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.
Dirty Old Town
Donovan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I found my love by the gasworks croft
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
I kissed my girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town, dirty old town
I heard a siren from the docks
Smelled the spring in the saltkirk wind
Dirty old town, dirty old town
We'll go and make a good sharp axe
Shining steel tempered in the fire
We'll chop you down like an old dead tree
Dirty old town, dirty old town
I found my love by the gasworks croft
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
I kissed my girl by the factory wall
Dirty old town, dirty old town
Donovan's song "Dirty Old Town" portrays the simple, gritty, and harsh realities of an industrial town that is full of life, love and unionization.The song highlights the different things that one can do and see in a dirty old town where factories are rampant; such as finding love in unlikely places, dreaming about the future, and having romantic moments by factory walls. These simple and seemingly ordinary activities are juxtaposed against the stark reality of life in a town that is marked by industry and pollution. There is a sense of nostalgia and resigned acceptance to the way things are, all the while recognizing the dedicated strength of the people who live there.
As the verses continue, the song captures the grit and grime of the place. The siren from the docks and the train that sets the night into flames give birth to a feeling of chaos and impermanence in what should be a stable community. Finally, the chorus declares that they will rise above the challenges and through unity, they shall come together to overcome the challenges of the dirty old town. The song highlights the power of industry and the sense of community that arises from being part of a union.
Overall, Dirty Old Town is a song that encapsulates both the beauty and roughness of life in an industrial town. It shows the power of love, dreams and passion amidst the hardships, and reminds us that it is possible to find moments of joy in unlikely places.
Line by Line Meaning
I found my love by the gasworks croft
I met the love of my life in an unexpected, perhaps industrial location
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
I imagined a better life for myself in a place of past industry
I kissed my girl by the factory wall
In the midst of the grit, grime, and noise of the factory, I shared a moment of love
Dirty old town, dirty old town
The physical location may be rundown, but it holds emotional significance for me
I heard a siren from the docks
The sounds of industry and danger are never far away in this town
Saw a train set the night on fire
The transportation and commerce that fuels the town is both awe-inspiring and potentially dangerous
Smelled the spring in the saltkirk wind
Even amidst the grime and pollution, there are moments of natural beauty to be appreciated
We'll go and make a good sharp axe
We will take control of our surroundings and shape them to our liking
Shining steel tempered in the fire
We will take on this challenge with strength and resilience
We'll chop you down like an old dead tree
We will overcome the obstacles and hardships, just as we would cut down a rotting tree
Dirty old town, dirty old town
Despite its flaws, this town holds a special place in our hearts and we will continue to call it home
I found my love by the gasworks croft
Even amidst the industrial landscape, love and connection can be found
Dreamed a dream by the old canal
A better future is always possible, especially when we remember the past
I kissed my girl by the factory wall
Love can flourish even in the most unexpected and challenging situations
Dirty old town, dirty old town
This town may be rough around the edges, but it is also full of history, character, and heart
Contributed by Charlie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jeph629
..and THAT'S how an acoustic version is done properly! Donovan brings out the haunting qualities of Maccoll's tune perfectly. A great many guitarists could learn from this superior rendition. (BTW, he also got the lyrics right)
Groovy Guru
Early glimpse at the greatness of Donovan one of my heroes
Hans van der Heijden
TOP gezongen door mijn favoriete zanger. Het is zo wie zo een schitterende song. Dit is voor mij een openbaring!!! Bedankt Donovan.
Dominique JEAN
Superbe version. Merci Donovan.
Jonfitz
Absolutely brilliant
LakotahMist
Love Donovan, the best
박종우
Beautiful
pentangle4444
never knew that Donovan did Dirty Old Town...was lucky to see Ewan MacColl perform in the early 1980's I think with Peggy Seeger..this is a classic and makes the town Salford? seem like utopia.
Peter Mackie
Selkirk in Scotland
pentangle4444
@Peter Mackie Donovan must have added Selkirk near Edinburgh as the town reference given he was from Scotland but Ewan Macoll wrote this song in 1949 about the factory town he grew up in which was/is Salford which is close to Manchester UK city centre where I spend a few nights a few years back..