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.
Hey Gyp
Donovan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buy you a Chevrolet
I'll buy you a Chevrolet.
Just give me some of your love,
Just give me some of your love,
Just give me some of your love, gal,
Just give me some of your love.
I don't want your Chevrolet, yeah,
I don't want your Chevrolet.
Just give me some of your love, man,
Just give me some of your love,
If you just give me some of your love, man,
Just give me some of your love.
I'll buy a Ford Mustang,
I'll buy you a Ford Mustang
I'll buy you a Ford Mustang.
Just give me some of your love now,
If you just give me some of your love, man,
Yes, just give me some of your love, man,
If you just give me some of your love.
I'll buy you a Cadillac
I'll buy you a Cadillac
I'll buy you a Cadillac.
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
If you just give me some of your love,
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
Just give me some of your love.
I don't want your Cadillac car
'Cause you're all shiny black
I don't want your Cadillac.
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
If you just give me some of your love, gal.
Well, I'll buy you sugar cube,
I'll buy you a sugar cube,
I'll buy you a sugar cube.
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
If you just give me some of your love, gal.
I don't want to go for no trip,
I don't want to go for no trip,
I don't want to go for no trip.
Just give me some of your love, gal,
Just give me some of your love,
If you just give me some of your love,
If you just give me some of your love,
If you just give me some of your love now
Just give me some of your love, hey
If you just give me some of your love,
If you just give me some of your love,
Just give me some of your love, hmm, hmm, hmm
Just give me some of your love, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm,
Just give me some of your love, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm,
Just give me some of your love,
If you just give me some of your love,
If you just give me some of your love
The lyrics of Donovan's song Hey Gyp are about a man who is trying to win over a woman by offering to buy her expensive cars and other gifts. However, the woman is not interested in material possessions and instead just wants the man's love. The lyrics speak to the idea that true love cannot be bought and that material possessions will not bring lasting happiness.
The repetition of the phrase "just give me some of your love" throughout the song emphasizes the importance of love in contrast to the material objects mentioned. The lyrics also highlight the futility of trying to win someone over with gifts if there is no genuine emotional connection.
Overall, Hey Gyp is a commentary on the superficiality of material possessions and the importance of authentic human connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll buy you a Chevrolet,
I am willing to purchase you a Chevrolet car
Buy you a Chevrolet
I am willing to buy you a Chevrolet car
Just give me some of your love,
I just want you to reciprocate my feelings and show me affection
I don't want your Chevrolet,
I am not interested in the Chevrolet, but I want your love
Just give me some of your love, man,
I just want you to show me some love, my friend
I'll buy a Ford Mustang,
I am willing to buy you a Ford Mustang car
Just give me some of your love now,
I want your love at this very moment
If you just give me some of your love, man,
I just want you to show me some love, my friend
I'll buy you a Cadillac,
I am willing to buy you a Cadillac car
If you just give me some of your love, gal,
I just want you to show me some love, my lady
I don't want your Cadillac car,
I am not interested in the Cadillac car, but I want your love
Well, I'll buy you sugar cube,
I am willing to buy you a sugar cube
I don't want to go for no trip,
I am not interested in going on a trip, but I want your love
Just give me some of your love, hey
Hey, I want you to show me your love
Just give me some of your love, hmm, hmm, hmm
I want you to give me your love and affection
Just give me some of your love, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm,
I want you to give me your love and affection
If you just give me some of your love,
I just want you to show me some love
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind