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Ballerina Lyrics

Spread your wings
Come on fly awhile
Straight to my arms
Little angel child
You know you only
Lonely twenty-two story block
And if somebody, not just anybody
Wanted to get close to you
For instance, me, baby
All you gotta do
Is ring a bell
Step right up, step right up
And step right up
Ballerina
Crowd will catch you
Fly it, sigh it, try it
Well, I may be wrong
But something deep in my heart tells me I'm right and I don't think so
You know I saw the writing on the wall
When you came up to me
Child, you were heading for a fall
But if it gets to you
And you feel like you just can't go on
All you gotta do
Is ring a bell
Step right up, and step right up
And step right up
Just like a ballerina
Stepping lightly
Alright, well it's getting late
Yes it is, yes it is
And this time I forget to slip into your slumber
The light is on the left side of your head
And I'm standing in your doorway
And I'm mumbling and I can't remember the last thing that ran through my head
Here come the man and he say, he say the show must go on
So all you gotta do
Is ring the bell
And step right up, and step right up
And step right up
Just like a ballerina, yeah, yeah
Crowd will catch you
Fly it, sight it, c'mon, die it, yeah
Just like a ballerina
Just like a just like a just like a ballerina
Get on up, get on up, keep a-moving on, little bit higher, baby
You know, you know, you know, get up baby
Alright, a-keep on, a-keep on, a-keep on, a-keep on pushing
Stepping lightly
Just like a ballerina
Ooo-we baby, take off your shoes
Working on
Just like a ballerina
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Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

no one ever comments on the good songs. this is just such a beautiful song. i don't understand how words seem so different when they're sung and when they're written.

@fadedjaded not only that, but if it was in a different key...the meaning could significantly change

Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

I'm almost positive that he says "grab it, catch it" instead of "crowd will catch you." It's a little mumbled on the album version, but on the Hollywood Bowl version it's clearly that.

It also fits a little better in context: "Grab it, catch it, fly it, sigh it."

@WeezeRing Agreed

@WeezeRing And makes a bit more sense than "Grab the ketchup" which is what I thought he was saying. Poets, go figure, I thought.

@WeezeRing Ballerina is my beyond absolute favorite Van Morrison song, it just takes me there. I agree with you, I've been singing "grab it, catch it" for over 20 years. Don't think I'm changing now. (Lol, ketchup, to true) I ended up here because I'm making some mixed media art for my bedroom that features these lyrics. No actual ballerinas or ballet things in project, lyrics and paint and texture paste. This and Streets of Arklow are my always songs.

Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

ANother iffy song. the girl has become some sort of performer(actress, singer, stripper, prostitute). She also may have a drug addiction. As hinted to by Young Lovers innocence is over. Van and her are grown and at least somewhat more mature. He begins to see that life isnt really pretty and happy at all. He still loves her deeply but she has changed. But he is trying to make things work. Where will this lead?

LOL...John Paul. Isn't that the pope's name? I have a BACK ITCH, not a crotch it. Well, I have that to, but the back itch is buggin' me more at the moment. Get your little mind out of the gutter! Geesh. (You do know it's fun to play with the master. He can't win EVERY time:)

Not Valid

2004? Mmmmmmm. Bet you were just as gorgeous;)

Not Valid
Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

The beginning, especially the line about the 22 storey block remind me of myself. I don't know why. I suppose being a lonely 22 storey block must be fairly isolating and, well, lonely. It would be hard to let someone get too close. And then the Crowd Will Catch You line. If you fall from the 22nd storey, the crowd will catch you. The singer (in this case Van) will catch you. Don't worry, just step right up, like you're the graceful ballerina you know you're not and ring that bell. Because that's how someone will get close to your 22 storey block, which cannot be anywhere nearly as beautiful as a ballerina as it's a block, but it's okay. You can pretend that you are a ballerina.

Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

Well, I may be wrong, but the "keep on pushing" line made me consider the possibility that the ballerina is Van himself. That would explain being worried about the show going on.

My Opinion
Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

"Lonely 22 story block" I always thought about high rise public housing in North Dublin, and well, any other city. Like, she's stuck in a crappy place without freedom or beauty, sad and dreary. So spread your wings, fly right on outta there and escape to something better, for instance HIM, baby. For whatever reason this is and will probably always be my favorite Van Morrison song, it ; st takes me there. Then in second Streets of Arklow, it reminds me so much of a place and time in my life, long ago.

Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

This is a beautiful song, written for Janet Planet, his soon to be wife. They were about to embark on married life and making a living was impinging on their happiness - "Here come the man and he say, he say the show must go on

Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

surely this is one of the most underrated songs of all time, an unsung classic - my dads favourite van morrison song, i wouldnt say it was mine but its brilliant - im going to see him in november 07 in norwich and i cannot flippin wait

Cover art for Ballerina lyrics by Van Morrison

I sometimes get stuck in a certain song from an artist. Recently I found this song and my favorite song by him. It’s beautiful…the music, lyrics, story, even though I don’t know what it means. I think, like other that it’s a bout a young woman who needs or is looking for something but nit sure. “He” is and will be there for her but respects the fact that she is a “ballerina” spinning in some direction but who know.