The pitiless city

Mike Gibson, editor of the Belfast Telegraph, recently penned a nice piece on Van Morrison and his reconnection with the place of his birth. Several years ago, when writing about the track "Orangefield," I referred to Belfast as "a pitiless city that wasn't ready to love back." Well, perhaps it finally is loving back—and that's why Morrison's relationship with his home has never been stronger. This is from Gibson's story:

We begin to forgive home for the sins we attached to it, recognise that in our impetuous, grab-at-life youth we were partially to blame for our acrimonious separation and start to make our peace. And perhaps Van has now turned this life journey into one of the most artistically poignant performances we are likely to witness.