Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
The title is a reference to the fact that Arthur Rimbaud stopped writing poetry when he was twenty. Van has a penchant for name-dropping famous poets (e.g., Rave on, John Donne), and the song expresses anxiety about his own writer’s block.
[Verse 1]
Showed me pictures in the gallery
Showed me novels on the shelf
Put my hands across the table
Gave me knowledge of myself
[Verse 2]
Showed me visions, showed me nightmares
Gave me dreams that never end
Showed me light out of the tunnel
When there was darkness all around instead
[Chorus]
I was just tore down a la Rimbaud
And I wish my message would come
Tore down a la Rimbaud
You know it's hard sometime, you know it's hard sometime
[Verse 3]
Showed me ways and means and motions (Show me)
Showed me what it's like to be (Show me)
Gave me days of deep devotions
Showed me things I cannot see
[Chorus]
When I was tore down a la Rimbaud
And I wish my purpose would come
Tore down a la Rimbaud
You know it's hard sometime, you know it's hard sometime
[Saxophone Solo]
[Verse 4]
Showed me different shapes and colours (Show me)
Showed me many different roads (Show me)
Gave me very clear instructions
When I was in the dark night of the soul
[Chorus]
When I was tore down a la Rimbaud
And I wish my writing would come
Tore down a la Rimbaud
You know it's hard sometime, you know it's hard sometime (Let's sing)
Tore down a la Rimbaud
And I wish my writing would come
Tore down a la Rimbaud
You know it's hard sometime, you know it's hard sometime
[Outro]
Hard sometime (You know it's hard sometime)
Tore down (Uh huh, torn down) a la Rimbaud
A la Rimbaud (Uh huh, you know it's hard sometime)
I was tore down (Tore down)
A la Rimbaud (Uh huh, you know it's hard sometime)
A la Rimbaud (Tore down, uh huh)
(Torn down)
Tore Down a la Rimbaud was written by Van Morrison.
Tore Down a la Rimbaud was produced by Van Morrison.