Donna
Company/Gerome Ragni Lyrics
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Once upon a looking-for-Donna-time
There was a sixteen year old virgin
Oh Donna oh oh Donna oh oh oh
Looking for my Donna
I just got back from looking for Donna
San Francisco
Oh Donna oh oh Donna oh oh oh
Looking for my Donna
Have you seen
My sixteen year old tattooed woman
Heard a story
She got busted for her beauty oh oh oh
Oh oh!
Once upon a looking-for-Donna-time
There was a sixteen year old virgin
Oh Donna oh oh Donna oh oh oh
Looking for my Donna
I've been to India and saw the yogi light (lie?)
In South America the Indian smoke glows bright
I'm reincarnated and so are we all
And in this lifetime we'll rise
Before we fall
Before we fall
Once upon a looking-for-Donna-time
There was a sixteen year old virgin
Oh Donna oh oh Donna oh oh oh
Looking for my Donna
And I'm going to show her
Life on earth can be sweet
Gonna lay my mutated head (self) at her feet
And I'm gonna love her make love to her
Till the sky turns brown
I'm evolving I'm evolving
Through the drugs
That you put down
Once upon a looking-for-Donna-time
There was a sixteen year old virgin
Oh Donna oh oh Donna oh oh oh
Looking for my Donna
Looking for my Donna
Donna!
The song "Donna" tells the story of a young man looking for a sixteen-year-old girl named Donna. He describes her as a "tattooed woman," indicating that Donna is not a typical girl next door. The singer of the song has just returned from San Francisco, where he spent time with psychedelic hippies. He has also traveled to India and South America, where he has experienced different cultures and drugs. The song’s chorus repeatedly calls out to Donna, as the singer searches for her.
The verses of the song describe the singer’s search and his ambition to show her "life on earth can be sweet." He wants Donna to know that he loves her and will evolve with her through the drugs they share. The song also hints at a societal struggle surrounding Donna's beauty, as she has been "busted for her beauty" before. The final lines repeat the chorus, emphasizing the singer's dedication to find Donna and love her.
The song was written by Company/Gerome Ragni, who is best known for co-creating the musical Hair. The song was released in 1960 and has since become a cult classic. Despite its initial commercial failure, "Donna" was covered by Ritchie Valens in 1958 and became a hit. The song has also been covered by numerous other artists, including The Beach Boys, who used it as the inspiration for their hit song "Help Me, Rhonda."
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Once upon a looking-for-Donna-time
The story begins in a time when the singer was searching for a girl named Donna.
There was a sixteen year old virgin
The singer was a virgin at the age of sixteen when he began his search for Donna.
Oh Donna oh oh Donna oh oh oh
The singer repeats Donna's name and expresses his longing to find her.
Looking for my Donna
The artist reiterates his search for Donna.
I just got back from looking for Donna San Francisco
He had recently returned from a trip to San Francisco in search of Donna.
Psychedelic urchin
He describes himself as a young and unconventional person who indulges in drugs.
Have you seen My sixteen year old tattooed woman
The singer inquires about Donna's whereabouts and describes her as a tattooed woman who was sixteen when he last saw her.
Heard a story She got busted for her beauty oh oh oh
He heard rumors that Donna had gotten in trouble for something related to her attractiveness.
Once upon a looking-for-Donna-time There was a sixteen year old virgin Oh Donna oh oh Donna oh oh oh Looking for my Donna
This is a repetition of the opening lines describing the artist's search for Donna.
I've been to India and saw the yogi light (lie?)
The artist has traveled to India and encountered various spiritual teachings, including the concept of enlightenment.
In South America the Indian smoke glows bright
He also visited South America where he was exposed to native cultures that use various types of drugs.
I'm reincarnated and so are we all And in this lifetime we'll rise Before we fall Before we fall
The artist believes in the concept of reincarnation and sees life as a continuous cycle of rising and falling.
And I'm going to show her Life on earth can be sweet Gonna lay my mutated head (self) at her feet And I'm gonna love her make love to her Till the sky turns brown I'm evolving I'm evolving Through the drugs That you put down
He intends to show Donna the beauty of life and expresses his love for her, promising to make love to her until the end of time. He also suggests that his drug use has contributed to his personal growth and evolution as a human being.
Once upon a looking-for-Donna-time There was a sixteen year old virgin Oh Donna oh oh Donna oh oh oh Looking for my Donna Looking for my Donna
This is yet another repetition of the opening lines which reflect the singer's continued search for Donna.
Donna!
The song ends with a final plea to find Donna.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JACKIE MC LEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind