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 and I Could Be as Two
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the autumn leaves were on the ground
I kicked my heart
When I saw you standing there in your dress of blue
The storm was over, my ship sailed through
Sings:
What is this feeling, a-what can I do?
To walk and talk and be deceived
I'd give my all and all
And more I would do, oh yeah
If darlin', only you and I could be as two
If we could dream and by our dreams
Sew this wicked world up at the seams
I'd give my life and more I would do
If darlin', only you and I could be as two
Spoken:
And baby, do you remember
All the good times we had together?
A-walkin' through the park
A-baby then, then we could sing
Give ya' all my money
Ev'rything in the world that I had
You told me, "That don't mean a thing"
If still in darkness we could run
Together, there in that mornin' sun
I'd give my all, my life and ev'rything to you
Whoa-yeah
If darlin', only you and I could be as two
Could be as two
Could be as two
FADES-
Could be as two
Baby
The opening lines of the song, "Was on a Sunday, and the autumn leaves were on the ground, I kicked my heart when I saw you standing there in your dress of blue", set the stage for the nostalgic and reflective tone of the rest of the song. The singer sees someone that they used to be with and is filled with emotion. He is confused by his feelings and doesn't know what to do. The chorus, "If you and I could be relieved, to walk and talk and be deceived, I'd give my all and all, and more I would do, oh yeah, if darlin', only you and I could be as two", is a wistful wish for a time when things were different, and the relationship was still alive. The singer longs to be with this person again but knows that it's not possible.
Throughout the song, the theme of longing for the past is prevalent, and the chorus repeats the wish that the two of them could go back to a time when they were genuinely happy together. The lines "If we could dream and buy our dreams, sew this wicked world up at the seams, I'd give my life and more I would do if darlin', only you and I could be as two" emphasize the desire for a Utopian world where everything is perfect, and nothing can tear them apart again. The song ends with the lines "If still in darkness we could run, together, there in that morning sun, I'd give my all, my life and everything, to you, whoa-yeah, if darlin', only you and I could be as two". The singer still holds onto the hope that one day they could be reunited, even though it's unlikely.
Line by Line Meaning
Was on a Sunday
The events of the song took place on a Sunday.
And the autumn leaves were on the ground
The season was autumn and there were leaves on the ground.
I kicked my heart
The singer felt a strong emotion that made his heart beat fast.
When I saw you standing there in your dress of blue
The artist saw someone he was attracted to, wearing a blue dress.
The storm was over, my ship sailed through
Any obstacles or issues the artist had faced previously had been resolved.
What is this feeling
The singer is questioning the strong emotional feelings he is experiencing.
A-what can I do?
The singer is unsure of how to handle these feelings.
If you and I, could be relieved
The artist believes that if the two individuals could find comfort in each other's company, they would feel better.
To walk and talk and be deceived
The artist would be willing to engage in deception to spend time with the person he desires.
I'd give my all and all
The artist would do anything to be with the person he desires.
And more I would do, oh yeah
The singer is willing to go above and beyond for the person he desires.
If darlin', only you and I could be as two
The artist wishes he could be in a close relationship with the person he desires.
If we could dream and buy our dreams
The singer believes that if they could work together, they could make their dreams a reality.
Sew this wicked world up at the seams
The singer expresses a desire to fix the problems in the world.
I'd give my life and more I would do
The singer would make significant sacrifices for the person he desires.
And baby, do you remember
The artist is asking someone if they remember a shared experience.
All the good times we had together?
The artist is reminiscing about shared positive experiences.
A-walkin' through the park
The singer specifically remembers a time they spent walking through a park together.
A-baby then, then we could sing
The singer remembers a time when they sang together, possibly indicating a deeper level of connection.
Give ya' all my money
The artist would give up all of his money for the person he desires.
Ev'rything in the world that I had
The artist would give up everything he owns for the person he desires.
You told me, that don't mean a thing
The person he desires told the artist that his possessions do not matter in the context of their relationship.
If still in darkness we could run
The singer believes that he could find hope even in the darkest times if he were with the person he desires.
Together, there in that mornin' sun
The artist believes that he could find happiness with the person he desires.
I'd give my all, my life and ev'rything to you
The singer would make significant sacrifices for the person he desires.
Whoa-yeah
An interjection expressing strong emotion.
If darlin', only you and I could be as two
The singer wishes they could be close in a romantic relationship.
Could be as two
Reinforcement of the artist's desire for a close relationship.
Could be as two
Reinforcement of the artist's desire for a close relationship.
Could be as two
Reinforcement of the singer's desire for a close relationship.
Baby
A term of endearment.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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!