"Enlightenment" is a single written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in t ...

and included on his 1990 album '' Enlightenment''. The song was also included on the 1993 compilation album ''

The Best of Van Morrison Volume Two ''The Best of Van Morrison Volume Two'' is a compilation album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison released in 1993. Morrison chose the tracks for this album himself. It is mostly drawn from his work during 1984–1991. "Real Real ...

''. Biographer

Brian Hinton Brian Hinton, MBE (born 21 September 1950) is an English poet and musicologist. In June 2006 he was honoured in H. M. the Queen's Birthday Honours List with an MBE for services to the Arts. Education Born in Southampton, Hinton studied Englis ...

comments "'Enlightenment' is actually the opposite of what it sounds: it is full of doubt, not affirmation. 'I'm meditating and still I'm suffering.' He seems to be saying everything is a state of mind, you can choose to live in heaven or hell." In a

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

review, John Swenson writes that the album ''Enlightenment'' is a sequel to

Avalon Sunset ''Avalon Sunset'' is the nineteenth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in 1989 by Mercury Records to both commercial and critical success. In 2008, ''Avalon Sunset'' was reissued and remastered, featuri ...

and enables Morrison to have a new start (musically and spiritually). "Morrison is so pleased with his new start that he can even poke fun at his quest on the title track. 'I'm in the here and now and I'm meditating/And still I'm suffering but that's my problem,' he sings. 'Enlightenment, don't know what it is' – and he doesn't sound disturbed at all."

Personnel on original release

*Van Morrison – vocals, harmonica *Bernie Holland – guitar *

Georgie Fame Georgie Fame (born Clive Powell; 26 June 1943) is an English R&B and jazz musician. Fame, who had a string of 1960s hits, is still performing, often working with contemporaries such as Alan Price, Van Morrison and Bill Wyman. Fame is the on ...

—

electric piano An electric piano is a musical instrument which produces sounds when a performer presses the keys of a piano-style musical keyboard. Pressing keys causes mechanical hammers to strike metal strings, metal reeds or wire tines, leading to vibrations ...

*Alex Gifford – synthesizers * Brian Odgers — bass guitar *

Dave Early Dave Early (5 April 1957 – 14 October 1996) was an English drummer and percussionist. He was best known as the original drummer for Sade. He also worked with Chris Rea, Van Morrison, The Chieftains, Mary Black, Ananta, and others. Later he mov ...

— drums

Notes

References

* Hinton, Brian (1997). ''Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison'', Sanctuary, 1991 singles 1989 songs Van Morrison songs Songs written by Van Morrison Polydor Records singles Song recordings produced by Van Morrison {{1990s-rock-song-stub