| Carrying a Torch | |
| Artist: | Van Morrison |
| Album: | Hymns to the Silence |
| Released: | 1991 |
| Recorded: | 1991 |
| Genre: | Folk-rock |
| Length: | 4:26 |
| Label: | Polydor Records |
| Producer: | Van Morrison |
| Carrying a Torch | |
| Cover: | Van Morrison Carrying A Torch single cover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Tom Jones and Van Morrison |
| Album: | Carrying a Torch |
| A-Side: | Carrying a Torch |
| B-Side: | Walk Tall (Valley of the Shadows) |
| Released: | March 1991[1] |
| Genre: | Celtic, Folk-rock |
| Length: | 3:50 |
| Label: | Dover |
| Producer: | Van Morrison |
| Chronology: | Tom Jones |
| Prev Title: | Couldn't Say Goodbye |
| Prev Year: | 1991 |
| Next Title: | I'm Not Feeling It Anymore |
| Next Year: | 1991 |
"Carrying a Torch" is a popular song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and released on his 1991 double album, Hymns to the Silence. It was also included on his 2015 album "Duets: Re-working the Catalogue" with Clare Teal.
Rolling Stone magazine reviewer Elysa Gardner praised the song, saying that it "has the makings of a classic, with a stately chorus and shining verses that tie the flesh to the spirit: 'You're the keeper of the flame/And you burn so bright/Baby why don't we re-connect/Move into the light'."[2]
Tom Jones also recorded the song, together with Van Morrison, on his album Carrying a Torch (released the same year, in March). Their version of the song was released as a single and charted at No. 57 in 1991 in the UK. This collaboration came about when Morrison showed his newly written song "Carrying a Torch" to Jones, who was "so impressed that he invited Morrison to play on his new record" (Johnny Rogan). Morrison wrote, played on and produced four tracks that appeared on Jones' album.[3]
Bob Dylan has also performed the song occasionally at his concerts.[4]