Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison, OBE (generally known as Van Morrison or Van… Read Full Bio ↴Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison, OBE (generally known as Van Morrison or Van The Man) (born 31 August 1945) is a Grammy Award-winning artist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He's a singer, songwriter, author, poet, and multi-instrumentalist, who has been a professional musician since 1958. He plays a variety of instruments, including the guitar, harmonica, keyboards, drums, and saxophone. Featuring his characteristic growl - a unique mix of folk, blues, Irish, scat, and Celtic influences - Morrison is widely considered one of the most unusual and influential vocalists in the history of rock and roll. He has received numerous music awards during his career, including six Grammy Awards (1996–2007); inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (January 1993), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (June 2003), and the Irish Music Hall of Fame (September 1999); and a Brit Award (February 1994).

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.

Blue Money
Van Morrison Lyrics

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The photographer smiles
Take a break for a while
Take a rest, do your very best
Take five, honey
Five, honey

You search in your bag
Light up a fag

Think it's a drag, but you're so glad
To be alive honey
Alive honey

Said when this is all over
You'll be in clover
We'll go out and spend
All of your blue money
Blue money
Blue money

Do-do-you-do, n'-do-do-you-do
N' do-do-do-you do, n' do-do-do-you-do
N' do-do

Alright, (do-do) do-it

Do-do-you-do, n'-do-do-you-do
N' do-do-do-you do, n' do-do-do-you-do
N' do-do, do-do

Alright, (do-do) do-it

Well the cameraman smiles
Take a break for a while
Do your best, do your very best
Take five, honey
Take five

You search in your bag
Light up a fag
Say it's a drag, but you're so glad
To be alive honey
Alive honey

Said when this is all over
You'll be in clover
We'll go on out and spend
All of your blue money
Blue money
Blue money alright

Do-do-you-do, n'-do-do-you-do
N' do-do-do-you do, n' do-do-do-you-do
N' do-do

Alright, (do-do) do-it

Do-do-you-do, n'-do-do-you-do
N' do-do-do-you do, n' do-do-do-you-do
N' do-do, do-do
Alright, (do-do) do-it

One more time

Do-do-you-do, n'-do-do-you-do
N' do-do-do-you do, n' do-do-do-you-do
'N-do-do (do-do)

Hey (do-do)

Do-do-you-do, n'-do-do-you-do
N' do-do-do-you-do, n' do-do-do-you-do
'N-do-do

Alright, do-do

Say, when this is all over
We'll be in clover
We'll go out and spend all your

(Blue money) blue money

Blue money (blue money)

Ooh juice money, loose money

Juice money, loose money, honey

(Do-do-do, do-do-do-do)
What kind a money, honey?

(Do-do-do, do-do-do-do)
Juice money, loose money

Blue money (do-do-do, do-do-do-do)

Juice money

Loose money (do-do-do, do-do-do-do)

Blue money

Hey, alright

Juice money

Ow
Long as you wanna be

Overall Meaning

The song Blue Money by Van Morrison is a piece about a photographer and a model. The photographer is encouraging the model to take a break and rest for a while, assuring her that she is doing a great job. Throughout the song, the model is constantly searching for something in her bag, which some believe to be cigarettes. The model says that smoking is a drag but is still happy to be alive. The photographer assures her that after their shoot is over, they will have a good time shopping with all of her “blue money.”

In this instance, “blue money” can be interpreted as the profits made by the model from her work, but the phrase also means counterfeit money and illicit cash. This interpretation has led many listeners to conclude that the song is about a woman who turns tricks to earn money. In this sense, the photographer is part of the arrangement, as he may be her pimp or partner. The song is catchy, upbeat, and bouncy, with a jazzy rhythm and an upbeat melody, making it difficult to determine the mood of the artist concerning the subject matter.

Line by Line Meaning

The photographer smiles
The photographer is happy

Take a break for a while
Take a short rest

Take a rest, do your very best
Rest and give your best when you return

Take five, honey
Take a five-minute break, dear

You search in your bag
You look for something in your bag

Light up a fag
Smoke a cigarette

Think it's a drag, but you're so glad
Though you dislike it, you are happy

To be alive honey
To be alive, dear

Said when this is all over
I said after this ends

You'll be in clover
You'll be in a favorable situation

We'll go out and spend
We'll exit and spend