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.
coney island
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coming down from Downpatrick
Stopping off at St. John's Point
Out all day birdwatching
And the craic was good
Stopped off at Strangford Lough
Early in the morning
Drove through Shrigley taking pictures
Stopped off for Sunday papers at the Lecale District,
Just before Coney Island
On and on, over the hill to Ardglass
In the jam jar, autumn sunshine, magnificent
And all shining through
Stop off at Ardglass for a couple of jars of
Mussels and some potted herrings in case
We get famished before dinner
On and on, over the hill and the craic is good
Heading towards Coney Island
I look at the side of your face as the sunlight comes
Streaming through the window in the autumn sunshine
And all the time going to Coney Island I'm thinking,
Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time.
"Coney Island" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. The opening lines of the song describe a day trip taken in County Down, Northern Ireland. Morrison narrates his journey down from his hometown of Downpatrick, stopping off at various points along the way including St. John's Point, Strangford Lough, Shrigley, and Killyleagh. He mentions birdwatching and enjoying the company of his fellow travelers; the "craic was good" (a colloquial Irish term meaning enjoyable conversation and company). The extended description of their journey helps to create a sensory experience for the listener, with mentions of autumn sunshine, mussels, and potted herrings.
The most poignant moment in the song occurs as they approach Coney Island, where the singer looks at the side of his companion's face as the sun streams through the window, suggesting a moment of deep connection and intimacy. He muses, "Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time?" The line suggests a longing for a life of constant connection, co-creation, and sense-pleasure - a desire for a more profound and meaningful version of the everyday.
The song has been interpreted in different ways by different people. For some, it's a love song, while others think of it as a celebration of the simple pleasures of life. But, in its essence, the song describes the beauty of the world, and the possibility of finding deep meaning and connection in it.
Line by Line Meaning
Coney Island
The title of the song and a reference to a location the singer is traveling towards.
Coming down from Downpatrick
The singer is traveling south from Downpatrick, a town in Northern Ireland.
Stopping off at St. John's Point
The singer makes a brief stop at St. John's Point, a peninsula on the coast of Northern Ireland.
Out all day birdwatching
The artist spends the day birdwatching, likely along the coast.
And the craic was good
The Irish term 'craic' refers to fun or enjoyment, indicating that the artist is having a good time on their outing.
Stopped off at Strangford Lough
The singer makes another stop at Strangford Lough, a large bay in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Early in the morning
The singer makes this stop early in the morning, likely to catch the sunrise or see birds that are active in the morning.
Drove through Shrigley taking pictures
The artist drives through Shrigley, maybe a small village, while taking photographs.
And on to Killyleagh
The artist continues on toward Killyleagh, a village in County Down.
Stopped off for Sunday papers at the Lecale District,
The artist buys Sunday newspapers in Lecale District, a region in County Down, likely on their way to Coney Island.
Just before Coney Island
The singer is getting close to their destination, with Coney Island just ahead.
On and on, over the hill to Ardglass
The artist continues their journey, with Ardglass as their next significant destination. They likely travel over hills to get there.
In the jam jar, autumn sunshine, magnificent
The singer is likely viewing the autumn sunshine through a jam jar, which acts as a lens that intensifies the light. They think the view is magnificent.
And all shining through
The singer is describing how the sunlight is coming through the jar and shining on the surrounding landscape.
Stop off at Ardglass for a couple of jars of
The singer stops at Ardglass and buys a couple of jars, likely of local seafood or some other product.
Mussels and some potted herrings in case
The items the artist buys at Ardglass are mussels and potted herrings, which they keep on hand in case they get hungry before dinner.
We get famished before dinner
The artist is concerned about being hungry before dinner, so they buy some food to tide them over until the evening meal.
Heading towards Coney Island
The singer is heading towards Coney Island, which is their final destination for the day.
I look at the side of your face as the sunlight comes
The singer is looking at their companion as the sunlight shines on their face.
Streaming through the window in the autumn sunshine
The sunlight is coming through a window, likely in a car or other vehicle, and it's now autumn.
And all the time going to Coney Island I'm thinking,
The artist is reflecting on their journey to Coney Island and is having a thought as they proceed.
Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time.
The artist is expressing their enjoyment of the journey and is hoping for this experience to continue constantly.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cpcnw
I used Google maps to 'go back' to Portsalon in Donegal, after 36 years. The place is almost unrecognisable, so many new builds, so many of the old buildings gone... Patrick's store and the Ardglass... I also wondered: would it really be that great? When something is repeated often enough it becomes the norm. What makes a moment special? A large part of which is that a moment is fleeting, temporary, transitory. And with that comes the bitter sweet realisation, we have to cherish the momentary, then let it go forever. Acceptance is something we have to learn to live with gracefully I think. The lyrics remind me of the words taken from the The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and used the film 12 Monkeys [highly recommended viewing]
Still among the myriad microwaves, the infra-red messages, the gigabytes of ones and zeroes, we find words, infinitesimally small, byte-sized now, tinier even than science lurking in some vague electricity where, if we listen we can hear the solitary voice of that poet telling us,
"We are no other than a moving row
Of Magic shadow-shapes that come and go
Round with the Sun-illumined Lantern hold
In Midnight by the Master of the show."
"The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all your Tears wash out a Word of it."
"Yesterday This Day's Madness did prepare;
Tomorrow's Silence, Triumph or Despair:
Drink! for you know not whence you came, nor why:
Drink! for you know not why you go, nor where."
and further from Po's 'Dream within a Dream'
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand —
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep — while I weep!
O God! Can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
Enjoy the moment - it can't last! In the end what are we but a collection of memories?
edwin rex
How can anyone make you feel nostalgic for a day you never had in a place you've never been!
Keith Costello
brilliant!
S H
One of V M s biggest fans died this morning in Australia and this song Coney Island was the gift that just kept giving over over many decades . Coney Island never failed to bring him so much joy. My beautiful friend .
jan hensley
My sincere condolences 🙏
Ken Yackimec
Love the way the music sounds like slow waves on the shore. Really adds to the atmosphere of the song.
Anne Dunn
The good life 🤗💚👌☘️☘️
pwwatson8888
One of the finest songs ever written, Thanks Van. And if I ever get there I will have met the place I need to be. "Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time?".
Randy Bown
One of the most evocative songs I have ever heard. We all have our "Coney Island" days, but it is pretty cool to see the place the song was inspired by....wouldn't it would be great if all music videos were like this?
Stephen Morrissey
"Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time?" Wonderful!
jenny
Perfect!