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.
Choppin
Van Morrison Lyrics
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Before you became a spark down at the yard
You were passing through those hungry years alone
You were just trying to make a living out in Detroit
When you came back off the boats you didn't want to go anywhere
You sit down to TV in your favorite chair
You watch the big picture fade away down at Harland and Wolff
And you came back home to Belfast
So you could be with us like
You lived your life of quiet desperation on the side
Going to the shipyard in the morning on your bike
Well the spark was gone but you carried on
You always did the best you could
You sent for us once but everything fell through
But you still kept on choppin' wood choppin' wood
Well you came back home to Belfast
So you could be with us like
And you lived a life of quiet desperation on the side
Going to the shipyard in the morning on your bike
Well the spark was gone but you carried on
Well you did just the best that you could
You sent for us one time but everything fell through
But you still kept on choppin' wood
Kept on choppin'wood
Kept on choppin' wood
Local man chops wood
You know you did the best you could
Well everything just fell through
Kept on choppin' wood
Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop,
Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop,
Chop, chop, chop, keep on choppin'
Chop, chop, chop, choppin' wood
The lyrics to Van Morrison's song "Choppin' Wood" tell the story of a man who left home to work in Detroit, wiring trains and doing what he could to make a living. He returned to Belfast but found himself living a life of "quiet desperation" as he continued to work in the shipyard, chopping wood and carrying on despite feeling like he wasn't making much progress in life. The song pays tribute to this man's perseverance and dedication, acknowledging that even though his life may not have turned out exactly as he hoped, he continued to do the best he could and kept going.
At its core, "Choppin' Wood" is a song about resilience in the face of adversity. It recognizes the struggle that many people face as they try to make a living and build a life for themselves, and acknowledges that even when things don't go as planned, it's important to keep pushing forward and doing the best you can.
Some of the motifs in the song include the idea of returning home (both to Belfast and to the man's favorite chair), the struggle to make a living and find purpose, and the sense of quiet desperation that comes from feeling like you're not quite achieving what you set out to do. Despite these challenges, the song ultimately offers a message of hope and resilience, reminding the listener that even when things are tough, there's always a way to keep moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
You wired the trains and went back home to St. Claire's shores
After working on the trains, you returned to your hometown of St. Claire's shores
Before you became a spark down at the yard
Before you worked in the shipyard as an electrician
You were passing through those hungry years alone
You were struggling to make ends meet during difficult times
You were just trying to make a living out in Detroit
You were trying to support yourself while living in Detroit
When you came back off the boats you didn't want to go anywhere
After returning from your travels, you didn't feel like going anywhere
You sit down to TV in your favorite chair
You would watch TV while sitting in your favorite chair
You watch the big picture fade away down at Harland and Wolff
You watched as the shipbuilding industry dissipated at Harland and Wolff
But you still kept on choppin' wood
Despite the changes happening around you, you continued to do what you needed to survive
And you came back home to Belfast
You returned to your hometown of Belfast
So you could be with us like
To be surrounded by loved ones
You lived your life of quiet desperation on the side
You endured a life of hardship and desperation, but kept it hidden from others
Going to the shipyard in the morning on your bike
You traveled to the shipyard every morning on your bicycle
Well the spark was gone but you carried on
Even though your motivation for work was gone, you persisted
You always did the best you could
You always did the best you could with what you had
You sent for us once but everything fell through
You tried to reunite with loved ones, but it didn't work out
Kept on choppin'wood
You persisted in your work
Local man chops wood
You were known in the community for chopping wood
You know you did the best you could
You were proud of your efforts
Well everything just fell through
Despite your best efforts, things wouldn't fall into place
Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop,
The sound of you chopping wood
Chop, chop, chop, chop, chop,
Continuing to chop wood
Chop, chop, chop, keep on choppin'
Persisting in your work
Chop, chop, chop, choppin' wood
The repetitive sound of chopping wood
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind