BOURNE BEFORE THE MAN, From the Times Ten Challenge Options

[Alan]

BOURNE BEFORE THE MAN

The hunt for nineteen kinds of astral burn
takes us half way round the globe
to November, Blah-Blah Land

A matrix of seldom sad souls
damned to pursue perfection
assembles and parties in the woods

All much older now, still drinking beer and wine,
living the blues as only we must, and can
who are compelled to follow Van

Each towering epiphany reached
is our inheritance. To follow is pain,
to seek escape is next to an unlikeliness

not one of us wants; a bridge
on which no penny ever drops;
the concerts, and our healing, have begun ....

Alan McAlpine Douglas

Challenge words : hunt nineteen burn matrix
woods blue tower inheritance next bridge

NB There are quite a few references to Van lyrics above.
I will be happy to give details if anyone needs them !

I would be very grateful for serious crit from non-Van fans
on this - does anything of our passion get across, or is it
all too obscure to mean much ? Alan

[Guest_ohsteve_*]

Alan, I must apologies for not remembering Van Morrison, as soon as I looked him up and saw 'Brown Eyed Girl' I was oh my G.. Now I know who that is...I don't know why I never had any more of his recordings...after listening to quite a few I am in awe...Thank you for reminding me of him now I have to get busy and do some more listening.
Steve

[Alan]

Dear Steve,

Yes, we heard that 2x at the shows, and it is a superb song, but shall we say, at the poppier end of Van's output. Perhaps you can start with Best of Vol 1, that covers a wide range of great material, once you tell me what of that you like, I can start recommending some whole CDs.

Love
Alan

[Maggie]

Hi Alan,

I've never had the groupie mentality, but I did come pretty close when I heard Springstein and Michael Bolton. Hope you enjoy your concerts!!

I must really be an old foggie for I don't understand the reference to "a bridge on which one penny never drops." Is that lyrics from a song?

Peggy

[Alan]

Dear Peggy,

This LA week was the best holiday I have ever had !

And you are spot on - lyrics from "Madame George", probably the key song from the Astrl Weeks album whose 40th anniversary Van was celebrating.

I'll bold below all my refs to lyrics :

The hunt for nineteen kinds of astral burn
takes us half way round the globe
to November, Blah-Blah Land

A matrix of seldom sad souls
damned to pursue perfection
assembles and parties in the woods

All much older now, still drinking beer and wine,
living the blues as only we must, and can
who are compelled to follow Van

Each towering epiphany reached
is our inheritance. To follow is pain,
to seek escape is next to an unlikeliness

not one of us wants; a bridge
on which no penny ever drops;
the concerts, and our healing, have begun ....

Love
Alan