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.
They Sold Me Out
Van Morrison Lyrics
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They sold me out
It's the oldest story that's ever been told
They sold me out
Didn't even give it no shred of doubt, no, no
They sold me out
Didn't even sit down and try to figure it out
They just sold me out
For the few shekels more, they didn't even think twice
For a few shekels more, another minute in the spotlight
My own people did it to me just 'cause they could
They sold me out
So beware brother it could happen to you
They sold me out
For the few shekels more, they didn't even think twice
Just for a few shekels more, another minute of two in the spotlight
My own people did it to me just 'cause they could
They sold me out
Got to beware brother it just might happen to you
They sold me out
Sold me out for a few shekels and they divided up my robes
They sold me out
It's the oldest story that's ever been told
They sold me out
Sold me out for a few shekels and divided out my robes
They sold me out
It's the oldest story that's ever been known
They sold me out
They sold me out
They sold me out
They sold me out
Van Morrison's song "They Sold Me Out" is a commentary on betrayal and the willingness of individuals to sell out their own for personal gain. The lyrics describe a situation where the singer has been betrayed by those closest to him, whom he refers to as "my own people." The betrayal was done for a mere "few shekels," emphasizing the idea that greed can easily blind one from the moral values and loyalty.
The singer laments that his own people did it to him simply because they could, without any hesitation or remorse. He warns others to be cautious of the possibility of the same thing happening to them.
The repeated lines of "They sold me out" and "For a few shekels more" emphasize the idea that the betrayal was done for trivial amounts of money, highlighting the idea that greed can outweigh loyalty and moral values. The reference to dividing up the singer's robes is a biblical allusion to when Roman soldiers divided up the belongings of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion, and is particularly poignant given the religious and spiritual themes that run through Morrison's music.
In summary, "They Sold Me Out" is a poignant commentary on betrayal, greed, and the fragility of loyalty. It speaks to the idea that anyone can be sold out by those they trust, and that greed can get the best of even the closest relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Sold me out for a few shekels and divided up my robes
They betrayed me for a small amount of money and took my possessions
It's the oldest story that's ever been told
Betrayal for financial gain is a common and timeless occurrence
Didn't even give it no shred of doubt, no, no
They made a decision to betray me without considering any doubts or second thoughts
Didn't even sit down and try to figure it out
They didn't attempt to resolve any conflicts or misunderstandings before betraying me
They just sold me out
They quickly and easily betrayed me without hesitation
For the few shekels more, they didn't even think twice
They didn't hesitate to betray me for a small increase in their financial gain
Another minute in the spotlight
They were willing to betray me for even a brief moment of notoriety or fame
My own people did it to me just 'cause they could
Those closest to me were able to betray me simply because they had the opportunity to do so
So beware brother it could happen to you
Be cautious, as betrayal in this way could happen to anyone
Got to beware brother it just might happen to you
You must be vigilant, as betrayal for financial gain is a real possibility
It's the oldest story that's ever been known
Betrayal for financial gain has been a recurring theme throughout history
They sold me out
They betrayed me for their own financial gain
They sold me out
They disregarded any loyalty or trust in order to further their own interests
They sold me out
They were willing to betray me without hesitation or remorse
They sold me out
Their personal gain was more important than our relationship or any sense of morality
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind