Who was the muse behind one of Van Morrison’s most iconic songs? The answer to this question remains shrouded in mystery, as Morrison himself claims that “Brown Eyed Girl” wasn’t even one of his best compositions. In a recent interview, he mentioned having about 300 songs that he believes are superior. Nevertheless, the enigma of the Brown Eyed Girl endures.

Originally produced by Bert Berns and released in mid-June 1967, the song was initially titled “Brown Skinned Girl” according to Morrison. However, upon completing the recording, he had a change of heart and renamed it “Brown Eyed Girl.” Morrison admitted that the original title was a mistake and described the song as having a Jamaican, Calypso vibe. It seems that the alteration of the title was a mere oversight, as he only noticed the change when he looked at the tape box where it read “Brown Eyed Girl.”

You are viewing: The Fascinating Story Behind “Brown Eyed Girl”

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Although some speculate that the song might be about a girl from Belfast, Stuart Bailie of the Oh Yeah Centre believes that Morrison might have exercised poetic license. Bailie suggests that the stadium mentioned in the song could have been The Oval in east Belfast, or possibly the Shankill Stadium. Ralph McLean from Radio Ulster adds that Morrison’s songs thrive on intrigue, making them all the more captivating.

Upon its release, “Brown Eyed Girl” faced obstacles due to its nostalgic lyrics about an ex-lover, which were considered too explicit for many radio stations. To make it more radio-friendly, a censored version of the song was released, swapping the line “making love in the green grass” with a line from a previous verse. This edited version can be found on some copies of the compilation album “The Best of Van Morrison.”

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The song was recorded during a two-day session with Bert Berns at A&R Studios in New York City. At the time of its release, Morrison was only 22 years old, and his solo career, following his departure from the band Them, was still in its early stages. Despite its humble beginnings, “Brown Eyed Girl” became Morrison’s first American Top 10 single. According to BMI spokesperson Robin Ahrold, it has since surpassed the status of a hit and has become a time-honored classic regularly played in restaurants and on the radio.

While “Brown Eyed Girl” continues to resonate with listeners, it still has a way to go to surpass the act with the most airplay in US radio history. The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” produced by Phil Spector, holds that record, having been heard almost 15 million times and still going strong.

Factfile

• In January 2007, “Brown Eyed Girl” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
• In November 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it at 109 on their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
• It is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.”
• In 2000, it was listed at 21 on both Rolling Stone and MTV’s list of 100 Greatest Pop Songs.
• It was also ranked as the 49th greatest rock song on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Rock Songs.

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