Sweet Thing by Van Morrison

Album: Astral Weeks (1968)

License This Song

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

This is one of Morrison's most romantic songs. It finds the Irish singer exulting over his love, who he gives the name "Sweet Thing," which is much more demonstrative than the typical "Sweetie." The music builds as the singer gets more and more excited about his love, and the imagery becomes more intense. By the end of the song, the string section has kicked in and Van's girl has "Champagne Eyes" and a "Saint-Like Smile."
In the book Van Morrison, into the music, Morrison is quoted as saying about the song: "It's a romantic love ballad not about anybody in particular but about a feeling."
This is the only song from Astral Weeks included on the 1990 compilation album The Best of Van Morrison. >>
Suggestion credit:
Dana - New York, NY
The popular Irish group The Waterboys recorded this for their 1988 album Fisherman's Blues.

Comments: 4

Amanda from El Dorado, ArYes and great music makes you feel over and over again. I could never tire of most of Van's work but there are a handful that give me an extra special sense of joy and love for life. Also, the fact that I am lucky enough to have fallen head over heels for music makes me feel lucky. I still get goose bumps on a daily occasion from listening to songs I've heard all my life. Music never, ever lets me down and Van Morrison is among the artists that transcends most musicians. He's not a showman, except for his part in the Last Waltz. His genius is his word and melody. Astral Weeks is my favorite album. Tupelo Honey is arguably the most popular and has his best work, but when I bought Astral Weeks, I was sold. His spirituality spills into those songs. Thank you Van.
Myla from San Diego, CaWaterboys did a great version of this. Liked the violin in it which seems to (in my opinion) capture the stirred feelings of the enamoured man.
Francia from Caracas, --This is one of his best songs, with Astral Weeks and Brown Eyed Girl
Paul from Marbella, SpainThis is very simply a song of redemption. Van Morrison is a born again Christian and redemption is key to his philosophy. That it is obviously a woman that redeemed him is almost secondary, he exults in both the redemption and in the woman responsible. The first part of the song sees him walking through the hills outside his native Belfast with a childlike view of the world. The key line is "And I will never, ever get so old again". In the second part he takes an adolescent exuberence in his new found love. Yet he harks back to a an older, more difficult time with "And I will not remember that I ever felt the pain". In the final part he repudiates the troubles he has escaped and promises to live a simpler less jaded life "And I'll be satisfied not to read in between the lines". He ends it honouring the woman who brought him back. This, in my view, Is Van's best song. It uplifts your soul and soothes your sorrow. Great music like this just makes you feel better, exactly when you need it.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Foolish GamesJewel

A guy Jewel fell for when she was 16 inspired her hit "Foolish Games."

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and UnderstandingElvis Costello

"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" was written by Nick Lowe in 1974. The original version with his group Brinsley Schwarz was kind of somber, but Elvis Costello made it a classic with his 1978 uptempo take.