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.

Instrumental/Tell Me What you Want
Van Morrison Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tell me what you want, tell me what it is
Tell me what you want, tell me what it is
Everybody's got me moaning
Every single night and day
Can't stand it anyway
Everybody's got me moaning
Tell me what you want, yeah,
Tell me what you need

Tell me what it is, say what
Tell me what you want, tell me what it is
Tell me what you need, see if I can get it

Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me what you want, tell me
What you need
See if I can get it right now, child
Tell me, tell me, tell me, etc.
Tell me baby what you want
You're coming on strong, coming on strong

Tell me what you want baby, tell me
What you need

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Van Morrison's song "Instrumental/Tell Me What You Want" are a plea for communication, a call for someone to express their desires so that the singer can respond appropriately. The repeated lines of "tell me what you want, tell me what it is" convey a sense of frustration and desperation; the singer is tired of guessing and wants clear instructions. He is moaning because he can't seem to satisfy his partner's needs or wants, and he is asking for more specific guidance.

The urgency in the singer's voice suggests a sexual connotation to the lyrics, but it could also be interpreted as a more general plea for communication in any type of relationship. The repetition of "tell me, tell me, tell me" creates a sense of urgency and frustration, as if the singer is at his wit's end. The lines "see if I can get it right now, child" and "tell me what you need, see if I can get it" reinforce this idea that the singer wants to please his partner, but he needs more guidance to do so.

Overall, the lyrics to "Instrumental/Tell Me What You Want" convey a sense of frustration and desperation, but they also highlight the importance of clear communication in any relationship. The singer is tired of guessing and wants his partner to be more direct and specific with their needs and wants.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell me what you want, tell me what it is
The singer implores someone to be straightforward about their desires.

Everybody's got me moaning
The singer is feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.

Every single night and day
The frustration is persistent and unending.

Can't stand it anyway
The singer is at their wit's end.

Tell me what you want, yeah,
The singer repeats the request for clarification.

Tell me what you need
The singer offers to help.

Tell me what it is, say what
The singer is urging the other person to speak up.

Tell me what you want, tell me what it is
The singer repeats the request yet again.

Tell me what you need, see if I can get it
The singer wants to know how they can assist.

Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
The singer reiterates their plea for openness.

Tell me, tell me, tell me
Another repetition of the same request.