Van Morrison

PDF Playlist

About Brown Eyed Girl

"Brown Eyed Girl" is a song by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison. Written by Morrison and recorded in March 1967 for Bang Records owner and producer Bert Berns, it was released as a single in June 1967 on the Bang label, peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song spent a total of sixteen weeks on the chart. It featured the Sweet Inspirations singing back-up vocals and is considered to be Van Morrison's signature song. "Brown Eyed Girl" has remained a staple on classic rock radio, and has been covered by hundreds of bands over the decades. more »

Year:: 1967
: 3:06
: 7,766Views
Playlists:: #7

');var c=function(){cf.showAsyncAd(opts)};if(window.cf)c();else{cf_async=!0;var r=document.createElement("script"),s=document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];r.async=!0;r.src="https://srv.clickfuse.com/showads/showad.js";r.readyState?r.onreadystatechange=function(){if("loaded"==r.readyState||"complete"==r.readyState)r.onreadystatechange=null,c()}:r.onload=c;s.parentNode.insertBefore(r,s)};})();

Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Hey where did we goDays when the rains cameDown in the hollowPlayin' a new gameLaughing and a running hey, heySkipping and a jumpingIn the misty morning fog withOur hearts a thumpin' and youMy brown eyed girlYou're my brown eyed girlWhatever happenedTo Tuesday and so slowGoing down the old mineWith a transistor radioStanding in the sunlight laughingHiding behind a rainbow's wallSlipping and slidingAll along the water fall, with youMy brown eyed girlYou're my brown eyed girlDo you remember when we used to singSha la la la la la la la la la la te daJust like thatSha la la la la la la la la la la te da, la te daSo hard to find my wayNow that I'm all on my ownI saw you just the other dayMy how you have grownCast my memory back there, LordSometime I'm overcome thinking 'boutMaking love in the green grassBehind the stadium with youMy brown eyed girlYou're my brown eyed girlDo you remember when we used to singSha la la la la la la la la la la te da (lying in the green grass)Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da (bit, bit, bit, bit, bit, bit)Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da (sha la la la la la)Sha la la la la la la la la la la te da

Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

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

Genre »

, Pop, Rock

Sheet Music PDF Playlist

Written by: Van Morrison

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

10 facts about this song

Song Production

"Brown Eyed Girl" is a song by Northern Irish singer and songwriter Van Morrison. It was released as a single in June 1967 on Bang Records and later appeared on Morrison's debut album "Blowin' Your Mind!" released in September 1967.

Chart Success

It reached No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Morrison's biggest hit until he reached No. 9 with "Domino" in 1970. On the UK Singles Chart, it peaked at No. 60 in November 1967. However, it remained a perennial favorite and became one of Morrison's most enduring songs.

Initial Title

The song was originally titled "Brown Skinned Girl," and was intended as a nostalgic song about the singer's childhood and his interracial relationships. However, the title was changed to "Brown Eyed Girl" when radio stations in the US refused to play it.

Songwriting Credit Controversy

Despite its success, Morrison had a longstanding dispute with producer Bert Berns and his label, Bang Records, over songwriting credits and royalties. He claimed that he was not given the proper credit or compensation for the song.

Removal From Morrison’s Setlist

Despite its popularity, Morrison removed "Brown Eyed Girl" from his concert repertoire in the late 1970s, citing his displeasure with the way it was produced and his feeling that it didn't represent his best work.

Cultural Influence

The song has been covered by a multitude of artists and has appeared in many films, television programs, and commercials over the years, evidencing its lasting cultural impact.

Recognitions and Rankings

In 2000, "Brown Eyed Girl" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. It is also on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll." In 2005, it was one of the top 10 most performed songs in BMI's catalog.

Morrison’s Personal Take

Morrison himself has often expressed ambivalence about the song, expressing disillusionment with the way it was recorded and marketed. Despite its immense success, Morrison feels it doesn't truly represent his artistic goals and vision.

Misunderstood Lyrics

Because of Morrison's unique pronunciation and Irish accent, the line "Going down the old mine with a transistor radio" is often misconstrued and misquoted.

Licensing and Usage Rights

Van Morrison does not own the rights to "Brown Eyed Girl." The rights are held by a company that licensed the song for use in a series of television commercials. Despite the song's popularity, Morrison earns no royalties from these commercials.

more »