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.
A Working Man
Donovan Lyrics
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Here's a wee tune that I wrote while I was in Ireland. So it's got a jig feel to it. And this one is called the Working Man.
If I could write a love song, I'd sing it for you
Of the many ways I love you, and rhyme it with blue
Make me a merry air, the rhythm of your hit
Sweeten it with simple sounds, read it from my lip
If I could paint a picture, your portrait I'd do
Of the many tints and colors of delicate hue
The hazel in your eye, the copper in your hair
The secret shades and shadows of your body lying there
Ah, but love, I'm only a working man
If I could write a story our tale I would tell
Of the many first embraces up till our wedding bell
The secrets and the sighs, the laughter and the tears
But now I come to think of it, that would take me years and years
My love, I'm only a working man
As it is my love, I can only show
The happiness you brought to me many dreams ago
Meaning to my work, a purpose to my life
I'm content to be your man, you to be my wife
That's why I am a happy working man
That's why I am a happy working man
Thank you! Right, thanks...
Donovan's song A Working Man starts with him explaining that he wrote the song in Ireland and it has a jig feel to it. The song is about a man who loves his partner so much he would like to write a love song, paint her portrait, and write a story about their life. However, he is only a working man and cannot express his love in such artistic ways. He states that he is content to be her man and she, his wife, which is the reason he is happy to be a working man.
The song's lyrics remind us that even though one may not have access to the artistic means of expression, they can still express their love and happiness in their own way. The song is a simple yet beautiful ode to working-class love and happiness. This theme of finding meaning and purpose in simple, everyday life is a common motif in Donovan's music.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could write a love song, I'd sing it for you
If I had the talent to express my love through music, I would do it for you
Of the many ways I love you, and rhyme it with blue
I have so many ways in which I love you, and wish to express those feelings in creative ways
Make me a merry air, the rhythm of your hit
Create a joyful tune, inspired by the rhythm of your heart beating
Sweeten it with simple sounds, read it from my lip
I'll use simple, pure sounds to convey my love, and lip-sync to it when I perform for you
Ah, but love, I'm only a working man
Despite my feelings, I am limited by my ability as a working man.
If I could paint a picture, your portrait I'd do
If I had the skill, I would paint a portrait of you to capture your beauty
Of the many tints and colors of delicate hue
I would use a wide range of soft, delicate colors to capture your true essence
The hazel in your eye, the copper in your hair
I would focus on the details that make you truly unique, like the copper in your hair and the hazel color of your eyes
The secret shades and shadows of your body lying there
I would also capture the hidden beauty and shadows of your body, in a way that only I have seen
Ah, but love, I'm only a working man
Again, I am limited by my skills and talent as a working man
If I could write a story our tale I would tell
If I had the skill to write, I would write a love story that tells our journey together
Of the many first embraces up till our wedding bell
This story would chronicle our first moments of love all the way up to our marriage day
The secrets and the sighs, the laughter and the tears
I would include all of the memorable moments - both happy and sad - that have made our love unique
But now I come to think of it, that would take me years and years
Writing a story that captures the depth and beauty of our love would take me more time than I have
My love, I'm only a working man
I am reminded that my ability as a working man is limited
As it is my love, I can only show
Since I am limited by my talents, I can only show you my love in the ways that I am able to do so
The happiness you brought to me many dreams ago
You have been a source of happiness in my life for a long time, ever since the early days when we first met
Meaning to my work, a purpose to my life
Your presence in my life has given me a sense of meaning, and has given me direction in my life
I'm content to be your man, you to be my wife
I am happy to be your partner in life, and am content to be your husband
That's why I am a happy working man
Having you in my life gives me happiness, and that's why I am a happy working man
That's why I am a happy working man
Once again, I repeat that having you in my life makes me content and happy
Contributed by Kaelyn I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
S. E.
Thank you for posting this, I have been coming back to listen to it for years. ❤️
Anthony Russo
So beautiful! Thank you so much for posting! :)
Tornfreedom
I reckon this has a Tom Paxton feel to it... the subject matter, the chord structure and the general guitar style too... maybe they should've got together! what a riot!.
Glyn Whiting
I've been playing this since 1973 and that's the first time I've heard it since then. Chords ? Am , run up the base to C then Em. Rolling pick. Play around with it to get the subtle note changes.
Lexx
Thank you for sharing this!!
The Sly Fox
my favorite by donovan
Ted Williams
Chords! Please!
zetsusama23
@EddieFeatherston I KNOW! beautiful, right? i'm not a big guitar person and i wouldn't even know where to look, but try google, there are some great sites with complete chords for songs you wouldn't even think of. i wish you luck!
zetsusama23
@mgturn99 it really is! no problem. :>
zetsusama23
@QueenetBowie great :)