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.
Carrickfergus
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Only for nights in Ballygrand,
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
The deepest ocean to be by your side.
But the sea is wide and I can't swim over
And neither have I wings to fly.
I wish I could find me a handy boatman
My childhood days bring back sad reflections
Of happy days so long ago.
My boyhood friends and my own relations.
Have all passed on like the melting snow.
So I'll spend my days in endless roving,
Soft is the grass and my bed is free.
Oh to be home now in Carrickfergus,
On the long road down to the salty sea.
And in Kilkenny it is reported
On marble stone there as black as ink,
With gold and silver I did support her
But I'll sing no more now till I get a drink.
I'm drunk today and I'm rarely sober,
A handsome rover from town to town.
Oh but I am sick now and my days are numbered
Come all ye young men and lay me down
The lyrics to Van Morrison's song Carrickfergus are a nostalgic reflection on lost love and the longing to return to a simpler time. The singer yearns for a person they love, rueing the fact that they are separated by the vast sea which they are unable to traverse due to their lack of swimming skills or wings to help them fly. This desire to be reunited with their love is so intense that they would willingly die to be by their side, wishing for a boatman to ferry them over to the other side.
The song then shifts to the singer's memories of their childhood, bringing back both happy and sad reflections. They reminisce on the fleeting nature of time, with loved ones and friends passing on like melting snow. The singer then speaks of their current situation as a nomadic wanderer, traversing endless landscapes with nothing but a grassy bed. They long to return home to Carrickfergus, where they can be near the sea which perhaps can metaphorically wash away their woes.
The final verse of the song introduces a new dimension, where the singer is in Kilkenny and sees a black marble stone which they once used to support their lost love with gold and silver. The verse ends with the singer acknowledging their present state, drunk and rarely sober. They are a wandering man and their days are numbered, calling out to other young men to lay them down. This final verse perhaps suggests a sense of resignation, with the singer accepting their current fate and seeking comfort in the company of others.
Line by Line Meaning
I wished I had you in Carrickfergus,
I yearn to have you with me in Carrickfergus
Only for nights in Ballygrand,
Just for few nights in Ballygrand
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
I would swim even the deepest ocean
The deepest ocean to be by your side.
To be with you by braving the depths of the ocean
But the sea is wide and I can't swim over
The vastness of the sea prohibits me from crossing it by swimming
And neither have I wings to fly.
I do not possess the ability to fly
I wish I could find me a handy boatman
I wish to find a skilled boatman
To ferry me over to my love and die.
To help me get to you and ultimately die together
My childhood days bring back sad reflections
Recalling childhood, I feel sorrowful
Of happy days so long ago.
Reminiscing about the joyful old days
My boyhood friends and my own relations.
Thinking about my childhood friends and family members
Have all passed on like the melting snow.
All of them have departed from this world like snow disappears with time
So I'll spend my days in endless roving,
I will spend my days wandering endlessly
Soft is the grass and my bed is free.
I find comfort in the soft grass and my bed is my own
Oh to be home now in Carrickfergus,
How I long to be at home in Carrickfergus
On the long road down to the salty sea.
On the long pathway that leads to the salty sea
And in Kilkenny it is reported
In Kilkenny, it is told
On marble stone there as black as ink,
On a black marble stone
With gold and silver I did support her
I supported her with gold and silver
But I'll sing no more now till I get a drink.
I won't sing anymore until I get a drink
I'm drunk today and I'm rarely sober,
I'm excessively drunk today and I hardly stay sober these days
A handsome rover from town to town.
A good-looking traveler who moves from town to town
Oh but I am sick now and my days are numbered
But now I'm unwell and my days are limited
Come all ye young men and lay me down
All you young men, come and lay me down
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annevogle
I lost my older brother to alcoholism,He gave me the love of song,He took in anyone needing a place to stay,To those who knew Tom, We miss you , it’s been years. And I will never stop missing him
@Rose4Hilary
for the ones who stayed, for the ones who left, for the ones who were lost.
@evelinegordon5619
For all our glorious dead
@laceymariemusic6109
My mom passed away from aspiration pneumonia one week ago. She was only 57, but she was a proud Irish woman. Yesterday this played at her funeral in Toronto. What a moment it was. ❤️
@brianbyrne3003
@ Lacey Sorry to hear of your wonderful moms passing. Way too young to go! I'm an Irish guy and I lived in T.O. for a couple of years and was blown away with how amazing the Irish community is there. Such comraderie in the community. I loved Canadians.
@johnarkle7916
<3
@Badvibesdude
My condolences.
@jamesbell1982
Condolences from Australia
@janhensley5410
Sincere condolences ❤🙏
@thomasmcculey7942
I love Van's rendition of this great Irish ballad. Lost my older bro a wk ago , he was a big Rory fan.