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.

It Once Was My Life
Van Morrison Lyrics

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There were people on the sidewalks
Strolling down the avenues
They were sitting outside in cafes
We were looking for the muse
Well I was locked in by the system
Where no freedom is the rule
Now I spend all my time just trying
To make it understood

It once was my life, that's what everybody said
All the things I used to do and the people that were friends
I've got to make it mean something at the end of the day
It once was my life, they can't take that away

Trials and tribulations and stupidity still rules
Sometimes it looks like I'm on a ship of fools

It once was my life, when my message was just the street
Then it became something else, and now it's incomplete
I'm just trying to get back to when
Can somebody please shed some light
It used to be my life, it used to be uptight

Trials and tribulations and stupidity still rules
Some days it just feels like I'm on a ship of fools

I'm back here on the boards, I can hear the engines roar
Everybody's got to pay, some people got to pay more
Well you can tell the people anything
Spoon feed them anything you like
It used to be so simple, it used to be my life

Now everything is so complicated, just to speak or use the phone
Some people try to use me, just 'cause they don't have their own

Don't know who's round the corner, trying to sell me some more tripe
It used to be my life, it used to be my life.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "It Once Was My Life" by Van Morrison describe the singer's nostalgia for a time when life was simpler and his artistic message was pure. He describes the bustling city streets and cafes, but notes that he was locked in by the system where there is no freedom. The song laments the loss of the singer's former life, when he had friends and his message was just for the street, and now feels incomplete. The lyrics suggest that even though his message has changed and everything is more complicated, that doesn't diminish the fact that it once was his life and they can't take that away from him.

The chorus reinforces the theme of nostalgia and longing for the past. The trials and tribulations of life are still present, but they are juxtaposed against the simpler times that he remembers. The line "Sometimes it looks like I'm on a ship of fools" is a metaphor for feeling lost or adrift.

Overall, the lyrics to "It Once Was My Life" evoke a sense of wistfulness and longing for the past, and it speaks to the universal desire to recapture moments of simplicity and purity that may have been lost over time.

Line by Line Meaning

There were people on the sidewalk
The streets were bustling with people and life

Strolling down the avenues
People were casually walking and enjoying themselves

They were sitting outside in cafes
People were relaxing and spending time in cafes and restaurants

We were looking for the muse
The artist and others were searching for creative inspiration

Well I was locked in by the system
The artist felt confined by societal norms and expectations

Where no freedom is the rule
The system the singer was locked into did not allow for personal freedom

Now I spend all my time just trying
The singer devotes their time to trying to express themselves in a meaningful way

To make it understood
The artist wants to be understood and for their message to come across clearly

It once was my life, that's what everybody said
In the past, the artist's life had a certain reputation

All the things I used to do and the people that were friends
The artist used to engage in certain activities and have a specific social circle

I've got to make it mean something at the end of the day
The singer feels a need for their life to have purpose and significance

It once was my life, they can't take that away
Regardless of what happens, the artist's past experiences are something that can't be erased

Trials and tribulations and stupidity still rules
Difficulties and foolish behavior continue to be prevalent

Sometimes it looks like I'm on a ship of fools
At times, the singer feels like they are surrounded by people who act foolishly

When my message was just the street
The singer used to communicate their message in a simple and direct way

Then it became something else, and now it's incomplete
The artist's mode of communication has changed and they feel like something is missing

I'm just trying to get back to when
The artist is attempting to reclaim a simpler and more authentic time in their life

Can somebody please shed some light
The singer is seeking help and guidance

It used to be my life, it used to be uptight
The singer's life was once more formal and rigid

I'm back here on the boards, I can hear the engines roar
The artist is back in the public eye and can feel the intensity of their situation

Everybody's got to pay, some people got to pay more
Consequences exist for everyone, but some people experience more severe consequences than others

Well you can tell the people anything
People can be easily misled or manipulated

Spoon feed them anything you like
People are sometimes given messages that are overly simplistic and untrue

Now everything is so complicated, just to speak or use the phone
Communicating has become more complex and difficult

Some people try to use me, just 'cause they don't have their own
Some individuals try to take advantage of the singer's position or resources

Don't know who's round the corner, trying to sell me some more tripe
The singer is unsure of who they can trust and feels bombarded by people trying to sell them things

It used to be my life, it used to be my life.
The singer remembers a time when their life was simpler and more fulfilling

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: VAN MORRISON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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