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.
I'll Take Care of You / It's a Man's Man's Man's World
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thank you.
Van spoken:
I first heard this song by Bobby Bland in '64.
Then I heard by Junior Wells thereon.
So work it out for yourself.
I know you've been hurt
By somebody else
I can tell by the way
That you carry yourself
But if you'll let me-a
Here's what I wanna do
I wanna take care of you-a
I, I loved and lost
Just the same as you
That's how I know
That's how I know
That's how I know
What you must be goin' through
But if you let me
Here what I wanna do
I wanna take care of you, yeah
Junior Wells:
You-ooo-ooo
Never have to worry
You never have to cry-i-i-i
'Cause I'll be there beside you, yeah
Ooh, darlin' dry-i-i-i-i
And dry your weepin' eyes, Lord!
Van:
So won't you say
That you'll be true
There's no doubt in my mind
What I have to do
And if you'll let me
Let me, let me, let me
Let me, let me, let me
Lean on me
Lean on me
(Instrumental & vibes)
Van: 'One time for Miss Teena Lyle, Teena Lyle'
Junior Wells:
You-ooo-oooo
May never have to worry
I said, you-ooo-hoo
Never have to cry-i-i
Ooh, never goin' back to bein'
Now-now, alone, no
I'll dry your weepin' eyes
Ooh Lord!
Won't you say
That you'll be true
I have no doubt in my mind
What I have to do
You've gotta trust me
Trust me, trust me, trust me
It's so hard to do
I wanna take care a-you
Baby, I'm driftin'
I'm driftin' (yeah)
Driftin', I'm driftin'
I'm driftin', I'm driftin'
I'm driftin', I'm driftin'
I'm driftin', I'm driftin'
I'm driftin', I'm driftin'
I'm driftin', I'm driftin'
Like a ship out on the foam-a, yeah
(Instrumental & horns)
I'm driftin', I'm driftin'
Ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo
Like a ship out on the foam
Driftin', I'm driftin'
I'm driftin'
Tell me what time it is
What time is it?
Van and Teena Lyle:
(It's a hustlin' time)
(Baby, it's a hustlin' time)
It's hustle' time
(Yeah, hustle time)
It's a hustle time
(Baby, it's a hustlin' time)
It's hustle time!
Early in the mornin'
(It's hustlin' time)
Hustle time!
(Hustlin' time) Ooh
Junior Wells:
This world would be nothin', baby
(It's hustlin' time)
This world would be nothin', darlin'
Ah, without a woman
(Woman)
Or a girl
(Or a girl)
Without a woman
(Without a woman)
Or a girl now, baby
(Or a girl)
Without a woman
(Without a woman)
Or a girl
(Or a girl)
Without a woman
(Without a woman)
Or a girl now, baby
(Or a girl)
Oooh!
Oooh-ho-oh!
(OW!)
Oooh-ho-oh!
This world would be nothing
(Nothing babe)
This world would be nothing, baby
(Nothing baby)
Oh, I said, without a woman
(Without a woman)
Or a girl
(Or a girl)
Without a woman
(Without a woman)
Or a girl, now baby
Without a woman
(Without a woman)
Or a girl
(Or a girl)
Without a woman
(Without a woman)
Or a girl, now baby
(Or a girl, now baby)
(applause)
Mmm-mmm
(Instrumental & sax)
Van: 'Let's hear it for Candy Dulfer, Candy Dulfer'
Van and Teena Lyle:
Man made the car
Take us over the road
Man made the train
To carry the heavy load
Man made the electric lights
(Mmm-mm)
Take us outta the dark
(Take us outta the dark, now baby)
Man made the boat for the water
(For the water)
Just like Noah made the Ark
This a man's world!
Would be nothing!
Nothing!
Without a woman or a girl
(Or a girl)
Woman or a girl
(Without a woman)
(Or a girl)
Lost!
In loneliness
He's lost
In bitterness
Bitterness
Help me sing the song
Help me song the song
Help me song the song
Help me song the song
Help me song the song
Help me song the song
Help me song the song
Help me song the song
Junior Wells:
Yeah, let me tell ya
I said-a
Man made the car!
To take us out on the road
Man made the train
To carry, carry, carry, the heavy load
Man made the 'lectric light
To take us out of the dark
Man made the boat for the water
Yeah, like Noah built the Ark
Oooh-oh!
This is a man's world
But it would mean nothing, yeah
Without a woman or a girl
(Or a girl)
Without a girl
(Without a woman)
Without a woman
(Or a girl)
Oooooh!
Van:
Man think about a little-bitty baby girl
(Little baby girl)
Little baby boy
(Baby boy)
Man make them happy, yeah
'Cause man bring them toys
After man make ev'rything-a
Ev'rything he can
(Ev'rything he can)
Man make more bull shit to sell
To other man
This a man's world!
Would be nothing
Without a woman or a girl
(Or a girl)
Without a woman
(Without a woman)
(Or a girl)
He's lost!
LOST!
Lost in lonliness
(Lost in lonliness)
LOST!
In bitterness
(Lost in bitterness)
Hey
(Instrumental & keyboard solo)
Van: 'That's John Savannah'
Yeah
Don't let me breakdown!
(Let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown!
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown!
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown!
(Don't let me breakdown)
It's too late to stop now
(It's too late to stop now, baby)
It's too late to stop now
(It's too late to stop now, darlin')
It's too late to stop now
(It's too late to stop now, baby, baby, baby)
Don't let me breakdown
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown, baby
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown
(Oooh, let's don't breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown
(Oooh)
Don't let me breakdown
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown
(Don't let me breakdown)
Don't let me breakdown
Announcer:
'How 'bout it for Van Morrison!'
(Breakdown)
(Breakdown)
When there's no prima donna
When there's no prima donna
When there's no prima donna
(Don't let me breakdown)
When there's no prima donna
(This world would mean nothing, baby)
When there's no prima donna
(The world would mean nothing)
When there's no prima donna
(Oooh!)
Announcer:
'How 'bout it for Van Morrison'
(Oh!)
When there's no prima donna
When there's no prima donna
I know there's some of you there
Did get healed tonight?
When there's no prima donna
When there's no prima donna
'Let 'The Man' know you got it tested tonight'
When there's no prima donna
When there's no prima donna
Did you feel the spirit in the house tonight?
When there's no prima donna
When there's no prima donna
(Hey!)
(Yeah!)
Without a woman
(Or a girl)
Announcer:
'How bout it for Mr. Brian Kennedy'
Without a woman
(Without a woman)
Or a girl
(Without a woman)
'Also Mr. 'James Blues Brown' Hooker'
Or a girl
(Without a woman)
'Mr. Georgie Fame'
'Miss Candy Dulfer'
'How 'bout this band!'
Huh?
(inaudible)
(Loud applause to end)
Van Morrison's "I'll Take Care of You / It's a Man's Man's Man's World" is a duet featuring Junior Wells and Teena Lyle on vocals. Van introduced the song by mentioning that he'd first heard it in 1964, by Bobby Bland, but later heard it by Junior Wells. The lyrics reflect Van Morrison's desire to take care of someone who's been hurt by someone else. He wants to be the one to help the girl not worry or cry, and even though he's loved and lost just like her, he knows what she's going through.
The song has a distinct rhythm and pacing that captures the listener's attention. The chorus's repetition and the melodious saxophone and keyboard solos captures emotions that make the listener feel as if they are drifting like a ship out on the ocean. The song is about the roles that men and women play in society and how they need each other to make the world complete. It states that a man's world would be nothing without a woman or a girl.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you've been hurt
I can sense that you have been emotionally hurt.
By somebody else
By a person other than me.
I can tell by the way
I can sense based on your behavior and demeanor.
That you carry yourself
The way you present yourself physically and emotionally.
But if you'll let me-a
If you give me the chance.
Here's what I wanna do
This is what I want to do for you.
I wanna take care of you-a
I want to help you and be there for you.
I, I loved and lost
I have experienced love and loss.
Just the same as you
Just like you have.
That's how I know
That's how I can relate.
What you must be goin' through
I understand what you are experiencing.
But if you let me
If you allow me.
Here what I wanna do
I want to help and support you.
I wanna take care of you, yeah
I want to take care of you and be there for you.
You-ooo-ooo
You.
Never have to worry
Never have to be concerned or troubled.
You never have to cry-i-i-i
Never have to shed tears.
'Cause I'll be there beside you, yeah
Because I will be there to support you.
Oooh, darlin' dry-i-i-i-i
My dear, please stop crying.
And dry your weepin' eyes, Lord!
Wipe away your tears.
So won't you say
Will you please.
That you'll be true
Promise to be loyal and faithful.
There's no doubt in my mind
I am completely sure.
What I have to do
What I must do to support you.
And if you'll let me
And if you allow me.
Let me, let me, let me
Please let me take care of you.
Lean on me
Rely on me.
You-ooo-oooo
You.
May never have to worry
May never need to be concerned or anxious.
I said, you-ooo-hoo
You.
Ooh, never goin' back to bein'
Never returning to that state of being.
Now-now, alone, no
Alone no longer.
I'll dry your weepin' eyes
I will wipe away your tears.
Ooh Lord!
Oh my God.
Won't you say
Please agree or consent.
I have no doubt in my mind
I am completely sure.
You've gotta trust me
You must trust me.
It's so hard to do
It can be challenging to trust.
I wanna take care a-you
I want to care for you.
Baby, I'm driftin'
I feel lost or aimless.
I'm driftin' (yeah)
I am wandering without purpose.
Driftin', I'm driftin'
Wandering aimlessly.
Like a ship out on the foam-a, yeah
Like a ship adrift on the waves of the sea.
It's hustle' time
It is a time to work hard and be opportunistic.
Early in the mornin'
At the beginning of the day or early hours of the day.
'Cause man bring them toys
Because men provide toys or happiness.
After man make ev'rything-a
After men create everything.
Ev'rything he can
Everything that is possible.
Man make more bull shit to sell
Men create more nonsense to sell to others.
He's lost!
He is confused or unsure.
LOST!
Very confused and unsure.
Lost in loneliness
Feeling alone and isolated.
(Lost in loneliness)
Feeling completely alone.
Lost in bitterness
Feeling resentful or sour.
(Lost in bitterness)
Feeling completely bitter or resentful.
Yeah
An exclamation of excitement or agreement.
Don't let me breakdown
Don't let me fall apart or become overwhelmed.
It's too late to stop now
It is too late to change the situation or outcome.
Tell me what time it is
Communicate what the current situation or circumstance is.
Man made the car
Men invented and created the automobile.
Take us over the road
Used to transport us via roads or highways.
Man made the train
Men created the locomotive that runs on tracks.
To carry the heavy load
Used to transport goods or materials that are difficult to move alone.
Man made the electric lights
Men invented and made electric lighting possible.
(Mmm-mm)
A sound of agreement or contemplation.
Take us outta the dark
Used to bring light and illumination to the darkness.
(Take us outta the dark, now baby)
A plea to bring light to the situation.
Man made the boat for the water
Men invented and created boats for travel on water.
(For the water)
Used for travel on bodies of water.
Just like Noah made the Ark
Reference to the story of Noah's Ark from the Bible.
This a man's world!
This world is dominated by men.
Would be nothing!
Would be worth nothing or non-existent.
Without a woman or a girl
The presence of women and girls is essential.
Lost!
Feeling confused or unsure.
In bitterness
Feeling resentful or sour.
Bitterness
Resentfulness or sourness.
Contributed by Caden M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.