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.

Eldorado
Donovan Lyrics

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Gaily bedight, a gallant knight
In sunshine and in shadow
Did journey long, singing a song
In search of Eldorado

But he grew old, this knight so bold
And o'er his heart a shadow
Fell as he found no spot of ground

That looked like Eldorado

Over the mountains of the moon
Down the valley of the shadow
Ride boldly, ride the shade, replied
If you seek for Eldorado

And as his strength failed him at length
He met a pilgrim shadow
"Shadow", said he, "Where can it be
This land of Eldorado?"

Over the mountains of the moon
Down the valley of the shadow

Ride boldly, ride the shade, replied
If you seek for Eldorado

Overall Meaning

The song Eldorado by Donovan tells the story of a gallant knight who journeys through life in search of a mythical place called Eldorado. The knight is described as "gaily bedight," meaning he is getting ready for a lively and entertaining journey. The knight sings a song as he travels, which could be seen as a metaphor for living life to its fullest and enjoying every moment.

As the knight grows old, he begins to lose hope in finding Eldorado. He believes he has searched everywhere but with no success. The shadow that falls over his heart symbolizes the despair he feels as he realizes he might never find Eldorado. The knight's journey takes him over the mountains of the moon and down the valley of the shadow, which could represent the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, of life.

Towards the end of his journey, the knight meets a pilgrim shadow who tells him to keep riding boldly and to embrace the shade, meaning to keep searching, even in the face of uncertainty and difficulty. The pilgrim shadow embodies the hope that the knight needs to keep going until he finds Eldorado.

Overall, the song Eldorado celebrates the journey of life and encourages the listener to keep moving forward, to keep searching for their own Eldorado, and to never give up hope.

Line by Line Meaning

Gaily bedight, a gallant knight
The knight was brightly dressed and brave.

In sunshine and in shadow
The knight journeyed during both good and bad times.

Did journey long, singing a song
The knight traveled far, singing a tune.

In search of Eldorado
The knight was searching for a place called Eldorado.

But he grew old, this knight so bold
The knight, despite his bravery, grew old with time.

And o'er his heart a shadow
The knight's heart became heavy.

Fell as he found no spot of ground
He could not find the place he was searching for, causing his heart to feel burdened.

That looked like Eldorado
The knight could not find a place that matched his image of Eldorado.

Over the mountains of the moon
The knight journeyed through the mountains.

Down the valley of the shadow
He passed through a valley filled with darkness.

Ride boldly, ride the shade, replied
A voice urged him to continue riding, even through the darkness.