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.
Angelou
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah
Oh, Angeliou, oh, Angeliou
Angeliou, oh, Angeliou
Oh, Angeliou, Angeliou
Oh, my Angeliou
I wanna tell you
Angeliou, oh, my Angeliou
Oh, Angeliou, Angeliou, oh, my Angeliou
In the month of May
In the city of Paris
In the month of May
In the city of Paris
And I heard the bells ringing
And I heard the bells ringing
In the month of May
And I called out your name
In the city of Paris
In the month of May
In the city of Paris
Oh, in the month of May
In the city of Paris
Angeliou, Angeliou
Angeliou, oh my Angeliou
Angeliou, oh my Angeliou, can you hear me?
Just walkin' on a city street
Who would think you could ever be touched
By a total stranger
Oh, not me
But when you came up to me that day and I listened to your story, ha
It reminded me so much of myself
And I listened to you
It wasn't what you said
It was just the way it felt to me
As I listened to your story
About a search and a journey
Somewhere inside, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Just like mine
What'd you say?
Will you be my baby?
Will you be my baby now?
Will you be my baby?
Will you be my baby now?
Will you be my baby?
Will you be my baby?
Angeliou oh Angeliou
Angeliou oh Angeliou
Yes, yes I will
Yes I will, yes I will
Angeliou
Will you be my baby?
Angeliou, be my baby
She said yeah, I got a story too
Oh, and my story, it got no words
It goes something like this
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Angeliou
Angeliou
Ooh-ooh
The song Angelou by Van Morrison is a beautiful tune that highlights how we sometimes feel the connection with a stranger that we meet. During a trip to Paris in the month of May, the singer heard the bells ringing and fell in love with the city. Suddenly, he calls out to a person named Angeliou and tells her that he wants to be with her. As he walks through the city, a stranger comes up to him and tells him a story that reminds him so much of himself. As he listens to the stranger's tale, he starts to feel a connection to the person he has never met before, just like he felt to Paris.
As the song progresses, Angeliou tells the singer that she has a story too, but it doesn't have any words. She then sings a beautiful melody that brings together the emotions of the listener and the singer, creating a moment of pure connection between strangers.
The song Angelou is a beautiful tribute to the stranger that we meet and the connection that we feel with them. Sometimes we get lucky to meet people who can touch our souls and change our lives forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Expressing excitement or agreement
Oh, Angeliou, oh, Angeliou
Calling out the name of a significant person
Angeliou, oh, Angeliou
Repeating the name of a significant person
Oh, Angeliou, Angeliou
Continuation of calling out the name of a significant person
Oh, my Angeliou
Claiming ownership or affection for the significant person being addressed
I wanna tell you
Expressing a desire to communicate or share something
In the month of May
Providing context of time
In the city of Paris
Providing context of location
And I heard the bells ringing
Noticing or being aware of a sensory stimulus
And I called out your name
Attempting to communicate with or get the attention of a specific person
Angeliou, oh, Angeliou
Repeating the name of a significant person
Oh, in the month of May
Reiteration of time context
Angeliou, Angeliou
Repeating the name of a significant person
Angeliou, oh my Angeliou
Repeating and claiming ownership or affection for the significant person being addressed
Can you hear me?
Inquiring about whether the other person is able to hear the singer
Just walkin' on a city street
Describing an action being taken
Who would think you could ever be touched
Expressing surprise that a random encounter could have an emotional impact
By a total stranger
Clarifying that the emotional impact was caused by someone the singer did not know previously
Oh, not me
Emphasizing the singer's disbelief in the situation
But when you came up to me that day and I listened to your story, ha
Relating a specific event that caused the artist to have an emotional connection
It reminded me so much of myself
Expressing a feeling of similarity or empathy with the other person's story
And I listened to you
Giving attention and respect to the other person's perspective
It wasn't what you said
Clarifying that the emotional connection was not due to the content of the other person's story
It was just the way it felt to me
Describing the emotional impact as being based on personal perception or interpretation
About a search and a journey
Summarizing the other person's story in a stripped-down phrase
Somewhere inside, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Referring to an internal feeling or intuition
Just like mine
Drawing a parallel with the singer's own situation
What'd you say?
Asking the other person to repeat themselves
Will you be my baby?
Propositioning the other person in a romantic or affectionate way
Yes, yes I will
Accepting the proposition
She said yeah, I got a story too
Revealing additional information about herself
Oh, and my story, it got no words
Describing a story that cannot be easily or simply verbalized
It goes something like this
Introducing a metaphorical or abstract story
Ooh-ooh
Vocalization without specific meaning or context
Ooh-ooh
Vocalization without specific meaning or context
Ooh-ooh
Vocalization without specific meaning or context
Ooh-ooh
Vocalization without specific meaning or context
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Morrison, Van
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind