Cyprus Avenue

The song Cyprus Avenue, written by Van Morrison, delves into the memory of his childhood in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The street that gives it its name becomes a starting point for evoking a simpler time, the sounds and images of a fleeting past, a refuge in the imagination. It has been described as a centerpiece of the album Astral Weeks, a blend of folk-blues, jazz, and classical music, where Morrison's voice narrates memories of his adolescence. In the original recording, Morrison's acoustic guitar is accompanied by the acoustic bass of Richard Davis and the harpsichord of Larry Fallon, with added flutes and strings. Morrison himself commented that, like Madame George, this song emerged spontaneously, almost like a stream of consciousness.

The recording of Cyprus Avenue took place on September 25, 1968, at Century Sound Studio, with Lewis Merenstein as producer. Later, the string and harpsichord parts were added. The song was built on a basic blues structure, but with a particular arrangement. In live performances, it became a highlight, often closing concerts with Morrison uttering the phrase "It's too late to stop now!", before leaving the stage. A dynamic version of about 10 minutes, with its characteristic stop-and-start ending, was included on the 1974 live album It's Too Late to Stop Now. The intense live performances of this song, which included amplified stage movements, are said to have influenced artists like Bruce Springsteen. A 1973 live version appears on that same 1974 album, and a more recent one, recorded forty years after its creation, was included on the 2009 album Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl.