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.
Santa Fe / Beautiful Obsession
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In my mem'ry time to take me back
Are you goin are you goin'
To Santa Fe
Do you need it
Can you feel it in the same old way
I can feel it from the mountain top
In a restaurant 'cross a table top
Looking into a glass of wine
Whispering in the evening breeze
Green leaves glistening eucalyptus trees
Can you hear them
Or get near them
Oh, Santa Fe
Do you need it
Can you feel it in the same old way
I can feel it when it all goes down
Look around and it's happening
Look around and see what I have found
And it's more than a song to sing
In the night I hear you callin'
And I'm thinkin' about, thinkin' about you, darlin'
Santa Fe
Do you need it
Can you feel it in the same way
I can feel it when it all goes down
Look around and it's happening
Look around and see what I have found
And it's more than a song to sing
And it's more, more than a song to sing
And it's more, more, more than a song to sing
And it goes out and it comes back
It is a feeling, it's a feeling
And when you do it, and the more you do it
And the more you do it, it becomes
A beautiful obsession
A beautiful obsession
A beautiful, beautiful obsession
It's a feeling
It's a feeling
It's a feeling
In your heart, in your soul
In your being, yeah
It's a, it's a beautiful obsession
It'll make you feel
It's more than a song to sing
It's more, more, more than a song to sing
Let the cowboy ride
Let the cowboy ride
Let the cowboy ride
It's more than a song to sing
The lyrics to Van Morrison's song "Santa Fe/Beautiful Obsession" weave together memories, emotions, and a sense of longing for a place and a feeling that is hard to put into words. The song starts with the image of a train's wheels running down an open track, taking the singer back in time to a place that holds special meaning for him. He asks if the listener is going to Santa Fe, a city in New Mexico known for its natural beauty and artistic community. The singer then describes the sensations he feels in Santa Fe - the feeling of being in the same old way, the sights and sounds of nature, the ambiance of a restaurant, the texture of a glass of wine - all of which add to the feeling that he's found something special there.
As the song goes on, it becomes clear that Santa Fe represents much more than a simple destination for the singer. It's a feeling that he can tap into no matter where he is, a sense of beauty and obsession that infuses his life and his soul. He hears the city's name in the night and thinks of it as a beloved person, urging him to come back. Ultimately, the chorus emphasizes that Santa Fe is "more than a song to sing," a phrase that emphasizes the ineffable nature of what the singer is feeling.
Overall, the lyrics to "Santa Fe/Beautiful Obsession" are about the search for beauty and meaning in life, and the way that certain places and experiences can evoke that feeling in a powerful way. The song leaves the listener with a sense of wonder and possibility, as well as a desire to explore their own personal Santa Fe.
Line by Line Meaning
Train wheels runnin' down an open track
Remembering the sound of train wheels running down a track.
In my mem'ry time to take me back
The memory taking back to that place and time.
Are you goin are you goin'
Asking if the listener is planning to go.
To Santa Fe
Asking if they are going to Santa Fe.
Do you need it
Asking if the listener needs to go to Santa Fe.
Can you feel it in the same old way
Asking if the listener still feels the same about Santa Fe as before.
I can feel it from the mountain top
Expressing how the singer can feel Santa Fe from atop a mountain.
Runnin' down to the foamy brine
Describing how Santa Fe runs down to the ocean.
In a restaurant 'cross a table top
Relating to a specific memory of being in a restaurant.
Looking into a glass of wine
Remembering looking into a glass of wine during that moment.
Whispering in the evening breeze
Describing the atmospheric ambiance during the moment.
Green leaves glistening eucalyptus trees
Describing the scenery of the moment, with eucalyptus trees and leaves glistening.
Can you hear them
Asking if the listener can hear the eucalyptus trees.
Or get near them
Asking if the listener can get near the trees.
Oh, Santa Fe
Addressing Santa Fe directly.
Do you need it
Repeating the earlier question regarding the importance of Santa Fe.
I can feel it when it all goes down
Describing how the singer can feel Santa Fe when everything else is falling apart.
Look around and it's happening
Noticing everything else happening around them while feeling Santa Fe.
Look around and see what I have found
Encouraging the listener to look around and see what they have found in Santa Fe.
And it's more than a song to sing
Describing how Santa Fe is more than just a song or a simple experience.
In the night I hear you callin'
Hearing Santa Fe calling to them at night.
And I'm thinkin' about, thinkin' about you, darlin'
Reflecting on Santa Fe and thinking about it.
Let the cowboy ride
Encouraging the cowboy to ride.
It's more than a song to sing
Repeating the earlier statement about Santa Fe being more than just a song.
And it goes out and it comes back
Describing how thinking about Santa Fe can come and go like waves.
It is a feeling, it's a feeling
Emphasizing how Santa Fe is all about a certain feeling.
And when you do it, and the more you do it
Explaining how the feeling grows with more visits to Santa Fe.
And the more you do it, it becomes
Continuing to explain how the feeling evolves into something more.
A beautiful obsession
Describing the intensity of the feeling as a beautiful obsession.
It'll make you feel
Expressing how Santa Fe can make you feel many different things.
In your heart, in your soul
Describing how Santa Fe can affect the listener's entire existence.
In your being, yeah
Continuing to describe the all-encompassing effect of Santa Fe.
It's a, it's a beautiful obsession
Reiterating that the feeling is a beautiful obsession.
It's a feeling
Stating that the entire song is based on a particular feeling.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACKIE DE SHANNON, VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind