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.
Don't look back
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You cannot live on in the past,
Don't look back.
And I've known so many people
That still try to live on in the past,
Don't look back, oh no.
And if I could call back all those days of yesteryear,
I would never grow old and I'd never be poor,
But darlin', those days are gone, oh yeah.
Stop dreaming
And live on in the future,
But darlin', don't look back, oh no,
Don't look back, oh
In Van Morrison's "Don't Look Back," the lyrics are a poignant reminder to never live in the past but rather live in the moment and look towards the future, for the past can never be recaptured. Morrison establishes the message of the song with the opening lines, "Don't look back to the days of yesteryear, You cannot live on in the past, Don't look back." The lyrics convey the idea that dwelling on past experiences will not allow one to fully enjoy the present and future. The song recognizes that it is natural to have nostalgia for past happiness and joy; however, it is important to recognize that those moments are fleeting and that moving forward is an essential aspect of life.
Morrison then goes on to explain how he has witnessed people attempting to hold on to their past, despite it being emotionally and mentally unhealthy. The lyrics, "And I've known so many people, That still try to live on in the past, Don't look back, oh no," emphasize that living in the past prevents people from fully experiencing life and all of its possibilities.
The song concludes with Morrison recognizing that everything changes in time, "But darlin', those days are gone, oh yeah." He urges his listeners to embrace the future, for it is full of possibilities and hopes. He sings, "Stop dreaming, and live on in the future, But darlin', don't look back, oh no, Don't look back, oh." The song serves as a reminder that life is ever-changing, and one must learn to live in the present and embrace the unknown future.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't look back to the days of yesteryear,
Warning to not linger in the past.
You cannot live on in the past,
Past events cannot dictate or determine the present or future.
And I've known so many people
That still try to live on in the past,
Observation of individuals who remain stuck in the past.
Don't look back, oh no.
Reiteration of the warning to avoid dwelling on the past.
And if I could call back all those days of yesteryear,
I would never grow old and I'd never be poor,
Fantasy of how things would be different if time could be reversed.
But darlin', those days are gone, oh yeah.
Acceptance of the reality that the past cannot be changed.
Stop dreaming
And live on in the future,
Encouragement to focus on the present and future.
But darlin', don't look back, oh no,
Final warning to avoid dwelling on the past.
Don't look back, oh
Repetition of the refrain to emphasize its importance.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Pete White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lejlahodzic247
I'm in love with his voice 💞 One and only Van the Man ❤
@SilvioManfredDante85
Death to Israel.
@sofiaengelke1276
For me Van and his band are simply the best!
@charlesw9638
Magnificent performance - perfect band for VM taking Don't Look Back to new audiences - sax echoes Acker Bilt perfectly - electricity within the band! When Van wrote his response it was "We Got to Go Back" (and many others) and they're both right -- in the right frame of reference. Thank you, MV and VM!
@lindaaguila1369
Charles W ..beautiful
@lindaaguila1369
Beautiful
@ednasoaresbrasil3040
É sempre bom ouvir Van Morrison cantando no inicio de sua bela carreira. Sempre com letras inrteligentes e sentimentais. Ele é muito bom no que faz! Parabéns! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😍❤
@andrewarthurmatthews9990
One of the many first class songs from the Man
@ladylydia762
Brown eye Van Morrison
@YLouah
Simply beautiful!