Known as "Van the Man" by his fans, Morrison first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Northern Irish band Them, writing their 1964 hit "Gloria". A few years later, Morrison left the band for a successful solo career, starting with the album Astral Weeks.
Morrison has pursued an idiosyncratic musical path. Much of his music is tightly structured around the conventions of American soul and R&B, such as the popular singles "Brown Eyed Girl", "Moondance", "Domino", and "Wild Night". An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, loosely connected, spiritually inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz, and stream-of-consciousness narrative, such as his classic album Astral Weeks and lesser known works such as Veedon Fleece and Common One. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic Soul," and Morrison rejects the characterization of his genre of music as Rock, citing Elvis Presley as a non-influence.
He continues to perform regularly and achieved his highest U.S. chart position (number ten on the Billboard 200) with his 2008 album, Keep It Simple.
Snow in San Anselmo
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
The deer cross by the lights
The mission down in old San Rafael
A madman looking for a fight
A madman looking for a fight
The massage parlor's open
The clientele come and they go
The classic music station
Plays in the background soft and low
Plays in the background soft and low
The silence round the cascades
The ice crisp and clear
The beginning of the opera
Seem to suddenly appear
Seem to suddenly appear
The pancake house is always crowded
Open twenty four hours of every day
And if you suffer from insomnia
You can speed your time away
You can speed your time away
Snow in San Anselmo
My waitress my waitress my waitress
Said it was coming down
Said it hadn't happened in over thirty years
But it was laying on the ground
But it was laying on the ground
Van Morrison's song "Snow in San Anselmo" is a reflection on a winter happening in the area of San Anselmo, which is located in the northern part of California. The song is a snapshot of the town, observing its people and events, while giving emphasis to the unique experience of snowfall. The opening line, "The deer cross by the lights," paints an image of the wildlife roaming the streets at night illuminated by street lights. The line, "A madman looking for a fight," implies the chaotic atmosphere that may exist there. Morrison then goes on to talk about the various establishments operating in the area, from the massage parlors to the pancake house, so typical of any small town in America.
The contrast of the peaceful silence observed around the cascades with the sudden crescendo of an opera reveals the beauty and charm of the town of San Anselmo. The song ends with the announcement of snowfall, something rare and unusual for the town but a magical event that has captured the narrator's attention. In a way, the snow becomes a metaphor for the town and its inhabitants. The snow is an unexpected surprise, something out of the norm, a welcomed event that transforms the town into something different, much like the people in the town who carry their secrets and unexpected events within their hearts.
Line by Line Meaning
Snow in San Anselmo
It is snowing in San Anselmo.
The deer cross by the lights
Deer are crossing the street near the traffic lights.
The mission down in old San Rafael
The Catholic mission located in old San Rafael.
A madman looking for a fight
A person with mental instability who is aggressively seeking conflict.
The massage parlor's open
The massage parlor is currently open for business.
The clientele come and they go
Customers frequent the massage parlor and leave afterward.
The classic music station
A radio station that plays classical music.
Plays in the background soft and low
The classical music is playing quietly in the background.
The silence round the cascades
It is quiet around the waterfalls.
The ice crisp and clear
The ice is hard and clear.
The beginning of the opera
The start of an opera performance.
Seem to suddenly appear
It appears to start suddenly.
The pancake house is always crowded
The restaurant that serves pancakes is always busy.
Open twenty four hours of every day
The pancake house is open 24/7.
And if you suffer from insomnia
If you have trouble sleeping at night,
You can speed your time away
You can spend your time there to pass the time.
My waitress my waitress my waitress
Repetition of the phrase 'my waitress' for emphasis.
Said it was coming down
The waitress said that it was snowing heavily.
Said it hadn't happened in over thirty years
According to the waitress, it had been over three decades since it last snowed in San Anselmo.
But it was laying on the ground
However, there was snow covering the ground.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind