Madame George
Van Morrison
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Down on Cyprus Avenue With a childlike vision leaping into view Clicking, clacking of the high heeled shoe Ford and Fitzroy, Madame George Marching with the soldier boy behind He's much older now with hat on drinking wine And that smell of sweet perfume comes drifting through The cool night air like Shalimar And outside they're making all the stops The kids out in the street collecting bottle-tops Gone for cigarettes and matches in the shops Happy taken Madame George That's when you fall Whoa, that's when you fall Yeah, that's when you fall When you fall into a trance Sitting on a sofa playing games of chance With your folded arms and history books You glance into the eyes of Madame George And you think you found the bag You're getting weaker and your knees begin to sag In a corner playing dominoes in drag The one and only Madame George And then from outside the frosty window raps She jumps up and says, Lord, have mercy I think it's the cops And immediately drops everything she gots Down into the street below And you know you gotta go On that train from Dublin up to Sandy Row Throwing pennies at the bridges down below And the rain, hail, sleet, and snow Say goodbye to Madame George Dry your eye for Madame George Wonder why for Madame George And as you leave, the room is filled with music Laughing, music, dancing, music all around the room And all the little boys come around, walking away from it all So cold, and as you're about to leave She jumps up and says, hey love, you forgot your gloves And the gloves to love, to love the gloves To say goodbye to Madame George Dry your eye for Madame George Wonder why for Madame George Dry your eyes for Madame George Say goodbye in the wind and the rain on the back street In the backstreet, in the back street Say goodbye to Madame George In the backstreet, in the back street, in the back street Down home, down home in the back street Gotta go, say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye Dry your eye, your eye, your eye, your eye, your eye Say goodbye to Madame George And the loves to love to love the love Say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye Say goodbye goodbye, goodbye, goodbye to Madame George Dry your eye for Madame George Wonder why for Madame George The love's to love, the love's to love, the love's to love Say goodbye, goodbye Get on the train Get on the train, the train, the train This is the train, this is the train Whoa, say goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye Get on the train, get on the train
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Release Information"Madame George" is a song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, which appeared on his seminal 1968 album "Astral Weeks."
|
Song DurationThe track is almost ten minutes long, making it one of the lengthier songs of Van Morrison's repertoire.
|
Theme and SubjectThe song is considered as one of Morrison's most personal and moving pieces, with lyrics painting a vivid, nostalgic picture of life in his home city of Belfast.
|
Genre Classification"Madame George" is considered a melding of folk, blues, and jazz, emblematic of Morrison's unique blending of musical styles.
|
Influence and ImpactThe song has had a significant impact on numerous artists and musicians who have cited it as an influence, including the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Elvis Costello.
|
Critical AcclaimIn 2015, the song was ranked the #63 on Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," illustrating its importance in the musical landscape.
|
Song InterpretationDespite the song's title, Morrison has insisted that the "Madame George" character is not intended to be a transvestite or a drag queen. Instead, the character is an amalgamation of people he knew in Belfast.
|
Album RelevanceNot just one of the standout tracks on Astral Weeks, many critics regard "Madame George" as the album’s centerpiece.
|
Musical StructureIn contrast to the ubiquitous verse-chorus structure of many pop songs, "Madame George" comprises a series of vignettes that folkloric storytelling feel.
|
Recording ProcessLike the rest of the songs on Astral Weeks, Madame George was recorded live in one or two takes, an aspect that contributes to its raw appeal.
|
Controversial SpeculationsSome interpretations suggest that the song might actually be an autobiographical snapshot of Morrison's early life, depicting his struggle with personal issues and identity.
|
Cover VersionsOver the years "Madame George" has been covered by other artists like Marianne Faithfull and Martin Simpson, illustrating its enduring appeal.
|
Iconic StatusVan Morrison once stated, “‘Madame George’ was recorded live. The vocal is live and the band played ‘live.’ It was a real performance…” testifying the song's significance in his own musical journey.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Madame George Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/12628189/Van+Morrison/Madame+George>.
Discuss the Madame George Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In