Album: Beautiful Vision (1982)

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• Oh, the smell of the bakery from across the street
  Got in my nose
  As we carried our ladders down the street
  With the wrought iron gate rows
  I went home and listened to Jimmie Rodgers in my lunch break
  Bought five Woodbines at the shop on the corner
  And went straight back to work
  
  Oh, Sam was up on top
  And I was on the bottom with the V
  We went for lemonade and Paris buns
  At the shop and broke for tea
  I collected from the lady
  And I cleaned the fanlight inside out
  I was blowing saxophone on the weekend
  In that down joint
  
  What's my line
  I'm happy cleaning windows
  Take my time
  I'll see you when my love grows
  Baby don't let it slide
  I'm a working man in my prime
  Cleaning windows (number a hundred and thirty six)
  
  I heard Leadbelly and Blind Lemon
  On the street where I was born
  Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee
  Muddy Waters singin' I'm a rolling stone
  I went home and read my Christmas Humphreys' book on Zen
  Curiosity killed the cat
  Kerouac's Dharma Bums and On The Road
  
  What's my line
  I'm happy cleaning windows
  Take my time
  I'll see you when my love grows
  Baby don't let it slide
  I'm a working man in my prime
  Cleaning windows
  
  What's my line
  I'm happy cleaning windows
  Take my time
  I'll see you when my love grows
  Don't let it slide
  I'm a working man in my prime
  Cleaning windows Writer/s: VAN MORRISON
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

• Andrew from Calirfornia, UsaI think this song is about not pressuring yourself to achieve your goals before the time has come.
  That saying ur happy cleaning windows, and enjoying the small joys of life, is part of the process.
  
  "Take my time, see you when my love grows"
  yes, i want to become a musician, but im on no rush, i'll see my goals come true when my love/dedication for them grows.
  
  As earlier stated, saying that cleaning windows in that timeframe was a hard job is almost and understatement, but he reminds himself "what was my line again?"
  im happy cleaning windows - because thats a part of the journey.
  
  The tune is upbeat and highly relateable, it also looks back at everything fondly, so that you can turn this up when times are though and remember that whatever your going through is part of the process of acheiving what you want.
  We got to enjoy it.
  
  Billy joel has similar lyrics, with Vienna, slow down crazy child - take the phone of the hook and dissapear for a while - when will you realize, vienna waits for you. More about enjoying life as it is right now though.
  
  Anyways, i think this is a lesson every artist need to learn, and that it also might not come true, so the enjoyment is whats key.
  Artists atleast at that time was so enormously talented, and it was a struggle.
  I've gotten similar messages from other lyrics aswell, mostly the greats!
• Scott M from San BernardinoThis song is all about living in the moment and enjoying the simple pleasures in life. He is reading Christmas Humphrey's book on Zen, Kerouac's Dharma Bums, which is about two men searching for Zen, and On The Road.
  
  His message...Enjoy life folks
• Colin Hugh Abbott from Jarrahdale, Western Australia.I lived in Martinez Avenue, Belfast during the 1960s. Cyprus Avenue ran parallel to our Avenue ... literally a stone's throw away. Sir George Ivan Morrison lived just a few hundred metres away, in Hyndford Street. We sometimes shared the same trolley bus home to the Bloomfield area. My late brother, Roy Abbott (lead guitar), backed Van on two or three occasions in Belfast. If you listen carefully to the last few moments of "Cleaning Windows" you will hear Van say "If we don't get paid, we'll have to go down to the dole". He was really struggling for money in those days, despite having enjoyed reasonable success with Them. In 1967, I was enjoying drinks in Mooney's Cocktail Bar, Central Belfast, when, late in the evening, Van Morrison walked in, stood at the bar, and ordered a drink. It was nearly "closing time", so I thought I'd better nip to the toilet, before going home. I stood there, at the urinal, minding my own business, when, who should follow me in? ... none other than Van the Man himself. He stood by my side and said: "Can you lend me a quid?" ... 'Oh! I'm sorry, I can't' ... "Ten bob then?" ... once again I had to say 'No, sorry' ... the truth was, I had only three shillings and sixpence in my pocket ... I turned, and walked out of the toilet, leaving Van standing there. Thus, I go down in history, as the man who didn't lend Sir George Ivan Morrison any money. And, just for the record, I regret that I didn't have a few bob to lend him. Sorry, Van ... but I never did have much money. The following year, as you all would know, Sir George Ivan Morrison travelled to the USA ... and recorded Astral Weeks. He is now worth millions!
• Stevie from Weehawken, NjI like the reggae feel to this one.
• Emmett from St. Louis, MoJames - that's what its gotta be.
• Bill from Pensacola, FlLeadbelly, Blind Lemon, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGee, Muddy Waters, Kerouac. Van loves to name check all the people that influenced him.
  I am so glad Leadbelly (Hudie Ledbetter) was recorded, because he greatly influenced Van into music even though he'd be just as happy cleaning windows!
• Lalah from Wasilla, AkGreat house cleaning song
• James from Jacksonville, Fldont let it slide, someone up on top with the "v"? - are these references to some tools used in the window cleaning trade?
  
  I love how it goes into details about cleaning windows. Also - they collect and then clean the fan light inside out, i presume just as a favor being simple hardworking laborers.
• Kevin from Reading , PaI love Van the Man's music, but everything I've every read about him -- including a biography of a couple of years ago -- points to him being a really miserable person. One music industry person went so far as to say in the biography that he needs professional help. He does seem to be able to find beauty and joy in music, however, and this song is one of his upbeat, fun songs.
• Keir from Aberystwyth, WalesLove this song, upbeat feel, upbeat sentiments. And a grand chorus to sing along to!

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