The Way Young Lovers Do

When you dive into *The Way Young Lovers Do*, you encounter a piece that deviates from the conventional. The rhythmic foundation, for example, does not follow the typical rock structure. Instead, it relies on the phrasing of the double bass, performed by a seasoned jazz musician, Richard Davis. This choice, combined with the soulful vocals of Van Morrison, creates an uncommon sonic blend, lending the original recording a distinctive atmosphere. The lyrics are said to evoke the sweetness of a first teenage kiss, retaining the mysterious quality of Astral Weeks but in a more direct manner.

This song was captured in 1968, during the months of September and October, at Century Sound Studios in New York City. Producer Lewis Merenstein and recording engineer Brooks Arthur worked with Van Morrison on this track, which is included in his second solo album, Astral Weeks. The album itself represented a turning point in Morrison's career, moving away from his earlier pop hits like *Brown Eyed Girl* to explore a blend of folk, blues, jazz, and even classical elements. Despite Astral Weeks not having strong initial promotion, it has since become a highly regarded work. *The Way Young Lovers Do* has been part of the soundtrack for the 1997 film, Welcome to Sarajevo, and was also included in Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl, released in 2009 to celebrate the original album's forty years. More recently, in 2018, a jazz-arranged version was presented on the album he recorded with organist Joey DeFrancesco, titled You're Driving Me Crazy.