Brown Eyed Girl
Van Morrison Lyrics
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Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow
Playin' a new game
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl
Whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow?
Going down the old mine
With a transistor radio
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Hiding behind a rainbow's wall
Slipping and sliding
All along the waterfall, with you
My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl
Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Just like that
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da, la te da
So hard to find my way
Now that I'm all on my own
I saw you just the other day
My, how you have grown
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometimes I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you
My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl
Do you remember when we used to sing
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da, la te da
(Bit by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit)
(Sha la la la la la la, la te da, la te da
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da, la te da
(La te da, da da da da da da da da)
Van Morrison's hit song "Brown Eyed Girl" tells the story of a young man reminiscing about his days with his former lover. The first verse describes the good old days when the two of them would play "a new game" in the hollow, skipping and running around in the misty morning fog with their hearts "a thumpin'." He affectionately calls her his "brown-eyed girl," a term of endearment that is repeated throughout the song.
The second verse is even more nostalgic, as the singer tries to recall an even earlier time when they used to spend their Tuesdays together, going down the old mine with a transistor radio. Together they laughed in the sunlight, hid behind a rainbow's wall, and slipped and slid along the waterfall.
The final verse is the most poignant, as the singer confesses it's so hard to find his way now that he's all on his own. He sees his brown-eyed girl again, and it hits him how much she has grown since the last time they were together. This flood of memories makes him think about the times they made love in the green grass behind the stadium, and it's a bittersweet and wistful ode to lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, where did we go?
Asking the question of where they've gone with a sense of nostalgia.
Days when the rains came
Recalling days from times past when it would rain and reflect on that memory.
Down in the hollow
A specific place they used to go that held a special meaning.
Playin' a new game
Engaging in a new activity that was exciting and fresh.
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Having a joyful time, with lots of laughter and running around.
Skipping and a jumping
Playing as children and having fun by skipping and jumping.
In the misty morning fog with
The weather at the time that gives a sense of a new beginning.
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
Describing a young romance that was intense and exciting.
My brown-eyed girl
Referring to the person he had feelings for, who had brown eyes.
You, my brown-eyed girl
Emphasizing the significance of the person he's addressing and their relationship.
Whatever happened
Wondering what happened to the good times and the companionship that he once had.
To Tuesday and so slow?
Describing the passing of time and how slow each day felt.
Going down the old mine
Going into a path that felt familiar, comfortable and still worthwhile.
With a transistor radio
Setting the context of the era they are in, when radios were popular.
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Describing a happy and fun moment they had together while standing in the warmth of the sun.
Hiding behind a rainbow's wall
Using the imagery of the hidden rainbow and the wall, to describe a special moment they shared together.
Slipping and sliding
Remembering the happy moments they shared while having fun and sliding around.
All along the waterfall, with you
Describing another special moment they shared, this time involving a waterfall.
Do you remember when we used to sing
Recalling memories of joyful times together, that involved singing.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Using a nonsensical phrase that represented the carefree nature of their youth.
Just like that
Reiterating how easy and carefree their times together used to be.
So hard to find my way
Feeling lost and alone without the person he's addressing.
Now that I'm all on my own
Realizing that he's alone and misses the companionship he once had.
I saw you just the other day
Describing the feeling of seeing someone from the past after not seeing them for a long time.
My, how you have grown
Noticing how much the person he's addressing has changed since he last saw them.
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Remembering the past and the times they shared together.
Sometimes I'm overcome thinking 'bout
The longing and sadness he feels when he thinks about the times when they were together.
Making love in the green grass
Describing another intimate moment they shared, this time in a meadow.
Behind the stadium with you
Adding context to the previous line, setting the location of the meadow behind the stadium.
Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Repeating the nonsensical phrase to further emphasize the carefree nature of their youth.
Bit by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit
Describing the feeling of time taking small pieces of him and adding them to his past memories.
(La te da, da da da da da da da da)
Repeating the nonsensical phrase to further emphasize the carefree nature of their youth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Van Morrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind