Day #4 of Van Morrison Week … I picked this one even though it wasn’t one of those that were suggested, mainly because I like it.  Don’t worry … I’ll get to some of the suggestions tomorrow, but I’ve been in the kitchen cooking much of the day and figured I should pick one that pleases my ears tonight!

There really isn’t a lot of background info on this song.  According to SongFacts …

Morrison had recently married his girlfriend Janet Planet when he wrote this rather poetic song, which is about a love that makes the bad times good and the good times better. It’s a soothing love that makes you complete, and the song caught on as a way for lovers to express just these emotions. It’s a very popular wedding song, just don’t tell the happy couple that Morrison and Janet divorced in 1973.

Artists to cover this song include Brian McKnight, Ray Charles, Aaron Neville, Helen Reddy, Rod Stewart, Paul Carrack and John Anderson. Canadian vocalist Michael Bublé covered this for the title track of his 2009 album.

An interesting side note … while I cannot find a single place where Van Morrison’s or any of the other covers charted, the  Michael Bublè version is listed as having charted in the UK at … wait for it … #122!!!

Now, I found two versions besides the original that I thought were fun, but I know that some Van Morrison fans are purists, so … I’m playing his original, but also offering up the other two.  One is a duet with Ray Charles (one of my faves!) that they performed when Ray Charles introduced Van Morrison by starting the first verse before Van’s appearance when he was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2003. Morrison and Charles then finished with a duet of Crazy Love. Ray Charles remarked about this performance: “It meant a lot to sing ‘Crazy Love’ on stage that evening.”  And the other is a duet with Bob Dylan.  Take your pick … listen to one or all!

Crazy Love

Van Morrison

I can hear his heart beat
For a thousand miles
And the heavens open
Every time he smiles

And when I come to him
That’s where I belong
Yet I’m running to him
Like a river’s song

He give me love, love
Love, love, crazy love
He give me love, love
Love, love, crazy love

He’s got a fine sense of humor
When I’m feeling low down
And when I come to him
When the sun goes down

Take away my trouble
Take away my grief
Take away my heartache
In the night like a thief

He give me love, love
Love, love, crazy love
He give me love, love
Love, love, crazy love

Yes, I need him in the daytime
Yes, I need him in the night
Yes, I want to throw my arms around him
Kiss him, hug him, kiss him, hug him tight

And when I’m returning
From so far away
He gives me some sweet loving
Brighten up my day

Yes, it makes me righteous
Yes, it makes me feel whole
Yes, it makes me mellow
Down in to my soul

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Laura Nyro

Crazy Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc