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 Love You
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Heartache after heartache, worried all the time
I forgot that love existed
And then I saw the light
Everyone around me seems to make everything alright
Oh, Socrates and Plato
Praised it to the skies
Everyone that ever tried
If my heart could do the thinking
And my head begin to feel
I'd look upon the world anew
And know what's truly real
I forgot that love existed
And that it strangled up my heart
Then I turned a brand new leaf
Made of brand new stories
If my heart could do my thinking
And my head begin to feel
I'd look upon the world anew
And I'd know know, what's truly real
What's truly real, while I'd find out really what's truly real
The song "I Forgot That Love Existed" by Van Morrison is an introspective composition that speaks to the joys and pains of love. The artist opens up by admitting that he had forgotten about the existence of love, and that his heart had been troubled in his mind. The mention of heartache after heartache is particularly poignant because it describes a feeling of being weighed down by emotional baggage that makes it hard to recognize love when it comes.
However, the artist eventually realizes that he was wrong about love and that he had misjudged its power. He is able to see the light and acknowledges that everyone around him makes everything alright. This suggests that love is not only transformative for the individual experiencing it but also for those around them, as it has the ability to create a harmonious and peaceful environment.
The reference to Socrates and Plato praising love to the skies is an allusion to the ancient Greek philosophy of love, which considered it to be the highest form of human expression. The mention of everyone that ever loved and everyone that ever tried speaks to the universality of love as a human experience.
The chorus, which repeats the sentiment that if the heart could do the thinking and the head could feel, the world would be seen anew and what's truly real would be known, emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence in understanding the world around us. This is particularly interesting because it poses the idea that the mind may not always be the best way to navigate the complexities of life, but rather the heart.
Overall, "I Forgot That Love Existed" is a profound reflection on the human experience of love and the transformative power that it possesses.
Line by Line Meaning
I forgot that love existed troubled in my mind
I was going through a tough time and had completely forgotten about the existence of love.
Heartache after heartache, worried all the time
I was constantly burdened with the pain of heartbreak and was constantly anxious about everything.
I forgot that love existed
I was so consumed with my own worries and troubles that I forgot that love was still out there.
And then I saw the light
But then, something changed, and I finally had some hope and saw a glimmer of light in my life again.
Everyone around me seems to make everything alright
The people around me were able to provide comfort and make things better, even if just for a little while.
Oh, Socrates and Plato Praised it to the skies
Philosophers of old have always celebrated and praised the greatness of love.
Everyone that ever loved Everyone that ever tried
Anyone who has ever loved or made an effort to love knows that it can be one of the most powerful experiences in life.
If my heart could do the thinking And my head begin to feel I'd look upon the world anew And know what's truly real
If I could approach life with a more open and loving heart, and view things more emotionally, I would be able to see the world in a much more positive light and understand what's most important.
I forgot that love existed And that it strangled up my heart Then I turned a brand new leaf Made of brand new stories
I learned that love had not only been absent from my life, but was also the cause of my pain, so I turned a new page in my life and created new experiences for myself.
What's truly real, while I'd find out really what's truly real
I have come to realize that there is more to life than just my own worries and problems, and that love is one of the most important things to have and to give.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Van Morrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind