Donovan Philips Leitch (born May 10, 1946 in Maryhill, Glasgow), better kno… Read Full Bio ↴Donovan Philips Leitch (born May 10, 1946 in Maryhill, Glasgow), better known as simply Donovan, is a Scottish singer, songwriter, and musician. Originally a '60s folk singer, as the decade progressed Donovan cultivated his own unique eclectic sound, mixing elements of folk, pop, jazz, world music and more, often with a twinge of psychedelia. His most well-known work was suffused with altruistic political overtones, making him an iconic figure of the "flower power" counter-culture of the '60s.

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.

Lalena
Donovan Lyrics

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When the sun goes to bed
That's the time you raise your head
That's your lot in life, Lalena
Can't blame ya
Lalena

Arty-tart, la-de-da
Can your part get much sadder?

That's your lot in life, Lalena
Can't blame ya
Lalena

Run your hand through your hair
Paint your face with despair
That's your lot in life, Lalena
Can't blame ya
Lalena

When the sun goes to bed
That's the time you raise your head
That's your lot in life, Lalena
I can't blame ya
Lalena

Arty-tart, oh so la-de-da
Can your part ever get, ever get much sadder?
That's your lot in life, Lalena
I can't blame ya

No, no, no, Lalena
Oh, Lalena

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Donovan's song 'Lalena' describe a character named Lalena who seems to be trapped in a life of sadness and despair. The first verse says "When the sun goes to bed, that's the time you raise your head. That's your lot in life, Lalena. Can't blame ya." Lalena seems to be a night owl, only coming out when the world goes to sleep. The singer sympathizes with her, acknowledging that her difficult circumstances are not completely her fault.

The second verse describes Lalena as "arty-tart, la-de-da", suggesting that she may be an artist of some kind. However, her art seems to be a reflection of her sadness and despair, as the lyrics say "Can your part get much sadder? That's your lot in life, Lalena. Can't blame ya." The third verse tells Lalena to "run your hand through your hair, paint your face with despair", further emphasizing her sadness and hopelessness.

The chorus repeats the first and second verses, with the singer reaffirming that Lalena's struggles are not her fault. The song ends with the same lines as the chorus, the singer sympathizing with Lalena and giving her name a mournful and gentle intonation.

Overall, 'Lalena' is a song about someone going through a difficult time, with the singer acknowledging the emotional pain this person is experiencing. The song seems to be a message of empathy and understanding for someone whose life is burdened by sadness and despair.

Line by Line Meaning

When the sun goes to bed
At the end of the day when everything fades away

That's the time you raise your head
This is when you come to life and let your true self shine

That's your lot in life, Lalena
This is the destiny life has given to you, Lalena

Can't blame ya
I understand you, I don't judge you

Lalena
This is your name, Lalena

Arty-tart, la-de-da
You are a person who loves art and artistic expression

Can your part get much sadder?
You seem like you're already so sad, can it get worse?

Run your hand through your hair
You're trying to calm your nerves by running your hand through your hair

Paint your face with despair
You wear your sadness like makeup on your face

I can't blame ya
I really understand you, Lalena

No, no, no, Lalena
I want to reassure you, Lalena, that everything will be okay