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.
Tore Down A La Rimbaud
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Showed me novels on the shelf
Put my hands across the table
Gave me knowledge of myself.
Showed me visions, showed me nightmares
Gave me dreams that never end
Showed me light out of the tunnel
When there was darkness all around instead.
Tore down a la Rimbaud
And I wish my message would come
Tore down a la Rimbaud, you know it's hard some time
You know it's hard some time.
Showed me ways and means and motions
Showed me what it's like to be
Gave me days of deep devotions
Showed me things I cannot see.
Tore down a la Rimbaud
And I wish my purpose would come
Tore down a la Rimbaud, you know it's hard some time.
You know it's hard some time.
Showed me different shapes and colors
Showed me many different roads
Gave me very clear instructions
When I was in the dark night of the soul.
Tore down a la Rimbaud
And I wish my writing would come
Tore down a la Rimbaud, you know it's hard some time.
You know it's hard some times.
Tore down a la Rimbaud
And I wish my writing would come
Tore down a la Rimbaud, you know it's hard some time.
You know it's hard some times.
You know it's hard some times.
You know it's hard some times.
Tore down a la Rimbaud, you know it's hard some times.
The lyrics of Van Morrison's "Tore Down a la Rimbaud" describe a transformative experience where someone has shown the singer a new way of looking at the world. They showed him "pictures in the gallery" and "novels on the shelf" which gave him a deeper understanding of himself. They also gave him visions, nightmares, and dreams, and helped him find the light out of darkness. The second verse continues with an exploration of the ways in which this person broadened the singer's perspective. They taught him "ways and means and motions", showed him what it's like to be, and gave him a sense of purpose and devotion.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Tore down a la Rimbaud", which refers to the French poet Arthur Rimbaud, who was known for his avant-garde writing and rejection of traditional norms. The phrase suggests that the transformative experience in the song was similar to the one Rimbaud underwent. The chorus also reflects the difficulty of putting this experience into words. The singer wishes his message, purpose, or writing would come, but acknowledges that it's hard to express.
Overall, the song expresses the power of art to transform, and the difficulty of articulating that transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
Showed me pictures in the gallery
Revealed to me a diverse collection of images to stimulate my imagination
Showed me novels on the shelf
Introduced me to an assortment of books to expand my knowledge and understanding
Put my hands across the table
Established a personal connection between us through physical touch
Gave me knowledge of myself.
Helped me gain insight and better understanding of my own thoughts, feelings, and actions
Showed me visions, showed me nightmares
Presented me with imaginative and potentially frightening scenarios
Gave me dreams that never end
Inspired me with ideas and aspirations that persist and drive me forward
Showed me light out of the tunnel
Guided me towards hope and a sense of purpose in times of difficulty and despair
When there was darkness all around instead.
During moments of confusion or uncertainty
Tore down a la Rimbaud
Referencing Arthur Rimbaud, symbolizing a radical change or deconstruction of traditional art and literary forms
And I wish my message would come
Expressing a desire to communicate a personal message or artistic vision
You know it's hard some time
Acknowledging the challenges and obstacles that can hinder artistic creation and self-expression
Showed me ways and means and motions
Taught me various techniques and methods to bring my ideas and creations to life
Showed me what it's like to be
Demonstrated the complexities of the human experience and different perspectives on life
Gave me days of deep devotions
Provided me with meaningful moments of inspiration and dedication to my artistic endeavors
Showed me things I cannot see.
Revealed to me intangible concepts and ideas that may not be visible or tangible in the physical world
Showed me different shapes and colors
Introduced me to a wide array of artistic mediums and styles to explore and experiment with
Showed me many different roads
Presented me with various paths and possibilities for my artistic and creative pursuits
Gave me very clear instructions
Provided me with specific guidance and direction in my artistic work
When I was in the dark night of the soul.
During times of profound emotional or spiritual crisis
And I wish my writing would come
Expressing a desire to find the right words and expressions to convey a personal message or artistic vision
You know it's hard some time.
Acknowledging the difficulties and challenges inherent in creative and artistic work
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind