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.
Big Royalty Check
Van Morrison Lyrics
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For my royalty check to come,
And it still hasn't come yet.
It's about a year
Overdue.
I guess it's coming
From the Big Royalty Check in the sky.
I waited and the mailman
Oh, oh-oh, oh
I guess it's a Big Royalty Check in the sky.
Oooh baby.
But you can't
Beat the tax man
And me
All at once.
Van Morrison's Big Royalty Check is a nostalgic ballad that reflects on the challenging journey of an artist waiting to receive his due royalties. The song portrays Morrison's frustration as he waits for a year for his royalty check that still hasn't arrived. Morrison imagines that his supposed payment is coming in the form of "The Big Royalty Check in the sky." The check seems to be withheld by some mysterious force, leaving the songwriter to feel helpless and confused as to why he hasn't received his payment.
The song's lyrics are reflective of the artist's own experiences of waiting for a royalty check that never arrived. Van Morrison fought several legal battles with his record label over unpaid royalties throughout his career, and this song seems to capture that struggle. The line, "But you can't beat the tax man and me all at once" may represent the complex legal issues concerning regulation and taxation in the music industry.
In conclusion, Van Morrison's Big Royalty Check is a poignant and autobiographical commentary on the complexity of the music industry, the challenges faced by artists, and the importance of receiving fair payment for creative work.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm waiting
I am waiting for something
For my royalty check to come,
Specifically waiting for my royalty check to arrive in the mail
And it still hasn't come yet.
However, it has not arrived yet
It's about a year
It has been almost a year since it was supposed to arrive
Overdue.
It is long past its due date
I guess it's coming
I assume that my royalty check is coming soon
From the Big Royalty Check in the sky.
Perhaps it is coming from a higher power, such as fate or destiny
I waited and the mailman
I have been waiting patiently for the mailman to bring me my check
Never dropped it in my letterbox.
Despite my waiting, the check never arrives in my mailbox
Oh, oh-oh, oh
Expressing frustration or disappointment
I guess it's a Big Royalty Check in the sky.
Perhaps there is a divine reason for the delay in receiving my check
Oooh baby.
A way to express pained anticipation
But you can't
However, it is impossible to
Beat the tax man
Outsmart or avoid paying taxes
And me
And also get away with not paying me what I am owed
All at once.
It is important to pay both taxes and royalties as they are due
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind