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.
Ain
Van Morrison Lyrics
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Ain't gonna moan no more
Oh oh oh
Ain't gonna moan no more
And the wolf at my door
Ain't gonna moan no more
From the old groaner to the deep, deep blues
From the master of vocal leads
John Henrik sang it with ease
Ain't gonna moan no more
Satchmo chose to play the clown
It didn't stop him layin' it down
He chose to smile, instead of frown
He kept playin' his gigs and
Movin' from town to town, alright
No time to frown, ain't gonna moan today
Go into town, gonna make my day
Do my best to create all a better space
Ain't gonna moan no more, man
Around this place
Willie The Shake said that life is what you make it
Somebody else said, fake it 'til you make it
Well I feel much better when my
Feet are touchin' the ground
I get hip to the tip
When I hear that lonesome sound
Some people's down, someone else is upbeat
Transform the known tryna make it sweet
When you know things are happening
Well, I just can't be beat
When you know the score
You don't have to moan no more
Oh, oh, oh, d-d, d-d
Ain't gonna moan no more
Oh-woah
Ain't gonna moan no more
Ain't no wolf at my door
Ain't gonna moan no more
Oh, oh, oh
Ain't no wolf at my door
Ain't gonna moan no more
Sing it one more time
Oh, oh, oh
Hey, ain't gonna moan no more
Oh, oh, oh
Ain't gonna moan no more
When you know the score
You don't have to moan no more
Van Morrison's song "More and More" is about overcoming one's troubles and seeing the better side of life. The first few lines express the singer's decision not to complain anymore despite the "wolf at my door," meaning the troubles that hound him. The song then makes a reference to accomplished musicians such as Muddy Waters, John Lee, Louis Armstrong, John Henrik, all of whom faced their own difficulties in life but chose to rise above it. Morrison uses their experiences to reflect how one should not let their obstacles bring them down.
The second part of the song makes a connection between the philosophy of life and music. Morrison refers to Shakespeare's words, "life is what you make it," with the idea that you can fake happiness until you experience them for real. However, when Morrison hears the lonesome sound, he finds wisdom in it, leading him to understand that he doesn't need to complain about life anymore. He then sings, "someone else's down, someone else's upbeat," reinforcing the idea that everyone navigates through different journeys, but it's essential to be positive and transform difficult experiences. Finally, the last few lines of the song leave an impression of hope and joy that comes from starting fresh and embracing the brighter side of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh oh oh
Expressing a feeling of freedom and happiness
Ain't gonna moan no more
Not going to complain anymore
Oh oh oh
Still expressing a feeling of joy and liberation
Ain't gonna moan no more
Refusing to whine, seeking positivity
And the wolf at my door
Referring to a problem or a burden
Ain't gonna moan no more
Choosing not to express negative emotions or feel sorry for oneself
From the old groaner to the deep, deep blues
From simple complaints to intense sadness
Muddy Waters and John Lee too
Titans of the blues genre
From the master of vocal leads
A singer with an impressive vocal range and ability
John Henrik sang it with ease
Effortlessly mastering a difficult song
Ain't gonna moan no more
No longer feeling down or negative
Satchmo chose to play the clown
Louis Armstrong preferring to appear cheerful and entertaining
It didn't stop him layin' it down
Despite his lighthearted persona, he still delivered great music
He chose to smile, instead of frown
Opting to be positive rather than negative
He kept playin' his gigs and
Continuing to perform
Movin' from town to town, alright
Always on the move, but staying upbeat
No time to frown, ain't gonna moan today
There's no need to feel down, only positivity allowed
Go into town, gonna make my day
Going out to have a good time
Do my best to create all a better space
Making an effort to improve the environment around oneself
Ain't gonna moan no more, man
Resisting the urge to complain or be negative
Around this place
In this particular area
Willie The Shake said that life is what you make it
Referring to William Shakespeare's quote about personal responsibility
Somebody else said, fake it 'til you make it
Encouragement to act confident even if you're not
Well I feel much better when my
Explaining the personal benefit of positivity
Feet are touchin' the ground
Feeling grounded and present in the moment
I get hip to the tip
Becoming aware of something important
When I hear that lonesome sound
An appreciation for music and its power
Some people's down, someone else is upbeat
Recognizing that everyone experiences life differently
Transform the known tryna make it sweet
Adding joy and positivity to even the most mundane situations
When you know things are happening
Feeling confident and in control
Well, I just can't be beat
Feeling unstoppable and happy
When you know the score
Understanding the situation and having perspective
You don't have to moan no more
No longer feeling the need to complain or be negative
Sing it one more time
Wanting to hear the joyous song again
Hey, ain't gonna moan no more
Reinforcing the positive message of the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Van Morrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind