the melody first. I played the melody on a soprano sax and I knew I had a song so I wrote lyrics to go with the melody. That’s the way I wrote that one. I don’t really have any words to particularly describe the song, sophisticated is probably the word I’m looking for. For me, “Moondance” is a sophisticated song. Frank Sinatra wouldn’t be out of place singing that.

In the media

“Moondance” is one of the moon-themed songs used in An American Werewolf in London, a comedy-horror film released in 1981.

This song is featured in the 2007 movie, August Rush as performed by Jonathan Rhys Meyers with Robin Williams playing harmonica and also features an instrumental version by Chris Botti.

“Moondance” is one of the songs featured on the compilation album Michael Parkinson: My Life In Music, which is a 2-disc CD of Michael Parkinson’s favorite songs.

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Albums featuring this track

  • The Best of Van Morrison
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  • Moondance
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  • Best of Van Morrison
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  • Still On Top - The Greatest Hits
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See all 20 albums

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  • headey

    cover streaming is about 3:20 ~~~~~~ shout if it doesn't get fixed ~~~~~~~ http://www.last.fm/forum/21713/_/2049322/_/18118249

    22 days ago

  • audreyback

    not Van. Who is this?

    25 days ago

  • Cazweigun

    I'm not hearing Van, don't really like this cover.

    28 days ago

  • jamath911

    ain't Van?

    last month

  • davidbowiegirl

    Great song

    last month

  • granpubah

    c'mon Last.fm!!! get it together!

    last month

  • ladycaroledowns

    Thanks Daryl, nice song :-)

    last month

  • ripple58

    Doesn't sound like van the man, although the music is almost a note perefct rendition of the original...Is it Tom Waits?..Lastfm's credits *****ing up (again?)

    last month

  • JerryZola25

    great version - agree with biker - prob tom waits -no worries - both great artists!

    March 2012

  • BikerWriter

    Sounds like Tom Waits....wouldn't that be cool?!! (1LightComing@blogspot.com)

    March 2012

  • zeppelinonkone

    A bit odd version of a classic tune from the same name album.

    March 2012

  • Roy1968Wood

    Tom Waits doing Van Morrison = Enjoyable

    March 2012

  • lefthandedmoth

    This is mislabeled as hell, but whoever this guy is, he's got a great voice.

    March 2012

  • PurplePostRock

    This sounds bad, it's not Van Morrison :((

    March 2012

  • Iron-8

    But it's a good version!

    March 2012

  • brett565

    here is the van morrison version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFxGBB4UGU

    March 2012

  • pstjohn88

    Classic!! Always loved Van's distinctive voice. He always captures so much emotion. The way he blends his voice with the saxophone is just like in "Into the Mystic", another one of my favorites!

    March 2012

  • BikerWriter

    this is NOT Van Morrison...someone fix it! It sounds more like Tom Waits. this is NOT the original version. (1LightComing@blogspot.com)

    February 2012

  • DavidsDope

    Apparently this isn't the original version?

    February 2012

  • changelingette

    So good!

    February 2012
See all 455 shouts

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