Donovan Philips Leitch (born May 10, 1946 in Maryhill, Glasgow), better kno… Read Full Bio ↴Donovan Philips Leitch (born May 10, 1946 in Maryhill, Glasgow), better known as simply Donovan, is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and musician. Originally a '60s folk singer, as the decade progressed Donovan cultivated his own unique eclectic sound, mixing elements of folk, pop, jazz, world music and more, often with a twinge of psychedelia. His most well-known work was suffused with altruistic political overtones, making him an iconic figure of the "flower power" counter-culture of the '60s.
Donovan came to fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with a series of live performances on the television pop series, Ready Steady Go!. He first hit the charts in 1965 with his single "Catch the Wind", continuing on with a string of hits, most of them produced by Mickie Most. Donovan's 1966 Sunshine Superman marked not only a transition to the burgeoning psychedelic scene, but is also viewed as a formative album in its genre, inspiring countless contemporaries. His 1967 double album A Gift from a Flower to a Garden—the first major album released as a boxed set—completed the transition from beat poet folkster to hippie troubadour.
As a close friend of The Beatles, he traveled with them to India during their stay at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and taught them the "clawhammer" finger-picking style, which is featured on several tracks on their seminal 1968 double album The Beatles, better known as "The White Album."
The decline of Donovan's commercial popularity coincides roughly with his split from Most in 1969, as well as gradually lessened interest in psychedelics by artists and the record-buying public alike. With the advent of punk rock during the mid-'70s, Donovan, now viewed as a "nice boy" '60s relic, truly fell from favor. Music critics' tastes too had changed; Donovan's new product, while still quirky and experimental, earned little but scorn and derision. As the decades progressed, Donovan would record and perform only sporadically, often separated by several years.
Donovan's career went through a revival of sorts with the emergence of Britain's rave scene in the '90s. As a result, his most famous works were reissued, and once again viewed favorably by critics. With the release of the back-to-basics Rick Rubin-produced Sutras in 1996, Donovan's career settled into a comparatively steady stream of new releases, coupled with archival material and various reissues. He was inducted into the Rock and Hall of Fame in 2012.
Donovan came to fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with a series of live performances on the television pop series, Ready Steady Go!. He first hit the charts in 1965 with his single "Catch the Wind", continuing on with a string of hits, most of them produced by Mickie Most. Donovan's 1966 Sunshine Superman marked not only a transition to the burgeoning psychedelic scene, but is also viewed as a formative album in its genre, inspiring countless contemporaries. His 1967 double album A Gift from a Flower to a Garden—the first major album released as a boxed set—completed the transition from beat poet folkster to hippie troubadour.
As a close friend of The Beatles, he traveled with them to India during their stay at the ashram of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and taught them the "clawhammer" finger-picking style, which is featured on several tracks on their seminal 1968 double album The Beatles, better known as "The White Album."
The decline of Donovan's commercial popularity coincides roughly with his split from Most in 1969, as well as gradually lessened interest in psychedelics by artists and the record-buying public alike. With the advent of punk rock during the mid-'70s, Donovan, now viewed as a "nice boy" '60s relic, truly fell from favor. Music critics' tastes too had changed; Donovan's new product, while still quirky and experimental, earned little but scorn and derision. As the decades progressed, Donovan would record and perform only sporadically, often separated by several years.
Donovan's career went through a revival of sorts with the emergence of Britain's rave scene in the '90s. As a result, his most famous works were reissued, and once again viewed favorably by critics. With the release of the back-to-basics Rick Rubin-produced Sutras in 1996, Donovan's career settled into a comparatively steady stream of new releases, coupled with archival material and various reissues. He was inducted into the Rock and Hall of Fame in 2012.
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Try for the Sun: The Journey of Donovan
Donovan Lyrics
Atlantis The continent of Atlantis was an island Which lay before the…
Barabajagal She came, she came to meet a man, she found…
Catch the Wind In the chilly hours and minutes Of uncertainty I want to be …
Celia Of The Seals Should you wander this land to the North, And few seldom…
Clara Clairvoyant Clara Clairvoyant Consultation 10 to 4 In the shadows Leave …
Co'dine From the album best of donovan An' my belly is craving,…
Colours Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair In the…
Dark-eyed Blue Jean Angel From the album slow down world My love she's a flower Perfu…
Epistle to Dippy Look on yonder misty mountain See the young monk meditating …
Get Thy Bearings From the album the hurdy gurdy man Get your bearings, know…
Guinevere Guinevere of the royal court of Arthur Draped in white velve…
Hampstead Incident Standing by the Everyman digging the rigging on my sail Rain…
Happiness Runs Little pebble upon the sand Now you're lying here in my…
Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness) From the album best of donovan ii I'll buy you a…
Hurdy Gurdy Man Thrown like a star in my vast sleep I opened my…
I Like You You're such a good friend I'd hate to have you as…
Isle of Islay How high the gulls fly O'er Ilay How sad the farm lad Deep…
Jennifer Juniper Jennifer Juniper, lives upon the hill Jennifer Juniper, sitt…
Josie From the album catch the wind Josie, I won't fail ya, I…
Lalena When the sun goes to bed That's the time you raise…
Legend Of A Girl Child Linda I will bring you gold apples and grapes made of…
Lord of the Reedy River Lord of the Reedy River She fell in love with a…
Love Floats Leitch If I was your lover, I’d take you to the…
Maria Magenta Maria Magenta Scarlet O'Hara Henna ma honey You are the one …
Mellow Yellow I'm just mad about Saffron Saffron's mad about me I'm just m…
Museum I drink sweet wine for breakfast, I slept about an…
Oh Gosh With your coat of many colours And the flowers in your…
Please Don't Bend From the album sutras Walking, talking along a lonely shore…
Poor Cow From the album best of donovan ii Oh, I dwelt in…
Preachin' Love From the album best of donovan ii I'm preachin' love Straig…
Riki Tiki Tavi Better get into what you gotta get into Better get into…
Sailing Homeward Sailing homeward, it's time to go home, Over the ocean of…
Sand And Foam The sun was going down behind a tattoo tree And the…
Season of the Witch When I look out my window Many sights to see And when…
Sunny Goodge Street On the firefly platform on sunny Goodge Street Violent hash-…
Sunny South Kensington Come take a walk in sunny South Kensington Any day of…
Sunshine Superman Sunshine came softly through my a-window today Could've trip…
The Fat Angel From the album sunshine superman He will bring happiness in…
The Ferryman's Daughter Leitch Way deep down in the greenwood, oh A-rap, tap, ta…
The Song Of The Wandering Aengus I wish out to the hazel wood Because a fire was…
The Tinker and the Crab On the windy beach the sun is shining through with weather…
The Trip We was a-d-d-d-drivin' d-downtown L.A., About a-midnightb ho…
There Is a Mountain The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what…
Three King Fishers Twelve king fisher birds shall you have Dive and swim in…
To Susan on the West Coast Waiting From the album barabajagal Dear Susan, I know you love me…
Universal Soldier He's five foot-two and he's six feet-four He fights with mis…
Wear Your Love Like Heaven Color in sky, prussian blue Scarlet fleece changes hue Crims…
Young but Growing The trees they do grow high The leaves they do grow…
Young Girl Blues It's Saturday night, it feels like a Sunday in some…
Your Broken Heart You may ask a million wise men You may search a…