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.

Going Down To Bangor
Van Morrison Lyrics

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Well I'm going down to Bangor
I want you to bring me, bring me my bucket and spade
Well I'm going down to Bangor
Bring me my bucket and spade
I'm going down to Pickie Pool
Man we're going in the deep end

Well I got your letter this morning

When the sun was shining so bright
Well I got your letter this morning
Oh, when the sun was shining so bright
I want you to know one thing
That you're the love of my life

We're going up to Cavehill
We're going to walk on Napoleon's Nose
We're going up to Cavehill
We're going to walk on Napoleon's Nose
Way up on the hillside
Where the purple heather grows

I haven't seen my cousin Billie in such a long time
I haven't seen my cousin Billie, not in a long time
Well I saw her just the other day
She was standing in a supermarket line

Well we're going out in the charabanc
We're just as happy as we can be
Well we're going out in the charabanc
We're just as happy as we can be
Well we're going to go driving
Watch the mountains of Mourne run down to the sea

Yeah we're going down to Bangor
Just six miles from Donaghadee
Oh, we're going down to Bangor
Some six miles from Donaghadee
I want you to sing this with me
Tra-la-la, tra-la-lee

Tra-la-la, tra-la-la, tra-la-lee
Tra-la-la, tra-la-la, tra-la-lee

It's only six miles from Bangor
To Donaghadee

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Van Morrison's song "Going Down to Bangor" describe a trip that the singer is taking to the seaside town of Bangor in Northern Ireland. He requests that someone bring him his bucket and spade, suggesting that he plans to spend time on the beach. He mentions Pickie Pool, where they will go into the deep end. The lyrics then reference a letter the singer received from a loved one, which he read in the sunshine. He declares that the recipient of the letter is the love of his life. The lyrics go on to describe a trip up to Cave Hill, where they will walk on Napoleon's Nose and see the purple heather growing. The song then mentions the singer's cousin Billie, whom he recently saw in a supermarket line. The final verse describes the group's journey out in a charabanc and their joy in being able to drive and watch the mountains running down to the sea. The song concludes by repeating the earlier refrain of "Tra-la-la, tra-la-lee."

While the lyrics on the surface may seem lighthearted and carefree, there is a sense of nostalgia and longing for simpler times and memories of family and loved ones. The repeated refrain of "tra-la-la, tra-la-lee" echoes the idea of reliving happy memories and savoring the joys of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I'm going down to Bangor
I am heading towards Bangor

I want you to bring me, bring me my bucket and spade
Please bring me my bucket and shovel

I'm going down to Pickie Pool
I am going to Pickie Pool

Man we're going in the deep end
We are going to swim in the deep end of the pool

Well I got your letter this morning
I received your letter this morning

When the sun was shining so bright
It was a bright and sunny day

That you're the love of my life
You are the one I love the most

We're going up to Cavehill
We are headed to Cavehill

We're going to walk on Napoleon's Nose
We will walk on Napoleon's Nose

Where the purple heather grows
We will be walking on the hillside where purple heather grows

I haven't seen my cousin Billie in such a long time
It has been a very long time since I last saw my cousin Billie