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.

Friday's Child
Van Morrison Lyrics

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From the North
To the South,
Ya' walked all the way.
Ya' know ya' left your,
Left your home
For good to stay,
While ya' built all,
All of your castles

In the sun,
And I watched ya' knock 'em down,
Knock 'em down, each and every one.
Whoa-oh, Friday's child
Ya' can't stop now.
No.
Whoa-oh, Friday's child
Ya' can't stop now.

And I watched you
'Fore you 'came too ol' (??)
And I tol' ya'
A long time before ya' ever came to be told,
"You've got somethin'
That they all want to know.
You gotta hold on
And never ever let go."
Whoa-oh, Friday's child
Ya' can't stop now.
No, no.
Whoa-oh, Friday's child
Ya' cannot stop now,
Ya' can't stop.

There ya' go,
There ya' go, rainbows hangin' around your feet,
And you're makin' out,
You're makin' out with everyone that you meet.
Even havin' a ball
And stayin' up late,
And watched the sun come up
'round Nottinghill Gate.
Whoa-oh, Friday's child
Ya' can't stop now.
No, no.
Whoa-oh, Friday's child
Ya' cannot stop.
You're drivin'.
Aaowwh,
No no no no no no no no no,
Ya' cannot stop now.

You're too much.
Ya' can't stop, ya' can't stop, ya' can't stop, can't stop, no.

Overall Meaning

The song "Friday's Child" by Van Morrison talks about a person who left their home and journeyed from the North to the South, building castles in the sun, but watched them getting knocked down every time. The singer, who watched the individual grow old, tells them that they possess something unique that everyone wants to know, and they should hold on to it without letting go. The lyrics mention rainbows hanging around the person's feet, indicating that they are enjoying their life and making the most of it by having fun, meeting new people, and staying up late. The chorus emphasizes that Friday's child cannot stop now and must keep driving forward.

The song overall has an uplifting and motivational message that emphasizes the importance of holding on to one's unique traits and qualities and not letting go of them. The reference to rainbows in the song could also suggest the endless possibilities and opportunities that life holds for those who choose to seize them. The song's title, "Friday's Child," references an old nursery rhyme that assigns personality traits to individuals born on each day of the week. According to the rhyme, Friday's child is loving and giving, which could also tie in with the theme of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

From the North
Starting from the North, you walked all the way down to the South.

To the South,

Ya' walked all the way.

Ya' know ya' left your,
You are aware that you left your home behind for good.

Left your home

For good to stay,

While ya' built all,
While you built all of your castles

All of your castles

In the sun,

And I watched ya' knock 'em down,
And I witnessed you knocking them all down

Knock 'em down, each and every one.