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.
Josie
Donovan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Josie, I won't fail ya,
I won't fail you, have no fear.
Josie, I won't fail ya,
Give me one more chance, the day is near.
The meadows they are bursting,
The yellow corn lies in your hand.
As the tide of dawn sleeps on the land.
The long breezes are blowing
All down the sky into my face.
I've a weary kind of feeling,
Like my time has come and gone to waste.
I love you, darling Josie,
The trees of pine they grow so tall.
How come you came to love me,
When you didn't love me at all?
Josie I won't fail ya,
I won't fail you, have no fear.
Josie I won't fail ya,
Give me one more chance, the day is near.
My Josie looks a child now,
As she lies here on my breast.
In the night I think about her,
In the day I get no rest.
I cut me a young pine-cone
And I gave it to the river deep.
It sailed 'way by your window
Where you lay, so long in sleep.
God bless you, darling Josie,
With your sparklin' eyes so bright and clear.
Josie, I won't fail ya,
I won't fail you, have no fear.
Josie, I won't fail ya,
I won't fail you, have no fear.
Josie, I won't fail ya,
Give me one more chance, the day is near.
The song “Josie,” written and performed by Donovan, tells the story of a man who wants to convince a woman named Josie that he will never let her down despite his past relationship failures. The singer seems to be desperate to win back Josie’s heart and is willing to do anything to convince her of his sincerity. He assures her that he won’t let her down and begs for one more chance. In the chorus, he repeats his promise to Josie and declares that “the day is near.”
The lyrics describe the natural beauty of the world around them, with references to blooming meadows and tall trees. The singer is fascinated with nature as it provides a temporary relief from his inner turmoil. However, it’s the thought of Josie that haunts his mind day and night, and has become a constant source of pain and anxiety. The singer’s confession of love is candid and deep, as he declares his love for her in the second verse. He even gifts a pine-cone to the river as a symbol of his love for Josie, hoping it will reach her and convey his message.
Overall, the song can be viewed as a touching tale of love and redemption. Donovan’s soothing voice and the gentle melody echo the heart of the singer, who is pleading for forgiveness and a chance to start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Josie, I won't fail ya,
I promise not to disappoint you, Josie.
I won't fail you, have no fear.
Don't worry about me, Josie, I'll come through for you.
Give me one more chance, the day is near.
Just one more chance, Josie, I'm almost there.
The meadows they are bursting,
The fields are lush and full of life.
The yellow corn lies in your hand.
You have everything you need, Josie.
And with the night comes sorrow
Nighttime is a time for sadness and reflection.
As the tide of dawn sleeps on the land.
As morning comes, so will new beginnings.
The long breezes are blowing
The winds are strong and unending.
All down the sky into my face.
The wind is blowing hard against me.
I've a weary kind of feeling,
I'm tired and feeling defeated.
Like my time has come and gone to waste.
I feel like I've wasted my life.
I love you, darling Josie,
I love you more than anything, Josie.
The trees of pine they grow so tall.
The trees are strong and majestic.
How come you came to love me,
Why did you fall in love with me, Josie?
When you didn't love me at all?
When you showed no interest in me whatsoever?
My Josie looks a child now,
Josie looks innocent and pure to me now.
As she lies here on my breast.
As she rests her head on my chest.
In the night I think about her,
I think about Josie all night long.
In the day I get no rest.
I can't stop thinking about her during the day either.
I cut me a young pine-cone
I picked a young pinecone for you, Josie.
And I gave it to the river deep.
I let the river carry it away from me and towards you.
It sailed 'way by your window
It floated past your window, Josie
Where you lay, so long in sleep.
Where you were sleeping peacefully.
God bless you, darling Josie,
I pray that God blesses you, Josie.
With your sparklin' eyes so bright and clear.
You have such beautiful, clear eyes, Josie.
Give me one more chance, the day is near.
Just one last chance, Josie, the day of success is almost here.
Josie, I won't fail ya,
I won't let you down, Josie.
Josie, I won't fail ya,
You can count on me, Josie.
I won't fail you, have no fear.
Don't worry, Josie, I'll come through for you.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bernhardlohr4662
Makes me cry also...so beautiful..!
One of the finest from Donovan..simply "Wunderbar"..!!
Still have 6 LP`s from my youth-years...and I`m now 59..
On my player i like most the "Golden Hour"-LP with nearly all his earlier great singer-composer-songs!!
(listen last 45 years also Jazz, Rock, Folk, World, New Age, Classic..everything what is good music ..
could be Bach,Mozart,Tony O`Connor, Led Zeppelin, Dylan, Pink Floyd, Baez or Joni Mitchell, or Jim Croce...also Donovan !!.
Thanks for upload this Donovan magic..!!
B.L.,Germany
@sotehhh7664
Josie, no te fallaré, no lo haré, no tienes miedo
Josie, no voy a fallar. Dame una oportunidad más para estar tan cerca.
Los prados, están estallando
El maíz amarillo está en tus manos
Y con la noche llega el dolor
A medida que la marea del amanecer se desliza sobre la tierra
Las largas brisas están soplando
Todo el cielo en mi cara
Tengo un tipo de sentimiento preocupado
Que mi tiempo ha llegado y se ha desperdiciado
Te amo cariño Josie
Los árboles de pino, crecen tan altos
¿Cómo es que me amaste cuando no me amaste para nada?
Josie, no te fallaré, no lo haré, no tienes miedo
Josie, no voy a fallar. Dame una oportunidad más para estar tan cerca.
Mi Josie parece un niño ahora
Como ella yace más allá de mi pecho
En la noche, pienso en ella
En el día no tengo descanso
Me corté un cono de pino joven
Y se lo dio al río profundo
Navegó por tu ventana
Donde duermes tanto en el sueño
Dios te bendiga cariño Josie
Con tus ojos brillantes tan brillantes y claros
Josie, no te fallaré, no lo haré, no tienes miedo
Josie, no te fallaré, no lo haré, no tienes miedo
Josie, no voy a fallar. Dame una oportunidad más para estar tan cerca.
@stevenmason8527
At 70 I've now picked up the guitar again after "not having time" for years . I have lots of Donovan albums and playing his songs again makes my heart young again.
@lesfyvie253
We had great teachers. I copied Donovan in '65 ... taught me how to play.
@tonycarey9731
This song is about the optimism we all felt during this era; the loves we had then and the love we felt for everyone. We were so optimistic about what was to come but instead........
This song hasn't changed its appeal in 50 or more years.
@susanandrew6453
You are so right.
@stepn2dlight
Been goin' to Donovan concerts since I was 14 . . . vowed to name my future daughter after this epic tune. . .
in all the years of going to this Mystical Troubadour's Concerts, he never played this song, UNTIL one magical night @ Humphrey's by the bay in San Diego. With my 14 yo "Josie" by my side . . . Donovan OPENED with this lilting original . . .
"Josie"
A cosmic vortex must have been opened, as we met him later . . . attempting to convey our inexpressible gratitude with a hug . . .
@richardwilton2203
Named my daughter Josie in 1973 as a tribute to this very beautiful song which I learned and played at folk clubs back in the 1960,s and still play now.Thank you Donovan.
@lizziedee7755
Heard it in the sixties and loved it. Played it over and over. I am in my seventies now and it still makes me cry. What incredible times they were.
@sandykitterman3460
They were incredible times. Nothing like it ever and sadly, will never be again. Makes me cry too.
@patricias5122
I miss the sweetness of those times; how we tried, we tried.
@tonycarey9731
Hi Lizze Dee,
Yes they were wonderful times, we were so optimistic and looking for the utopia we hoped would follow. Instead.........
This song really hits home even after 50 or more years.
Sending love from the West of England.