Gloria by Them: The Story Behind Van Morrison's Garage Rock Classic

By Chris Kennedy | Published 9th June, 2026

How a Belfast Band Created One of Rock's Most Enduring Anthems

Few songs have had the lasting impact of Gloria, the timeless garage rock classic recorded by Belfast R&B band Them and written by their charismatic young frontman, Van Morrison. Built around a simple three-chord progression and an unforgettable chorus that spells out its title letter by letter, Gloria became one of the most influential rock songs of the 1960s. More than sixty years after its release, it remains a staple of rock radio, live performances, and countless cover versions.

Released as the B-Side to Baby, Please Don't Go

Gloria first appeared on 6 November 1964 as the B-side to Them's single Baby, Please Don't Go on Decca Records in the UK. While the bluesy A-side received most of the initial promotion, many listeners quickly discovered that the flip side contained something special. Although Gloria was not originally intended to be the featured track, its raw energy, memorable chorus, and rebellious spirit helped it develop a life of its own. Over time, the song became every bit as important as the single's A-side and eventually eclipsed it in popularity.

When and Where Van Morrison Wrote Gloria

Van Morrison has said that he wrote Gloria during the summer of 1963 while performing in Germany with a band called the Monarchs. He was just turning eighteen years old at the time and was absorbing a wide range of American blues, rhythm and blues, and early rock and roll influences. After returning to Belfast, Morrison began performing the song regularly at local venues, including the Maritime Hotel, where he would soon become a key figure in the formation of Them. What started as a simple song written by a teenage musician abroad would eventually become one of rock's defining anthems.

What Do the Lyrics of Gloria Mean?

At its heart, Gloria is a straightforward tale of youthful desire and attraction. The narrator eagerly anticipates the arrival of a girl named Gloria and describes the excitement and anticipation that comes with seeing her. Unlike many pop songs of the era, Morrison's lyrics carried a slightly edgy and suggestive tone, helping the song stand out from the cleaner, more polished chart hits of the mid-1960s. The famous spelling of G-L-O-R-I-A gave audiences an irresistible hook, while the song's loose, conversational style made it feel spontaneous and authentic. Its combination of innocence, sexuality, and raw energy helped establish the template for countless garage rock and punk songs that followed.

The Legendary 15-20 Minute Live Versions

Long before Gloria became a rock standard, Van Morrison was already stretching it far beyond its recorded running time. While performing in Belfast with Them, he often used the song as a vehicle for improvisation, ad-libbing lyrics and extending performances to fifteen or even twenty minutes. These live versions allowed Morrison to experiment with storytelling, audience interaction, and spontaneous vocal ideas. The extended performances became legendary among local fans and helped establish the song's reputation as a powerful live number long before it became famous worldwide.

Inside the Recording Session

Them recorded Gloria during an early session for Decca Records at Decca Three Studios in West Hampstead, London, in 1964. The recording featured Morrison alongside guitarist Billy Harrison, bassist Alan Henderson, drummer Ronnie Millings, and keyboard player Pat McAuley. Producer Dick Rowe, concerned about the band's lack of studio experience, also brought in several session musicians, including organist Arthur Greenslade and drummer Bobby Graham. Some accounts have also linked future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page to the session, although his exact role remains a matter of debate. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the personnel, the resulting recording captured the raw excitement that made Them one of Britain's most exciting young bands.

How the Public Reacted to Gloria in 1964

When Baby, Please Don't Go was released, it became Them's breakthrough hit in the UK, reaching the Top 10 and introducing the Belfast group to a much wider audience. However, radio DJs and fans increasingly gravitated toward Gloria, helping the B-side gain significant attention in its own right. In the United States, both songs received strong airplay, particularly on the West Coast, where the single became a regional favourite. Although Gloria did not immediately become a major chart hit on its own, its popularity grew steadily through word of mouth, radio exposure, and live performances, laying the groundwork for its future status as a rock classic.

Cover Versions and the Lasting Influence of Gloria

The influence of Gloria on rock music is difficult to overstate. Its simple chord structure made it easy for young musicians to learn, helping it become a garage band favourite throughout the 1960s and beyond. One of the most successful cover versions came from The Shadows of Knight, whose 1966 recording became a major hit in the United States. Other notable artists to record or perform the song include Patti Smith, whose 1975 reinterpretation transformed it into a punk-rock statement, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, and many other rock acts. The song's stripped-down structure, rebellious attitude, and sing-along chorus helped shape garage rock, proto-punk, and punk music itself. Decades after its release, Gloria remains a blueprint for how a simple rock and roll song can become immortal.

A Song That Outgrew Its B-Side Status

What began as the B-side of a blues cover eventually became one of the defining songs of the rock era. Gloria captured the spirit of youthful freedom, raw performance, and musical simplicity in a way that continues to resonate with listeners today. For Belfast's Them and for Van Morrison, it was the song that announced their arrival. For rock music, it became one of the genre's foundational recordings - a three-chord masterpiece that still sounds as exciting now as it did in 1964.