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.
Astral Weeks
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Between the viaducts of your dream
Where immobile steel rims crack
And the ditch in the back roads stop
Could you find me?
Would you kiss-a my eyes?
To lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again
To be born again
From the far side of the ocean
If I put the wheels in motion
And I stand with my arms behind me
And I'm pushin' on the door
Could you find me?
Would you kiss-a my eyes?
To lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again
To be born again
There you go
Standin' with the look of avarice
Talkin' to Huddie Ledbetter
Showin' pictures on the wall
Whisperin' in the hall
And pointin' a finger at me
There you go, there you go
Standin' in the sun darlin'
With your arms behind you
And your eyes before
There you go
Takin' good care of your boy
Seein' that he's got clean clothes
Puttin' on his little red shoes
I see you know he's got clean clothes
A-puttin' on his little red shoes
A-pointin' a finger at me
And here I am
Standing in your sad arrest
Trying to do my very best
Lookin' straight at you
Comin' through, darlin'
Yeah, yeah, yeah
If I ventured in the slipstream
Between the viaducts of your dreams
Where immobile steel rims crack
And the ditch in the back roads stop
Could you find me
Would you kiss-a my eyes
Lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again
To be born again
To be born again
In another world
In another world
In another time
Got a home on high
Ain't nothing but a stranger in this world
I'm nothing but a stranger in this world
I got a home on high
In another land
So far away
So far away
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
In another time
In another place
In another time
In another place
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
We are goin' up to heaven
We are goin' to heaven
In another time
In another place
In another time
In another place
In another face
Van Morrison's song "Astral Weeks" is a dreamy, introspective track that is often regarded as one of the greatest albums in music history. The song opens up by describing a hypothetical scenario where the singer ventures in the slipstream between the viaducts of someone's dream while driving through the back roads. The opening lines are cryptic and can have a lot of interpretations; however, it seems to indicate that the singer is in search of something that can be found in the dreamscape. The second verse introduces the idea of rebirth through pushing the door, and the chorus is the main lyrical idea of the song, to "be born again."
The song's final verse describes the scene where Van Morrison is singing in a room with pictures on the wall, and someone is pointing a finger at him. After that, the scene shifts, and the song talks about a person who is trying to take care of someone who possibly is their child. The final part of the song describes the idea of a spiritual afterlife that is separated from the world we live in, where the singer is "nothing but a stranger in this world." The song seems to be about seeking new beginnings, finding something transcendental, and the idea of being in a place where you belong or feel like you do.
Line by Line Meaning
If I ventured in the slipstream
If I were to take a chance and follow the path of your imagination
Between the viaducts of your dream
In the space where your dreams intersect
Where immobile steel rims crack
Where even the most unyielding things break
And the ditch in the back roads stop
And even the rough and forgotten paths come to a halt
Could you find me?
Would you be able to locate me?
Would you kiss-a my eyes?
Would you show me love and compassion?
To lay me down
In silence easy
To let me relax in peace and tranquility
To be born again
To be born again
To experience a new beginning
From the far side of the ocean
If I put the wheels in motion
Even if I have to travel a great distance
And I stand with my arms behind me
And I'm pushin' on the door
And I approach with humility and persistence
There you go
Standin' with the look of avarice
There you are, greedily seeking something
Talkin' to Huddie Ledbetter
Showin' pictures on the wall
Whisperin' in the hall
And pointin' a finger at me
You're preoccupied with trivial matters and gossiping behind my back
There you go, there you go
Standin' in the sun darlin'
With your arms behind you
And your eyes before
There you are, basking in the sun, with a posture of defensiveness
There you go
Takin' good care of your boy
Seein' that he's got clean clothes
Puttin' on his little red shoes
I see you know he's got clean clothes
A-puttin' on his little red shoes
A-pointin' a finger at me
You are more concerned with the appearance of taking care of someone else rather than actually showing compassion to me
And here I am
Standing in your sad arrest
Trying to do my very best
Lookin' straight at you
Comin' through, darlin'
And yet, here I am, facing your negative attitude head-on and trying my best to connect with you
Yeah, yeah, yeah
A simple expression of frustration
If I ventured in the slipstream
Between the viaducts of your dreams
Where immobile steel rims crack
And the ditch in the back roads stop
Could you find me?
Would you kiss-a my eyes?
Lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again
To be born again
To be born again
Repeating the desire for a fresh start and the possibility of redemption
In another world
In another world
In another time
Got a home on high
Ain't nothing but a stranger in this world
I'm nothing but a stranger in this world
I got a home on high
In another land
So far away
So far away
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
In another time
In another place
In another time
In another place
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
We are goin' up to heaven
We are goin' to heaven
In another time
In another place
In another time
In another place
In another face
Expressing a desire to leave this world and seek refuge in another one
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@oppothumbs1
Many Great songs by Them
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue *great dylan cover".
Baby Please Don't Go .
Gloria
Mystic Eyes
Here Comes The Night
Your Lonely Sad Eyes points us to the creation of Astral Weeks .
Here comes to night
And many more.
@rogerrrubin
IF I ventured in the slipstream
Between the viaducts of your dream
Where immobile steel rims crack
And the ditch in the back roads stop
Could you find me?
Would you kiss-a my eyes?
To lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again
To be born again
From the far side of the ocean
If I put the wheels in motion
And I stand with my arms behind me
And I'm pushin' on the door
Could you find me?
Would you kiss-a my eyes?
To lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again
To be born again
There you go
Standin' with the look of avarice
Standing with the look of Everest,
talking to gigolo legless!!!!
Showin' pictures on the wall
Whisperin' in the hall
And pointin' a finger at me
There you go, there you go
Standin' in the sun darlin'
With your arms behind you
And your eyes before
There you go
Takin' good care of your boy
Seein' that he's got clean clothes
Puttin' on his little red shoes
I see you know he's got clean clothes
A-puttin' on his little red shoes
A-pointin' a finger at me
And here I am
Standing in your sad arrest
Trying to do my very best
Lookin' straight at you
Comin' through, darlin'
Yeah, yeah, yeah
If I ventured in the slipstream
Between the viaducts of your dreams
Where immobile steel rims crack
And the ditch in the back roads stop
Could you find me
Would you kiss-a my eyes
Lay me down
In silence easy
To be born again
To be born again
To be born again
In another world
In another world
In another time
Got a home on high
Ain't nothing but a stranger in this world
I'm nothing but a stranger in this world
I got a home on high
In another land
So far away
So far away
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
In another time
In another place
In another time
In another place
Way up in the heaven
Way up in the heaven
We are goin' up to heaven
We are goin' to heaven
In another time
In another place
In another time
In another place
In another face
@chaskemp
I've quoted that line twice in recent weeks as I emerge from a year of terrible grief and now finding love again. To be born again, oh my, what a blessing. Here's a little piece of it: "Back to Bay Area, we spent the night in the City, then drove south toward Big Sur – driving along the highway listening to Astral Weeks, crying along the highway.
We stopped for _____ to say a prayer at Esalen where her husband’s ashes were placed six years ago.
In another time, in another place.
Big Sur..."
It's okay - it's human - to be needy, Paul.
@ligialewis2182
I'm not quite sure why it took me almost 80 years to find Van Morrison , but I'm so pleased that I have . He truly sings from his soul and sounds to be living his music . He is a master to me , and I hope to have another 35 years to continue enjoying his multiple talents . George Lewis, Sr.
@jamesflynn6439
Well done Ligia, hopefully you will have many more years to enjoy his talents. Listen to a band called “ Them” from the 60’s Belfast, where Van cut his musical teeth, the track “ Gloria” is a classic, enjoy, from Ireland.
@oppothumbs1
Many Great songs by Them
It's All Over Now, Baby Blue *great dylan cover".
Baby Please Don't Go .
Gloria
Mystic Eyes
Here Comes The Night
Your Lonely Sad Eyes points us to the creation of Astral Weeks .
Here comes to night
And many more.
@jamesflynn6439
@@oppothumbs1 yep, you’re right
@jimsaunders4136
I suggest that you stay away from Bach, I've had to adjust my plans and live another 142 years to scratch the surface.
@fernandosilvera3669
47 yrs old and I just discovered this beauty after watching the many saints of Newark
@naomigarcia9439
Here cause Johnny Depp.. ❣️I stand with Johnny
@trevorbrown894
If you don't like van Morrison, there is something seriously wrong with you. His music is the best medicine for anxiety
@custardflan
All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16
@finexample
If you are hear, and it moves to the point of tears of joy you have already won at life.