10 Songs That Will Reduce An Open Heart To Tears: #10

There are different types of tears.

I would go so far as to say that ALL of them are good, no matter how shitty the situation that caused them may feel.

But, of all the kinds of tears, I’d say the tears of blissful joy are the best.

You know, the ones that come in those ultra-rare, most valuable moments in life when separation from anything and everything disappears.

These are the ones that come when I listen to Into The Mystic by Van Morrison.

Maybe it’s ironic that such a notable curmudgeon (that would be the euphemistically polite word for Van’s legendary a-hole-ness) has produced so many utterly joyful classics.

But, as they say, “if you like the art, don’t meet the man.”

In any case, no one listens to records based on how nice the artist is. When you contribute art this valuable, you should rightly be able to get away with almost anything.

Van could spit in my face, he could actually punch me and I don’t think I could ever even begin to get mad at the guy. He’s just given me way too much, this song being the “crown jewel” in my own personal Van Morrison kingdom.

It’s been described as “a song of such elemental beauty and grace as to stand as arguably the quintessential Morrison moment.”

I agree, except for the “arguably” part. Plus, I think I’d swap out the word “Morrison’ for “human.”

There are certainly a few possibles out there, but to me, this is the song you’d play to an alien who you were trying to explain what music is.

This next one is a bold statement (go figure), but Into the Mystic is without a doubt a top contender for my favorite song of all time.

I know it doesn’t get any better. The only question is (and I know I’ll get heat for this, but f*ck it, I really feel this way): are there others that match it?

I’m really not sure.

Just go ahead and listen – it can’t not make your life better for having done so.