Back On Top cover

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Van Morrison song lyrics:
Back On Top
(see Discography entry)

Goin' Down Geneva
Philosophers Stone
In the Midnight
Back On Top
When the Leaves Come Falling Down
High Summer
Reminds Me of You
New Biography
Precious Time
Golden Autumn Day

Non-album tracks from the CD-singles:

Raincheck
These Dreams Of You

Goin' Down Geneva

Goin' down Geneva, give me a helping hand
I'm goin' down Geneva, give me a helping hand
It's not easy baby, living on the exile plan
Down on the bottom, down to my new pair of shoes
Down on the bottom, down to my new pair of shoes
I'm down by the lakeside, thinking 'bout my baby blue
Last night I played a gig in Salzburg, outside in the pouring rain
Last night I played a gig in Salzburg, outside in the pouring rain
Flew from there to Montreux and my heart was filled with pain
Look out my window, back at the way things are
Look out my window pane, back at the way things are
Just wonder how, how did things ever get this far
Vince Taylor used to live here, nobody's ever heard of him
Vince Taylor used to live here, but nobody's heard of him, ain't that a shame
Just who he was, just where he fits in
He was goin' down Geneva. give him helping hand
He was goin' down Geneva, give him helping hand
It wasn't easy living on the exile plan
Vince Taylor used to live here, nobody's even heard of him
Vince, Vince Taylor lives here, nobody's even heard of him
Just who he was, just where he fits in
Just who he was, just where he fits in

Philosophers Stone

Out on the highways and the by-ways all alone
I'm still searching for, searching for my home
Up in the morning, up in the morning out on the road
And my head is aching and my hands are cold
And I'm looking for the silver lining, silver lining in the clouds
And I'm searching for and
I'm searching for the philosophers stone
And it's a hard road, Its a hard road daddy-o
When my job is turning lead into gold
He was born in the back street, born in the back street Jelly Roll
I'm on the road again and I'm searching for
The philosophers stone
Can you hear that engine
Woe can you hear that engine drone
Well I'm on the road again and I'm searching for
Searching for the philosophers stone
Up in the morning, up in the morning
When the streets are white with snow
It's a hard road, it's a hard road daddy-o
Up in the morning, up in the morning
Out on the job
Well you've got me searching for
Searching for, the philosophers stone
Even my best friends, even my best friends they don't know
That my job is turning lead into gold
When you hear that engine, when you hear that engine drone
I'm on the road again and I'm searching for the philosophers stone
It's a hard road even my best friends they don't know
And I'm searching for, searching for the philosophers stone

In the Midnight

In the lonely, dead of midnight
In the dimness, of the twilight
By the streetlight, by the lamplight
I'll be around
In the sunlight, in the daylight
And I'm workin', on the insight
And I'm tryin' to keep, my game uptight
I'll be around
And your memory, I heard this lonely lonely music once
And your memory, has been haunting me ever since
When I'm tryin', tryin' to come down
In my world, my room keeps spinning round
And I'm tryin' to get my feet, back on the ground
You come around
In my memory, I heard the lonely, lonely music once
In my memory, its been haunting me ever since
In the lonely, dead of midnight
In the dimness of the twilight
If you meet me, by the lamplight
I'll be around
And I'm tryin' for the come down
And my room, keeps spinning round and round
And I'm tryin' to get my feet right back on the ground
You come around

Back On Top

You came to see me when the moon was new
Saw you standin' in the pouring rain
Left my message on the window pain
Back on the street again
Back on the beat again
I'm back on the top again
Saw me climbing to the top of the hill
You saw me meeting with the fools on the hill
Learned my lesson and I had my fill
Learnt it all in vain
Went through it all again
Now I'm back on the top again
Always strivin', always climbing way beyond my will
Same old sensation, isolation at the top of the bill
Always seeming, like I'm moving but I'm really going slow
What do you do when you get to the top and there's nowhere to go
Just how I get there will be anybody's guess
With all the so called trappings of success
Left all the deadbeats on the top of the hill
Too busy raisin' Cain
I'm back on the street again
I'm back on the top again
Always strivin', always climbing way beyond my will
It's the same old sensation, isolation at the top of the hill
Always seeming, like I'm moving but I'm really going slow
You'll find out when you get to the top that there's nowhere to go
How you get there will be anybody's guess
With all the so called trappings of success
Left all the deadbeats on the top of the hill
Too busy raisin' Cain
I'm back on the street again
I'm back on the top again
Back on my feet again
I'm back on the street again
I'm back on the top again

When the Leaves Come Falling Down

I saw you standing with the wind and the rain in your face
And you were thinking 'bout the wisdom of the leaves and their grace
When the leaves come falling down
In September when the leaves, come falling down
And at night the moon is shining on a clear, cloudless sky
And when the evening shadows fall I'll be there by your side
When the leaves come falling down
In September when the leaves, come falling down
Follow me down, follow me down, follow me down
To the place beside the garden and the wall
Follow me down, follow me down
To the space before the twilight and the dawn
Oh, the last time I saw Paris in the streets, in the rain
And as I walk along the boulevards with you, once again
And the leaves come falling down
In September, when the leaves come falling down
Follow me down, follow me down, follow me down
To the place between the garden and the wall
Follow me down, follow me down
To the space between the twilight and the dawn
And as I'm looking at the colour of the leaves, in your hand
As we're listening to Chet Baker on the beach, in the sand
When the leaves come falling down,
Woe in September, when the leaves come falling down
Oh when the leaves come falling down
Yeah in September when the leaves come falling down
When the leaves come falling down
In September, when the leaves come falling down
When the leaves come falling down in September, in the rain
When the leaves come falling down
When the leaves come falting down in September, in the rain
When the leaves come falling down

High Summer

By the mansion on the hillside
Red sports car comes driving down the road
And pulls up into the driveway
And a story does unfold
She's standing by the rhododendrons
Where the roses are in bloom
Looking out at the Atlantic ocean
And in her head she hums this tune
Thank God the dark nights are drawing in again
'Cos high summer has got me down
I'll wait till the end of August
And get off this merry-go-round
And they shut him out of paradise
Called him Lucifer and frowned
She took pride in what God made him
Even before the angels shot him down to the ground
He's a light out of the darkness
And he wears a starry crown
If you see him, nothing will shake him
'Cos high summer has got him low down
High summer's got him lonesome
Eyen when he makes the rounds
There's been no two ways about it
High summer's got him low down
Checked in to the tiny village by the lakeside
Settled down to start a new
Far away from the politicians
And the many chosen few
Far away trom the jealousy factor
And everything that was tearing him apart
Far away from the organ grinder
And everyone that played their part
And they shut him out of paradise
Called him Lucifer and frowned
'Cos he took pride in what God made him
Eyen before the angels shot him to the ground
He's a light out of the darkness
And he wears a starry crown
If you see him nothings shaken
'Cos high summer's got him low down
High summer's on the rebound
High summer's got him low down
High summer's on the rebound
High summer's got him down, low down
High summer's on the rebound
High summer's got him low down
Low down

Reminds Me of You

I miss you so much, I can't stand it
Seems like my heart, is breaking in two
My head says no but my soul demands it
Everything I do, reminds me of you
I miss you so much, in this house full of shadows
While the rain keeps pouring down, my window too
When will the pain, recede to the darkness
From whence it has come, and I'm feeling so blue
Ain't goin'down, no more to the well
Sometimes it feels like, I'm going to hell
Sometimes I'm knocking, on your front door
But I don't have nothing, to sell no more
Seems like the spirit, is pushing me onwards
I'm able to see, where I tripped and went wrong
I'll just have to guess, where my soul will find comfort
And I miss you so much, when I'm singing my song
Ain't goin' down, no more to the well
And sometimes it seems, I'm going to hell
You'll find me knocking, on your front door
But I don't have nothing, to sell no more
Seems like my spirit, is pushing me onwards
'Til I'm able to see where, I tripped when I went wrong
I'll just have to guess, where my soul will get comfort
I miss you so much, when I'm singing my song
I miss you so much, I can't stand it
Seems like my heart is breaking in two
My head says no, but my soul demands it
And everything I do, reminds me of you
Everything I do, reminds me of you
Everything I do, reminds me of you

New Biography

See you've got the new biography
Where did they get the info from
Same as before some, so called friends
Who claim to have, known me then
How come they've got such good memories
And I can't even remember last week
Got to queston where they're coming from
What knowledge of me is it that they speak
So far away, way back when
The people that claim, to have known me then
Not on my wavelength and it's such a shame
That they have to play the name game
The fame game, oh the name game,
Lord it's a cryin' shame
Lord tell me what's to blame
Reinvented all the stories they know
Give them all a different slant
What is it that they're really looking for
Just a hobby on the internet
So far away, way back when
The people that claim, to have known me then
Not on my wavelength and it's such a shame
That they have to play the name game
The fame game, the name game,
Oh it's such a cryin' shame, tell me who's to blame
If they didn't really know me way back
How can they know me now, in any respect
It's a pity they don't feel the pain
That they should pay the price to play, to play
The fame game, the name game
It's such a cryin' shame, please tell me who's to blame
Not on my wavelength and it's such a shame
That they have to play, have to play the fame game
Oh the name game, it's a cryin' shame
Please tell me who's to blame
They keep on playin'
The fame game, oh the name game
It's such a cryin' shame, please tell me who's to blame
Keep on playin' the fame game
Lord, the name game, its such a cryin' shame
Please tell me who's to blame
They just keep on playin' the fame game
Oh the name game, its such a cryin' shame
Please tell me who's to blame
Keep on, keep on playin'..

Precious Time

Precious time is slipping away
But you're only king for a day
It doesn't matter to which God you pray
Precious time is slipping away
It doesn't matter what route you take
Sooner or later the hearts going to break
No rhyme or reason, no master plan
No Nirvana, no promised land
Because, precious time is slipping away
You know you're only king for a day
It doesn't matter to which God you pray
Precious time is slipping away
Say que sera, whatever will be
But then I keep on searching for immortality
She's so beautiful but she's going to die some day
Everything in life just passes away
But, precious time is slipping away
You know she's only queen for a day
It doesn't matter to which God you pray
Precious time is slipping away
Well this world is cruel with its twists and its turns
But the fire's still in me and the passion it burns
I love her madly 'til the day I die
'Til hell freezes over and the rivers run dry
Precious time is slipping away
You know she's only queen for a day
It doesn't matter to which God you pray because
Precious time is slipping away
Precious time is slipping away
You know you're only king for a day
It doesn't matter to which God you pray
Precious time is slipping away
Precious time is slipping away
You know you're only king for a day
It doesn't matter to which God you pray because
Precious time is slipping away

Golden Autumn Day

Well I heard the bells ringing, I was thinking about winning
In this God forsaken place
When my confidence was well, then I tripped and I felt
Right flat on my face
Now I'm standing erect, and I feel like coming back
And the sun is shining gold
Put a smile on my face, get back in the human race
And get on with the show
And I'm taking in the Indian Summer
And I'm soaking it up in my mind
And I'm pretending that it's paradise
On a golden autumn day, on a golden autumn day
On a golden autumn day, an a golden autumn day
In the wee midnight hour I was parking my car
In this dimly lit town,
I was attacked by two thugs, who took me for a mug
And shoved me down on the ground
And they pulled out a knife, and I fought my way up
As they scarpered from the scene
Well this is no New York street, and there's no Bobby on the beat
And things ain't just what they seem
And I'm taking in the Indian Summer
And I'm soaking it up in my mind
And I'm pretending that it's paradise
On a golden autumn day, on a golden autumn day
On a golden autumn day, an a golden autumn day
Who would think this could happen in a city like this
Among Blake's green and pleasant hills,
And we must remember as we go through September
Among these dark satanic mills
If there's such a thing as justice I could take them out and flog them
In the nearest green field
And it might be a lesson to the bleeders of the system
In this whole society
And I'm taking in the Indian Summer
And I'm soaking it up in my mind
And I'm pretending like it's paradise
On a golden autumn day, on a golden autumn day
On a golden autumn day, on a golden autumn day, golden autumn day ...

Raincheck

(Van Morrison)

From a Back On Top CD-single
Recorded Live - Dusseldorf December 19, 1998

It's not high finance
It's called heart and sould
An' if it's rock and roll
I've got to go-go-go-go
Bye-bye-bye-bye

Keep movin' on up, to that higher ground
Movin' on up, I got to stand my ground
Movin' on up, I've got to stick around
Well, let the bastards (grind me down)
Well, let the bastards (grind me down)
Well, let the bastards (grind me down)

My name is raincheck (call me raincheck)
In the afternoon
My name is raincheck
Need a shot-a rhythm an' blues
My name is raincheck (call me raincheck)
On a rainy long day
My name is raincheck
'Cause I don't fade away
I don't fade away
I don't fade away
I don't fade away, unless I choose

Can't take my love away
Because it's here ta stay
Well, an if it fades away
Come back another day�

Then I'm gonna keep, movin' on up
To that higher ground
Movin' on up, I've got to stand my ground
Movin' on up, I've got to stick around
Well, let the bastards (grind me down)
Grind me down
Grind me down

My name is raincheck (call me raincheck)
In the afternoon
My name is raincheck-a
Need a shot-a rhythm an blues
My name is raincheck
On a very rainy day
My name is raincheck
'Cause I don't fade away
I don't fade away
I don't fade away
Unless, I choose
I choose

(Instrumental & guitar solo)

(Grind me down)
(Grind me down)
(Grind me down)

James Kay (applause)

Put on your dancin' shoes
Dance away your blues
When I'm feelin' this way
I got nothin' to lose

You're gonna keep on movin' up (movin' on up)
To that higher ground
You're gonna keep (movin' on up) movin' on up
To that higher
Keep on movin' on up
I've got to stand my ground
Or let the bastards (grind me down)
Grind me down
Grind me down

My name is raincheck (call me raincheck)
In the afternoon
My name is raincheck
Need a shot-a rhythm an blues
My name is raincheck (call me raincheck)
On a very rainy day
My name is raincheck
So I don't fade away

My name is raincheck (call me raincheck)
On a rainy day
My name is raincheck
'Cause I don't fade a way
I don't fade away
I don't fade away
Unless I choose

I don't fade away
I don't fade away
I don't fade away
Unless I choose

I choose
I choose
I choose

I don't fade away.

(Transcribed by ear, so corrections are welcome.)

These Dreams Of You

(Van Morrison)
From a Back On Top CD-single
Recorded Live - Dusseldorf December 19, 1998

(Opening applause)

Announcer: "These Dreams of You"
Van: Thank you

(One, two, three, four)

Dreamed you paid your dues in Canada
Left me to come through
Headed for there right away
Knew exactly just what to do

Hid my face against the sun
You pointed out for me to go
When I thought I wasn't wanted
Had to reap what you did sow

These dreams of you
So real an' so true
These dreams of you
So real an' so true

Back was up against the wall
An' ya slowly walked away
Never, ever heard the call
When ya cried out that way

When we played cards in the dark
You lost an' you lied
Wasn't very hard to do
Hurt you deep down inside

These dreams of you
So real an' so true
These dreams of you
So real an' so true

But, hush-a-bye
Don't ever think about it
Go to sleep don't ever say one word
Close your eyes you are an angel
Sent here from above

Alright!

(Instrumental & horns solo)

Ray Charles, was shot down
Ray got up ta,do his best
Crowd-a people gathered 'round
To the question an' said 'yes'

You slapped me in the face
I turned 'round the other cheek
Couldn't really stand the pace
I would never, never, never, never, never
Be so meek

These dreams of you
So real an' so true
These dreams of you
So real an' so true

But, hush-a-bye
Don't ever think about it
Go to sleep don't ever say-a one word
Close your eyes you are an angel
Sent here from above

An' hush-a-bye
Don't ever think about it
Go to sleep don't ever say-a one word
Close your eyes you are an angel
Sent here from above.

Announcer says:
Ray Charles, alright

Audience applause.

(Transcribed by ear, so corrections are welcome.)

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