The Hurdy Gurdy Man is the sixth studio album (seventh overall) by Scottish… Read Full Bio ↴The Hurdy Gurdy Man is the sixth studio album (seventh overall) by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan. It was released in the US in October 1968 (Epic Records BN 26420 (stereo)), but not in the UK, because of a continuing contractual dispute that also prevented Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow from being released there. A songbook of lead sheets to the album was nonetheless issued in both countries.
Donovan wrote and recorded much of The Hurdy Gurdy Man in late 1967, not long after recording the songs that would form A Gift from a Flower to a Garden. The rest of The Hurdy Gurdy Man was recorded in April 1968, after he visited Rishikesh in India to study Transcendental Meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. John Lennon, Cynthia Lennon, George Harrison, Pattie Boyd, Paul McCartney, Jane Asher, Ringo Starr, Mia Farrow, Prudence Farrow and Mike Love were there as well. Harrison wrote a verse for "Hurdy Gurdy Man" when they were in India, but it was cut from the studio version in order to ensure that the song was not overly long for a single. On his 1973 live album Live in Japan: Spring Tour 1973 and his 1990 live album Rising, Donovan explains the story and sings the previously omitted verse. The last verse of "Hurdy Gurdy Man", written by Harrison, is: "When the truth gets buried deep / Beneath a thousand years of sleep / Time demands a turn around / And once again the truth is found".
Donovan's songwriting for The Hurdy Gurdy Man centered on drones on such songs as "Peregrine", "The River Song" and "Tangier" - the latter two being compositions by his friend "Gypsy Dave" (Gyp Mills) - and pop music on most of the other tracks. "As I Recall It" continued Donovan's infatuation with jazz. "Jennifer Juniper" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man" were both released as singles well before the album was released.
The recording sessions for the album are purported to have included future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. Page was in The Yardbirds at the time and was actively looking to rebuild that band. The album credits John Bonham for percussion on the song "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and Clem Cattini as the drummer.
Donovan wrote and recorded much of The Hurdy Gurdy Man in late 1967, not long after recording the songs that would form A Gift from a Flower to a Garden. The rest of The Hurdy Gurdy Man was recorded in April 1968, after he visited Rishikesh in India to study Transcendental Meditation under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. John Lennon, Cynthia Lennon, George Harrison, Pattie Boyd, Paul McCartney, Jane Asher, Ringo Starr, Mia Farrow, Prudence Farrow and Mike Love were there as well. Harrison wrote a verse for "Hurdy Gurdy Man" when they were in India, but it was cut from the studio version in order to ensure that the song was not overly long for a single. On his 1973 live album Live in Japan: Spring Tour 1973 and his 1990 live album Rising, Donovan explains the story and sings the previously omitted verse. The last verse of "Hurdy Gurdy Man", written by Harrison, is: "When the truth gets buried deep / Beneath a thousand years of sleep / Time demands a turn around / And once again the truth is found".
Donovan's songwriting for The Hurdy Gurdy Man centered on drones on such songs as "Peregrine", "The River Song" and "Tangier" - the latter two being compositions by his friend "Gypsy Dave" (Gyp Mills) - and pop music on most of the other tracks. "As I Recall It" continued Donovan's infatuation with jazz. "Jennifer Juniper" and "Hurdy Gurdy Man" were both released as singles well before the album was released.
The recording sessions for the album are purported to have included future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. Page was in The Yardbirds at the time and was actively looking to rebuild that band. The album credits John Bonham for percussion on the song "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and Clem Cattini as the drummer.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
The Hurdy Gurdy Man
Donovan Lyrics
A Sunny Day Sunny day while away the afternoon Cutting nettles that are …
As I Recall It From the album the hurdy gurdy man As I recall it,…
Get Thy Bearings From the album the hurdy gurdy man Get your bearings, know…
Hi It's Been a Long Time From the album the hurdy gurdy man Hi, it's been a…
Hurdy Gurdy Man Thrown like a star in my vast sleep I opened my…
Jennifer Juniper Jennifer Juniper, lives upon the hill Jennifer Juniper, sitt…
Peregrine From the album the hurdy gurdy man Peregrine falcon hooded …
Tangier From the album the hurdy gurdy man In Tangier down a…
Teas I strolled into a deserted seaside café All on a winter's…
The Entertaining of a Shy Girl I'll sing you a song, Paint you a painting, Dance you a…
The River Song From the album the hurdy gurdy man Oh, the waters flow…
The Sun Is a Very Magic Fellow From the album the hurdy gurdy man The sun is a…
West Indian Lady From the album the hurdy gurdy man Can I be of…