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.
Colours
Donovan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the mornin' when we rise
In the mornin' when we rise
That's the time, that's the time
I love the best
Blue's the colour of the sky
In the mornin' when we rise
That's the time, that's the time
I love the best
Green's the colour of the sparklin' corn
In the mornin' when we rise
In the mornin' when we rise
That's the time, that's the time
I love the best
Mellow is the feeling that I get
When I see her, mm hmm
When I see her, uh huh
That's the time, that's the time
I love the best
Freedom is a word I rarely use
Without thinkin', mm hmm
Without thinkin', mm hmm
Of the time, of the time
When I've been loved
Donovan's song "Colours" is a poetic and folksy expression of the things that bring the singer joy and a feeling of freedom. The first stanza of the song sets this tone with the line "Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair," which invokes a sense of warmth, comfort, and affection. The morning is a particularly important time for the singer, as they feel most connected to their true love, and this is when they love the best. The blue sky is another staple of the morning that brings joy to the singer.
In the second stanza, green represents the beauty of nature, specifically the sparkly corn, which offers a sense of abundance and contentment. The singer feels mellow when they see their true love, emphasizing how love has a calming effect on them. The final stanza is particularly interesting as the singer speaks of freedom being a word they rarely use without thinking of the time they've been loved. This juxtaposition of freedom and love implies that to the singer, love is freedom, and their sense of personal liberty is intrinsically linked to their romantic relationships.
"Colours" is a beautiful example of how humans can find joy and meaning in simple things like colors, nature, and love. It paints a picture of a life where happiness is found in the little moments of everyday life, and love is the ultimate source of freedom and liberation.
Line by Line Meaning
Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair
The singer's true love has golden hair.
In the mornin' when we rise
The morning time when the couple wakes up.
That's the time, that's the time
This is the singer's favorite time.
I love the best
This is the artist's favorite time of the day.
Blue's the colour of the sky
The sky is blue in the morning.
Green's the colour of the sparklin' corn
The corn fields are green in the morning.
Mellow is the feeling that I get
The singer feels relaxed and at ease.
When I see her, mm hmm
The artist is happy when they see their true love.
When I see her, uh huh
The artist is happy when they see their true love.
Freedom is a word I rarely use
The artist doesn't often use the word 'freedom'.
Without thinkin', mm hmm
The singer doesn't think too much about freedom.
Of the time, of the time
The artist thinks of a specific time.
When I've been loved
The singer thinks of the time when they were loved.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Donovan Leitch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-jb1lg4pn9t
I was born in the USSR, in 1968. We couldn't listen to good music, almost all music from the USA and the UK was illegal. I remember hearing Donovan. I didn't know who this man was or what his name was. But he had simple, but very magic texts that smelled of freedom, a rainy sky and grass. I learned English from such songs. The sky was getting higher. Freedom seemed possible. You have no idea how important this was to me. Thank you, thank you Donovan, I love you!
@Phil-db1dh
Im a grandad now. but still a child of the 60's ! how i get a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye when i hear this , the memories it brings to me of those fabulous days so long ago . but seems like yesterday, fabulous music, fabulous times, but oh dear, friends ive loved,and friends ive lost , it brings it all back , now, where did i put me hanky ! xx
@lindakristinekjlibraten777
How time flies.... spngs can make one really nostagic..... I wasn't born in the 60s, but I can understand how living in the 60s waa when it comes to the music. I wish I waa born in the mid 50s just to experience the golden decade of music.
@chrisha1595
Said so well, Phil. Me too... the times of our life ... cherished forever!
@Phil-db1dh
Thank you , nice to know some one feels the same x
@carolirvine3367
@@Phil-db1dh There are a few of us. Stay well
@rockinrollinntrollin616
@@lindakristinekjlibraten777 music has it own journey...belongs to no specific time frame...great sounds are still being played & recorded ...just not on RADIO or any other money dedicated inspired CRAPSHIT fucked up a merry can based you tube soundbullshit ! it's 2020 ..mobile no brains...look @ me ..instagram me social tendency degradation STD's 2020 .
@johnsmith-xr1uh
I’ve been listening to this song for 58 years
@gwendolynemaeystadt7531
that record must be in such a sorry state
@Jus2sick
My grandfather Jean, who was from france was a huge fan of donovan. He would always sing me his songs before his death when I was 4. Rest In Peace Jean “Smokey” Elditch 1929 - 1994