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.
If You Live
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say if you live your time will come
So child don't mess with that cotton sack
It will scratch your knees and bend your back
And if you live your time will come
If you live your day will come
If you live your day will come
They will soon enough ruin your pretty hands
And if you live your time will come
If you live a day will come
If you live a day will come
When the sun will shine
And the crops will grow
And you think you're not gonna worry no more
But if you live, your time will come
In Van Morrison's song "If You Live," he delivers a message of hope and perseverance for anyone struggling with the hardships of life. The lyrics suggest that if you keep pushing forward, your time will come and you will eventually succeed. The first verse warns against the dangers of hard physical labor, cautioning children not to work with cotton sacks that will bend their backs and scratch their knees. It serves as a metaphor for any demanding work that may cause physical strain or harm. The second verse addresses the danger of household work, warning that working with pots and pans could ruin one's hands. The final verse offers the hope that the sun will shine, the crops will grow, and all will be right in the world. However, the final line emphasizes that even after success, one must continue to persevere, as their time will come again.
The lyrics of "If You Live" urge listeners to persevere through hardship and to believe that their time will come if they keep pushing forward. It speaks to the human experience of facing difficult circumstances and the power of hope to carry us through those dark times.
Line by Line Meaning
If you live your time will come
Your moment of success and fulfillment will arrive if you continue to persevere.
I say if you live your time will come
I am emphasizing the point that your persistence will lead to eventual success.
So child don't mess with that cotton sack
Do not waste your time on menial tasks that will not bring you closer to your aspirations.
It will scratch your knees and bend your back
Those tasks will only bring you physical hardships and will not get you closer to your goals.
And if you live your time will come
Once again, I am reiterating that your perseverance will lead to success in the long run.
If you live your day will come
Your moment of triumph will come if you continue to live and persevere.
So child don't play with those pots and pans
Do not waste your time on tasks that will not bring you closer to your goals, just like you would not play with kitchen utensils as a child.
They will soon enough ruin your pretty hands
Those tasks will bring you physical harm and take away from your abilities to attain success.
And if you live your time will come
Once again, success will come through perseverance and longevity.
If you live a day will come
If you continue to persist, you will achieve your dreams.
When the sun will shine
There will be moments of clarity and optimism during your journey towards success.
And the crops will grow
Your work and dedication will yield results and progress towards your goals.
And you think you're not gonna worry no more
You will feel a sense of relief at your progress and success.
But if you live, your time will come
Success will come, but only if you continue to persevere and live.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MOSE ALLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@briannelson1784
I’m 75 next month met my wife in 1965 married in 1969. Thank god I still have her and are both in good health. We fell in love to the music of the sixties in Glasgow we listen to music every day I feel blessed to have been a teenager in the sixties
@nancyholmquist2690
We had the best music and the BEST cars! I'm Scottish-American so of course I love my cars!🤩
@treseoreilly1953
I'm 70 and listened to brown eyed girl in '67 from the Blowin your mind LP 🇨🇦 eh. I wish you both well. (saw the Beatles in Toronto..what a time to be living in)
@alasdairwreid
well, i
@denisjl100
i'm 77 and my music is late 50's and early 60's rock and roll. imho it is the best music around. this song comes from that era ( sam cooke ) i have heard many versions and none are bad. great music does that. i saw presley in buffalo in 72, now that was a show. for as long as i live i will always love this music.
@rebeccalassetter1726
the singer adds his vocal print to an already masterful song… any thing Van touches turns to gold from the rainbow
@fararavololondramiarana6547
❤
@nancykelly9393
So grateful that in these times, we can jump online and see all the most amazing performances by the greatest. That I can catch up on the past 50 years of Van Morrison.
@jaumegarriga6744
You said it, man. Fully undeserved. And yet totally amazing. Good shit happens too, for no particular reason
@guidogiazzi8948
Great!