Meaning of Gloria by Them & Song Story

The song Gloria by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and Them is known to all fans of garage rock. Most beginner musicians who prefer this direction are one of the first to master this composition. Over the years, many legends played it, including Jimi Hendrix, Patti Smith, The Doors, which gives reason to consider the track a classic of the genre.

The history of creation and the meaning of the song Gloria

Gloria is written and composed by Van Morrison. He recalled writing the song in the summer of 1963 while performing with The Monarchs in Germany. Morrison named her after his cousin Gloria, but denied that the girl was the prototype of the main character.

Back in Belfast, he started playing with Them. The song became a must-have number on their program at the Maritime Hotel Club.

Morrison later said:

I was just myself, a street cat from Belfast. Probably like the thousands of other guys from Belfast who were in bands.

Rolling stone

Release and achievements

Soon the rock band Them signed a contract with Decca and went to London’s Decca Three Studios. On July 5, 1964, the musicians recorded studio versions of Gloria and six more songs.

In November, “Gloria” was released on the back of the Baby, Please Don’t Go single. In 1973, it was re-released on the Deram label, but did not hit the charts. It was later included on the album The Angry Young Them.

In 1966, Them and The Doors played together at The Whiskey A-Go-Go. At the final performance, they performed “Gloria” together. Subsequently, Jim Morrison and The Doors played the song repeatedly.

Clip Gloria Van Morrison

Below is the music video for the song.

Cover versions of Van Morrison’s Gloria

There are several dozen recorded Gloria cover versions. Artists on the track included The Shadows of Knight (No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100), AC/DC, Patti Smith, Jimi Hendix, Bruce Springsteen and many more.

In 2007, even actor Bill Murray sang it at the Crossroads festival.

The composition has received numerous awards and has been included in several ratings of the best musical works, including the following:

500 Greatest Songs of All Time (Rolling Stone)
100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time (VH1)
Hall of Fame (Grammy)
500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll (The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

Van Morrison continues to perform Gloria. Check out the music video of him playing the song with John Lee Hooker.

Interesting Facts

There is a claim that when recording Gloria, Jimmy Page played the second guitar.
Van Morrison would often improvise with lyrics in concert, and at times Gloria would stretch for fifteen or twenty minutes.
The song was included in the soundtracks of the film The Outsiders and the series The Sopranos.

Gloria – Them, Van Morrison Lyrics

Like to tell ya about my baby
You know she comes around
She about five feet four
A from her head to the ground

You know she comes around here
At just about midnight
She make ya feel so good Lord
She make you feel alright

And her name is GLO are III
GLO are IA (Gloria)
GLO are IA (Gloria)
I’m gonna shout it all night (Gloria)
I’m gonna shout it everyday (Gloria)

She comes around here
Just about midnight
Ha, she make me feel so good, Lord
I want to say she make me feel alright

Comes a walkin’ down my street
When she comes to my house
She knocks upon my door
And then she comes in my room
Yeah, an’ she make me feel alright

GLO are IA (Gloria)
GLO are IA (Gloria)
I’m gonna shout it all night (Gloria)
I’m gonna shout it everyday (Gloria)
Looks so good (Gloria) alright
Just so good (Gloria) alright, yeah

Gloria – Them Lyrics Van Morrison Lyrics Alternative

I want to tell you about my baby
You know, sometimes she comes
She’s about five feet and four inches.
From earth to crown

You know she comes
Somewhere around midnight
She makes you feel so good, God
She makes you feel good

And her name is G-L-O-R-I-I
G-L-O-R-I-I (Gloria)
G-L-O-R-I-I (Gloria)
I’ll scream it all night (Gloria)
I will scream it every day (Gloria)

She comes here
Somewhere around midnight
She makes me feel so good, God
She makes me very good

She walks down my street
Comes to my house
Knocking on my door
And then he comes into my room
Yes, she does me very well

G-L-O-R-I-I (Gloria)
G-L-O-R-I-I (Gloria)
I’ll scream it all night (Gloria)
I will scream it every day (Gloria)
She looks great (Gloria)
Everything is so good (Gloria)

Song quote

…the main achievement [Them] was the song I wrote, Gloria. It has been widely used by others, especially by numerous American groups, while I have not benefited much from it.

Rolling stone