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.
Goodbye Baby
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So long girl
I know you ain't gonna like it
But I'm stepping right out in your world
For I'm coming to your party
And I won't be able to stay
But I'm gonna kiss you one more time, Lord
Then I'm going away
You may be lonely
Yeah, you may be hurt
Like a fool I gave you candy
You turned around and treated me like dirt
But still I'm gonna come to your party
And just before the break of day
I'm gonna touch you one more time, Lord
Then I'm going away
Sing it to me again
Goodbye baby hmm ha, baby goodbye
Look out, what you see?
I see a train a-coming
A train a-coming down the long lonesome track
I'll tell you, girl, I gotta go on home now
But deep down in your heart
You know that someday I'm, I'm coming back
And I'm gonna look for you at your party
'Cause all the time I know that I'll find you there
And listen, I'm gonna dance with you
One more time, oh yeah
Sing it to me tonight now
Goodbye baby, sing it sweet baby goodbye
Lord, you're singing so sweet tonight
Goodbye baby
Goodbye baby baby baby
Baby goodbye
I'll see you around sometime, Lord
Goodbye baby
The song "Goodbye Baby" by Van Morrison is about a man who is leaving a woman he loves at a party. Even though the woman has not treated him well, he is still drawn to her and wants to say goodbye before he leaves. The lyrics suggest that the man knows he is making a mistake by leaving and that he may regret it in the future. The train that the man sees coming down the track represents his desire to move on from the relationship and find a new path in life.
The lyrics also suggest that the woman may have been using the man for her own purposes, and that she may be lonely and hurt by his departure. Despite this, the man still feels a connection to her and wants to say goodbye one last time. The repetition of the phrase "goodbye baby" throughout the song emphasizes the finality of the man's departure and his desire to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye baby
Van Morrison is saying goodbye to his lover.
So long girl
He is saying goodbye to the girl he loves with all his heart.
I know you ain't gonna like it
He is aware that this goodbye may not be easy for her.
But I'm stepping right out in your world
He is going out into the world she lives in.
For I'm coming to your party
He is going to attend a party she is hosting.
And I won't be able to stay
He may not be able to spend much time there.
But I'm gonna kiss you one more time, Lord
Before he goes, he is going to kiss her one more time.
Then I'm going away
After the kiss, he will leave.
You may be lonely
He acknowledges that she may feel lonely without him.
Yeah, you may be hurt
He knows that she may be hurt and upset about the situation.
Like a fool I gave you candy
He regrets being foolishly generous to her.
You turned around and treated me like dirt
Unfortunately, she didn't treat him very well in return.
But still I'm gonna come to your party
Despite what happened, he is still going to attend her party.
And just before the break of day
He will leave before sunrise.
I'm gonna touch you one more time, Lord
Before leaving, he will touch her one more time.
Then I'm going away
After the touch, he will leave.
Look out, what you see?
He is asking her to look out and see something coming.
I see a train a-coming
Van Morrison is seeing a train approaching on the tracks.
A train a-coming down the long lonesome track
The train is heading down a long, lonely track.
I'll tell you, girl, I gotta go on home now
He has to go home soon.
But deep down in your heart
He believes that she secretly knows something.
You know that someday I'm, I'm coming back
He's saying that he will come back someday.
And I'm gonna look for you at your party
When he returns, he will look for her at her party.
'Cause all the time I know that I'll find you there
He believes that she will still be there when he comes back.
And listen, I'm gonna dance with you
He wants to dance with her when he returns.
One more time, oh yeah
They will have one more dance together.
Lord, you're singing so sweet tonight
He is enjoying the sweet music of the night.
Goodbye baby baby baby
He is repeating his goodbye to her.
Baby goodbye
He is saying goodbye to her once again.
I'll see you around sometime, Lord
He hopes to see her again someday in the future.
Goodbye baby
He says goodbye to her one last time.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MORRIS MUSIC, INC.
Written by: BERT RUSSELL, WES FARRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind