☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a desire for freedom and breaking free from everyday life.
- The singer longs for a retreat where he can escape the hustle and bustle.
- He finds solace in the idea that there is a place where he can find his inner stillness while the world keeps spinning.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Alan Watts Blues' by
Van Morrison are about a desire for freedom and a longing to break free from everyday life. The singer yearns to spend time with himself and make plans for a retreat where he can escape the hustle and bustle.
The refrain 'When I'm cloud hidden, Cloud hidden, Whereabouts unknown' suggests that the singer longs for a place where he is undisturbed by the worries and problems of daily life. He wants to retreat into the sky, away from the hustle of the world.
The line 'I'm tired of the ways of mice and men' expresses frustration about how the world around him always changes but ultimately remains the same. He is tired of seeing great empires crumble to dust.
In the bridge section of the song, the singer describes sitting on a mountaintop and enjoying the silence and solitude. He hopes that this experience will do him good.
Finally, the singer waits in a clearing with the engine running, ready to return to the city. However, he realizes that it won't be long before he returns to this place of peace and tranquility.
Overall, the lyrics of 'Alan Watts Blues' express a desire for freedom, peace, and a retreat where one can escape the everyday stress. The singer finds solace in the idea that there is a place where he can find his inner stillness while the world keeps spinning around him.