"Van Morrison is renowned as a singer, songwriter, and rock artist. None of these descriptors do him justice. Very few rock and roll 'poets' would survive artistically if their songs appeared on the printed page without the music or the musical arrangements. . . . Once the reader gets over the shock of not hearing the music for these lyrics, or the brilliant arrangements that often accompany this music, a thoughtful and brilliant poet stands for all the world to see."—Dick Weissman, Portland Book Review
"The best part of the book is it immediately reconnects you with Morrison's amazing songwriting and performing talent. And who wouldn't want to know which songs mean the most to someone of the stature and fame of Morrison."—Andrea Young, "Aspenbeat"
"Lit Up Inside, a collection of Van Morrison's lyrics that the singer/songwriter specifically wanted published by City Lights and its founder Lawrence Ferlinghetti. . . . This is the only book that Morrison has ever endorsed in an official capacity. It brings together the lyrics of 100 songs from his 50-year, 40-album career. Introduction by Eamonn Hughes; foreword by David Meltzer [and Ian Rankin]."—Publishers Weekly
" . . . the combination of deep personal content and universal humanity tucked inside Morrison's songs was largely lost on me until reading the verses as a whole in Lit Up Inside (City Lights 2014), the first published collection of his lyrics, handpicked by the songwriter. It is within these songs—written in Morrison’s own Irish, romantic, soul code, with their carefully planned lines and studied notes and phrases, learned from jazz and classic blues and early rock 'n' roll—the story of Morrison’s life unfolds."—Denise Sullivan, Blurt Magazine
"The big news for devotees of Van Morrison is that he has deigned to authorize a book of his lyrics entitled Lit Up Inside to be published by City Lights. The two hundred page tome will include one-third of the lyrics Morrison has written over the course of his career.”—Robert Birnbaum, Our Man in Boston
"Music enthusiasts will finally get a glimpse into his creative consciousness with the release of Lit Up Inside, a collection of 100 lyrics curated by Morrison himself. This will be the first literary work published with Morrison's blessing. . . . Morrison chose City Lights to release the book because of the house's consistent commitment to artistic integrity, from the beat generation forward."—Paste Magazine
“One of rock's more interview-shy luminaries, Van Morrison has always preferred to let his songs speak for themselves—and they’ll do just that this fall, when he debuts Lit Up Inside,’ a collection of selected lyrics spanning his entire career."—Ultimateclassicrock.com
"When a brilliant, reclusive musical icon peeks his head out to make a statement about his life's work, you can only sit up, listen and be grateful. Van Morrison has handpicked and published a collection of what he deems his best and most significant lyrics to date and maybe a glimpse at what he sees as his musical legacy. This is a wonderful re-experiencing of his music for any fan."—Joann Moreno, Madison Park Times
"Greil Marcus is not alone in believing that Van has pop music's richest and most expressive voice since Elvis Presley."–Russell Leadbetter, The Herald, Scotland
"One of the few originals left in rock."–Jon Landau, Rolling Stone
"Van Morrison is renowned as a singer, songwriter, and rock artist. None of these descriptors do him justice. Very few rock and roll 'poets' would survive artistically if their songs appeared on the printed page without the music or the musical arrangements. . . . Once the reader gets over the shock of not hearing the music for these lyrics, or the brilliant arrangements that often accompany this music, a thoughtful and brilliant poet stands for all the world to see."—Dick Weissman, Portland Book Review
"The best part of the book is it immediately reconnects you with Morrison's amazing songwriting and performing talent. And who wouldn't want to know which songs mean the most to someone of the stature and fame of Morrison."—Andrea Young, "Aspenbeat"
"Lit Up Inside, a collection of Van Morrison's lyrics that the singer/songwriter specifically wanted published by City Lights and its founder Lawrence Ferlinghetti. . . . This is the only book that Morrison has ever endorsed in an official capacity. It brings together the lyrics of 100 songs from his 50-year, 40-album career. Introduction by Eamonn Hughes; foreword by David Meltzer [and Ian Rankin]."—Publishers Weekly
" . . . the combination of deep personal content and universal humanity tucked inside Morrison's songs was largely lost on me until reading the verses as a whole in Lit Up Inside (City Lights 2014), the first published collection of his lyrics, handpicked by the songwriter. It is within these songs—written in Morrison’s own Irish, romantic, soul code, with their carefully planned lines and studied notes and phrases, learned from jazz and classic blues and early rock 'n' roll—the story of Morrison’s life unfolds."—Denise Sullivan, Blurt Magazine
"The big news for devotees of Van Morrison is that he has deigned to authorize a book of his lyrics entitled Lit Up Inside to be published by City Lights. The two hundred page tome will include one-third of the lyrics Morrison has written over the course of his career.”—Robert Birnbaum, Our Man in Boston
"Music enthusiasts will finally get a glimpse into his creative consciousness with the release of Lit Up Inside, a collection of 100 lyrics curated by Morrison himself. This will be the first literary work published with Morrison's blessing. . . . Morrison chose City Lights to release the book because of the house's consistent commitment to artistic integrity, from the beat generation forward."—Paste Magazine
“One of rock's more interview-shy luminaries, Van Morrison has always preferred to let his songs speak for themselves—and they’ll do just that this fall, when he debuts Lit Up Inside,’ a collection of selected lyrics spanning his entire career."—Ultimateclassicrock.com
"When a brilliant, reclusive musical icon peeks his head out to make a statement about his life's work, you can only sit up, listen and be grateful. Van Morrison has handpicked and published a collection of what he deems his best and most significant lyrics to date and maybe a glimpse at what he sees as his musical legacy. This is a wonderful re-experiencing of his music for any fan."—Joann Moreno, Madison Park Times
"Greil Marcus is not alone in believing that Van has pop music's richest and most expressive voice since Elvis Presley."–Russell Leadbetter, The Herald, Scotland
"One of the few originals left in rock."–Jon Landau, Rolling Stone
