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.
Henry Martin
Donovan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In merry Scotland there were three aye
And they did cast lots which of them should go
should go should go should go aye
And to turn robber along the salt sea
to turn pirate along the salt sea
The lot it fell first to Henry Martin
that he should turn robber along the salt sea
salt sea salt sea salty sea aye
For to maintain his two brothers and he
to maintain his two brothers and he
He had not been sailing but a long winters night
And part of a short winters day aye
When he a-spied a stout lofty ship
lofty ship lofty ship lofty ship aye
Come a bibben down on him straight away
Come a bibben down on him straight away
Hello Hello cried Henry Martin
What makes you sail so nigh-aye?
Im a rich merchant ship bound for fair London town
London Town London Town London Town-aye
And will you not please for to let me pass by?
Wont will you please for to let me pass by?
Oh nay Oh Nay cried Henry Martin
This thing it never can be aye
For I have turned pirate along the salt sea
salt sea salt sea salty sea aye
for to maintain my two brothers and me
to maintain my two brothers and me
come lower your top sail and slacken your mizen
and bring your ship under our lead aye
or will we give to you a full cannon ball
cannon ball cannon ball cannon ball aye
and all your merry men drown in the sea
all your merry men drown in the sea
We wont lower our top sail nor slacken our mizen
Nor bring our ship under your lead
and you wont give us your full cannon ball
cannon ball cannon ball cannon ball aye
nor all our merry men drown in the sea
all our merry men drown in the sea
Then up him and at him and at him he went
For fully two hours or three aye
Til Henry Martin gave to them the death shot
the Death shot aye
And all the merry men drowned in the sea
all the merry men drowned in the sea
sad news sad news to old England came
sad news to fair London town aye
theres been a rich vessel and shes cast away
cast away cast away cast away aye
and all her merry men drowned in the sea
all her merry men drowed in the sea
all her merry men drowned in the sea
all her merry men drowned in the sea
Donovan's song Henry Martin tells the story of three brothers from Scotland who cast lots to determine which of them would become a pirate and support the others. The lot falls to Henry, the youngest of the three, and he sets out on the salty sea to maintain his two brothers and himself. On his second day at sea, he comes across a wealthy merchant bound for London and demands that they lower their top and slacken the mizen, but the merchant refuses. Henry Martin and his men fight with the merchant for two to three hours before he delivers the fatal shot, causing the merchant's ship and all her merry men to drown in the sea. The sad news of the ship's wreckage eventually reaches England.
The song highlights the harsh realities of life at sea in the 18th century when piracy was a common occupation. It reflects the desperation of the poor who were forced to turn to piracy in order to survive. The lyrics also reveal the ruthlessness of pirates, who were willing to do whatever it takes to maintain themselves and their families.
Line by Line Meaning
There were three brothers in merry Scotland
In Scotland, there lived three brothers.
In merry Scotland there were three aye
The Scotland they lived in was joyous.
And they did cast lots which of them should go
They decided to draw lots to choose who would embark on their planned journey.
should go should go should go aye
This line repeats the previous one to emphasize the importance of the decision.
And to turn robber along the salt sea
They planned to become pirates and sail the salt sea to make their fortune.
The lot it fell first to Henry Martin
Henry Martin won the draw and was chosen to be the first to sail.
The younger of all the three
Henry Martin was the youngest amongst the three brothers.
that he should turn robber along the salt sea
He was tasked to become a pirate, and sail the salt sea to commit robberies.
For to maintain his two brothers and he
He was doing it to maintain his two brothers and himself financially.
He had not been sailing but a long winters night
Henry Martin was new to sailing and had only sailed for a couple of hours.
And part of a short winters day aye
He had only sailed for a few hours during the day.
When he a-spied a stout lofty ship
He saw a large, strong ship sailing nearby.
Come a bibben down on him straight away
The ship approached him quickly.
Hello Hello cried Henry Martin
Henry Martin called out to the ship.
What makes you sail so nigh-aye?
He asked them why they were sailing so close to him.
Im a rich merchant ship bound for fair London town
The other ship replied that they were a wealthy merchant ship that was heading to London town.
And will you not please for to let me pass by?
The ship captain politely requested Henry Martin to let them pass by.
Wont will you please for to let me pass by?
This line restates the captain's request to highlight his sincerity.
Oh nay Oh Nay cried Henry Martin
Henry Martin refused the captain's request.
This thing it never can be aye
He explained that he had become a pirate and wouldn't let them pass easily.
come lower your top sail and slacken your mizen
He demanded they lower their top sail and slacken their mizen so his ship could lead the way.
and bring your ship under our lead aye
He ordered them to follow his ship.
or will we give to you a full cannon ball
He threatened them with a cannonball if they did not obey his commands.
and all your merry men drown in the sea
He warned them that all their crew members would drown in the sea.
We wont lower our top sail nor slacken our mizen
The other ship refused to follow his order.
Nor bring our ship under your lead
They also refused to follow his ship.
nor all our merry men drown in the sea
They countered his threat saying that their crew members wouldn't drown.
Then up him and at him and at him he went
He got into an intense fight with the other ship and its crew members.
For fully two hours or three aye
The fight lasted for two to three hours.
Til Henry Martin gave to them the death shot
Henry Martin finally made the killing shot.
And all the merry men drowned in the sea
As a result of the fight, all the crew members aboard the other ship drowned.
sad news sad news to old England came
This line signifies that the news that follows is tragic.
sad news to fair London town aye
The news of the unfortunate event was delivered to London town.
theres been a rich vessel and shes cast away
It was reported that a wealthy merchant ship sank.
cast away cast away cast away aye
This line repeats 'cast away' to emphasize the loss.
and all her merry men drowned in the sea
All the crew members of the merchant ship died in the incident.
all her merry men drowed in the sea
This line states the loss of life again, further emphasizing the sadness of the situation.
all her merry men drowned in the sea
It highlights once more the tragic loss of life.
Contributed by Stella W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@musicisbrilliant
This is more precious than gold. Anyone else realize that?
@dimethaltryptamine1
Absolutely i do :)
@musicisbrilliant
@@dimethaltryptamine1 Good man. (Or woman.)
@user-wt1pe7gk7j
Always adore to listen to Donovan's music. One of my most favourite musician.
@musicisbrilliant
@@user-wt1pe7gk7j Love it!!! Me too. He is one of a kind.
@user-wt1pe7gk7j
@@musicisbrilliant That's good . Sorry, Is it Jim Morrison on the photo or is it your face(I really didn't understand, sir)?
@millarstoke
I've owned, loved and cared for this album (on vinyl) since it was first released and it hasn't a mark on it. I dread to think what will become of it if anything happens to me, I'd love to leave it to someone who will cherish it as much as I have for all these years. Thank you Donovan, I hope this music lasts forever.
@keelyharra-shepard7079
I've loved this album for 40 yrs, love the story of this song, love the guitar, I used to be able to sing the regular vocal parts pretty good - it took decades to figure out how to do it!
@keelyharra-shepard7079
I loved explaining the story to my kids :)
@dimethaltryptamine1
This one of the best ever albums Donovan has put out & sadly seems so much the lesser known of his wonderful catalogue! This is Scottish traditional music!