Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison, OBE (generally known as Van Morrison or Van… Read Full Bio ↴Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison, OBE (generally known as Van Morrison or Van The Man) (born 31 August 1945) is a Grammy Award-winning artist from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He's a singer, songwriter, author, poet, and multi-instrumentalist, who has been a professional musician since 1958. He plays a variety of instruments, including the guitar, harmonica, keyboards, drums, and saxophone. Featuring his characteristic growl - a unique mix of folk, blues, Irish, scat, and Celtic influences - Morrison is widely considered one of the most unusual and influential vocalists in the history of rock and roll. He has received numerous music awards during his career, including six Grammy Awards (1996–2007); inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (January 1993), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (June 2003), and the Irish Music Hall of Fame (September 1999); and a Brit Award (February 1994).

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.

In the Forest
Van Morrison Lyrics

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By the sacred grove, where the waters flow
We will come and go, in the forest

In the summer rain, we will meet again
We will learn the code of the ancient ones
In the forest

By the waterfall, I will hold you in my arms

We will meet again by the leafy glade
In the shade of the forest

With your long robes on, we will surely roam
By the ancient roads, I will take you home
To the forest

In the forest, in the forest
In the forest, in the forest

With your long robes on, we will surely roam
By the ancient roads, I will take you home again
To the forest

Satisfy the soul baby
Birds sing all day long of the mother lode
We can let it roll, in the forest

With your long robes on
I know where you're coming from
By the big oak tree you've gotta come and go with me

In the forest, in the forest
In the forest, in the forest

By the waterfall
I will hold you in my arms, and we will meet again
By the leafy shade, in the, in the forest

Satisfy the soul
Birds sing all day long of the mother lode
We can surely let it roll, in the forest

With your long robes on

I know where you're coming from
We will surely roam, down by the ancient roads

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Van Morrison's song In the Forest are a reference to a mystical, spiritual space where one can connect with nature and the ancients. The repeated lines "in the forest" create a sense of mystery and reverence for this natural sanctuary. The verses suggest the setting and promise of a reunion between two people in the heart of the forest, by the sacred grove, the waterfall, and the leafy glade. The repetition of the line "with your long robes on" may suggest a connection to pagan or druidic practices that Van Morrison associates with the forest. The ancient roads and the code of the ancients further emphasize this connection.

The chorus of "Satisfy the soul baby, birds sing all day long of the mother lode" suggests that the forest is a place of spiritual rejuvenation where one can connect with primal, natural forces. The mother lode is a term used to describe the largest and richest deposits of gold or other precious metals hidden within the earth. The birds singing all day long could symbolize the music of life, reflecting the belief that nature is alive and that the forest is the perfect space to listen to its rhythms. The forest is depicted as a place where one can let go and allow life to take its natural course.

Overall, the lyrics of In the Forest suggest a reverence for nature and the mysterious forces that govern the universe. It reflects the beauty of nature and its pristine sanctity.

Line by Line Meaning

By the sacred grove, where the waters flow We will come and go, in the forest
We will meet in the forest by a sacred place where water runs, and come and go as we please

In the summer rain, we will meet again We will learn the code of the ancient ones In the forest
Despite the summer rain, we will meet again in the forest to learn the wisdom of those who came before us

By the waterfall, I will hold you in my arms We will meet again by the leafy glade In the shade of the forest
By a waterfall, I will embrace you and we will meet again in a green and lush clearing shaded by trees

With your long robes on, we will surely roam By the ancient roads, I will take you home To the forest
Dressed in flowing robes, we will traverse the forest using trails that have been walked for centuries and I will lead you home

In the forest, in the forest In the forest, in the forest
We will remain within the forest

Satisfy the soul baby Birds sing all day long of the mother lode We can let it roll, in the forest
The birdsong in the forest offers spiritual nourishment and we can let ourselves be carried away by what we find there

With your long robes on I know where you're coming from By the big oak tree you've gotta come and go with me
I understand your true nature and we must journey together, starting by the large oak tree

By the waterfall I will hold you in my arms, and we will meet again By the leafy shade, in the, in the forest
We will reunite by the same waterfall and in the cool shade of the forest's canopy

Satisfy the soul Birds sing all day long of the mother lode We can surely let it roll, in the forest
The forest's natural beauty and harmony fills our souls and we can move through it without a care

With your long robes on I know where you're coming from We will surely roam, down by the ancient roads
Your attire reveals your heritage and together we will travel by paths well-trodden by those before us

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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