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.
Fire in the Belly
Van Morrison Lyrics
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Fire in my heart, fire in my belly too
Got a heart and a mind and a fire inside
And I'm crazy about you
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, you when you're laughing out loud
You, you with your hidden surprise
You
Stoke up my engine, bring me my driving wheel
Once I get started you'll see just how I feel
And I'm crazy about you
And I'm crazy about you
And I'm crazy about you
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, you when you're laughing out loud
You, you with your hidden surprise
You
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Spring in my heart, fire in my belly too
I come apart, I don't know just what to do
Got a heart and a mind and a fire inside
And I'm crazy about you
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, you with the laugh in your eyes
You, you with your hidden surprise
You
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Gotta get through February
Gotta get through January
Spring in my heart, fire in my belly too
I come apart, I don't know just what to do
Got a heart and a mind and a fire inside
And I'm crazy about you
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, you with the laugh in your eyes
You, you with your hidden surprise
You
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (fire in the belly too)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you (talkin' 'bout you)
Talkin' 'bout you
The lyrics of Van Morrison's song "Fire in the Belly" reflect a passionate and sometimes obsessive love for someone, described as having a "high flying cloud" and a "hidden surprise." The fire in the singer's belly refers to the intense feeling he has for this person, which drives him forward and gives him a sense of purpose. He experiences both a spring in his heart and uncertainty that causes him to come apart. The song emphasizes the idea that the call of the wildest, or a natural, instinctual urge, has taken over and fueled his desire for this person. The repetition of the phrase, "Gotta get through January, gotta get through February," suggests that the singer is struggling to resist this desire and maintain control over his emotions.
The chorus's repetition of "talkin' 'bout you" emphasizes the song's central theme of romantic fixation. The song's longing and urgency are reflected in the music's driving rhythms and upbeat tempo. The singer's voice is full of emotion, sometimes sounding almost desperate. "Fire in the Belly" is a passionate declaration of love that captures the intensity and energy of an overpowering attraction.
Line by Line Meaning
Call of the wildest, it's got the best of you
The strongest passions and the deepest desires have overtaken your mind and spirit.
Fire in my heart, fire in my belly too
I have a great passion and desire in my heart and soul, burning with intensity.
Got a heart and a mind and a fire inside
I possess both emotional and intellectual capacity to feel deeply and think complexly, and a burning passion within.
And I'm crazy about you
I am completely infatuated, and fully immersed in passion and love for you.
You, you on your high flying cloud
You, with your head held high, freely soaring through life, away from the troubles of the world.
You, you when you're laughing out loud
You, when you exude joy and amusement, with a contagious laughter that brightens up the room.
You, you with your hidden surprise
You, with a secret and unexpected mystery that lies within you, waiting to be discovered.
Stoke up my engine, bring me my driving wheel
Rev up my inner engines, give me the tools to take control and make things happen.
Once I get started you'll see just how I feel
Once I find my groove and get into action, you will see the full extent of my passion and emotion.
Gotta get through January
I need to endure and push through the hardship and challenges of the month of January.
Gotta get through February
I need to endure and push through the hardship and challenges of the month of February.
Spring in my heart, fire in my belly too
A sense of renewal and rejuvenation in my heart, coupled with the burning passion that resides in me.
I come apart, I don't know just what to do
I become overwhelmed and uncertain of my actions and decisions.
You, you with the laugh in your eyes
You, with a glint of mischief and humor in your eyes that gives away your joy and happiness.
Talkin' 'bout you
All that's on my mind is you, and the intensity of my feelings towards you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind