In 1966,Van Morrison signed a record contract with Bang Records. In retrospect, this was a very bad move…that resulted in a very good song…and(Explanation Below).

The original title of the song was “Brown-Skinned Girl,” but Van changed it, knowing that back then, a song about an interracial relationship would have been banned immediately by most radio stations. Even The surviving lyric about “Making Love in The Green Grass”was problematic enough to get the song banned in some areas…but societal mores have changed since then, and that’s now the lyric you’ll hear most often on the radio. “

Brown-Eye’d Girl” spent 16 weeks on The Hot 100–peaking at #10…and is considered to be Van’s signature song.

And here’s a fun fact for you: The backup vocals were provided by The Sweet Inspirations, led by Cissy Houston, Whitney’s mom.

Now about that bad decision: : Van’s contract with Bang records was brutal: He was liable for all recording expenses, and as right now, (in 2026), he has yet to receive ANY royalties for this Great Song of 1967!