"Ro Ro Rosey" was written and recorded for Bang Records owner and producer Bert Berns on 28 March 1967 using the same musicians who recorded "Brown Eyed Girl."[1]
Lyrics and music
The subject of the lyrics of "Ro Ro Rosey" is a 16 year old girl.[2][3] Morrison biographer Clinton Heylin believes that this is the same teenage girl who is idealized in other of Morrison's 1960s songs such as "Cyprus Avenue."[3] In this song, the singer can remember when she was "the apple of [his] eye" but he no longer can see her much as she now lives "way up on the avenue of trees."[3] When he now does get a chance to see her he becomes tongue-tied, only able to say "oh uh uh uh uh."[3]
The music uses a three chord structure and has a Latin music feel, similar to other songs Morrison recorded for Berns.[4]Allmusic critic Matthew Greenwald believes that the riff imitates that of Ritchie Valens' hit single "La Bamba."[4] Morrison biographer Erik Hage describes the song as incorporating "psychedelic fuzz guitar."[5] Morrison also plays harmonica on the song.[5]
Reception
Billboard described the single as "an infectious folk rocker that should spiral up the charts in short order."[6]Cash Box said that it's a "potent, funky foot-stomper" that should be "another winning item" for Morrison after the success of "Brown Eyed Girl."[7]Record World said "A diddley beat rolls here as Van goes for another click, and he'll make it—big."[8]Rolling Stone critic Dave Marsh described "Ro Ro Rosey" as being "remarkably erotic in the best blues tradition.[9] On the other hand, Hage describes it as being "an unremarkable rocker brimming with sexual double entendres."[5] Greenwald describes it as a "fun track" but states that it is obvious that Morrison was already capable of writing better ones.[4] Music critic Johnny Rogan describes it as an "innocuous rock-blues piece."[2]
The song was released as the follow-up single to Morrison's hit "Brown Eyed Girl."[2][3][5] The b-side of the single was a track that was not included on Blowin' Your Mind called "Chick-A-Boom," which Morrison biographer Clinton Heylin disparaged for silly lyrics such as "I'm going away but I'm coming back/With a ginger cat/What d'ya think of that."[3] The single version of "Ro Ro Rosey" differed from the album version by overdubbing female singers.[3] The "Ro Ro Rosey" single did not replicate the chart success of "Brown Eyed Girl."[2][3][5] The song has been re-released on many of Morrison's compilation albums, particularly those documenting his Bang Records recording sessions.[4]
References
^Hinton, Brian (1997). Celtic Crossroads: The Art of Van Morrison. Sanctuary. pp. 76–77. ISBN186074169X.
^ abcdRogan, Johnny (2006). Van Morrison: No Surrender. Random House. pp. 204, 207. ISBN978-0099431831.
^ abcdefghHeylin, Clinton (2004). Can You Feel the Silence?. Chicago Review Press. pp. 139–140, 161. ISBN978-1556525421.