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.
There There Child
Van Morrison Lyrics
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Don't it make you feel alright
There there child, don't it all look good tonight
And you feel like going but you gotta stay
Ain't no time for to hop on a freight train
And you feel like laying in the morning hay
Cause it's time for a nap now, before rain
There there child, you can rest your weary eyes
And you feel like walking on a mountain top
Or a ride on a boat up the river
And the last lonely sheep has returned to the flock
As you wing over the white cliffs of Dover
There there child, there's a glint in your eye for surprise
There there child, are you ready to don your disguise, yes you are
Sun goes down across the pond and the wind, wind is blowing wild
And the swallow soars and the lion roars
Outside your front door, by the oak tree in the meadow
There there child, there there child
Are you ready to don your disguise
There there child, there's a glint in your eye for surprise
Do you feel like walking on a mountain top
Or ride on a boat up the river
And the last lonely sheep has returned to the flock
As you wing over the white cliffs of Dover
As you wing over the white cliffs of Dover, straight ahead
As you wing over the white cliffs of Dover, straight ahead
You wing over the white cliffs of Dover
The song "There There Child" by Van Morrison talks about the feeling of reassurance that comes when you feel like you're stuck in a situation but you can't do anything to change it. The opening line of the chorus, "There there child, there there child," implies comfort and calming of anxieties or fears. The lyrics talk about a sense of contentment, despite feeling like you want to escape or run away from it all. There is an invitation to rest and nap, to take a break from the stress of the moment. The song goes on to describe a desire for adventure, the draw to the unknown, and the thrill of exploring strange places, either by walking on a mountain top or riding a boat up the river.
In the second verse, the lyrics paint a picture of returning to the place where you belong, feeling welcomed back with open arms. The reference to the last lonely sheep returning to the flock could signify the singer finding peace and belonging after a period of isolation. The third verse talks about the excitement that comes with change, the anticipation of the unexpected, and the need to put on a "disguise" which could mean taking on a whole new persona or changing the way you dress or act. The chorus repeats itself, emphasizing the theme of comfort and reassurance, and the song ends with an image of flying over the white cliffs of Dover, a symbol of leaving the past behind and moving forward with hope and freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
There there child, there there child
The singer is comforting and reassuring the listener
Don't it make you feel alright
Whatever is troubling the listener is being resolved and they feel better
Don't it all look good tonight
The listener's outlook on life has improved and everything seems positive
And you feel like going but you gotta stay
The listener wants to leave, but for some reason or another they need to stay put
Ain't no time for to hop on a freight train
There is no opportunity for the listener to leave their current situation or location
And you feel like laying in the morning hay
The listener wants to relax and take a nap
Cause it's time for a nap now, before rain
The listener should take advantage of the opportunity to rest while they can, because it may soon be raining and they won't have the chance
There there child, don't it make you satisfied
The listener is now content and happy
There there child, you can rest your weary eyes
The listener is tired and needs to rest
And you feel like walking on a mountain top
The listener wants to feel on top of the world
Or a ride on a boat up the river
The listener wants to experience new things and explore
And the last lonely sheep has returned to the flock
Someone who was lost or separated has been reunited with their friends or family
As you wing over the white cliffs of Dover
You are flying over an impressive and beautiful landscape
There there child, there's a glint in your eye for surprise
The listener is curious and excited about what's to come
There there child, are you ready to don your disguise, yes you are
The listener is willing and eager to change their appearance and/or role
Sun goes down across the pond and the wind, wind is blowing wild
The day is coming to an end and the weather is picking up
And the swallow soars and the lion roars
The world is full of beauty and power
Outside your front door, by the oak tree in the meadow
This powerful and beautiful world is right outside the listener's home
There there child, there's a glint in your eye for surprise
Again, the listener is curious and excited about what's to come
Do you feel like walking on a mountain top
The singer is repeating and reinforcing the listener's desire to feel on top of the world
Or ride on a boat up the river
The singer is repeating and reinforcing the listener's desire to experience new things and explore
As you wing over the white cliffs of Dover
The singer is repeating and emphasizing the beauty of this landscape
As you wing over the white cliffs of Dover, straight ahead
The listener is moving forward and embracing the beauty and excitement of life
As you wing over the white cliffs of Dover
The singer once again emphasizes the beauty of this landscape
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN PLATANIA, JOHN P PLATANIA, VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind