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.
Once A Day
Van Morrison Lyrics
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Forget you for I thought then that I never could
But time has taken all my pain away
Until now I'm down to hurtin' once a day
Once a day, all day long
And once a night from dusk 'til dawn
The only time I wish that you weren't gone
And I'm so glad I'm not like a friend that I knew one time
He lost the one he loved and then he slowly lost his mind
Sat around and cried his life away
Lucky me I'm only hurtin' once a day
Once a day, all day long
And once a night from dusk 'til dawn
The only time I wish that you weren't gone
Once a day, every day, all day long
Once a day, all day long
And once a night from dusk 'til dawn
The only time I wish that you weren't gone
Is once a day, every day, all day long
Once a day, every day, all day long
Van Morrison’s song “Once a Day” is a poignant reflection on heartbreak and the slow process of healing. The lyrics speak to the universal experience of losing someone we love and struggling to move on. The singer admits that when he first found out his love had found somebody new, he thought he would never be able to forget them. But as time passed, the pain lessened until he was left with just a single moment of longing every day. The song speaks to the power of time and the resilience of the human heart.
The repetition of the phrase “once a day” throughout the song emphasizes the slow, deliberate nature of healing. The pain of loss is no longer all-consuming, but a daily reminder of what once was. In contrast to a friend who lost his mind after losing his love, the singer is grateful that he is only sad once a day. The song carries a note of hope, as if to say that healing is possible, but it takes time.
Overall, “Once a Day” is a tender and honest reflection on the complexities of the human heart. Each time the chorus repeats, Morrison’s voice rises to an emotional crescendo, reinforcing the depth of the singer’s feeling. It is a beautiful and moving song that stays with the listener long after it ends.
Line by Line Meaning
When you found somebody new I thought I never would
Upon finding out that you found someone new, I believed that I would never forget you
Forget you for I thought then that I never could
I presumed that I would never be able to stop thinking of you
But time has taken all my pain away
As time passed, my pain has diminished
Until now I'm down to hurtin' once a day
Currently, I only hurt once in a day
Once a day, all day long
For an entire day, but only once
And once a night from dusk 'til dawn
Also once during the night, from sunset to sunrise
The only time I wish that you weren't gone
I only yearn for your presence once
Is once a day, every day, all day long
That one time is every day, throughout the whole day
And I'm so glad I'm not like a friend that I knew one time
I am grateful that I am not similar to a certain friend I knew in the past
He lost the one he loved and then he slowly lost his mind
After his lover left, he gradually went insane
Sat around and cried his life away
He spent his days crying, ultimately wasting his life
Lucky me I'm only hurtin' once a day
Fortunately for me, I only experience hurt once a day
Once a day, every day, all day long
That single time occurring daily, the whole day long
Once a day, all day long
For an entire day, but only once
And once a night from dusk 'til dawn
Also once during the night, from sunset to sunrise
The only time I wish that you weren't gone
I only yearn for your presence once
Once a day, every day, all day long
That one time is every day, throughout the whole day
Once a day, every day, all day long
That single time occurring daily, the whole day long
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILL ANDERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind