Madame George

Van Morrison

About Madame George

"Madame George" is a ten-minute song by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It appears on the album Astral Weeks, released in 1968. The song features Morrison performing the vocals and acoustic guitar. It also features a double bass, flute, drums, vibraphone, and a string quartet.


Year:
1994
5:16
102 
#3

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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

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Van Morrison

Van Morrison, OBE (born George Ivan Morrison; 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are described as transcendental, while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are critically acclaimed and appear at the top of many greatest album lists. more »

14 fans

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 Duration
The track is almost ten minutes long, making it one of the lengthier songs of Van Morrison's repertoire.
Theme and Subject
The 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 Impact
The 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 Acclaim
In 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 Interpretation
Despite 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 Relevance
Not just one of the standout tracks on Astral Weeks, many critics regard "Madame George" as the album’s centerpiece.
Musical Structure
In contrast to the ubiquitous verse-chorus structure of many pop songs, "Madame George" comprises a series of vignettes that folkloric storytelling feel.
Recording Process
Like 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 Speculations
Some 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 Versions
Over the years "Madame George" has been covered by other artists like Marianne Faithfull and Martin Simpson, illustrating its enduring appeal.
Iconic Status
Van 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.

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