Saint Dominic's Preview Lyrics
Singing songs about Edith Piaf's soul.
And I hear blue strains of "no regredior"
Across the street from Cathedral Notre Dame.
Meanwhile back in San Francisco
We're trying hard to make this whole thing blend,
As we sit upon this jagged
Storey block, with you my friend.
It's a long way to Belfast city too.
And I'm hoping the choice won't blow the hoist
'cos this town, they bit off more than they can chew.
As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
We get to Safeway's supermarket in the rain.
And everybody feels so determined
Not to feel anyone else's pain.
To anybody but themselves,
Hidin' behind closed doorways,
Tryin' to get outside, outside of empty shells
For every Hank Williams railroad train that cried,
And all the chains, badges, flags and emblems
And every strain on every brain and every eye (?)
As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview.
The record company has paid out for the wine.
You got everything in the world you ever wanted
Right about now your face should wear a smile.
When you're in, when you're in the state you're in;
You've got your pen and notebook ready,
I think it's about time, time for us to begin.
Socializing with the whino few,
Just to be hip and get wet with the jet set.
But they're flying too high to see my point of view.
As we gaze out on, as we gaze out on
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview
Saint Dominic's Preview.
Out on the street, freedom marching.
Saint Dominic's Preview.
"I'd been working on this song about the scene going down in Belfast. And I wasn't sure what I was writing but anyway the central image seemed to be this church called St. Dominic's where people were gathering to pray or hear a mass for peace in Northern Ireland. Anyway, a few weeks ago I was in Reno for a gig at the University of Nevada. And while we were having dinner I picked up the newspaper and just opened it to a page and there in front of me was an announcement about a mass for peace in Belfast to be said the next day at St. Dominic's church in San Francisco. Totally blew me out. Like I'd never even heard of a St. Dominic's church.
[Q:] What did you end up titling it?
'St. Dominic's Preview.' You know something? I haven't a clue to what it means."
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939314/van_morrison_the_rolling_stone_interview/print
Why is noone commenting on these great great works? Maybe noone is listening to them. It's a shame.
I always read the last verse as "I used to be hip, and do it, with the jet set ..." It seemed to fit in much better with the theme of dissolusionment with the trappings of stardom (and the eternal reaching for the Creator)
Unbelievable imagery - worked in Cali in 1980s, was worked to death, saw the Safeway supermarket etc.. So burnt out went to Paris on break - back in Dublin listened to this - "And I hear blue strains of "no regredior" Across the street from Cathedral Notre Dame. Meanwhile back in San Francisco We're trying hard to make this whole thing blend"
supernatural psychic predictions
A theme of dissolusionment also with the political situation in Northern-Ireland, which was terrible at the time - “chains, badges, flags and emblems” – refers to - Flags And Emblems Act of 1954 in Northern-Ireland forbade nationalists from outward display of Irish symbols e.g flag of Southern-Ireland.
It was most couragous of van to write/sing this, as it would be viewed as treachery by his peers in Northern-Ireland - a man before his time, as always.
No regredior ? - No regret,in Piaf's words,'non,je ne regrette rien'
by the way this song is about when van was in cali, he foudn out about a worship devoted to praying to for peace in Ireland, a very tough thing then and now.
Yes, indeed "Non, je ne regrette rien' as in Piaf. Van was quiet a poet - not so much lately I regrette!
@vasnmoGo You mean when he was in his 60's?! Wtf do you expect? Sound like some lame millennial. He has decades of fantastic recordings, a great many very poetic.
@vasnmoGo You mean when he was in his 60's?! Wtf do you expect? Sound like some lame millennial. He has decades of fantastic recordings, a great many very poetic.
No comment as to St Dominic - Who? Why?
No comment as to St Dominic - Who? Why?