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.
Ball & Chain
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And always it seems like
The blind keep on leading the blind
Tried to get them on the 'phone
Tried to find my way back home
Tried and failed, and tried and failed, again
But baby I don't want you ''cause you look so good
I don't want you ''cause I know I should
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want you to be my ball and chain
Ah just lately I've been roaming from town to town
I've been setting them up, setting them up
And I've been knocking them down
I was born to live, it seems, a fugitive dream
Make things always better than they seem
And I stop and start, and stop and start
And stop and start again
Baby I don't want you for your money
I don't want you ''cause I love you honey
I don't want you to ease this memory pain
No, I want you to be my ball and chain
Yes, I want you to be my, be my ball and chain
When I see you in the garden once again
Baby you'll be standing in the summer rain
Laugh and cry and say what it's all about
You can even jump and shout
And you'll smile and say how are you again
I don't want you ''cause I'm so blue
I don't want you ''cause you know what to do
I don't want you because all my love seems in vain
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want you to be my ball and chain
Oh, be my ball and chain
Be my ball and chain, be my ball and chain
Oh, be my ball and chain
I want you.....ball and chain, etc
The lyrics of this song by Van Morrison, Ball & Chain, express a sense of longing for a deeper connection and commitment with someone. The imagery of a ball and chain, which typically carries a negative connotation, is used here to convey a desire for a bond that is unbreakable and enduring. The singer has been through too many ups and downs and is tired of the blind leading the blind. He has wandered from town to town, never quite finding what he's looking for, until he sees this person once again. He doesn't want them for their looks or money, but because he sees a potential for a deeper connection, one that will last through rain and shine.
The refrain of "I want you to be my ball and chain" expresses a sense of surrender to the feeling of being tied to someone, in a way that is both freeing and restrictive. This idea of freedom and restriction coexisting is a common theme in Van Morrison's music, and it is used here to convey the complexity of human relationships. The singer wants to be tied to this person because he knows that it will give him a sense of purpose and meaning in life, even if it is not always easy.
Overall, Ball & Chain is a song that expresses a craving for love and connection that runs deeper than surface-level attractions. By using the metaphor of a ball and chain, Van Morrison conveys the idea that love is both something that binds us, and something that sets us free.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been on this roller coaster just too many times
I have been through this kind of a chaotic situation multiple times before
And always it seems like the blind keep on leading the blind
It feels as though those who don't know the way are the ones making the decisions
Tried to get them on the 'phone
Attempted to communicate with someone through the phone
Tried to find my way back home
Attempted to return to my place of residence
Tried and failed, and tried and failed, again
Experienced multiple unsuccessful attempts to achieve a goal
But baby I don't want you 'cause you look so good
I'm not attracted to you solely based on your physical appearance
I don't want you 'cause I know I should
I'm not with you because societal pressure tells me I should be
I don't want you to come in from the rain
I don't desire your presence simply to be sheltered from the rain
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want to be tied to you, to be together through thick and thin
Ah just lately I've been roaming from town to town
I've been traveling around and not staying in one place recently
I've been setting them up, setting them up
I have been putting things in place to make things work
And I've been knocking them down
And then I have been ruining the same things I've set up
I was born to live, it seems, a fugitive dream
It feels like my life was destined for an ephemeral dream
Make things always better than they seem
I try to make things seem better than they really are
And I stop and start, and stop and start
I keep on initiating and stopping things I've started repeatedly
And stop and start again
I keep repeating the same pattern of starting and stopping over again
Baby I don't want you for your money
I'm not interested in being with you for your wealth
I don't want you 'cause I love you honey
I'm not with you simply because I love you
I don't want you to ease this memory pain
I don't need you to help me forget my past experiences
No, I want you to be my ball and chain
I want to be in a committed, long-term relationship with you
When I see you in the garden once again
When I see you outside, possibly in your garden, again
Baby you'll be standing in the summer rain
You'll be standing outside, enjoying the summer rain
Laugh and cry and say what it's all about
We'll express our emotions and discuss the meaning of everything around us
You can even jump and shout
You can even express your excitement and joy in any way you like
And you'll smile and say how are you again
And you'll greet me with a smile and ask how I am again
I don't want you 'cause I'm so blue
I'm not seeking your companionship to relieve my sadness
I don't want you 'cause you know what to do
I'm not attracted to you because you know what to do in situations
I don't want you because all my love seems in vain
I'm not with you because I feel like my love for someone else has been for naught
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want to be devoted to you, and for us to grow together indefinitely
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want to be tied to you, to be together through thick and thin
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want to be in a long-term, committed relationship with you
I want you to be my ball and chain
I want to stick with you through the good and the bad
Oh, be my ball and chain
Oh, let us be tied together so we stay committed to each other
Be my ball and chain, be my ball and chain
I want to be together forever; I want you to be that for me forever
Oh, be my ball and chain
I want to be committed to you, to be with you in the long run
I want you.....ball and chain, etc
I want you to be my lifelong romantic partner and my soul mate
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind