Featuring the lyrics to over two-hundred songs, and with a foreword by John Cooper Clarke, this is the work of a contemporary master, collected for the first time in a single beautiful volume. The reader will find examples of all the features of the world that Van Morrison has created through his work: the back streets and mystic avenues; memories of childhood wonder and of adult work; the chime of church bells and the playing of the radio; the generous naming of other artists and the joy of solitude; love and sharp dealing; consolation and grace. This volume gives an overview of his sixty-year career, revealing why he is celebrated as one of the most innovative and enduring songwriters of our time.