Brown Eyed Girl
Morrison Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey, where did we go?
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)

Overall Meaning

The song "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison is a nostalgic love letter to a past relationship. The lyrics describe the memories shared between the singer and his "brown-eyed girl" during their youth. It begins with a recollection of the days "when the rains came" and they played a new game together in the hollow, laughing, running, skipping, and jumping. The misty morning fog added to the excitement they felt, with their hearts a-thumpin'. The singer addresses his muse as "my brown-eyed girl," implying that she held a special place in his heart.


The second stanza continues the reminiscing, asking "whatever happened to Tuesday and so slow?" and recalling times when they went down the old mine with a transistor radio. They stood in the sunlight laughing and hid behind a rainbow's wall. They slipped and slid along the waterfall together, reinforcing the idea of carefree, joyful moments shared between the two. The chorus repeats again, with the singer addressing his girl affectionately, stoking sentiments of youthful passion.


The third stanza continues with the theme of nostalgia, implying that the singer is struggling to find his way without the girl by his side. He remarks that "I saw you just the other day. My, how you have grown," again reinforcing the idea that there is a long span of time between the present and the idyllic memories he cherishes. The stanza concludes with the singer thinking back to when they made love in the green grass behind the stadium. This final remembrance is conveyed with the same sense of youthful exuberance as the earlier stanzas, emphasizing the passion felt between the singer and his brown-eyed girl.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey, where did we go?
Where did our special moments go?


Days when the rains came
The nostalgic feeling of spending rainy days together


Down in the hollow
Referring to a secluded spot where they used to hang out


Playin' a new game
Trying out new things and having fun together


Laughing and a running hey, hey
The exhilaration of fun in their relationship


Skipping and a jumping
Being carefree and playful


In the misty morning fog with
A romantic setting for their memories


Our hearts a thumpin' and you
Their excitement and love for each other


My brown-eyed girl
The unique qualities and beauty of the person he loves


Whatever happened
Reflecting on the current state of their relationship


To Tuesday and so slow?
The passage of time and how quickly things change


Going down the old mine
Going back to a past place they shared


With a transistor radio
A nostalgic item from their past together


Standing in the sunlight laughing
Enjoying each other's company in happy times


Hiding behind a rainbow's wall
Finding joy in the unusual and unexpected moments


Slipping and sliding
Being spontaneous and silly with each other


All along the waterfall, with you
Going on adventures and romantic moments together


Do you remember when we used to sing
Revisiting special moments shared together


Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da
Taking pleasure in the simple and fun moments of life


Just like that
Not taking anything for granted and cherishing every moment together


So hard to find my way
Feeling lost without the person he loves


Now that I'm all on my own
Realizing how much he relied on the other person in his life


I saw you just the other day
Catching up with his old flame and reminiscing on their past


My, how you have grown
Noticing changes in the other person in his absence


Cast my memory back there, Lord
A prayer to go back in time and relive special moments together


Sometimes I'm overcome thinking 'bout
Feeling overwhelmed by thoughts of the past


Making love in the green grass
A romantic moment in their relationship


Behind the stadium with you
Revisiting a memorable spot


Bit by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit, by bit
Slowly piecing together his memories


Sha la la la la la la, la te da, la te da
The same sense of joy and fun when they were together


La te da, da da da da da da da da
Enjoying the moments that they spent together




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Van Morrison

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ninahagen1453

"And every cat in the twilight's gray/ Every possible cat."

The tortoiseshell cat,
She sits on the mat,
As gay as a sunflower she;
In orange and black you see her wink,
And her waistcoat’s white and her nose is pink,
And her eyes are as green as the sea.
But all is vanity, all the way;
Twilight’s coming and close of day,
And every cat in the twilight’s gray,
Every possible cat.

The tortoiseshell cat,
She is smooth and fat,
And we call her Josephine,
Because she weareth upon her back
This coat of colours, this raven black,
This red of tangerine;
But all is vanity, all the way;
Twilight follows the brightest day,
And every cat in the twilight’s gray,
Every possible cat.



All comments from YouTube:

@Loveyalise

My husband used to sing this song to me all the time when we were dating. Then alot after we were married too. Every year on my birthday. He passed away three months ago and my birthday is tomorrow. It will be the first birthday I won't hear him sing this song to me . I was 16 when he first started and I'll be 54 tomorrow. I keep listening to it now just to remember him. I miss him so much.

@yauwish2364

i’m sorry for your loss hun <3 he’s watching over you in the sky

@tshepangsese1771

Happy Birthday 🎂

He is with you in spirit and heart ❣️❤️

@007Majed007

Happy birthday. May he Rest In Peace. Just treasure the memories. Try to seek support from friends and family. He would want you to be showing up and doing your best. Don’t let him down. Take care.

@reginasmalley5711

like, wow i hope you feel better.

@estajoykroten2990

I am so sorry. I hope you managed to have some comfort on your birthday and, indeed, everyday. Arms around you.

541 More Replies...

@richardtaff9523

I married my brown eye girl 60 years ago she is still the one I choose today . We had a good ride

@katejones8337

Richard Taff oh my god this has melted my heart

@marshalmatthews1042

@@katejones8337 it was like 1907 , marriages were arranged then

@MarkSeiler

@@marshalmatthews1042 just because you can't see the beauty in the world, doesn't mean it isn't there, just that you're too jaded to see it

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