Danas poslastica: muzika koja nije za zabavu, nego za razmišljanje. Pred vama je jedan od najjačih radova u bogatom opusu Vana Morrisona: numera “You Don’t Pull No Punches, But You Don’t Push The River” je, uslovno rečeno, naslovna na čudnom i ne baš lako svarljivom albumu Veedon Fleece (1974), jer tu postoji stih
William Blake and the Eternals, standin’ with the Sisters of Mercy, looking for the Veedon Fleece…
Više nego jednom, onih godina kada je Van the Man još uvek davao intervjue, postavili su mu pitanje kakvo je značenje pojma “Veedon Fleece” (vidonsko runo) naspram “golden fleece” (zlatno runo). On je uvek govorio da to ne znači ništa i tako prekidao raspravu na tu temu. Postoji fabrika tepiha tog imena, ali tek od pre dvadesetak godina.
Tekst pesme sugeriše da je ovo delo slomljenog čoveka. Van je još bio ranjiv posle bolnog razvoda od Janet Planet, posle turneje It’s Too Late to Stop Now je raspustio Caledonia Soul Orchestra i ostao sam i nedojeban na ledini. A u takvom stanju, Van the Man je strašan i opasan, mizantrop kakvog nema na svetu – i stvara neverovatnu muziku. Niko nije mogao da očekuje da će se pojaviti nešto iole nalik muzici na istorijski najvažnijem Vanovom albumu Astral Weeks (1968), a eto, to se desilo, i to u ovom času koji sam izvukao za ovo popodne.
Preporučujem pažljivo ponovno slušanje. Ako će vam biti lakše, evo celokupnog teksta. Mada, ja bih više voleo da pratite šta rade bas i flauta.
When you were a child, you were a tomboy
Gimme soul satisfaction
Way back in shady lane
Do you remember darlin’?And it’s the woman in you, and it’s the woman in you
Gimme soul satisfaction
And it takes the child in you to know
The woman an’ you are oneWe’re goin’ out in the country to get down to the real soul,
I mean the real soul, people,
We’re goin’ out in the country, get down to the real soul
We’re gettin’ out to the west coast
Shining our light into the days of bloomin’ wonder
Goin’ as much with the river as not, as not, yeah, yeah
An’ I’m goin’ as much with the river as not
Yeah, yeah, right, yeahBlake and the Eternals oh standin’ with the Sisters of Mercy
Looking for the Veedon Fleece, yeah
William Blake and the Eternals oh standin’ with the Sisters of Mercy
Looking for the Veedon Fleece, yeah
You don’t pull no punches, but you don’t push the river
You don’t pull no punches, and you don’t push the river
You don’t pull no punches, and you don’t push the river, no, no
Goin’ as much with the river as notWe’re goin’ out in the West, down to the cathedrals
We’re goin’ out in the West (alright), down to the beaches
And the Sisters of Mercy, behind the sun
Oh behind the sunAnd William Blake and the Sisters of Mercy looking for the Veedon Fleece,
Yeah
You don’t pull no punches, goin’ west, goin’ as much with the river as not
With the river as not, with the river as not, goin’ as much,
Goin’ as much with the river as not, no, ah
You don’t pull no punches, and you don’t push the river, no
You don’t pull no punches, but you don’t push the river, no
You don’t pull no punches, but you don’t push the river, no
You don’t pull no punches, but you don’t push the riverAnd we was contemplating Baba, William Blake and the Eternals
Goin’ down to the Sisters of Mercy
Looking for the Veedon Fleece
Looking for the Veedon Fleece
Looking for the Veedon Fleece
Looking for the Veedon FleeceYou don’t pull no punches, but ya, you don’t push the river
You don’t pull no punches, but ya, you don’t push the river, no
You don’t pull no punches, but ya, you don’t push the river
You don’t push the river, you don’t push the river