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.
Ferris Wheel
Donovan Lyrics
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It's then you spy carnival lights,
You slowly near the magic sight,
Tangerine sky minus one kite.
Take time an' tie your pretty hair
The gypsy driver doesn't care
If you catch your hair in the ferris wheel on top,
In the ferris wheel on top.
A silver bicycle you shall ride,
To bathe your mind in the quiet tide.
Far off as it seems your hair will mend
With a Samson's strength to begin again.
Take time an' dry your pretty eyes,
Watch the seagull fly far-off skies
To build its nest in the ferris wheel on top,
In the ferris wheel on top.
If ever I reach her.
And the moral here, if any, my friend:
Follow through your dream to the end.
Dig the seagull fly across the sky
To build its nest in the ferris wheel,
In the ferris wheel
The song "Ferris Wheel" by Donovan is a whimsical, dreamy track that tells the story of a person walking on the seashore at twilight, who comes across a carnival in the distance. As they get closer, they see the colorful, flashing lights of the ferris wheel, and decide to ride it. The lyrics suggest that the rider should take the time to tie up their hair, possibly as a precaution to keep it from getting caught in the machinery. The ride on the ferris wheel is described as magical, with a tangerine-colored sky and a feeling of weightlessness.
The song then shifts to a focus on a silver bicycle, which the rider is encouraged to ride to "bathe their mind in the quiet tide." The lyrics refer to Samson, suggesting that the rider has the strength to overcome any obstacles they may encounter. The seagull is mentioned, flying across the sky to build its nest in the ferris wheel. The final verse is a simple moral: "Follow through your dream to the end," and perhaps suggests that like the seagull, we should find a place that makes us feel safe, even if it seems like an unusual or unexpected location.
Line by Line Meaning
Walking in the seashore twilight,
Strolling at the beach during the evening time.
It's then you spy carnival lights,
Suddenly noticing colorful lights that come from a traveling carnival.
You slowly near the magic sight,
Gradually approaching the enchanting view of the carnival in the distance.
Tangerine sky minus one kite.
The sky has turned an orange hue, and there's only one kite left flying in the sky.
Take time an' tie your pretty hair
Take a moment to tie up your hair.
The gypsy driver doesn't care
The carnival worker operating the Ferris wheel isn't concerned about your hair getting tangled.
If you catch your hair in the ferris wheel on top,
If your hair gets caught in the Ferris wheel while at the top,
In the ferris wheel on top.
At the highest point of the Ferris wheel.
A silver bicycle you shall ride,
You will ride on a shiny silver bicycle at the carnival.
To bathe your mind in the quiet tide.
To calm and refresh your thoughts.
Far off as it seems your hair will mend
Although it may seem like a distant problem, your hair will eventually be fixed.
With a Samson's strength to begin again.
Like Samson from the biblical story, you'll have the ability to start anew with great strength.
Take time an' dry your pretty eyes,
Take a moment to dry your tears.
Watch the seagull fly far-off skies
Observe the seagull soaring across the distant skies.
To build its nest in the ferris wheel on top,
To create a home in the highest portion of the Ferris wheel.
In the ferris wheel on top.
Referring once again to the top of the Ferris wheel.
If ever I reach her.
If I manage to reach my desired destination.
And the moral here, if any, my friend:
The lesson learned from this experience, if there is one, my friend:
Follow through your dream to the end.
Pursue your aspirations to their completion.
Dig the seagull fly across the sky
Take pleasure in watching the seagull soaring through the air.
To build its nest in the ferris wheel,
To create a home in an unlikely place, such as the Ferris wheel.
In the ferris wheel.
Referring again to the Ferris wheel.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mom mie
i was there at the time.....he taught me to play guitar....
taught me to play tangerine puppet, which is not easy....lol....
dylan doesn;t even come close.....
"follow through your dream to the end"
which is why i live in a house i designed and we built with our own hands...
i REALLY love this song.....even tho i feel sorry for her getting her hair pulled out..... :)
PowerFlower PsychoPaz
When I heared that the album "Sunshine Superman" was recorded in 1965, my respect for Donovan increased even further. He truly was a pioneer in psychedelic music.
Doug Strobel
His book is excellent...10 yrs old by now...
He did the whole Career from Catch the Wind to Hurdy Gurdy Man in 5 yrs...!!
edward kern
I respected him more too. I saw dylan on his first electric tour in cleveland, ohio on november 12, 1965. It was a beautiful concert. Met him on july 17, 1991. He was nice to me.
mom mie
@Doug Strobel hurdy gurdy man was the first time you heard led zeppelin.....only donovan was playing the part of robert plant.... :)
mom mie
there was no one like him....there is still no one like him, altho sting comes close sometimes.... :}
David Betts
2022; I’m just discovering “Sunshine Superman’ thanks to Songpop2. Lovin this album. I love psychedelia and never realised Donovan did this awesome album. Tysm
Jim Nesta
What a nice bass line.
Wesley Davis
every time i listen to this song i hear it a different way. i always loved the idea of being on top of a ferris wheel because it only lasts for a moment
Groucho Marxist
Beautiful thought, well expressed.
NameRequiredSoHere
So glad I found this. I had the original album back in the 60s, but our rinky dink stereos couldn't fully demonstrate what great skull candy this is. Incredible production on this. To show how long-lasting this is: Sunshine Superman was sampled in the 90s for the song "RIde on into the next town."