Back To Writing Love Songs

Album: Remembering Now (2026)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Back to Writing Love Songs" is a wry, self-aware track from Van Morrison's 47th album, Remembering Now. Despite its breezy, upbeat feel, the song carries a sardonic edge. The lyric functions as a sly commentary on commercial pressures versus artistic honesty.

    "That song is actually tongue-in-cheek, if you listen to it," Morrison told Mojo magazine. "I've got to 'make it pay at the end of the day.' I mean, I could give people songs that are closer to the truth of what's going on, but people don't want the truth. It doesn't sell. So, I'd better get back to writing love songs."
  • After two albums of covers, the track also doubles as a signpost: Morrison returning to his own pen even if he's joking about why.
  • There's a wink to two of Morrison's heroes too. The lyrics reference Ray Charles via the line "gotta tell you baby what'd I say" and Muddy Waters with the line "gotta get my mojo working."
  • Morrison played electric guitar on the song. The track also features a core band of long-time Morrison collaborators:

    Richard Dunn; Hammond organ
    Stuart McIlroy: piano
    Dave Keary: acoustic guitar, electric guitar
    Pete Hurley: bass
    Colin Griffin: drums
    Alan "Sticky" Wicket: percussion
    Crawford Bell: background vocals
    Dana Masters: background vocals
    Jolene O'Hara: background vocals
  • The music video was filmed live at Belfast's Waterfront Hall during Morrison's sold-out 80th birthday celebration concerts.
  • Released June 13, 2025, Remembering Now was Morrison's first collection of all-original material since What's It Gonna Take? in 2022. The inspiration was about recapturing joy and spontaneity.

    "Myself and the musicians just wanted to do something that was going to be fun," Morrison told On Yorkshire magazine. "Go back to the beginning - this is why we got into this in the first place."

    "Back to Writing Love Songs" sits squarely in that spirit - a track where the message (commercial compromise) and the execution (loose, soulful, fun) are deliberately at odds with each other, making the irony land all the more effectively.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Howard Jones

Howard JonesSongwriter Interviews

Howard explains his positive songwriting method and how uplifting songs can carry a deeper message.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Who Did It First?

Who Did It First?Music Quiz

Do you know who recorded the original versions of these ten hit songs?

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song Spoofs

A Monster Ate My Red Two: Sesame Street's Greatest Song SpoofsSong Writing

When singers started spoofing their own songs on Sesame Street, the results were both educational and hilarious - here are the best of them.