It probably brings out nostalgia in many of us who meandered similarly.
Your present writer, in fact, sees mental images of the railroad along which he wandered, a railroad bridge over a stream, the semi rural countryside. (Research suggests that the bridge referred to in the lyrics of the longer, earlier version of this song is a road bridge going over a railway line in west Belfast).
The primary theme metamorhoses into memories of, a grieving for, and a wistful yet resigned acceptance of the loss of, a past love. This transcendence is attained through the songwriter's rationalization that they will be together (he will be beside her) in a unique timeless fantasy, in his imagination, perhaps in his dreams, or even in his afterlife, in eternity.
There is a notion that this creation may have been assisted or inspired by Van being in an altered state projected, in the lyrics, onto his lost love....
"......You breathe in you breathe out you breathe in you breathe out
and you're high on your high-flyin' cloud
wrapped up in your magic shroud as ecstasy surrounds you......"
The two themes meld into a mystic fusion of beautiful, powerful, mental images and metaphors which take us to places distant and high, soulful, sad and eternal.
The "Astral weeks" version with its abbreviated lyrics, though shorter, has the appeal of studio-slick sound with instrumental support from a sweet guitar, a mellifluous flute, and most of all, indescribably masterful, esoteric vocals from Van himself.
Many industry savants and publications have evaluated the "Astral Weeks" album as being among the greatest popular music albums of all time, if not the greatest.
The song "Beside You" provides much support to that proposition.
An all time favourite for many, including the writer,
this is an exceptional composition from a uniquely gifted, legendary musician.
GD
Beside You
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way out of the backstreet
Out of the window
Through the fallin' rain
Right on time
Right on time
That's why Broken Arrow
Waved his finger down the road so dark and narrow
In the evenin'
Just before the Sunday six-bells chime, six-bells chime
And all the dogs are barkin'
Way on down the diamond-studded highway where you wander
And you roam from your retreat and view
Way over on the railroad
Tomorrow all the tippin' trucks will unload
Every scrapbook stuck will glue
And I'll stand beside you
Beside you child
To never never never wonder why at all
No no no no no no no no
To never never wonder why at all
To never never never wonder why it's gotta be
It has to be
Way across the country where the hillside mountain glide
The dynamo of your smile caressed the barefoot virgin child to wander
Past your window with a lantern lit
You held it in the doorway and you cast against the pointed island breeze
Said your time was open, go well on your merry way
Past the brazen footsteps of the silence easy
You breathe in you breathe out you breathe in you breathe out you breath in
You breathe out you breathe in you breathe out
And you're high on your high-flyin' cloud
Wrapped up in your magic shroud as ecstasy surrounds you
This time it's found you
You turn around you turn around you turn around you turn around
And I'm beside you
Beside you
Oh darlin'
To never never wonder why at all
No no no no no
To never never never wonder why at all
To never never never wonder why it's gotta be
It has to be
And I'm beside you
Beside you
Oh child
To never never wonder why at all
I'm beside you
Beside you
Beside you
Beside you
Oh child
The lyrics of Van Morrison's song 'Beside You' describe a journey, both physical and emotional. Little Jimmy, a character in the song, has left his home and traveled through the rain to an uncertain destination. As he travels, he encounters Broken Arrow, who points him down a dark and narrow road. Meanwhile, the singer is standing by the railroad tracks, waiting for something to happen. The song is filled with vivid imagery, from the "diamond-studded highway" to the "barefoot virgin child."
The chorus of the song is a reassurance to the listener, an affirmation of the singer's presence and support. He declares his intention to stand beside them, "to never never wonder why at all." Through the journey and the uncertainty of life, the singer promises to be there, a steady and constant presence.
Overall, the lyrics of 'Beside You' convey a sense of existential unease and the need for connection and comfort in the face of the unknown. The song's vivid imagery and heartfelt chorus make it a powerful expression of this universal human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Little Jimmy's gone
Someone has left, possibly a child named Jimmy.
Way out of the backstreet
They left from a less prominent area.
Out of the window
They may have left by climbing out of a window.
Through the fallin' rain
The person left while it was raining.
Right on time
They left at the right moment.
That's why Broken Arrow
The person who left caused someone named 'Broken Arrow' to point towards a dark path.
Waved his finger down the road so dark and narrow
Broken Arrow gestured towards a path which was dim and tight.
In the evenin'
This occurred during the evening.
Just before the Sunday six-bells chime, six-bells chime
This happened right before the church bells rang six times on Sunday.
And all the dogs are barkin'
Dogs are barking in the distance as the person leaves.
Way on down the diamond-studded highway where you wander
The person roams on a luxurious road which they're unfamiliar with.
And you roam from your retreat and view
The person left somewhere peaceful and scenic.
Way over on the railroad
The person may have left from a railroad station far away.
Tomorrow all the tippin' trucks will unload
Trucks will deliver goods or materials the next day.
Every scrapbook stuck will glue
Everything will fall into place like a scrapbook being assembled.
And I'll stand beside you
The singer promises to be there for the person who left.
Beside you child
The singer is addressing the person who left with affection.
To never never never wonder why at all
The singer wants to provide comfort so that the person who left doesn't have to question their decision.
No no no no no no no no
Reaffirming that there shouldn't be any confusion or questioning.
To never never wonder why at all
Repeating that the person who left shouldn't have to worry about their decision.
To never never never wonder why it's gotta be
The singer wants to provide absolute certainty and reassurance about the person's decision to leave.
It has to be
Emphasizing that leaving was necessary or the right choice.
Way across the country where the hillside mountain glide
The person may have left to go somewhere far away and scenic.
The dynamo of your smile caressed the barefoot virgin child to wander
The person's smile had an infectious and freeing impact on those around them.
Past your window with a lantern lit
Someone may have walked past the person's window carrying a light, as if they were lost.
You held it in the doorway and you cast against the pointed island breeze
The person may have lit something like a candle or lantern and held it up to the wind to see where it would take them.
Said your time was open, go well on your merry way
Someone may have told the person that they have a lot of time and can leave without worry.
Past the brazen footsteps of the silence easy
The person may have left quietly, without disturbing anyone around them.
You breathe in you breathe out you breathe in you breathe out you breath in
The person may be taking deep breaths to calm themselves as they leave.
You breathe out you breathe in you breathe out
The person continues to focus on deep breaths to stay calm.
And you're high on your high-flyin' cloud
The person may feel elated or relieved after leaving.
Wrapped up in your magic shroud as ecstasy surrounds you
The person is enveloped in something magical or freeing as they journey to their new destination.
This time it's found you
The person may have been seeking or waiting for this moment for a long time.
You turn around you turn around you turn around you turn around
The person is filled with excitement and may be turning around to see where they've come from.
And I'm beside you
The singer reiterates that they're there for the person who left.
Beside you
Repeating that the singer is still there for the person who left.
Oh darlin'
The singer speaks affectionately to the person who left.
Beside you child
The singer continues to speak affectionately to the person who left.
To never never wonder why at all
Repeating the promise to provide comfort and reassurance to the person who left.
No no no no no
Continuing to reassure the person who left.
To never never never wonder why at all
Repeating the reassurance that the person who left doesn't have to question anything.
To never never never wonder why it's gotta be
Reiterating that leaving was the right choice and there's no need to question it.
It has to be
Emphasizing that there was no other option but to leave.
And I'm beside you
Still promising to be there for the person who left.
Beside you
Reiterating that the singer is still there for the person who left.
Oh child
Speaking affectionately to the person who left once again.
To never never wonder why at all
Repeating the promise of reassurance and comfort to the person who left.
I'm beside you
Reiterating that the singer will be there for the person who left.
Beside you
Continuing to emphasize that the singer is still there for the person who left.
Beside you
Repeating the promise to stay by the person who left's side.
Beside you
Continuing to emphasize the promise of staying by the person who left's side.
Oh child
Speaking affectionately to the person who left for the final time.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@colleenshaner8151
This is me and my fiancee's song. June 12th 2020 I discovered his depression had won. I found him hanging in our shed. I'm getting this entire song tattooed on my arm this month as a memorial. Joel matthew cuzzola was the most amazing man that ever existed. I'll see you soon my Joely. I'm coming soon.
@justineking5643
Don't go to him too soon Colleen. Life may have some lovely surprises in store for you yet. All the best...
@anitakoch7805
I’m so sorry to read that. Sorry for your terrible loss but Joely doesn’t want you up there with him too soon. Much love, much respect.
@badilatadicacca9309
❤️
@michaelreynolds6498
It is the most beautiful song....I hope you're still listening to it Colleen.
@michaelreynolds6498
It is the most beautiful song....I hope you're still listening to it Colleen.
@DeJaMo42
Huge Bob Dylan fan and then a friend introduced me to this, hard to deny it's the greatest album ever recorded...
@rickved
You are absolutely correct.
@pulsarlights2825
Bob Dylan couldn't hit these notes with his voice....not in a million years...lol
@stephenglasse9756
Astral Weeks is the greatest album ever. However Dylan came up with Highway 61, Blonde on Blonde, JWH, Blood on the Tracks all of which are contenders for top 10 albums ever. We shouldn't forget that Leonard Cohen correctly said, "Dylan might be the most sophisticated singer we've had in a generation... Dylan's a Picasso" and Sinead O'Connor (a huge fan of Astral Weeks and Veedon Fleece) said "Dylan's Slow Train Coming was the album that made me want to be a singer"