These Are the Days (Van Morrison song)

"These Are the Days" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and released on his 1989 album Avalon Sunset. It was released as the B-side of the single with "Orangefield" as the A-side.

"These Are the Days"
Single by Van Morrison
from the album Avalon Sunset
A-side	"Orangefield"
Released	1989 (1989)
Recorded	February 1989
Studio	The Townhouse, England
Genre	Celtic folk, ballad
Length	5:08
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Van Morrison
Producer(s)	Van Morrison
Avalon Sunset track listing
10 tracks "Whenever God Shines His Light" "Contacting My Angel" "I'd Love to Write Another Song" "Have I Told You Lately" "Coney Island" "I'm Tired Joey Boy" "When Will I Ever Learn to Live in God" "Orangefield" "Daring Night" "These Are the Days"

Composition

The opening verse of the song is a recurring factor in Morrison's music and lyrics, the belief that the predominant sense of enjoyment and appreciation of life is to be found in the present moment:

These are the days of the endless summer
These are the days, the time is now
There is no past, there's only future
There's only here, there's only now

Biographer John Collis writes that this final song pulls together all the concerns of the album:

In one moment ('there is no past ... there's only now') Morrison combines earthly love with that inspired by a sun-warmed landscape, the yearning for simplicity with the love of 'the (one) Magician who turned water into wine.^[1]

Other releases

"These Are the Days" replaces "Caravan" as an iTunes bonus track, on Morrison's 2007 compilation album Van Morrison at the Movies – Soundtrack Hits.

In the media

"These Are the Days" was featured in the 1995 movie, Nine Months, starring Hugh Grant and Julianne Moore.^{[2][unreliable source?]}

Personnel

• Van Morrison – vocals, guitar
• Arty McGlynn – guitar
• Neil Drinkwater – accordion, piano
• Clive Culbertson – bass guitar
• Roy Jones, Dave Early – drums, percussion
• Katie Kissoon, Carol Kenyon – backing vocals