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't Nothin' You Can Do
Van Morrison Lyrics
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An you try to soothe the pain
Go right back to sleep
And you'll feel all right again
When ya got a backache
Little rubbin' will see you through
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
A man can't break a stone
So he tried another lick
Iceman can't break his ice, Lord
So he tries another pick
An electric lights go out
Candle light will see you through
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
Hey
Man can't break a stone
So he tried another lick
Iceman can't break his ice, Lord
So he tried another pick
'Lectric lights go out
A candle light will see you through
When ya got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
There ain't nothin' you can do, Lord
There ain't nothin' you can do, hey
When you got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
Every time I think about it
Every time I think about it
When ya got a heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
Every time I think about it
Every time I think about it
Every time I think about it
The lyrics to Van Morrison's "Ain't Nothin' You Can Do" talk about different types of pain a person can experience, including headaches, backaches, and heartaches. The first part of the song suggests that certain pains can be eased or cured with sleep, massage, or alternative methods. However, when it comes to heartache, the singer implies that there is nothing one can do to alleviate the pain. The repetition of the phrase "there ain't nothin' you can do" emphasizes the hopelessness and despair that accompany heartache.
The second half of the song extends this theme by offering examples of how people try various methods to overcome obstacles, but sometimes there simply isn't a solution. The comparison between a man breaking a stone and an iceman breaking ice suggests the futility of attempting to solve something that cannot be solved. The use of "electric lights" versus "candle light" brings into focus how humans have found ways to overcome challenges in their technological advancements, but even those can fail, leaving only the simple and temporary answers.
In summary, this song is a reflection on the limitations of human power and its inability to cure the deepest kind of pain. It suggests that, despite our vast human knowledge and ingenuity, there are some things in life that we cannot fix.
Line by Line Meaning
When you got a headache
If you have a headache
An you try to soothe the pain
And you attempt to ease the discomfort
Go right back to sleep
Simply go back to sleep
And you'll feel all right again
And you will feel fine once again
When ya got a backache
In case you suffer from back pain
Little rubbin' will see you through
A little rubbing or massage can help alleviate the pain
When you got a heartache
However, when you suffer from emotional pain
There ain't nothin' you can do
There is nothing one can do to relieve the pain
There ain't nothin' you can do
There is nothing one can do
When you got a heartache
When one is experiencing heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
There is nothing one can do
A man can't break a stone
A man cannot break a stone
So he tried another lick
So he attempts a different approach
Iceman can't break his ice, Lord
An iceman cannot break his own ice, Lord
So he tries another pick
So he tries a different tool
An electric lights go out
And electricity goes out
Candle light will see you through
Using a candle can help you get through
When you got a heartache
However, when you suffer from emotional pain
There ain't nothin' you can do
There is nothing one can do
There ain't nothin' you can do
There is nothing one can do
When you got a heartache
When one is experiencing heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do, Lord
There is absolutely nothing one can do, Lord
There ain't nothin' you can do, hey
There is nothing one can do, hey
When you got a heartache
However, when you suffer from emotional pain
Every time I think about it
Every time I ponder on this topic
Every time I think about it
Every time I consider this
When ya got a heartache
When someone experiences heartache
There ain't nothin' you can do
There is nothing that can be done
Every time I think about it
Each time I think on the subject
Every time I think about it
Whenever I contemplate this
Every time I think about it
Each time I muse on this matter
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON ROBEY, JOSEPH W. SCOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind