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.
Take It Where You Find It
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can't leave it alone
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many's the road I have walked upon
Many's the hour between dusk and dawn
Many's the time
Many's the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can't leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can't leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin' about a change
Change, change, change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I'm gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I'm gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I'm gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I'm gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
[Chorus:Repeat x2]
Van Morrison’s “Take It Where You Find It” is a song that holds immense positivity and energy. The opening lines “Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea, They thought great thoughts about liberty” portray the wonder and optimism of humanity. It highlights the fact that people have always looked up for inspiration and the stars have motivated them to think and dream big. The next lines mentioning poets, writers, and thinkers, suggest that these wonders are not limited to any particular group of people, rather everyone should contemplate the universe in their own way.
The chorus “Take it where you find it, Can't leave it alone, You will find a purpose, To carry it on” urges us to find and hold onto life’s meaning wherever we find it. As the song progresses, it becomes more about finding a “shining light” which could be interpreted as one’s passion or purpose. This purpose awaits us, and we must go wander and explore the world and ourselves to find it. The repeated chorus and lines talking about change further emphasize that life is constantly changing, and we must embrace it to unlock what lies ahead.
Overall, the song is an uplifting call to find purpose in life and to not let the uncertainties and struggles of life keep us from looking up to the stars and having faith in ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
Men gazed at the sky at the seashore
They thought great thoughts about liberty
They pondered upon freedom and its significance
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Poets scribbled down phrases that matched their sentiment
Writers wrote books
Writers produced novels and literature
Thinkers thought about it
Philosophers reflected on these ideas
Take it where you find it
Embrace what you come across
Can't leave it alone
It's too precious to forget
You will find a purpose
You will discover its significance
To carry it on
To carry it with you as you move forward
Mainly when you find it
Especially when you find it
Your heart will be strong
You will feel confident and passionate
About it
About the discovery and the meaning behind it
Many's the road I have walked upon
I have traveled many roads in life
Many's the hour between dusk and dawn
I have experienced many hours from sunset to sunrise
Many's the time
Numerous occasions
Many's the mile
Countless miles traveled
I see it all now
I understand it all now
Through the eyes of a child
With the innocence and curiosity of a child
[Chorus]
Refrain
Lost dreams and found dreams
Dreams that were lost and found
In America
In the United States
And close your eyes
And shut your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Take a break from it all
Leave the world
Escape from reality
And your worries behind
And leave your concerns aside
You will build on whatever is real
Focus on what is genuine to create something greater
And wake up each day
And arise each morning
To a new waking dream
To a new, different perspective on reality
Change, change come over
Transformation begins
Talkin' about a change
Discussions about changing perspectives
I'm gonna walk down the street
I will take a stroll down the street
Until I see
Continue until
My shining light
My beacon of hope
I see my light
I perceive my inner gleam
See my light
Notice my radiance
See my shining light
Witness my brilliant beacon
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind