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.
Lady of The Stars
Donovan Lyrics
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She walks through the stars
Past Saturn and Mars
Who knows how she feels
With the moon on her heel
She glides through the night
In Swirling soft flight
As the wind lifts her hair
She's my lady of the Stars
She's my lady of the Stars
She's my lady of the Stars
The song "Lady of the Stars" by Donovan is a poetic tribute to a mysterious female figure who walks among the stars. The singer describes her journey past planets Saturn and Mars, and the moon on her heel. She moves gracefully through the starry night in swirling, soft flight seemingly unaffected by the owls that hoot and stare at her, while the wind lifts her hair. She's referred to as "my lady of the Stars," which indicates that the singer sees this woman as a divine figure with celestial powers who possesses a tremendous amount of beauty and grace. The song explores the idea of a woman who embodies the mystery and magic of the universe, as she wanders through the darkness with her mesmerizing aura lighting up the sky.
The lyrics suggest a longing for this alluring female figure, a desire to be close to her, and to bask in her radiance. The song's interstellar theme and mystical imagery are undoubtedly influenced by the psychedelic era of the late 1960s to which Donovan belonged. The song speaks to the enigmatic nature of women, and how they are like stars that shine and glow but remain distant and unattainable. The singer's awe and admiration for this woman of the stars are palpable, and it's no wonder why she captivates him.
Line by Line Meaning
She walks through the stars
She moves gracefully across the endless spaces of the universe
Past Saturn and Mars
Beyond the planets known to Earth, she travels
Who knows how she feels
It's impossible to know her thoughts and emotions while she traverses this vast expanse
With the moon on her heel
Her movements and path seem to be in tune with the moon which follows her footsteps
She glides through the night
She moves effortlessly from one place to another in the darkness of the night sky
In Swirling soft flight
Her movements are poetic and graceful as she traverses the space around her
Owls hoot and stare
Even the creatures of the night notice her presence and are entranced by it
As the wind lifts her hair
Her hair is lifted and blown by the wind that surrounds her
She's my lady of the Stars
She's a precious and rare treasure that is adored and sought after
She's my lady of the Stars
She's a unique and captivating entity that is desired by many
She's my lady of the Stars
She's a celestial being that is the center of attention and reverence
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind