Gypsy (Van Morrison song)

"Gypsy" is a sing written by Van Morrison that was first released on his 1972 album Saint Dominic's Preview. It was also released as a single.

"Gypsy"
German single cover
Single by Van Morrison
from the album Saint Dominic's Preview
B-side
ReleasedJanuary 1973 (1973-01)
Genre
Length3:10
LabelWarner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Van Morrison
Producer(s)
Van Morrison singles chronology
"Redwood Tree"
(1972)		 "Gypsy"
(1973)		 "Warm Love"
(1973)

Lyrics and music

The theme of "Gypsy" is a familiar one to Morrison. As with "Caravan" and other songs, the song extols the archetype of the wandering gypsy who has the freedom to move around but on the other hand lacks a secure place to settle down.[1] Music critic Steve Sparacio said that it "conjures visions of a caravan with camping camp-fires bright and dancers dancing."[2]

"Gypsy" uses a ballad form.[3] The music has a Middle Eastern feel.[4][5] The rhythm alternates between double-time and triple time.[4][5] Rolling Stone Magazine critic Stephen Holden describes these rhythms as "driving and excited" and describes the guitar textures as "exotic."[5] The instrumentation also includes saxophone and piano.[6] Irish Times critic Stewart Parker suggested that the chord progressions of "Gypsy" resemble those of "The House of the Rising Sun."[7]

Reception

Santa Fe New Mexican critic Anne Hillerman considered "Gypsy" to be "better than anything [Morrison had] written before."[3] According to Holden, "Gypsy" "demonstrates that Van is precisely a musical gypsy — cryptic, sensual, and shrewd — a master at casting spells and at leading us through whatever territory he feels like exploring."[5] Music critic Johnny Rogan stated that "Gypsy" is a "reasonable attempt to recapture the excellence of 'Caravan.'"[8] Billboard said of the song that "dark tonal texture combines with an infectious, hard -driving beat, for an eerie anthem to the joys of mobile living."[9] Music critic Dink Lorance praised Morrison's vocal performance as well as the saxophone playing.[10] Austin American critic Joe Gracey says that the "lye lye lye" refrain could have made the song trite, but since "Gypsy" is unpretentious it is not disappointing.[11]

The single just missed the Billboard Hot 100, topping the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart at #101.[12]

References
  1. Mills, Peter (2010). Hymns to Silence. Bloomsbury Academic. pp. 257, 310. ISBN 9780826429766.
  2. Sparacio,Steve (August 9, 1972). "Van's Perspective Moves". Berwyn Life. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
  3. Hillerman, Anne (September 10, 1972). "Van Morrison Tries Again". The Santa Fe New Mexican. p. 22. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
  4. Hage, Erik (2009). The Words and Music of Van Morrison. Praeger. p. 67. ISBN 978-0313358623.
  5. Holden, Stephen (August 31, 1972). "St. Dominic's Preview". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  6. Davis, Randall (August 31, 1972). "Musical Notes". Arcadia Tribune. p. 8. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
  7. Parker, Stewart (August 28, 2015). "(Archive 1972) Saint Dominic's Preview - Album Review by Stewart Parker". Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  8. Rogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison: No Surrender. Random House. p. 275. ISBN 9780099431831.
  9. "Radio Action and Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. December 23, 1972. p. 49. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
  10. Lorance, Dink (October 28, 1972). "New Van Morrison Album Just Great". The Dispatch. p. A-13. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
  11. Gracey, Joe (August 5, 1972). "Van Morrison: Great White Hope of R&B". Austin American. p. 38. Retrieved 2020-07-30 – via newspapers.com.
  12. "Bubbling Under the Hot 100" (PDF). Billboard. January 27, 1973. p. 114. Retrieved 2020-07-30.
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