Madame George
Van Morrison Lyrics

Down on Cyprus Avenue
The setting for the song is introduced: the street where the events are taking place.

With a childlike vision leaping into view
The singer sees the world with a naive, childlike outlook.

Clicking and clacking of the high heeled shoe
The sound of high-heeled shoes on the pavement is heard.

Ford and Fitzroy, and Madame George
The artist sees Madame George, along with two other people, walking down the street.

Marching with the soldier boy behind
Madame George is walking with a younger soldier boy.

He's much older now with hat on drinking wine
The soldier boy has aged, but Madame George remains the same.

And that smell of sweet perfume comes drifting through
The fragrance of Madame George's perfume is noticed.

All the cool night air like Shalimar
The perfume is reminiscent of Shalimar, a popular fragrance.

And outside they're making all the stops
Life on the street is still happening while Madame George walks by.

The kids out in the street collecting bottle-tops
Children are gathering bottle-tops as they play in the street.

Gone for cigarettes and matches in the shops
People are out buying cigarettes and matches from local shops.

Happy taken Madame George
Madame George is happy and content with her life.

Woah, that's when you fall
The singer speaks directly to the listener and warns them about an impending fall.

When you fall into a trance
The singer has fallen into a meditative state.

A sitting on a sofa playing games of chance
The singer is sitting on a sofa, playing games of chance, while in this trance-like state.

With your folded arms and history books you glance
The artist is looking at history books while sitting with their arms folded.

Into the eyes of Madame George
The artist is looking at Madame George's eyes, possibly in a hypnotized state.

And you think you found the bag
The singer believes they have found something important.

You're getting weaker and your knees begin to sag
The singer is growing weaker physically and emotionally.

In a corner playing dominoes in drag
The people with whom the artist is interacting--potentially including Madame George--are playing dominoes while cross-dressed.

The one and only Madame George
Madame George's uniqueness is impressed upon the listener.

Then from outside the frosty window raps
There is a knocking sound at the window, which causes Madame George to become nervous.

She jumps up and says "Lord, have mercy I think that it's the cops"
Madame George is scared that the police are knocking at the window.

And immediately drops everything she gots
Madame George quickly abandons everything she was doing.

Down into the street below
Madame George goes down to the street below the window.

And you know you gotta go
The singer warns the listener that it is time to leave.

On that train from Dublin up to Sandy Row
The singer is traveling on a train from Dublin to Sandy Row.

Throwing pennies at the bridges down below
The artist is tossing pennies from the train at various bridges below.

And the rain, hail, sleet, and snow
The weather on the journey is unpleasant: rainy, hailing, sleeting, and snowy.

Say goodbye to Madame George
The singer is bidding farewell to Madame George.

Dry your eye for Madame George
The singer tells us to dry our eyes for Madame George, insinuating sadness or mourning.

Wonder why for Madame George
The artist ruminates on why Madame George seems so special to them.

And as you leave, the room is filled with music
The room in which this scene is set is filling up with music.

Laughing, music, dancing, music all around the room
The room is now lively with dancing and more music.

And all the little boys come around, walking away from it all
Young boys are leaving the room and getting out of this hectic setting.

So cold
The temperature outside is very cold.

And as you're about to leave
As the singer is preparing to leave the scene, Madame George stops them.

She jumps up and says "Hey love
Madame George addresses the singer affectionately.

You forgot your gloves, and
Madame George is giving the singer back their gloves which they had presumably forgotten.

The love that loves the love that loves the love
A nonsensical phrase, possibly uttered in Madame George's trance-like demeanor.

That loves the love that loves to love
Another nonsensical phrase which could be interpreted as ironic.

The love that loves the love, the gloves"
Madame George gives the singer their gloves back while rambling in her trance-like state.

Say goodbye to Madame George
The listener is once again instructed to say goodbye to Madame George.

Dry your eye for Madame George
The listener is encouraged to dry their tears for Madame George, perhaps due to her unpredictable behaviors.

Wonder why for Madame George
The question of why Madame George inspires such a strong reaction in the artist is raised once again.

Say goodbye
A final goodbye is bid to Madame George.

In the wind and the rain on the backstreet
The singer is outside in the cold, rainy backstreets.

In the backstreet, in the backstreet
The artist is dwelling in the cold, lonely alleys.

Say goodbye to Madame George
Madame George is being farewelled one last time.

Get on the train
The singer must get on a train to leave the scene.

Get on the train, the train, the train
Repetition of the previous line.

The train, the train darling
The train is being referred to affectionately.

This is the train, this is the train darling
Confirmation that the train is the mode of transportation being used.

Whoa, say goodbye
A final farewell is said to Madame George.

Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Multiple repetitions of the farewell.

Goodbye, goodbye, eh-eh to Madame George
Another goodbye to Madame George.

Dry your eye for Madame George
The listener is advised again to dry their tears for Madame George.

Wonder why for Madame George
The question of what makes Madame George special to the artist is repeated.

Oh, the love that loves, the love that loves to love the love
Another nonsensical phrase is employed, adding to the mystery of Madame George.

That loves to love the love that loves to love
The cycle of loving and being loved is acknowledged as a somewhat futile process in life.

Say goodbye, goodbye
The final lines of the song reiterate the importance of saying farewell to Madame George.

Get on the train, get on the train
The singer must leave, and the train is the way to do so.