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.
Local Boy
Donovan Lyrics
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He got chains round his neck
'Fore he get very much older
He be a nervous wreck
Local boy chops wood, headlines read
Local boy makes good, watch him bleed
Local boy chops wood, what went wrong?
Plenty hangers on
To keep him happy and high
But deep down inside him
You can hear him cry
Local boy chops wood, headlines read
Local boy makes good, watch him bleed
Local boy chops wood, what went wrong?
Local boy chops wood, wasn't too strong?
One riff of his guitar
He gonna change the whole scene
He's a rebel romantic
With a death wish dream
He keep ice in his young veins
To cool the fires in his head
Takes more than double, double brandy
To dry the tears he shed
Rock star found dead, headlines read
Rock star found dead, pictures need
Rock star found dead, what went wrong?
Rock star found dead, wasn't too strong?
The song "Local Boy" by Donovan is a commentary on the struggles that come along with fame and the pressure that can weigh heavily on an artist. The lyrics suggest that the "local boy" has achieved success, but that fame and the constant demands of others have taken a toll on him. The use of weights and chains is a metaphor for the burdens he carries, and the suggestion that he will become a nervous wreck is an indicator of the toll this is taking on him.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as it suggests that despite the success he has achieved, something has gone wrong. The first line ("Local boy chops wood, headlines read") paints a picture of a hard-working and dedicated artist, but the second line ("Local boy makes good, watch him bleed") suggests that this hard work has taken its toll on him. The final two lines of the chorus ("Local boy chops wood, what went wrong? / Local boy make good, wasn't too strong?") continue this thread, suggesting that despite his initial success, there was a weakness in him that led to his downfall.
The song closes with a somber verse about the rock star's demise. The use of the phrase "death wish dream" suggests that the artist was aware of the risks he was taking, and the final line ("Rock star found dead, wasn't too strong?") brings the song full circle, echoing the questions raised in the chorus about what went wrong.
Overall, "Local Boy" is a powerful and thought-provoking commentary on the dark side of fame and the price that can come with success. It is a reminder that even those who have achieved great things can still struggle with their own demons.
Line by Line Meaning
He got weights on his shoulders
He is burdened with worries and responsibilities
He got chains round his neck
He is trapped in his current situation and feels suffocated
'Fore he get very much older
He be a nervous wreck
If he continues to carry the weight of his worries and stress, he will become mentally unstable
Local boy chops wood, headlines read
People only see him as a hard worker
Local boy makes good, watch him bleed
Even though he has achieved success, it has come at a great cost to him
Local boy chops wood, what went wrong?
Why did he not achieve more success despite all his hard work?
Local boy make good, wasn't too strong?
Perhaps he did not have the strength to handle the pressures of success
Plenty hangers on
To keep him happy and high
He is surrounded by people who cater to his needs and enjoy his success with him
But deep down inside him
You can hear him cry
Despite his image of strength and success, he is struggling with inner pain and sadness
One riff of his guitar
He gonna change the whole scene
He believes that one of his performances will alter the course of music history
He's a rebel romantic
With a death wish dream
He is a creative rebel who longs to push boundaries and create something meaningful, even if it means it leads to his demise
He keep ice in his young veins
To cool the fires in his head
He tries to suppress his intense feelings and emotions so he can stay level-headed
Takes more than double, double brandy
To dry the tears he shed
He is so emotionally overwhelmed that he has to resort to drinking heavily to stop himself from crying
Rock star found dead, headlines read
His success ultimately led to his untimely death
Rock star found dead, pictures need
The media focuses on the sensationalized aspects of his life and sudden death
Rock star found dead, what went wrong?
Was it the pressure of fame that drove him to his death?
Rock star found dead, wasn't too strong?
Despite his outward strength and talent, he was not strong enough to handle the pitfalls of success
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind