Cleaning Windows

This song is obviously recreating a memory for Van, before the fame, the adulations, and becoming who he wanted to be. its clearly painting a picture for the listener, what he's life was like, and in that regard its lovely and honest music.

Now, when it comes to the meaning of this song, it is hauntingly beautiful. Saying that cleaning windows is anyones dream would be a flat out lie, and thats why we get the "whats my line" like hes in a play.. ah, yes, thats what he was supposed to say: "im happy cleaning windows". he has to remind himself that hes happy doing what he does. But, he's also saying that he takes his time, and he'll see you when his love grows. Well, he has a goal to become a musician, but he's in no rush, he'll meet his success in music, when his increasing love/dedication for it makes it inevitable.

"Babe, dont let it slide, im a working man in my prime" - he reminds himself to have faith in his journey. Telling his love, (music in this case, wich he calls babe) that it shouldnt let this oppurtunity slide, hes a working man in his prime. Confidence, hes the right person for the job, music better recognize it.

He also brings up musical influences, and books on zen. Stating again the interest in music, and trying to find peace in the journey. There is also enjoyment where hes at, the bakery, the saxophone, the memories, they are looked back at fondly.

Making this song a tribute to the process, and most importantly, enjoying the process of acheiving any goal in life. Thats why the tune is so cheerful, because enjoying the process and patience, is the most important thing. Its almost like its saying to you, the listener, that you should enjoy the process of whatever your goal is right now!

One of my favorite tunes ever!

Now, the numbers, 36 and 126, they can be just numbers on the windows/street/flat(counting). They dont need to be anything else.

Had a hard time finding any other reason behind them, but why say such random numbers in the first place?

I found something that would make somewhat sense: Van was very spiritual in his lyrics throughout the 70's and 80's, and has many songs influenced by this(full force gale, dweller on the threshold, when god shines his light), so he could be refering to something biblical.

Psalm 126 (at the very end, when the picture is painted) - it employs a methaphor for saying that God makes joy out of sorrow, laughter out of tears, etc. So it might be a reference to that God is within this process, or enjoying the process, is enjoying what god has made, a beautiful struggle.

Psalm 36 (after the first chorus) - is basicly saying you should trust in gods enduring love and justice, or he takes care of those who do. Could be just a reference to having trust.

[Edit: spelling and improvement]

To me, Van is singing about how he's happy day to day, but he's meant for something more. He's reading books about hitting the road and traveling the country, while dreaming of being a musician.

The chorus is key: "What's my line? I'm happy cleaning windows"

• He tells himself and others that he's happy, but it's not the whole story...

"Baby, don't let it slide, I'm a working man in my prime, cleaning windows."

• He's spending the best years of his life cleaning windows, when he should be following his heart and passion. He knows deep down that he's meant for more, but for now, he's happy enough cleaning windows.

[Edit: duplicate]

i luv this song.......it makes think of someone who has a carefree kinda life just cleaning windows(duh) and doin what he wants. I wish my life will be like.

Van spent his early days cleaning windows during the week and whaling on the sax on the weekends, very good way to go, this obvoiusly made him happy as the song is sang so joyful and full of energy, like all van songs the intensity is a 10 even when he is whispering.

Such a joyful song, i discovered it on my locals jukebox. Did he write this while he was still cleaning windows? As long as you're happy thats what matters. Brilliant song.

I like that Van says the smell of the bakery "got in his nose", rather than just saying he smelled something.

I agree that it's about his contentedness simply doing a menial job (cleaning windows) and enjoying music.

He actually says 'number thirty-six'. not 'a hundred and thirty six.

This sounds like a set of experiences that a lot of musicians, poets, and artists could appreciate: working a menial job, sure, but using that to buy the ability to indulge in art on the sly.

Notice that he devotes one line to "blowing saxophone on the weekend," but a whole verse to the influences that he describes himself as absorbing and taking to heart.

while i agree that a lot of the song is based in memories of working like the narrator, i think the key to this song are in the chorus and their being in the present tense: "what's my line/i'm happy cleaning windows" and "i'm a working man in my prime." to me this song is about what might have happened if he had never become "van morrison"--if he had remained somebody who cleaned windows, who "took his time," who "blew saxophone on the weekends." there are several lines suggesting caution, holding back--"curiosity killed the cat," "take my time." From this perspective the present-day van is more like the music the narrator listens to--in this way, the person who left home to follow their curiosity. At least, I think this accounts for the combination of happiness and wistfulness I hear in it.