If I don't see you through the week
See you through the window
See you next time that we're talking on the telephone
And if I don't see you in that Indian summer
Then I want to see you further on up the road

I said, oh won't you come back?
I have to see you my dear
Want you come back in the Celtic New Year?
In the Celtic New Year

If I don't see you when I'm going down Louisiana
If I don't see you when I'm down on Bourbon Street
If you don't see me when I'm singing Jack of Diamonds
If you don't see me when I'm on my lucky streak

Woa, I want you, want you to come on back
I've made it very clear
I want you to come back home in the Celtic New Year
Celtic New Year

If I don't see you when the bonfires are burning, burning
If I don't see you when we're singing the Gloriana tune
If I've got to see you when it's raining deep inside the forest
I got to see you at the waning of the moon

Said oh, won't you come on back?
Want you to be of good cheer
Come back home on the Celtic New Year

Celtic New Year, Celtic New Year
Celtic New Year
In the Celtic New Year
In the Celtic New Year

Come on home, come on home, come on home, come on home
In the Celtic New Year


Lyrics submitted by Charlie the man

Celtic New Year Lyrics as written by Van Morrison

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Celtic New Year song meanings
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2 Comments

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    My Opinion

    If Ireland is ever reunited (and I hope that remains an if rather than a when) this would make a good new national anthem. The opening line is such an Ulsterism and so comical for a first line in any song. The version on Jools Holland show, Later, (as referenced by mikeb330) is something else helped immensely by a great strings section. The song is off Van's 'Magic Time' album where the late David 'Foggy' Lyttle, guested on guitar and the album was dedicated to him as he died within weeks of completion of the recording.

    The references to the "Gloriana tune" and "bonfires burning" suggest a backdrop of Belfast yet other places are named checked taking us further afield. Van sings "bonefires" if that helps the reader to understand how it's said in Northern Ireland unless you come from a middle class background! On the album version Van changes his vocal expression about 4 times during the song which enhances the production and quality to what is essentially a folk ballad. I am writing this on 2 January at the start of a new calendar year, which, if you will indulge me, let's call it a Celtic New Year.

    robertcousinson January 02, 2015   Link

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