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Van Morrison — Caravan
Album: Moondance
Avg rating:
7.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1721









Released: 1970
Length: 4:51
Plays (last 30 days): 1
And the caravan is on its way
I can hear the merry gypsies play
Mama mama look at Ammaro
She's a-playin with the radio
La, la, la, la...

And the caravan has all my friends
It will stay with me until the end
Gypsy Robin, Sweet Emma Rose
Tell me everything I need to know
La, la, la...

Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night I shall reveal you

Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, turn it up, so you know, radio
La, la, la, la...

And the caravan is painted red and white
That means ev'rybody's staying overnight
Barefoot gypsy player round the campfire sing and play
And a woman tells us of her ways
La, la, la, la...

Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night I shall reveal you
Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher, radio
Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got soul
Radio, radio turn it up, hum
La, la, la, la...
Comments (153)add comment
I always thought it was Charles Manson on the Moondance cover. 
I dunno. He uses the same chords for many of his songs.  Playing with The Chieftains gave him some cred. Na na na na na  naaa.. wtf is that.. should go back to cleaning windows - that song by the way uses the same chords. 
I'm leaving this at a 10 but it does take a bit of the jam off the song knowing the Roma consider "Gypsy" a slur.

The Human Race- We're livin' and learnin'. Hopefully.
 Edweirdo wrote:

God I love his early stuff.  Shame he's turned into such a bellend, but you can't have everything.




I Agree on both counts!
God I love his early stuff.  Shame he's turned into such a bellend, but you can't have everything.
So much love for this. Let me join you and turn my radio up. 
The live version of this from The Last Waltz is almost certainly the single greatest performance in the history of rock and roll music. 
This one gets a 9 from me. 
"Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher, radio
Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got soul"

'Nuf said!
A brilliant song from a true icon of soul/R&B/jazz/folk.  I heard Moondance at a stereo shop in Detroit (Highland Appliance in Dearborn) and I abandoned my speaker purchase and immediately went to Harmony House Records and bought the album -  "screw the speakers - I have to hear what this guy is about."  When Caravan came on, it was all over - ear orgasm at the age of 16.  It never stopped.  Been a lifelong Van the Man Fan ever since.  Seen him 4 times, which is hard to do in the states.  Cheers all!
This whole album has such great arrangements!! Masterworks, all. 
Turn it up 10
Van, the man! 
 TJOpootertoot wrote:

I give this a 9 and the Last Waltz version a 10. I mean, the guy is wearing a purple jumpsuit and doing leg kicks. He ACTUALLY drops the mic as he walks off-stage so, anything less than a 10 just seems crazy there.
 
Back in 1978, I went to see The Last Waltz in NYC at one of the few movie theatres where it was playing (it was initially a limited release). It was one of those great theatres of old - big, with a balcony and red velvet curtains, big screen, great sound. And it was within a week of the film's release. We didn't know who was going to play next, and I was probably only familiar with half the acts at the time (I went for Dylan more than paying attention to much else). It was thrilling, maybe better than being there with the images playing huge in front of us. 
 hschlossberg wrote:
I have a feeling that the thing about Van Morrison is that you had to be there.  I wasn't, and I'm not.
 
That's not the deal as I'm sure you can probably figure.  He's a legendary recording artist, that many a generation have newly discovered since this was recorded 5 decades ago, and he's just not your thing.  This is okay. 

Everyone is now informed that you don't care for him and dismissively believe this is because his music his "old", though.  So you've got that.
I was, and Damn! It was effin' good... :)
I wasnt either, but damn, i am now
I have a feeling that the thing about Van Morrison is that you had to be there.  I wasn't, and I'm not.
what a great effin album...every song is outstanding

this album was an old girlfriend's sex music....she'd put this on and it was off to fun time (ah, the memories)...could be why i think it's a great effin album - or, it's just a good effin album
Impeccable. Superior and superb understanding of musical nuances that ensnare and capture sonic synapses now and forever, Amen.
 TJOpootertoot wrote:

I give this a 9 and the Last Waltz version a 10. I mean, the guy is wearing a purple jumpsuit and doing leg kicks. He ACTUALLY drops the mic as he walks off-stage so, anything less than a 10 just seems crazy there.

 
I give this one an 8, a 9 for the "It's Too Late To Stop Now - live" version, and perhaps an 8 for the Last Waltz version (but only because seeing Robbie Robertson laughing his head off watching a drunk Van on stage...)
 TerryS wrote:
Shout shout, mumble mumble, shout shout. No encores.
Please.

 

 Yea, piss off Terry:)


Hey RP, why you never play anything from Veedon Fleece and Hard Nose the Highway? And play more from St Dominic's Preview. 

Those are three VERY good albums.  
 TerryS wrote:
Shout shout, mumble mumble, shout shout. No encores.
Please.

 

Van Morrison is one of a very few, signal voices of a generation; much like Sinatra, Mel Torme' and Tony Bennett for an earlier one.  Gave this track an "8".  Other VM cuts I've given 9s & 10s.  Piss off, Terry.


 TJOpootertoot wrote:

I give this a 9 and the Last Waltz version a 10. I mean, the guy is wearing a purple jumpsuit and doing leg kicks. He ACTUALLY drops the mic as he walks off-stage so, anything less than a 10 just seems crazy there.

 
The story from the book "Across the Great Divide" is that VM had a last-minute freak out at the Last Waltz about his purple jumpsuit and wanted to run back to the hotel and change, but didn't have time. I guess he compensated with leg kicks...
Shout shout, mumble mumble, shout shout. No encores.
Please.

 
Play something from St Dominic's Preview...the title song kicks ass!

 Or Hard Nose the Highway.

Or Veedon Fleece.  
CD I miss you. Queen of the Slipstream. 2Gether4Ever. 
 TJOpootertoot wrote:
I give this a 9 and the Last Waltz version a 10. I mean, the guy is wearing a purple jumpsuit and doing leg kicks. He ACTUALLY drops the mic as he walks off-stage so, anything less than a 10 just seems crazy there.
 
Those kicks were truly awesome.
Back when he actually seemed to enjoy performing.
 LPCity wrote:
This is an 8.

The Last Waltz version is a 9, maybe even a 10. 

 
I give this a 9 and the Last Waltz version a 10. I mean, the guy is wearing a purple jumpsuit and doing leg kicks. He ACTUALLY drops the mic as he walks off-stage so, anything less than a 10 just seems crazy there.
 ThePoose wrote:
So Brown-Eyed Girl and Into the Mystic sound the same?
Mother of God.
 
pinklife wrote:
All Van Morrison songs sound the same to me...{#Yawn}

 

 

There is a certain familiarity between this and G L O R I A
This is an 8.

The Last Waltz version is a 9, maybe even a 10. 


Turn it up, that's enough, so you know it's got soul
Radio, radio turn it up.
La, la, la, la...
So Brown-Eyed Girl and Into the Mystic sound the same?
Mother of God.


 
pinklife wrote:
All Van Morrison songs sound the same to me...{#Yawn}

 


Ah and the horns!  Such a sweet sound.
Keep bringin'it Bill!!
 boober wrote:
Van was drunk and his performance stunk!
 
That's what made it great! Those kicks in the air and the look on Robbie Robertsons face....{#Roflol}
 hschlossberg wrote:
...I think maybe a person had to live through it to really "get" it.
 
Definitely not the case. I discovered Van in 1994 when I was 22, knew nothing about him, and was hooked at first listen.
RP: All Van Morrison, All the Time.
Song reminds me of Dr Johnny Fever on WKRP.

Great song. 
"Sweet laaaady of the night..."  Is that a compliment?
Once again............... Van de'man
Sweet way to start off my work day!!{#Roflol}
 dmax wrote:
I prefer the Last Waltz version
  Van was drunk and his performance stunk!


A magnificent song off of a godlike album.
9 -10....what was I thinking?

 hschlossberg wrote:
If there's one voice on RP that gets me to turn off faster than any other, it's Van Morrison and CCR.  I think maybe a person had to live through it to really "get" it.
 
I am pretty sure that would be two voices. I don't remember the Van being in CCR.....

If there's one voice on RP that gets me to turn off faster than any other, it's Van Morrison and CCR.  I think maybe a person had to live through it to really "get" it.
{#Dancingbanana}
 calypsus_1 wrote:

 

...and that such the idea to take off one day all to pass in the RP Station only the songs that as much time closed in the trunk of RP Station....

have a nice day!



 
Can I mambo dogface to the banana patch?

With apologies to Steve Martin.

 2cats wrote:

calypsus_1 wrote:

 

...and that such the idea to take off one day all to pass in the RP Station only the songs that as much time closed in the trunk of RP Station....

have a nice day!



 
HUH?

 
I think he's, like, French or something...

van morrison has an amazing knack for writing songs that are enjoyable at first, but leave me begging them to end by the time they finally do. actually about 2 minutes before they do. 
 calypsus_1 wrote:

 

...and that such the idea to take off one day all to pass in the RP Station only the songs that as much time closed in the trunk of RP Station....

have a nice day!



 
HUH?

 LowPhreak wrote:


That would be because Van Morrison is singing all of them.  :duh:
 

Yeah, he needs to get a new singer for his band.

Just kidding, I like Van.
Van the Man!! {#Dancingbanana_2}
Van Snore-isson
van snore-isson

yes van Morrison, a great Musicians, but sometimes he wrote songs....?{#Yell}
This song makes me instantly happy. :)
 sirdroseph wrote:
One of my top 3 Van Morrison tunes!!{#Motor}
 
Yes, this is one of his Best!

Nice!
 fredriley wrote:
I hate bloody caravans, holding up traffic on narrow country roads and generally being an almight PITA for other road users who want to get somewhere a little faster than 20mph. As for yer man Van: Van on, mute on. Eat your heart out, Pavlov :o)
 
I guess that's where we Yanks have a cultural advantage:  When we hear about caravans, we only think of horse-drawn wagons of yore heading across the prairie.  Or maybe some gypsies... but you get the idea.  Certainly nothing we expect to encounter presently.  Thus the wonderfully nostalgic feeling of this song!  

Oh, and regarding your thoughts on Van, you have your "noggin up your arse." (Hope I said that right!)  Cheers!  {#Cowboy}


One of my top 3 Van Morrison tunes!!{#Motor}
{#Clap}  I had this record. Listened to it until it wouldn't play on the record player anymore.

 pinklife wrote:
All Van Morrison songs sound the same to me...{#Yawn}
 

That would be because Van Morrison is singing all of them.  :duh:
 pinklife wrote:
All Van Morrison songs sound the same to me...{#Yawn}
 

You must be kidding? {#Good-vibes}
All Van Morrison songs sound the same to me...{#Yawn}

Great song!


 calypsus_1 wrote:

 

...and that such the idea to take off one day all to pass in the RP Station only the songs that as much time closed in the trunk of RP Station....

have a nice day!



 

I think I'm going to start a collection of these quotes.
I love Van Morrison but he makes me nostalgic and a little sad.{#Zip-lip}
I hate bloody caravans, holding up traffic on narrow country roads and generally being an almight PITA for other road users who want to get somewhere a little faster than 20mph. As for yer man Van: Van on, mute on. Eat your heart out, Pavlov :o)

 

...and that such the idea to take off one day all to pass in the RP Station only the songs that as much time closed in the trunk of RP Station....

have a nice day!



One of the greatest lines in all of rock 'n' roll:  "Toin it up!!"


ahh, yes, one of my favorite VM songs.  always gets me singing along by the end!
 boober wrote:
Funny,I thought Van was a drunken fool on that stage.
 
What the hell....?!  {#Beat}
I guess everybody's entitled to their own opinion, but when that opinion is just pointless and ridiculous, it shouldn't even count. 
Boober, indeed!

 lawman wrote:


Aaahhhhhh, the Van Morrison that we loved! Yeah man.



 
Ye-ah!

Aaahhhhhh, the Van Morrison that we loved! Yeah man.
Mose Allison to this. SUPERB. And I don't use that word lightly.
I'd give it an 8 because I love it and I know it's deserved, but I guess I've just heard it too many times. So can't go higher than 7.
Kinda funny when you think about it. This homage to listenting to the radio that probably doen't get played on the majority of radio stations in this country. Vans' performance of this song with The Band in The Last Waltz is not to be missed.
I always liked his voice. He could make it sound like a sax. Music would be very boring if only sweet and pretty voices could be recorded. ziggytrix wrote:
i like bob's voice. van sounds like a goat.
YA_MAN wrote:
Turn It Up !!, Its why they call him Van the Man. Its got Soul!
You either get it or you don't.
RobK wrote:
First Tom Waits....then Mose Allison....now Van. Nice roll, keep it coming.
And Repeat the same grouping again! Nice!
7:50 pm - Van Morrison - Caravan 7:48 pm - Mose Allison - The Seventh Son 7:42 pm - Tom Waits - Step Right Up
i like bob's voice. van sounds like a goat.
fredriley wrote:
Well, it sure ain't the voice...
Membership to RP - $50 on my Mastercard Van Morrison and Bob Dylan adrift at sea with no instuments or amplification .... PRICELESS
sugarbaby wrote:
the horns make this song..
Well, it sure ain't the voice...
the horns make this song..
MudHawk wrote:
I totally concur. The Last Waltz version is goosebump-inducing.
Funny,I thought Van was a drunken fool on that stage.
Turn It Up !!, Its why they call him Van the Man. Its got Soul!
eastcoast wrote:
I always considered this album as a best of. The is extremely complimentary since it is not , he was on a roll with this one.
I completely agree. Absolutely a desert island album .. in fact, a top five desert island album.
van... yuck
First Tom Waits....then Mose Allison....now Van. Nice roll, keep it coming.
Don't like the voice, but the guy just obviously digs music. Of all kinds. Hail VM
Anyone agree that Van Morrison doesn't look the way he sounds?...if that makes sense...
TJOpootertoot wrote:
This is a 9 but only because #10 is reserved for the blow-the-roof-off-the-joint version at The Last Waltz. I don't know what happened to that high-kicking, purple-jump-suit wearing guy but he was something to see. TJ
I totally concur. The Last Waltz version is goosebump-inducing.
amcallis wrote:
The cover art photos look like they're taken from a webcam while Van's checking his email, or reading some of the NOT funny comments about his music on RP.
The cover art has always reminded me of a Van Gogh self-portrait, like the one here: https://static.flickr.com/26/60467996_c69433b716.jpg
I always considered this album as a best of. The is extremely complimentary since it is not , he was on a roll with this one.
TJOpootertoot wrote:
This is a 9 but only because #10 is reserved for the blow-the-roof-off-the-joint version at The Last Waltz. I don't know what happened to that high-kicking, purple-jump-suit wearing guy but he was something to see. TJ
agree
zzzman87 wrote:
THE HORROR!
There's that wailing drunk again - why doesn't someone take the microphone away from him?
Great album. "crazy love" was our wedding song.
amcallis wrote:
The cover art photos look like they're taken from a webcam while Van's checking his email, or reading some of the NOT funny comments about his music on RP. He'd be smiling if he was reading my comment.
LOL, they totally look like web cam pics!
This is a 9 but only because #10 is reserved for the blow-the-roof-off-the-joint version at The Last Waltz. I don't know what happened to that high-kicking, purple-jump-suit wearing guy but he was something to see. TJ
Just another one of the many things that does absolutely nothing for me whatsoever.
Oh do I ever LOVE this album! Any song from this album is fan-freaking-tastic. Turn it UP!
Morrison has been my favorite male singer for years. My kids sang the "la la" chorus from the back seat when they were young. The man himself must be boorish, from various reports, but what a great body of work. Odd, though, I never quite got *Astral Weeks* album. *Moondance* might be overplayed, but I'll stop to listen whenever the song plays, even if it is in Aisle 6 at the local IGA.
zzzman87 wrote:
THE HORROR!
I'm with ya. Only that awesome horn arrangement saves it from being a 1.
got me a bourbon for that one..nice day, sun setting, kids are gone...life can be good sometimes...
An amazing song by a great singer. Nuff said.
I first heard this off of a Warner/Reprise loss leader called "Big Ball". Anyone remember those loss leaders (https://lukpac.org/~handmade/patio/weirdo/lossleaders.html)? Awesome tunes...sort of like a vinyl version of Radio Paradise
plutodazed wrote:
He reminds me of the Counting Crows, which doesn't hold well for my feelings for Van Morrison. He's overrated and his vocals are lacking. (This is the Elvis Costello rule.)
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, but this comment is perplexing. The body of work of Van Morrison is so extensive, especially when compared to the Counting Crows. Van is a legend; this song may remind you (but not me) of the Counting Crows but he has many ranges and feels to his music...most will not remind you of anyone but Van Morrison. Can people agree that having a great singing voice has very little to do with the quality of the song or musician. I will take Van Morrison, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits singing their own songs over any remakes. It fits the song and the emotion they are trying to convey. IMHO
needed this one. thanks rp!
He reminds me of the Counting Crows, which doesn't hold well for my feelings for Van Morrison. He's overrated and his vocals are lacking. (This is the Elvis Costello rule.)
Live Van '73 record - 'It's Too Late to Stop Now' has a great version of this song, and even better one of 'Listen to the Lion' and 'Take Your Hands Out of My Pocket', to name a few. Caledonia Soul Orchestra - yeah !!
"Add Cypress Avenue" and "I've Been working" from that album are also amazing. A master and one of the greatest musicians ever!
He is magical............which is why there is now Magic Time......his best since Moondance..........check it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More like, van BOREison! ha ha, i made a funny! The cover art photos look like they're taken from a webcam while Van's checking his email, or reading some of the NOT funny comments about his music on RP. He'd be smiling if he was reading my comment.
Love Van, overplayed or not.
Van Morrison is kinda like your favorite food...you can eat it almost all the time, but if you have it too much, you get a little bored of it. Same for this song, seems like it is in every movie during that relaxing on the porch/camping/at the lake drinking a beer/getting cozy with your honey/dancing in strange places scene.
beelzebubba wrote:
Allright, Moondance, is a rather nice song, but other than that I wish he would have just disappeared a long time ago.
Van's somehting of an enigma, I think. Sometimes I love him, sometimes not. Still some songs like this just scratch an itch that nothing else can reach. So, turn it up. Little bit hire. So ya know
oh, yeah! god, yeah!
Live Van '73 record - 'It's Too Late to Stop Now' has a great version of this song, and even better one of 'Listen to the Lion' and 'Take Your Hands Out of My Pocket', to name a few. Caledonia Soul Orchestra - yeah !! IMHO he was at his best round that time.
Turnip! Turnip! Radio! Now you know. There you go. :-&
Mikey wrote:
In this age of commercialism and ripping off every classic, I'm surprised Dodge hasn't used this one to sell the caravan.
Perhaps Van has a thing about selling out. Let's hope so.