The diversity of the material on the album highlighted Morrison's fusing of Celtic folk, R&B, blues, jazz and the singer-songwriter genre. "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" and the title track were blends of soul and folk, while lesser known tracks such as "Gypsy" and "Redwood Tree" continued to display a lyrical celebration of nature's beauty. Also on the album were two lengthy tracks, "Listen to the Lion" and the closing "Almost Independence Day" which were given primal, cathartic and intense vocal performances from Morrison. These tracks were similar to the songs on his 1968 album, Astral Weeks.
The album reached number 15 on the Billboard 200 when it was released. This would remain Morrison's best ever U.S. success on the Billboard 200 until 2008 when Keep It Simple came in at number 10 on the Billboard chart.
Jackie Wilson Said
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was Reet Petite
Kinda love you got
Knock me off my feet
Let it all hang out
Oh, let it all hang out
And you know
I'm so wired up
Don't need no coffee in my cup
Let it all hang out
Let it all hang out
Ding a ling a ling
Ding a ling a ling ding
Ding a ling a ling
Ding a ling a ling ding
Do da do da
I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven, when you smile
When you smile, when you smile
When you smile
And when you walk
Across the room
You make my heart go
Boom boom boom
Let it all hang out
Baby, let it all hang out
And every time
You look that way
Honey child, you make my day
Let it all hang out
Like the man said let it all hang out
Ding a ling a ling
Ding a ling a ling ding
Ding a ling a ling
Ding a ling a ling ding
Do da do da
I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven, when you smile
When you smile
I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven, when you smile
One more time
I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven
I'm in heaven, when you smile
When you smile
In “Jackie Wilson Said,” Van Morrison sings about the uplifting power of music and love. The song begins with the line “Jackie Wilson said it was Reet Petite,” a tribute to the late R&B singer who had several hits in the 1950s and early 1960s. “Reet Petite” was one of Wilson’s most popular songs and the lyrics that follow — “Kinda love you got, knock me off my feet” — suggest that the woman in the song has a similar effect on the singer.
Morrison goes on to describe how the woman makes him feel – “I’m so wired up, don’t need no coffee in my cup” -- and how her smile and presence fills him with joy and makes him feel like he’s in heaven. The repetition of “Let it all hang out” throughout the song is an invitation to be themselves and to revel in the moment.
The instrumental breaks feature a prominent horn section and a catchy melody that complements Morrison’s vocals. Overall, “Jackie Wilson Said” celebrates the transformative power of love and music, and the joy that comes with letting go and being swept up in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Jackie Wilson said
The singer is referencing Jackie Wilson, a famous singer from the 1950s and 60s, who has inspired him to sing this song
It was Reet Petite
Jackie Wilson had a hit song called "Reet Petite" which the singer is referencing here
Kinda love you got
The singer is praising the type of love his partner has for him, implying that it's special in some way
Knock me off my feet
The singer is so enamored with his partner that their love is able to physically affect him
Let it all hang out
The singer is urging his partner to be free and expressive of themselves without any inhibitions
Oh, let it all hang out
The singer reiterates his desire for his partner to be open and free, emphasizing the urgency of it
And you know
The singer is acknowledging that his partner is aware of their effect on him
I'm so wired up
The singer is describing the high-energy feeling he gets from being around his partner
Don't need no coffee in my cup
The singer is saying that the energy he gets from his partner is enough to keep him going, he doesn't need coffee
Ding a ling a ling
This is a nonsensical lyric that could possibly be referencing the sound of a bell, meant to convey the happiness the singer feels
I'm in heaven, I'm in heaven
The singer feels an extreme happiness being with his partner
When you smile
The singer is enchanted by his partner's smile
And when you walk, across the room
Even just watching his partner walk makes the singer's heart skip a beat
You make my heart go, boom boom boom
The singer's heart beats rapidly with happiness and excitement when he's with his partner
Baby, let it all hang out
The singer is urging his partner again to be open and free, and to allow him to see them for who they really are
And every time, you look that way
The singer is drawn to his partner's every movement and glance
Honey child, you make my day
The singer is saying that his partner's presence in his life brings him joy and happiness
Like the man said let it all hang out
The singer is repeating his earlier line about being open and free, and is now framing it as something that someone else has already said
One more time
The singer repeats the chorus one last time to express the depth of his feelings for his partner
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind