About Alan

Wordsmith, Poet, Songwriter & Performer

Alan Morrison

Originally from the UK, Alan is a writer, poet, songwriter, performer and occasional actor — a troubadour who could be found in any one of a number of European locations, having lived and worked in France, Sweden, Germany, Athens, and Spain. There came a point in his life, shortly before the turn of the century, when he determined to live entirely from his art or starve (inspired by the central character in Knut Hamsun's groundbreaking 1890 novel, “Hunger”). Since then, thanks to the encouraging sponsorship of others, he has survived and created much, having written numerous articles, published a 200-poem book, performed many concerts, worked with many musicians and created 4 CD albums between 2010 and 2016.

Although Alan’s music has been described by one reviewer as a mixture of “English folk-rock, alt. country and progressive folk”, it is so much more than that. Whether it is a slow ballad to tear out your heart or a more upbeat piece to shake up your mind or a ‘song of conscience’ on a controversial social issue, its aim is always lyrical communication. One musician listener said: “Your music always makes me want to sing and cry!”

Creating profound, thought-provoking poems and lyrics with fine-lined melodies — coupled with an empathy for the privileges and perils of human passion — Alan creates messages of love and conscience: music from the heart for the soul. You can hear samples of music from two of his previous albums at https://soundcloud.com/alan-morrison.

During the past few years, as a multi-disciplinary artist, Alan has been involved in a number of creative projects. In 2006, he released a 12-track pilot CD album, entitled “A Trace of Sky”, which was recorded in France and distributed to selected people and on a word-of-mouth basis. Through this, he was testing the relationship he believes that all art should have between the creator and those who receive it.

In 2010, he released the CD album, “Ride my Heart”, recorded in Stockholm, Sweden by Grammy-nominated producer, Lasse Englund. For international distribution, this received a good response. “Hard not to like... powerful songs with good lyrics and a warm voice”, said IKON Magazine. “Alan Morrison creates smart, beautiful love lyrics that live beyond the ‘oh baby’”, said Kristianstads Newspaper.

In the last half of 2010 and throughout most of 2011, Alan spent much time in Sweden —some of it in an old stable on a horse-farm in the countryside near Ystad in the south of the country— quietly writing songs and poems, preparing himself for his next project.

In the first half of 2012, Alan was organising performance projects in France, where he was acting in the theatrical production of a professional touring English theatre company in the south of the country, as well as writing and performing the incidental music for the stage in the same production.

In June 2012, he began recording his next CD, “The End of the Song”, again in Stockholm. Containing sixteen top-class musicians playing twenty-one instruments (including a string section, cor anglais and French horn), this CD was launched in March 2014.

In March 2015, Alan designed and published an eBook containing more than 200 poems, entitled “Vagrant on the Hinterland of Time: Poems, Songs & Sonnets”.

In the Summer of 2016, Alan recorded another CD album in the renowned Kingside Studios, near Gnesta, outside Stockholm, in Sweden, entitled “The Key” The producer is Otto Wellton and the orchestral arranger (Alan's "George Martin") is Stockholm Concert Orchestra director, Johan Ahlin. This was a 14-track album with 24 musicians playing nearly 32 instruments (including the Stockholm Orchestra) and backing vocals. This was released in the Autumn of 2016 in Stockholm, with a release concert at Södra Teatern in Stockholm on Wednesday October 12th.

Alongside of his work as poet, songwriter and performer, Alan also writes many articles and poems which can be read on his blog, The Naked Troubadour. Currently, Alan is also continuing to work on a didactic novel, entitled “Reluctant Angels”.

 

The above mentioned albums "The Key", "Ride my Heart" and "The End of the Song"; as well as Alan's eBook "Vagrant on the Hinterland of Time: Poems, Songs & Sonnets", can be purchased through this website.


© Copyright, 2021, Alan Morrison

"Alan Morrison performs as a singular poet out of his time for our time — a significant wordsmith who evokes our conscience, our sensibilities and our passions with tender forthrightness — boldly bringing the cosmos to our hearts and lighting up our minds. Reading Alan’s work changes one but not with the obvious"

DJS – San Diego, USA

Poems

Wordsmith, Poet, Songwriter & Performer

Here you will find some of Alan’s recent poems. Although many of his poems are in freestyle, a significant number of them are sonnets. One of Alan’s poetic missions is to contribute to a revival of the lost art of the sonnet — a poetic form which goes back to the knights and troubadours of the 13th century, when it began to spread like wildfire across Europe. Using fourteen lines with ten syllables on each line, it is perfectly suited to powerful and lyrically expressive ideas.

Some have described Alan’s poetry as having an almost medieval feel of romanticism — as if they have been penned in earlier eras, when rhyme and alliteration were considerably more fashionable. In response, Alan writes: “Sometimes, when I feel a poem begin to well up inside me, it is as if I’ve been transported to another time and place — a world where creatures loved adventure and romance and each other with abandon; where a kiss was just a kiss and love was not a word polluted by the unvirtues of human folly”. On the other hand, some of his poems carry a sense of realism so stark that it can be shocking to the unsuspecting reader. As Alan says: “Surely that is the purpose of the poet: to reach into the reader’s chest and squeeze the heart till it almost bursts with passion, although I would want that to work reciprocally in both directions” — a reference to his poem “Oh You!”

Oh you! please take my shaky hand in one of yours;
the other one thrust deep into my chest
and rip the pulsing muscle through my shirt,
then we can both with passion be possessed!

Whether it is a freestyle poem about the wonders of nature, the hell of alienation or the curse of addiction; or a sonnet about the glory and betrayal of love or even about sonnet-form itself, you can be sure that his work will leave you profoundly touched and, in some way, changed.

 

Poems & sonnets written by Alan Morrison.
© Copyright 2021, Alan Morrison

limited edition

 

a myriad vermillion stripey smears
smash into skyly overdriven bluefulness
while the drooping setting sun apologises
quietly on a bleak horizon narrowed by
the rueful season’s finely bitter triumph
 
the barely silhouetted trees bow slightly
in all stillness while a light unliquid tear
which we euphemistically style as Venus
slides enwryly up the face of bluedom’s
metamorphic mask and I am shining
 
you must not look at the sun say voices
of the shallows and my bold defiant stare
at countless animated pinhole flares and
firmamental depth beguiles my eyes and
I am sanctified by speculation’s smile
 
why captured here am I predestined not
to fly but only hammer on imaginary
doors and dance on polished wooden
floors and gated stairs and impolitely stare
at prison walls with poet’s clumsy scrawl
 
perhaps our mortal span if left unlimited
by metal bars would never leave that
deep and necessary yearning scar a bleak
and stark reminder of the wounds we are
our legacy to soar and kiss the endless sky
and fondly whisper wonder with our words


riding her waves

A woman’s like a wave you have to ride.
She ebbs and flows — receives you on her swell;
expects you to discern her crimson tide;
to know her stormly undulations well.
Acquaint yourself with lunar almanacs
before you surf in peril on her sea.
For on her waves there are no trails or tracks —
from hurricanes there is no guarantee!
But if you let her crests flow where they will,
and give her breakers space to turn to foam,
you will, in time, your destiny fulfil
and on her billows you will find your home.
Although it seems her waves throw you around,
surf-mastery’s the key, as I have found.

i’m dangerous

 

I want you so!” said she
“Not in those clothes”, said me
“What DO you mean?” said she
“It’s your smoke-screen”, said me
“That’s what I wear”, said she
“Your cover-up”, said me
“From prying eyes”, said she
“That’s your disguise”, said me

“You’re so obtuse”, said she
“One button’s loose”, said me
“I’ll do it up”, said she
“Undo some more”, said me
“That’s my defence”, said she
“I love your skin”, said me
“But I’m controlled”, said she
“Let’s free your hole”, said me

“You’re dangerous”, said she
“I’m made for this”, said me
“We’ve gone too far”, said she
“Not far enough”, said me
“You drive too fast”, said she
“I love the wind”, said me
“I wish you’d asked”, said she
“I did. You said you’re free”.

“You’re foolhardy”, said she
“With that I must agree”.
“You’re in too deep”, said she
“Not far enough”, said me.
“I don’t have space”, said she
“Then free some up”, said me
“I’m scared of you”, said she.
“You’re scared of YOU”, said me

“You freak me out”, said she
“A weak excuse”, said me
“You’re too laid back”, said she
“Too much for you”, said me
“Just kiss me hard”, said she
“The easy part”, said me
“Now pull my hair”, said she
“I love juice there”, said me

“I taste your blood”, said she
“I’m drunk on yours”, said me
“I meant your mouth”, said she
“I’m further south!” said me
“I love your hands”, said she
“I love your cunt”, said me
“I get cold feet”, said she
“I blame your dad”, said me

“By that I’m shocked”, said she
“You’re just so blocked”, said me
“You fly too high”, said she
“I wonder why?” said me
“You’ve bigger wings”, said she
“More ragged though”, said me
“It’s just not fair!” said she
“What is, in love?” said me

in vain

(Remembrance Day, 2013)

Face down in the mud (my newsome
view of world) brings wisdom’s harbour
neatly to my flapping open door. I spit
and loudly roar, no more to stand again

This frailsome new fragility has warmed
the would-be wasted portions of my
priestly vision-vine which wistly grew
and grizzled largely unaligned and void

Unremarkable razor-marks adorn my
stifled throat like stuccoed roughcast
careless flungfast fungalled seizures
reasoning without success or even cry

Above my levelled head those bullets
zinging with a cold precision random
circus double-visioned conscienceful
velocity (to some: atrocity) of rhyme
Poppies like a carpet soon will cover all
the heinous futile excrement of war —
a sea of blood and opiates — while
skylarks inexplicably will singly soar

My fevered brain like blotting paper
soaks up unfertility from lifeless earth
What am I worth? sings every soldier
dying on a farmer’s former golden land

An oily cricket bat. A wicketkeeper’s pad.
The spireful village skyline pricks my
crude reality of clay and crashingness and
corkly balls as hard as bullets baffle me

Hallucination’s welcome information
numbs my broken body but it cannot
mend my seared and scarful soul.
A dozen holes. & war is birth control

What madness ever grazed this earth
with scars and bloody sackcloth ashen
screams and dreamless dreams of
something green and growthsome?

I lie here on the cheerful cusp of chaos
Mortar holes engore the ground around
me like a pusful acned pockmarked face
while generals drink sherry on the lawn

I am a pawn. They made my moves
(manoeuvres which they hid). A million
grieving parents inculcated to believe their
once were little sucklings did not die in vain

They did.

e-book

Vagrant on the Hinterland of Time


About the eBook

Vagrant on the Hinterland of Time: A Book of Poems, Songs & Sonnets is a collection of works by Alan Morrison. Written mainly during a 6-year intensive period of creativity, the book consists of 125 poems, 58 sonnets and 10 song lyrics

Containing a total of 193 works, 220 pages and 54,000 words, you can now purchase this eBook here!

What readers say

"With the singular, intricate skill of a modern troubadour, Alan Morrison impresses through an outstanding command of the poetic language and a richness of vocabulary. His verse is daring, uninhibited and many-faceted and ranges from the intimate sphere of personal issues to wide social realms and global threats to human welfare. A quintessential humanist, he can equally charm with sensitivity, humour, wit and a profound approach to the ‘condition humaine’."

 Dr. Aprilia Zank (author, poet, lecturer) — Munich, Germany

 

"Your book of poems will be a masterpiece! Some of your poems have been very emotional for me and touched my heart. I recognize myself in many of them and you have helped me to understand and see life more clearly

CK - Saffle, Sweden

 

You’ve got such a way with words and the pain and experience that encompass them, or guide them, or nurture them... well, there are a lot of options here... but it’s beyond me. You’re a hero and you’re a poet — hands down, hats off!"

HS - Stockholm, Sweden

Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison
Alan Morrison

ALAN'S MUSIC

Alan's music has a style all of its own. Although it has been described by one reviewer as a balance between "English folk rock, progressive folk and alternative country", it is so much more than that. Whether it is a slow ballad to tear out your heart or a more upbeat piece to shake up your mind or a ‘song of conscience’ on a controversial social issue, its aim is always lyrical communication. One musician listener said: "Your music always makes me want to sing and cry!"

All Alan's writings are love songs in one form or another, either about actual affairs of the heart or providing a commentary on the issues which can affect people's lives. His songs aim to encourage people to think, to inspire them to live, feel and to love and to stimulate personal change.

“My words are music from the heart - poetry set to harmony - love songs for the soul", explains Alan. "I want to reach people with my work by encouraging them to delve deeply into a well of emotional experience and, as a result, to be enriched and even changed. The role of the wordsmith — whether poet or songwriter — should not merely be to provide entertainment but form a fruitful bridge with the listener”.

Creating profound, thought-provoking poems and lyrics wth fine-lined melodies — coupled with an empathy for the privileges and perils of human passion — Alan creates islands of love and conscience: music from the heart for the soul.

In an age of ersatz and apathy, his works blow an emotionally urgent breeze into the musical and literary scene of the 21st century.

"Thank you for the music! It’s a great album, great songs and I like the fact that all the songs have their own character! It’s genuine music!!!!!! and it’s fun to be a part of it!"

Samual Laxberg (bass player on The Key) - Stockholm, Sweden

Alan's new album

"THE KEY"

The Key

As of the 12th of October, Alan's new album "The Key" has been released and can be purchased through this site!

The title "The Key" is taken from the title of one of the album tracks — a powerful orchestral song about how one can overcome discouragement and depression in life. Although still retaining the essential elements of the genres of the earlier albums, it is an enhancement of everything that has gone before — reaching into listeners' hearts more deeply than ever.

The style of Alan’s music has been described by one reviewer as “folk-rock with touches of progressive folk and alt. country”. However, on this new album, “The Key”, there is an astonishingly wide range of styles. Although including his usual folk-rock and progressive folk, there is also psychedelic pop, raging punk, ballads with a country touch, medieval folk, Dixieland swing, tender orchestral show-tunes and a stunning hymn-like choral climax on the title track. A number of the songs can be called “inspirational”. IKON Magazine wrote in a review of one of Alan's earlier albums: “Hard not to like... powerful songs with good lyrics and a warm voice”. In another earlier album review, Kristianstadsbladet wrote: “Alan Morrison creates smart, beautiful love lyrics that live beyond the ‘oh baby’”.

On "The Key" album, Alan used a rich musical palette involving 22 musicians (including an orchestra of strings, brass and woodwind) playing 34 instruments, to suit the range of styles and lyrics in his songs. As well as the usual band instruments of drums, bass, guitars and keyboards, there is also lap steel guitar, dobro & pedal steel guitars, accordion, lute, jazz/country fiddle, mandolin, clarinet, timpani drums, glockenspiel, vibraphone, tubular bells and crotales. A choir also makes an appearance on the title track.



The Key

Music samples & video

Official video of "The Key", title song of Alan's new album:



You can now listen to samples of all 14 tracks on "The Key" album free of charge. A generous minute of each track can be heard by clicking on the song titles here below. If you then like what you hear and want to buy the song, just click on the button "Buy" on any track.

If you would like to buy the whole album "The Key" containing 14 mp3 tracks plus JPG images of the front and rear album cover as well as the album booklet and a file with a little paragraph about each song, please go here.

The album booklet containing all lyrics and credits can be downloaded at this link, along with a file with a little paragraph about each song.

Watch this space for more news about "The Key"!

© Copyright, 2021, Alan Morrison



Alan Morrison
Fredrik Björling
Samuel Laxberg
Fredrik Björling - Samuel Laxberg
Staffan Johansson
Pedals
Otto Wellton - Kingside
Otto Wellton
Hasse Johnzon
Sven Aberg
Tore Berglund
Emma Reid
Lisa Erikkson
Daniel Burstedt
Anders Matell
Magnus Einarsson
Magnus Einarsson
Aminah Al Fakir
Idde Schultz
Linda Öst

"The words of Alan Morrison's lyrics are really inspiring for an arranger/musician, combined with his music and voice. It's truly a pleasure working with him"

Johan Ahlin - Arranger, conductor, horn player, Director of the Stockholm Concert Orchestra - Stockholm, Sweden

"THE KEY" RELEASE CONCERT

Södra Teatern, Stockholm



On his new album "The Key", Alan chose to use a rich musical palette involving 22 musicians (including an orchestra of strings, brass and woodwind) playing 32 instruments, to suit the range of styles and lyrics in his songs. As well as the usual band instruments of drums, bass, guitars and keyboards, some of the colours used are lap steel guitar, dobro & pedal steel guitars, glockenspiel, vibraphone, accordion, lute, jazz/country fiddle, mandolin, clarinet, timpani drums, tubular bells and crotales. A choir also makes an appearance on the title track (and did so at the release concert too).

Alan used the same top-class musicians on the "Södra Teatern" stage as in the studio for the album. Well-known artists in Stockholm, such as Fredrik Björling (drums), Staffan Johansson (electric guitar), Idde Shultz (backing vocals), Ingela Olson (soprano & backing vocals), Mikaela Finne (backing vocals), Hasse Johnzon (dobro, pedal steel/lap steel guitars, mandolin) and Otto Wellton (keyboards) among others, played onstage with Alan at the release concert. As on the album, the orchestral musicians were drawn from the Stockholm Concert Orchestra and the orchestral arrangements are by Johan Ahlin — one of the directors of the SCO who has worked on all Alan’s made-in-Sweden albums and who he fondly calls “my George Martin”.

The release concert for "The Key" took place on Wednesday October 12th in the Södra Teatern. A true spectacle — a feast for the ears, eyes and soul. A night to remember!


The Key - Release Concert
The Key - Release Concert
The Key - Release Concert

"There are many facets to your music; but the most outstanding are melancholy, love, strength, power, foresight, depth, mystery. Just to mention a few! And most important of all, spiritual beauty. I haven't seen or heard it so complete before as in your new CD."

AD - Denmark

Media

2016 Photoshoot

Shop

Buy Alan's Latest Album "The Key" here!

NEW RELEASE - Out Now!

The Key

 


Buy Now - Only €15

Alan Morrison's 2016 CD album, "The Key". All original songs. Made in Sweden, it has 14 tracks with 22 musicians playing 34 instruments, including string quartet, woodwind and brass. The style is folk-rock/ contemporary folk/ alt. country plus psychedelic pop, raging punk, ballads with a country touch, medieval folk, Dixieland swing, tender orchestral show-tunes and a stunning hymn-like choral climax on the title track. A number of the songs can be called "inspirational". You'll get 18 files. 14 MP3 tracks plus JPG images of the front and rear album cover as well as the album booklet and a file with a little paragraph about each song!

You can also freely download the album booklet containing all lyrics and credits can be downloaded at this link, along with a file with a little paragraph about each song.





2014 release:

The End of the Song

 


Buy Now - Only €9.99

Alan Morrison's 2014 CD album, "The End of the Song". All original songs. Made in Sweden, it has 14 tracks with 16 musicians playing 21 instruments, including string quartet. The style is folk-rock/ contemporary folk/ alt. country.

You'll get 16 files. 14 MP3 tracks plus JPG images of the front and rear album cover!

2010 Release:

Ride my Heart

 


Buy Now - €7.99

Alan Morrison's 2010 CD album, "Ride my Heart".

Made in Sweden, it has 12 tracks with 13 musicians playing 15 instruments. The style is folk-rock/ contemporary folk/ alt. country.

One of the many listeners who have written to Alan about this album said these words:

"I don’t know how or why you came into my life but your latest album is absolutely fantastic! I have enjoyed every single millimeter of it! And I have really been listening, with the lyrics in my hand. You are absolutely a gift for the poetic and lyrical ear and understanding… I experienced you as a fabulous connection to the people. Thank you, Alan, for being you!" MEH — Lillestrøm, Norway

Alan's e-book:

Vagrant on the Hinterland of Time

 

Vagrant on the Hinterland of Time


Buy Now - Just €2.99

Containing 193 works in 220 pages and 54,000 words, you can now purchase this eBook!

What readers say:

"With the singular, intricate skill of a modern troubadour, Alan Morrison impresses through an outstanding command of the poetic language and a richness of vocabulary. His verse is daring, uninhibited and many-faceted and ranges from the intimate sphere of personal issues to wide social realms and global threats to human welfare. A quintessential humanist, he can equally charm with sensitivity, humour, wit and a profound approach to the ‘condition humaine’."  Dr. Aprilia Zank (author, poet, lecturer) — Munich, Germany

Blog

"The Naked Troubadour"



The Naked Troubadour

The Naked Troubadour — Alan Morrison — a troubadour whose heart is open to the world for all to see — who writes from a place which is clear and free— who longs for a world in which every human being can be who they’re meant to be. Such a very short time we have here. Blink and it’s gone. It’s not important how long that we’re here but whether or not we live it to the full, according to the gifts we’ve been given.

On Alan's blog-site, you will find many poems, sonnets, songs, articles and reflections which Alan has written — most of them in the last intense twenty years of his life.


© Copyright, 2021, Alan Morrison

Contact Alan

If you would like to get in contact with Alan or book a concert, please fill out the form below.