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.

Caravan
Van Morrison Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah, the caravan is on its way
I can hear the merry gypsies play
Mama, mama, look at Emma Rose
She's a-playin with the radio
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la

Yeah, the caravan has all my friends

Yeah, they'll stay with me until the end
Gypsy Robin, Sweet Emma Rose
Tell me everything I need to know
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la

Turn up your radio
And let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight, so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night, I shall reveal you

If you won't turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, turn it up, so you know, radio
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la

Yeah, the caravan is painted red and white
That means everybody's staying overnight
Yeah, the barefoot gypsy player 'round a campfire sing and play
And the woman tells us of her ways
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la

Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long just to hold you tight, so maybe I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night, I shall reveal you

If you won't turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got soul
Radio, radio turn it up, hmm
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

Overall Meaning

The song "Caravan" by Van Morrison tells the story of a traveling caravan that is on its way to an unknown destination. The first verse introduces the caravan, and the sound of the "merry gypsies play," suggesting a festive atmosphere. However, in the next line, "Mama, mama, look at Emma Rose, She's a-playin with the radio," suggests a moment of pause from the caravaneers. The second verse confirms that Morrison's friends are with him on the journey and will stay with him until the end. Interestingly, as the song progresses, Emma Rose and Gypsy Robin become the singer's source of wisdom and guidance; they "tell him everything he needs to know."

The refrain, "Turn up your radio," creates a feeling of urgency and suggests that there is something the singer and his friends need to escape from. The line "And let me hear the song," signals a desire for clarity and perhaps a break from the chaos around them. The urgency of the singer increases as he pleads for the radio to be turned up even higher so that they can "get down to what is really wrong." His desire to "hold [her] tight" suggests desperation for connection, while "lady of the night" implies the night as the only time they can find respite from the struggles of the day.

Overall, the song "Caravan" by Van Morrison is an ode to free-spiritedness and collective adventure. It's a tribute to the bonds of friendship, the romance of the road, and the yearning for liberation.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah, the caravan is on its way
The group of people is moving on to the next location

I can hear the merry gypsies play
The musicians in the group are playing happy music

Mama, mama, look at Emma Rose
Someone is pointing out Emma Rose to their mother

She's a-playin with the radio
Emma Rose is messing around with the radio

La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Nonsensical syllables used for emphasis

Yeah, the caravan has all my friends
The singer is traveling with their close companions

Yeah, they'll stay with me until the end
The group will stick together until the end of their journey

Gypsy Robin, Sweet Emma Rose
The artist is addressing their friends by name

Tell me everything I need to know
The artist is asking their friends to provide information

Turn up your radio
The artist wants the listener to increase the volume of their radio

And let me hear the song
The singer wants to hear the music playing on the radio

Switch on your electric light
The artist wants the listener to turn on their light

Then we can get down to what is really wrong
The singer is suggesting that they can focus on important issues once they have the music and light on

I long to hold you tight, so I can feel you
The singer desires physical closeness with someone

Sweet lady of the night, I shall reveal you
The singer is addressing someone who is likely a sex worker

If you won't turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
The artist is urging the listener to turn the volume up on their radio

Turn it up, turn it up, so you know, radio
The artist is emphasizing their desire for the listener to turn the volume up

Yeah, the caravan is painted red and white
The group's caravan is decorated in these colors

That means everybody's staying overnight
The caravan's colors signify that the group will spend the night in that location

Yeah, the barefoot gypsy player 'round a campfire sing and play
A musician in the group is playing and singing around a campfire

And the woman tells us of her ways
A woman is sharing information about herself with the group

Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
The artist again urges the listener to turn up the radio so they can hear the music

Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got soul
The singer feels that the music has soul and wants the listener to turn the volume up to a satisfactory level

Radio, radio turn it up, hmm
The artist is still asking the listener to turn up the radio

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Nonsensical syllables used for emphasis