Van Morrison – Cleaning Windows

I went home and listened to Jimmie Rodgers in my lunch-break
Bought five Woodbines at the shop on the corner
And went straight back to work.

On my Max Picks I always notice when it’s too late that I missed a song that I wanted to include. I was telling halffastcyclingclub that I forgot this one in 1982. I didn’t find the song until around 1985 or 86 when I bought Tower Records out of any album with Van Morrison.

This song was on the Beautiful Vision album. Some Van songs grew on me but this one I liked the first time I heard it. This one has an autobiographic feel to it for a good reason. Van did have a job cleaning windows for a while in east Belfast. He captures a specific moment in his life and invites us to join him in reflecting on our own memories.

This was the early sixties when he was still a part-time musician. Not only does he touch on his job but tells us his early influences like Brownie McGhee and Jimmie Rodgers.

Van Morrison - Cleaning Windows 2

Leslie Holmes played with a band with Van called The Monarchs. Holmes helped Van finish the windows so they would make the gig that particular night. As I’ve said before…if you get a chance to see this man live…don’t miss it. He is the only performer where I can say his voice sounds better live than on record.

The album peaked at #44 on the Billboard 100, #22 in Canada, #31 in the UK, and #13 in New Zealand in 1982.

Leslie Holmes: “I played with The Monarchs for two years when the showband scene was at its peak, I enjoyed my time with Van who was a very talented musician and a lot of fun. In addition to the band, Van had a window-cleaning business in east Belfast, and one day I helped him to clean windows so that we could make our gig that night. So I have a special sense of identity with his song about cleaning windows.

“We travelled much of the country and the memorable places included the Orpheus Ballroom, the old Co-Op in York Street, the Flamingo in Ballymena, Moira Town Hall, the Floral Hall, and many others. After I left The Monarchs I did some fill-ins with the Witness Showband.”

Cleaning Windows

Oh, the smell of the bakery from across the street
Got in my nose
As we carried our ladders down the street
With the wrought-iron gate rows
I went home and listened to Jimmie Rodgers in my lunch-break
Bought five Woodbines at the shop on the corner
And went straight back to work.

Oh, Sam was up on top
And I was on the bottom with the v
We went for lemonade and Paris buns
At the shop and broke for tea
I collected from the lady
And I cleaned the fanlight inside-out
I was blowing saxophone on the weekend
In that down joint.

What’s my line?
I’m happy cleaning windows
Take my time
I’ll see you when my love grows
Baby don’t let it slide
I’m a working man in my prime
Cleaning windows (number a hundred and thirty-six)

I heard Leadbelly and Blind Lemon
On the street where I was born
Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee,
Muddy Waters singin’ “I’m A Rolling Stone”
I went home and read my Christmas Humphreys’ book on Zen
Curiosity killed the cat
Kerouac’s “Dharma Bums” and “On The Road”

What’s my line?
I’m happy cleaning windows
Take my time
I’ll see you when my love grows
Baby don’t let it slide
I’m a working man in my prime
Cleaning windows…

…

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

32 thoughts on “Van Morrison – Cleaning Windows”

    1. I was around 18-19 when I first heard this song…and from there I wanted to know more about McGhee and Rodgers…that is why I like name dropping songs if they do it right.
      Yea the single cigarettes…thats crazy. I guess if you a part time smoker that would work lol.

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      2. His father one of the largest record collections in Belfast…so he got it honestly! Ray Charles, Jelly Roll Morton, Lead Belly, etc…

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  5. Love this cut Max. Plus I’m a lifetime member of the Van club. That pic above reminded me of Ronson playing with him. Forgot all about that. The way Morrison uses horns just does it for me. You’re sending me off into music land. I see the Ely take coming up and just went and listened to his buddy Tom Russel and Barrence Whitfield doing this song. Man it’s connecting today.

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    1. Listen to his band…it’s about as tight as you can get CB…every musical note in place.
      I’m listening to Tom Russel and Barrence Whitfield’s version…I like it…they leave more breathing space in their version…really good.
      “Hillbilly Voodoo”…. awesome

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  6. One of his best tracks imo. I always liked the reference to Paris buns, a type of cake that you only find in Belfast. They are flattish cone-shaped, eaten sliced horizontally and spread with butter 😋

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  7. Great song featuring Mark Knopfler on guitar. His other guitarist at this time was Chris Mitchie, who left Wisconsin for California with Mendelbaum Blues Band. When they failed to hit it big (though they did play the Fillmore) he joined up with Van Morrison and the drummer went on to the Doobie Brothers. Van’s bands have always been as tight as James Brown’s.

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  8. My knowledge of Morrison’s catalog remains spotty and is largely limited to his ’60s music with Them and his early solo albums. This is a groovy cut and a nice story song. I had no idea he once was Van The Window Cleaner. My longtime German music buddy has been to various Van Morrison concerts and shares your passion about seeing Van live.

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  12. I was born in Belfast and still go to his hideouts when I’m back home. Must have seen him 20 times or more but my favorite was in the Culloden with only 300 people. Las Vegas is home now and I still go to the residences he does here. What a concept

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