The Healing Game cover

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Van Morrison song lyrics:
The Healing Game
(see Discography entry)

Rough God Goes Riding
Fire In The Belly
This Weight
Waiting Game
Piper At The Gates Of Dawn
Burning Ground
It Once Was My Life
Sometimes We Cry
If You Love Me
The Healing Game

Non-album tracks from the CD-singles:

Celtic Spring
At the End of the Day
Look What The Good People Done

Rough God Goes Riding

Oh the mud splattered victims
Have to pay out all along the ancient highway
Torn between half truth and victimisation
Fighting back with counter attacks
It's when that rough god goes riding
When the rough god goes gliding
And then rough god goes riding
Riding on in
I was flabbergasted by the headlines
People in glasshouses throwing stones
Gaping wounds that will never heal
Now they're moaning like a dog in a manger
It's when that rough god goes riding
And then the rough god goes gliding
There'll be nobody hiding
When that rough god comes riding on in
And it's a matter of survival
When you're born with your back against the wall
Won't somebody hand me a bible
Won't you give me that number to call
When that rough god goed riding
And then that rough god goes gliding
They'll be nobody hiding
When that rough god goes riding on in
Riding on in
When that rough god goed riding
When that rough god goes gliding
There'll be nobody hiding
When that rough god goes riding on in
Riding on in
There'll be no more heroes
They'll be reduced to zero
When that rough god goes riding
Riding on in
Riding on in
Riding on in
Riding on in

Fire In The Belly

Call of the wildest, it's got the best of you
Fire in my heart, fire in my belly too
Got a heart and a mind and a fire inside
And I'm crazy about you
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, you when you're laughing out loud
You, you with your hidden surprise
You
Stoke up my engine, bring me my driving wheel
Once I get started you'll see just how I feel
And I'm crazy about you
And I'm crazy about you
And I'm crazy about you
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, you when you're laughing out loud
You, you with your hidden surprise
You
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Spring in my heart, fire in my belly too
I come apart, I don't know just what to do
Got a heart and a mind and a fire inside
And I'm crazy about you
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, you with the laugh in your eyes
You, you with your hidden surprise
You
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Spring in my heart, fire in my belly too
I come apart, I don't know just what to do
Got a heart and a mind and a fire inside
And I'm crazy about you
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, you with the laugh in your eyes
You, you with your hidden surprise
You
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (fire in the belly too)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you

This Weight

This weight is weighing on my heart
This weight is tearing us apart
This weight is weighing on my soul
And it just won't leave me alone
You know I'm talking about this weight
You know I'm talking about this weight
In the neighboorhood people watching me
Got to move to protect my sanity
Anonymity is all I want you see
You may think it's mediocrity, but
You know I'm talking about this weight
You know I'm talking ahout this weight
And this Hollywood ain't no good
I would rather be like Robin Hood
If I could only loose this...
You know I'm talking about this weight
You know I'm talking about this weight
And this Hollywood ain't no good
I would rather be like Robin Hood
If I could only loose this...
You know I'm talking about this weight
You know I'm talking about this weight
In the very first it was rock and roll
Set me free in body and soul
But this weight is just bringing me down
It's never satisfied every time I go to town
You know I'm talking about this weight....

Waiting Game

On a golden autumn day returning
Where each moment never is the same
Sometimes pure joy it comes with patience
When I'm waiting on, waiting game
When I'm waiting on, waiting game
There must be reason for all this inaction
Does it mean that everything must change
Sometimes I'm looking for perfection
When I'm waiting on, waiting game
When I'm waiting on, waiting game
I am the observer who is observing
I am the brother of this snake
I am the serpent filled with venom
A god of love and a god of hate
There is a presence deep within you
Sometimes they call it higher flame
And the leaves come tumbling down, remember
I'll be waiting on, waiting game
I'll be waiting on, waiting game
I am the observer who is observing
I am the brother of this snake
I am the serpent filled with venom
A god of love and a god of hate
There is a presence deep within you
Some people call it higher power in flame
When the leaves come tumbling down, remember
I'll be waiting on, waiting game
I'll be waiting on, waiting game.....

Piper At The Gates Of Dawn

The coolness of the riverbank, and the whispering of the reeds
Daybreak is not so very far away
Enchanted and spellbound, in the silence they lingered
And rowed the boat as the light grew steadily strong
And the birds were silent, as they listened for the heavenly music
And the river played the song
The wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
The wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
The song dream happened and the cloven hoofed piper
Played in that holy ground where they felt the awe and wonder
And they all were unafraid of the great god Pan
And the wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
The wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
When the vision vanished they heard a choir of birds singing
In the heavenly silence between the trance and the reeds
And they stood upon the lawn and listened to the silence
Of the wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
The wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
The wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
It's the wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
The wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn
The wind in the willows and the piper at the gates of dawn

Burning Ground

And I take you down to the burning ground
And you change me up and you turned it around
In the wind and rain I'm gonna see you again
In the morning sun and when the day is done
And you take my hand and you walk with me
Sometimes it feels like eternity
And I turn the tide I get back my pride
And I make you proud won't you say it out loud
When I take you down to the burning ground
To the burning ground, to the burning ground
To the burning ground, to the burning ground
And I take you down by the factory
And I show you like it has to be
And you understand how the work is done
And I pick up the sack in the midday sun
And I pull you through by the skin of your teeth
And I lift the veil, I see what's underneath
And you return to me and you sit on your throne
And you make me feel that I'm not alone
And I take you down to the burning ground
To the burning ground, to the burning ground
To the burning ground
Hey man, what's that you're carrying?
Feels like lead
It weighs a ton - let's see if we can dump it by the side of the hill
Hey wait up, why don't you dump it on the burning ground
Dump it down there
Yeh man, dump the Jute
Hey man dump the Jute on the burning ground
Dump the Jute?
Yeh you know, dump the Jute
Dump the Jute!
On the burning ground
On the burning ground
And you make me think what it's all about
Sometimes I know gonna work it out
And I watch you run in the crimson sun
Tear my shirt apart open up my heart
And I watch you run
Down on your bended knees
By the burnt out well
Can you tell me please
Between heaven and hell
Won't you take me down
To the burning ground, to the burning ground
To the burning ground, to the burning ground
And you fall and pray, when you hear that sound
As we're walking back to the burial mound
And you shake your head and you turn it around
And you see the flames from the burning ground
And you get down on your knees and pray
And I catch my breath as we're running away
And I take the Jute and I throw him down
On the burning ground, on the burning ground
On the burning ground, it's on the burning ground.....

It Once Was My Life

There were people on the sidewalks
Strolling down the avenues
They were sitting outside in cafes
We were looking for the muse
Well I was locked in by the system
Where no freedom is the rule
Now I spend all my time just trying
To make it understood
It once was my life, that's what everybody said
All the things I used to do and the people that were friends
I've got to make it mean something at the end of the day
It once was my life, they can't take that away
Trials and tribulations and stupidity still rules
Sometimes it looks like I'm on a ship of fools
It once was my life, when my message was just the street
Then it became something else, and now it's incomplete
I'm just trying to get back to when
Can somebody please shed some light
It used to be my life, it used to be uptight
Trials and tribulations and stupidity still rules
Some days it just feels like I'm on a ship of fools
I'm back here on the boards, I can hear the engines roar
Everybody's got to pay, some people got to pay more
Well you can tell the people anything
Spoon feed them anything you like
It used to be so simple, it used to be my life
Now everything is so complicated, just to speak or use the phone
Some people try to use me, just 'cause they don't have their own
Don't know who's round the corner, trying to sell me some more tripe
It used to be my life, it used to be my life.....

Sometimes We Cry

Sometimes we know, sometimes we don't
Sometimes we give, sometimes we won't
Sometimes we're strong, sometimes we're wrong
Sometimes we cry
Sometimes it's bad when the going gets tough
When we look in the mirror and we want to give up
Sometimes we don't even think we'll try
Sometimes we cry
Well we're gonna have to sit down and think it right through
If we're only human what more can we do
The only thing to do is eat humble pie
Sometimes we cry
'Fore they put me in a jacket, and they take me away
I'm not gonna fake it like Johnnie Ray
Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry
Sometimes we can't see anything straight
Sometimes everybody is on the make
Sometimes it's lonely on the lost highway
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry
Gonna put me in a jacket, and take me away
I'm not gonna fake it like Johnnie Ray
Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry
Sometimes we live, sometimes we die
Sometimes we cry, sometimes we cry

If You Love Me

(Another take on this song appears on B.B. King's Deuces Wild album, 1997)
If you love me
You will give your heart
Why should we be apart
If you love me
If you love me
You will know the truth
I wasn't born to lose
And I love you
Affinity and communication
That makes reality
Understanding is the first thing
It means so much to me
If I love you
I will find the key
If it's meant to be
'Cause I love you
Affinity and communication
That is reality
Understanding is the first thing
It means so much to me
If I love you
I will find the key
If it's meant to be
'Cause I love you

The Healing Game

Here I am again
Back on the corner again
Back where I belong
Where I've always been
Everything the same
It don't ever change
I'm back on the corner again
In the healing game
Down those ancient streets
Down those ancient roads
Where nobody knows
Where nobody goes
I'm back on the corner again
Where I've always been
Never been away
From the healing game
Where the choirboys sing
Where I've always been
Sing the song with soul
Baby don't you know
We can let it roll
On the saxophone
Back street Jelly Roll
In the healing game
Where the homeboys sing
Sing their songs of praise
'Bout their golden days
In the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like you're proud
Sing the healing game
Sing it out loud
Sing it in your name
Sing it like you're proud
Sing the healing game
Sing the healing game
Sing the healing game
Sing it in your name
Sing the healing game....

Celtic Spring

(From a The Healing Game single)

Gotta spread the news in the regions again
I'm gonna sing my blues in the regions again
Gonna blow my fuse 'cause I wanna cut loose
In the regions again
Wanna dance by you by the light of the moon
I wanna see you there on a bright afternoon
I wanna sing my song, won't you play me the tune
In the regions again
In the Celtic Spring
In the Celtic Spring
Won't you come and go
Wanna go to the regions again
Wanna go to the regions again
I gotta go to the regions again
In the Celtic Spring
In the Celtic Spring
Won't you come and go
Gotta spread the news in the regions again
I'm gonna sing my blues in the regions again
I wanna blow my fuse 'cause I wanna cut loose
In the regions again
Gonna dance with you by the light of the moon
Wanna see you there on a bright afternoon
I wanna sing my song, won't you play me the tune
In the regions again
In the regions again
In the regions again
In the regions again
In the regions again
In the regions again
In the regions again
In the Celtic Spring
In the Celtic Spring
Won't you come and go

(Transcribed by ear, so corrections are welcome)

At the End of the Day

(Van Morrison)
From a Healing Game CD single
Song Length: (4:29)

Van Morrison: Lead Vocals
Brian Kennedy: Backing Vocals
Transcribed by ear by David M. Caveda at the end of the day on August 15, 1997

Tell me what do you get
At the end of the day
Is it all worth the while
Can you put on a smile
Does it fill you with pride
All the feelings inside
Or do you just wanna hide
Can you still walk away
At the end of the day
At the end of the day
Are you lonely or sad
Do you think you've been had
Is your heart ever glad
Or are you afraid
�Cause you don't have it made
That you don't make the grade
Or of what people say
At the end of the day
Instrumental solo
At the end of the day
Is your framework intact
When you clean up your act
Do they keep coming back
Do you say follow that
Pat yourself on the back
Do you get what you lack
Do they give you respect
Or is it after the fact
At the end of the day
Tell me what do you get
Is it heartachce and pain
Does it keep coming back
Everytime that it rains
When I see you again
Will it still be the same
Am I really to blame
'Cause I don't play the game
At the end of the day
At the end of the day
At the end of the day
At the end of the day
At the end of the day
Got to kneel down and pray
At the end of the day
Got to kneel down and pray
At the end of the day

Look What The Good People Done

(From a Healing Game CD single)

They were drinkin' his wine
they were usin' his name
they were takin' the time to take
his name in vain
Look what the good people done to him
look what the good people done to him
they were havin' their fun
look what the good people done
Well, the good people say things that they
don't really mean
they look so convincing 'cause they're
so squeaky clean
Look what the good people done to him
look what the good people done to him
it's a million to one
look what the good people done
They put him on 'Wogan', they said,
"Let's go on with the show"
and they put him on whiskey and say, "Boy,
you've got to go"
Look what the good people done to him
look what the good people done to him
he's on a hiding to none
look what the good people done
All the newspaper men
they were lookin' for names
pulled him out of a hat
they needed someone to blame
Look what the good people done to him
look what the good people done to him
he thought he was the one
look what the good people done
Well, the good people say,
"Keep your nose to the ground"
then they'll build you right up
just to knock you right down
Look what the good people done to you
look what the good people done to you
they were gettin' their kicks
look what the good people nixed
[spoken - "Here we go"]
Look what the good people done to me
look what the good people done to me
look what the good people done to me
look what the good people done to me
they were havin' no fun
look what the good people done
(Transcribed by ear, so corrections are welcome)

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