Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl (Official Audio)
Inspiration Behind Brown Eyed Girl:
The concept of Brown Eyed Girl was inspired by a mix of a personal experience, Irish musical influences and Van Morrison’s creative juices early in his career. Growing up in East Belfast, Van Morrison never disclosed the girl from this song, but it is assumed that she was a boyhood love that captured his attention. This special girl led to a classic summer song that still remains relative today.
Biblical Application:
[b]A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life, Proverbs 31:10-12.
Exegesis of Brown Eyed Girl:
Hey, where did we go?
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow
Playin’ a new game
This girl only came out to play when the weather was good. Van Morrison recalls seeing her while playing games with neighborhood kids.
Laughin’ and a-runnin’, hey-hey
Skippin’ and a-jumpin’
In the misty morning fog with
Our, our hearts a-thumping and you
The energy and joy within this girl got his attention.
My brown-eyed girl
And you, my brown-eyed girl
Since the weather was never great in Ireland, these brown eyes stuck out as the morning fog faded away.
And whatever happened
To Tuesday and so slow?
Going down the old mine with a
Transistor radio
The timeline skips forward now, either to teenage years or slightly older.
Standing in the sunlight laughing
Hiding ‘hind a rainbow’s wall
Slippin’ and slidin’
All along the waterfall with you
Playing and growing up with this girl brought joy to Van Morrison’s life.
My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl
These eyes were special.
Do you remember when we used to sing?
Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-tee-da
Just like that
Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-tee-da
La-tee-da
A reference to either singing as children or as a teenager listening to a local radio statiion.
So hard to find my way
Now that I’m all on my own
I saw you just the other day
My, how you have grown
This girl has become a woman as each has gone their own separate ways.
Cast my memory back there, Lord
Sometimes I’m overcome thinking ’bout it
Making love in the green grass
Behind the stadium with you
A reference to sharing intimate moments together.
My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl
Van Morrison remembers the good ole days.
Do you remember when we used to sing?
Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-tee-da (I hear the crickets)
Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-tee-da (bit by, bit by, bit by, bit by, bit by, bit)
Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, tee-da-la, tee-da-la-tee-da
Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la-tee-da
Either a silly game or song that they sang together.
Final Thoughts:
This is one of those fun summer songs that I heard growing up each summer. When you were a child, you didn’t have any responsibilities during the summer. When the weather was good, you stayed out until it was dark or when your parents rang the dinner bell. Brown Eyed Girl remind me of the innocence of my youth, growing up without a care in the world. If only adults could learn this valuable life lesson from children having fun in the sun.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 