Vanlose Stairway

Van Morrison's song "Vanlose Stairway" is a poetic and spiritual exploration of longing and connection. The lyrics are imbued with a sense of yearning for a deeper, almost mystical connection with a loved one. The repeated request for personal items like a picture, pillow, bible, and Gita (a reference to the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu text) suggests a desire to bridge the physical distance through spiritual and emotional means. The Vanlose Stairway itself becomes a metaphor for this journey, a path that reaches up to the moon and returns, symbolizing the cyclical nature of love and connection.

The mention of Krishna, a major deity in Hinduism, alongside the Bible and Gita, indicates a blending of spiritual traditions, reflecting Morrison's eclectic approach to spirituality. This fusion of religious symbols underscores the universal nature of the quest for connection and understanding. The stairway, reaching up to the moon, evokes a sense of aspiration and transcendence, suggesting that the journey of love and spirituality is both lofty and cyclical, always returning to its source.

Musically, Van Morrison is known for his soulful voice and ability to blend various genres, including rock, jazz, and blues. This song, with its meditative and repetitive structure, mirrors the contemplative nature of the lyrics. The refrain about the stairway coming back to you reinforces the idea of an eternal return, a theme prevalent in many spiritual traditions. The song invites listeners to reflect on their own spiritual journeys and the ways in which they seek connection with others and the divine.