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.
Behind The Ritual
Van Morrison Lyrics
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Making time, drinking that wine
Out of my mind in the days gone by
Making time with Sally, drinking that wine
In the days gone by, talking all out of my mind
Drinking that wine, talking all out of my mind
Like a Whirling Dervish in the alley, drinking that wine
Drinking wine, making time in the days gone by
Boogie woogie child in the alley
Drinking that wine, making time, talking all out of my mind
Drinking wine in the days gone by, behind the ritual
Behind the ritual, behind the ritual
In the days gone by, drinking that wine
Making time, drinking that wine way back in time
Spin and turn and rhyme in the alley
Spin and turning, making up rhymes, talking all out of my mind
Talking that jive, drinking that wine in the days gone by
Drinking wine in the alley, drinking that wine
Making time, talking all out of my mind
Drinking that wine making time in the alley
Behind the ritual, behind the ritual
You find the spiritual, you find the spiritual
Behind the ritual in the days gone by
Drinking wine in the alley, drinking wine in the alley
Making time, talking all out of my mind
Drinking that wine in the days gone by, days gone by
Spin and turn talking that jive
Spin and turn talking that jive all out of our minds
Drinking that sweet wine
Making time, making time in the days gone by
Behind the ritual, behind the ritual
Behind the ritual, behind the ritual
Drinking that wine making time in the days gone by
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
Behind the ritual, making time in the days gone by
In the days gone by, in the days gone by
Drink that wine, making time
Getting high in the days gone by, drinking that wine
Getting high behind the ritual
Getting high behind the ritual
Drinking that wine in the days gone by
Behind the ritual, behind the ritual
Behind the ritual, behind that spiritual
In the days gone by drinking that wine and getting high
So high behind the ritual, so high behind the ritual
So high in the days gone by
Drinking that wine making time, making time
Stretching time, stretching time
Drinking that wine, stretching time
Stretching time in the days gone by behind the ritual
Behind the ritual
Behind the ritual
The lyrics to Van Morrison's "Behind The Ritual" are about nostalgia and the power of ritual. The opening lines of "Drinking wine in the alley, drinking wine in the alley, making time, drinking that wine, out of my mind in the days gone by" sets the scene of a group of friends reminiscing about their youth while drinking wine. The repetition of "making time" emphasizes their desire to have moments of meaning between their adult responsibilities. The chorus, "behind the ritual, you find the spiritual," suggests that even though these moments may seem trivial, they hold a deeper significance.
As the song continues, the imagery becomes more surreal. The reference to a "Whirling Dervish" and "spin and turn and rhyme in the alley" evoke a sense of dizziness and disorientation, which could be a metaphor for the disorientation of nostalgia. The repetition of "talking all out of my mind" and "drinking that wine, making time" reinforces the theme of finding meaning in the midst of chaos.
The final lines, "so high behind the ritual, so high behind the ritual, so high in the days gone by, drinking that wine making time, making time, stretching time" suggest that through the power of ritual, a sense of transcendence is possible. Even though time passes and things change, the ritual remains, offering a sense of continuity and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Drinking wine in the alley, drinking wine in the alley
I am drinking wine in the alley
Making time, drinking that wine
I am enjoying my time while drinking wine
Out of my mind in the days gone by
I was not in my right mind in the past
Making time with Sally, drinking that wine
I am having fun with Sally while drinking wine
In the days gone by, talking all out of my mind
In the past, I was not speaking sensibly
Spin and turning in the alley, spin and turning in the alley
I am spinning around in the alley like a Whirling Dervish
Like a Whirling Dervish in the alley, drinking that wine
I am spinning around like a Whirling Dervish while drinking wine
Boogie woogie child in the alley
I am dancing like a Boogie Woogie child in the alley
Behind the ritual, behind the ritual
There is something more to this activity than what meets the eye
You find the spiritual, you find the spiritual
In this activity, you can find a higher consciousness
Spin and turn talking that jive
I am talking nonsense while spinning around
Drinking wine in the alley, drinking that wine
I am still drinking wine in the alley
Making time, talking all out of my mind
I am still enjoying my time while talking nonsense
Behind the ritual, making time in the days gone by
The higher purpose of this activity is to enjoy oneself
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah
I am still talking a lot of nonsense
Getting high behind the ritual
By doing this activity, I am getting to a higher state of consciousness
Stretching time, stretching time
I am stretching the time to enjoy myself more
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jan Hensley
G. O. A. T. I love Van and the band! From a super fan! Love and respect to you Van!
Rietje Hersbach
Me to😍
Paul Devine
Only Van can sing "blah blah blah blah" and make it seem normal to the song!! The man is a genius!!!! Awesome band behind him here too!!
alfonsoelias graiño brenlla
Así es!! es impreesionante como incorpora el "blah blah blah" en el sonido!!! amazine
Midge Burleigh
He also does a mean dirrrittdirrriitttdirriittt!!! Lol . Van the Man. My wife and I 's first concert together decades ago at the Glasgow Royal concert hall before we picked up the courage to ask each other to join up as a couple. He'll always be special. The man just gets better and better all the time. Love it! It ain't why why why... It just is!!!! Peace to all Van lovers everywhere
Bentstraightjackit
Paul Devine it's the blah blah of eternity innit
Bentstraightjackit
Paul Devine he also makes ow good
De'Jon Small
Damn! I've never heard a bad Van Morrison song..... Van The Man...
sirlordcomic
Big shout out to Georgie Fame on this one and the band too.
The_Dude
i love how even the band sounds,nobody is blasting extra loud,thats a skill in itself,how to play evenly...