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.
Orangefield
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You came my way in Orangefield
Saw you standing by the riverside in Orangefield
How I love you then in Orangefield
Like I love you now in Orangefield
And the sun shone on your hair
When I saw you there in Orangefield
How I loved you then in Orangefield
Like I love you now in Orangefield
And the sun shone so bright
And it lit up all our days
You were the apple of my eye
Baby it's true
On a golden autumn day
All my dreams came true in Orangefield
On a throne of Ulster day
You came my way in Orangefield
How I loved you then in Orangefield
Like I love you now in Orangefield
And the sun shone so bright
And it lit up all our lives
And the apple of my eye
Baby was you
On a throne of Ulster day
You came my way in Orangefield
Saw you standing by the riverside in Orangefield
How I loved you then in Orangefield
Like I love you now in Orangefield
How I loved you then in Orangefield
Like I love you now in Orangefield.
The song Orangefield by Van Morrison speaks of a fleeting love affair that began on a golden autumn day in Orangefield, which is located in the eastern suburbs of Belfast. The lyrics reminisce about how the singer fell in love with the woman the very moment he first laid eyes on her by the riverside. He describes how the sun shone on her hair and how she was the apple of his eye. The song expresses how the relationship may have ended but his love for her remains unchanged even now.
The lyrical beauty of the song lies in how Morrison describes his emotions without getting into the specifics of what truly happened between the two. The song brings to light a feeling of wistful sadness and nostalgia while simultaneously painting a vivid picture of a beautiful autumn day by the riverside. The tone of the song is melancholic yet hopeful, as if the memory of the experience continues to sustain the singer's hope that he will find love once again.
Line by Line Meaning
On a gold autumn day
The singer is describing the day they met someone in Orangefield, and it was during the fall season.
You came my way in Orangefield
The person the singer is referring to entered their life while they were in Orangefield.
Saw you standing by the riverside in Orangefield
The singer noticed the person they are talking about standing on the riverside in Orangefield.
How I love you then in Orangefield
The artist loved the person they are thinking of when they were in Orangefield and are reminiscing on those feelings.
Like I love you now in Orangefield
The artist still loves the person they met in Orangefield and those feelings have lasted over time.
And the sun shone on your hair
The sun was shining on the person's hair when the singer first saw them.
When I saw you there in Orangefield
The singer is recalling the moment they first saw the person they're thinking of, in Orangefield.
And the sun shone so bright
The sun was so bright and shining on both the artist and the person they are thinking of.
And it lit up all our days
The happiness the artist feels with the person they're thinking of, as the sun is lighting up their days.
You were the apple of my eye
The person the artist is thinking of was the most important or cherished thing to them, showing affection.
Baby it's true
The singer is emphasising that the statement they just made is true.
All my dreams came true in Orangefield
The day the artist met the person they're thinking of, their dreams and hopes were fulfilled in Orangefield.
On a throne of Ulster day
Ulster was a province in Ireland and the day the singer met the person they're thinking of felt royal or special to them.
And it lit up all our lives
The happiness the singer feels with the person they're thinking of is brightening and enriching their lives.
Baby was you
The singer is conveying that the person they met in Orangefield was the most important thing to them, making them feel affectionate.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind