Rough God Goes Riding

Infobox Single
Name = Rough God Goes Riding


Caption =
Artist = Van Morrison
from Album = The Healing Game
A-side = "Rough God Goes Riding"
B-side = "At the End of the Day"/ "The Healing Game" (alternative take)
Released = 1997
Format = CD single
Recorded = 1996
Genre = Folk rock, Rock
Length = 6:19
Label = Polydor for Exile Productions Ltd.
Writer = Van Morrison
Composer = Van Morrison
Producer = Van Morrison
Chart position = 168
Last single = "The Healing Game" (1997)
This single = "Rough God Goes Riding" (1997)
Next single = "Precious Time" (1999)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = The Healing Game
Type = studio
prev_track =
prev_no =
this_track = "Rough God Goes Riding"
track_no = 1
next_track = "Fire in the Belly"
next_no = 2"Rough God Goes Riding" is the opening song on the album, "The Healing Game" by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. A performence of the song featured special guests Candy Dulfer and Fred Wesley was shown on German television in 1998. The song reached #168 on the UK charts. It has been included as one of 14 songs on the third disc of the limited 3 disc edition of the 2007 compilation album, "Still on Top - The Greatest Hits" The B-side of the single, the alternative version of "The Healing Game" appears on all 3 editions of "Still on Top". The other B-side "At the End of the Day", is the same song released on the 2008 reissue of "The Healing Game".

Recording history

The song was recorded in Dublin, Ireland.

ong analysis

According to biographer Clinton Heylin this song: "signalled a return to the religious and spiritual preoccupations that had driven Morrison's work throughout the eighties, the image of the Rough God being derived from Robin Williamson's 'Mr. Thomas' — recorded by Morrison for "Inarticulate" — in which 'the rough God goes riding with his shears', a reference to the avenging Messiah who shall return to wreak final judgement on Man." [Heylin, Can You Feel the Silence?, p.473]

Personnel on original release

*Van Morrison - vocal, harmonica
*Robin Aspland - piano
*Alec Dankworth - double bass
*Geoff Dunn - drums
*Pee Wee Ellis - baritone saxophone
*Leo Green - tenor saxophone
*Ronnie Johnson - electric guitar
*Brian Kennedy - background vocals
*Katie Kissoon - background vocals

Notes

References

*Heylin, Clinton (2003). Can You Feel the Silence? Van Morrison: A New Biography, Chicago Review Press ISBN 1-55652-542-7

External links

* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=b2950180e54389f3cf9d93ad908ac00e# Lyrics and Audio sample] 1990s, The Healing Game
* [http://www.vanmorrison.co.uk/?m=Content&Content(record_id)=bcdf0ba5fecbc0ef8494bf0c7a15c7dc# Video: Rough God Goes Riding, 2008]