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.

Cry for Home
Van Morrison Lyrics

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I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting on that shore
To hear the cry for home
You won't have to worry anymore
When you hear the cry for home

When you hear, hear the call
You won't have to fake at all

Hear the cry for home

I'll be standing
I'll be standing within reach
When you hear, hear the call

I'll be waiting
I'll be waiting in the breach
For you, when you hear

When you hear, hear the call
You won't have to fake at all
Hear the cry for home

When I listen
When I listen to the song
Well it feels, it feels so free

And you tell me
You will come and go with me
When you hear the cry for home

When you hear the call
You won't have to think at all
Hear the cry for home
Spoken (one more, one more time)
When you hear, hear the call
You won't have to fake at all
Hear the cry for home
(One more open it up, open it up)
When you hear, hear the call
You won't have to fake at all
Hear the cry for home
Hear (When you hear, hear the call)
Hear (When you hear, hear the call)
Hear (When you hear, hear the call)
Hear (When you hear, hear the call)

Hear (When you hear, hear the call)
Hear (When you hear, hear the call)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Van Morrison and Tom Jones's song Cry For Home speak to waiting for someone who has strayed to come back home. The singer promises to be waiting on the shore, within reach, and in the breach for their loved one to hear the call to return. There's a sense of comfort and safety in these lyrics, as the singer assures the listener that they won't have to worry anymore once they come home.

The lyrics also suggest that hearing the call for home is a natural and authentic experience. There's no need to fake anything or think too hard about it. When you hear the cry for home, you'll know it, and you'll be able to come back to where you belong with ease. The chorus is repetitive and catchy, driving home the message that home is where the heart is, and that's where we should strive to be.

Overall, Cry For Home is a beautifully simple and poignant song about coming home. It's about waiting for someone with open arms, and reassuring them that they always have a place where they belong. It's a song that speaks to the human need for connection and love, and it does so in a way that's both universal and deeply personal.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll be waiting
I promise to wait for you

I'll be waiting on that shore
I will wait for you on the shoreline

To hear the cry for home
I'll be listening for your call to return home

You won't have to worry anymore
You won't have to be concerned about anything once you're home

When you hear the cry for home
Call out to me when you want to return home

When you hear, hear the call
Respond to my call when I beckon you

You won't have to fake at all
You don't have to pretend everything is ok anymore

I'll be standing within reach
I'll be close enough to help when you need it

I'll be waiting in the breach
I'll be waiting in the gap to assist you when you need it

For you, when you hear
I'll be there for you when you call out for me

When I listen to the song
When I hear this melody