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.
He Ain
Van Morrison Lyrics
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Little gal, little girl, Lord, you know it's true,
I don't want to stop rockin' and rollin' with you.
Are you gonna let me stand alone ?
Are you gonna let me stand alone ?
Caught you this morning before your Daddy came home.
I done more for you than your Daddy has ever done,
Gave you my jelly roll and he ain't give you none.
Let's go, Eric.
Don't you ever go down, down on Curzon Street, it's bad.
Don't you ever go down, down on Curzon Street.
That's where old John flogs his daily meat.
Maybe sometime he say leave the little boy and the girl behind.
I got messed up round somewhere called Notting Hill Gate,
I lived there for a while, but I moved out and when I moved out I was in such a state,
I've never gone back there,
But I, I'm sure I done more for you than your Daddy has ever done, baby,
Made you learn your syllables.
Done more for you than your Daddy has ever done, all right, ha ha,
Gave you my jelly roll and he ain't give you none.
Stay on the move.
In the back street, in the back street I gave you my jelly roll,
Ah, I gave it to you, ha ha.
Remember when we were down in the, the alley
And I said the lights were out, baby this is it you know, ha ha ha,
All right, we got a good thing going.
You can leave now if you don't like what's happening.
You know we got a...a few things going, you know, ha ha,
It's a drag, ha ha, huh, that's what you call it.
The lyrics to Van Morrison's song He Ain't Give You None are seemingly straightforward, yet can hold different interpretations for different listeners. At its core, the song is about a man who is frustrated with a woman who is not reciprocating his advances. He sings about how he has done more for her than her father has ever done and how he doesn't want to stop "rockin' and rollin'" with her. He also expresses concern for her safety, cautioning her not to go down to Curzon Street, where "old John flogs his daily meat."
The lyrics also hint at a power dynamic between the man and woman in the song. He brags about giving her his "jelly roll," a metaphor for sex, and asserts that her father hasn't done the same. This could be seen as him trying to instill shame or guilt in her, implying that because he has given her something her father hasn't, she owes him something as well. However, given the context and tone of the song, it could also be interpreted as a playful, flirtatious teasing.
The song also touches on themes of nostalgia and regret. The singer mentions living somewhere called Notting Hill Gate, but moving out in a "state" and never returning. It's unclear what specifically happened or why he never went back, but the mention of it adds a layer of melancholy to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Little gal, little girl, Lord, you know it's true,
Addressing the girl as 'little gal' or 'little girl', acknowledging the truthfulness of the statement that follows - an expression of love.
I don't want to stop rockin' and rollin' with you.
Desire to continue having fun with the girl.
Are you gonna let me stand alone ?
Expressing concern of being left alone with no indication of whether the girl feels the same way.
Caught you this morning before your Daddy came home.
Suggesting a secret rendezvous with the girl before her father returns home.
And I done more for you than your Daddy has ever done,
Highlighting the artist's actions of doing more for the girl than her father ever has.
Gave you my jelly roll and he ain't give you none.
Implying that the singer has been more intimate with the girl than her father. 'Jelly roll' meaning a sexual act.
Don't you ever go down, down on Curzon Street, it's bad.
Warning the girl never to go to Curzon Street as it is known for its unsavoury activities.
That's where old John flogs his daily meat.
Elaborating on the previous warning by referring to an individual named John who practices immoral activities at Curzon Street.
Maybe sometime he say leave the little boy and the girl behind.
Alluding to the artist and the girl being referred to as 'the little boy and the girl'.
I got messed up round somewhere called Notting Hill Gate,
Referencing a location where the artist got into trouble or had a difficult experience.
I lived there for a while, but I moved out and when I moved out I was in such a state,
Describing how living in Notting Hill Gate had affected the singer negatively, resulting in him leaving in a state of distress.
But I, I'm sure I done more for you than your Daddy has ever done, baby,
Reiterating the statement that the artist has done more for the girl than her father ever has.
Made you learn your syllables.
Suggesting that the singer has educated the girl and helped her in some way.
Stay on the move.
Encouragement to keep moving forward, to not stay stagnant.
In the back street, in the back street I gave you my jelly roll,
Reinforcing the sexual nature of the singer's relationship with the girl by saying that he gave her his 'jelly roll' in a back street.
Remember when we were down in the, the alley
Recalling a past experience where the artist and the girl had been in an alley.
And I said the lights were out, baby this is it you know, ha ha ha,
Alluding to an intimate moment between the artist and the girl in the alley when the artist made a joke about the lights being out.
All right, we got a good thing going.
Acknowledging the positive relationship between the singer and the girl.
You can leave now if you don't like what's happening.
Giving the girl permission to leave if she feels uncomfortable.
It's a drag, ha ha, huh, that's what you call it.
A lighthearted acknowledgement of the difficult or unpleasant aspects of life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind