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.
Maria Magenta
Donovan Lyrics
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Scarlet O'Hara
Henna ma honey
You are the one
Ma silver moon lady
She like a choir boy
Hair all a-cloudy
And flying and real
A halo a sky gold
A moon on the water
A scuddy go cloud
Aroundy the sky bowl
Henna ma honey
You are the one
My copper go-go-girl
She like a show girl
Delightful Dolores
Ma Anna Belinda
Maggie yer reggae
You move me along
My copper go-go-girl
She like a show girl
Delightful Dolores
Ma Anna Belinda
Maggie yer reggae
You move me along
The song "Maria Magenta" by Donovan is a tribute to a woman, using vivid descriptions and comparisons to colors and elements of nature. The first stanza describes Maria as a complex character with contradictions, as she is both Scarlet O'Hara and a choir boy. Her hair is described as "cloudy and flying and real," giving her a mysterious and ethereal quality, while she is also compared to a silver moon lady, a symbol of beauty and femininity. The second stanza shifts the focus to the singer's "copper go-go-girl," who is described as a show girl and moves him with her reggae music. The repeated use of "ma" before each name implies that the singer has a close relationship and affection for both women.
The use of colors throughout the song, such as "magenta," "scarlet," "silver," and "copper," creates a vivid and imaginative visualisation of the women described. The comparison of their qualities to natural elements, such as a "halo," "cloud," and "moon on the water," adds to the dream-like quality of the song. The references to music through the description of Maria's hair as a "choir boy" and Maggie's reggae music, add to the sensory nature of the song, creating a full picture of the women in the listener's mind.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria Magenta
Referring to a person by a color combination, possibly describing their clothing or style.
Scarlet O'Hara
Another reference to a character or possibly the color of clothing. May connote a strong or headstrong personality based on the reference to Scarlett O'Hara from the novel Gone with the Wind.
Henna ma honey
A term of endearment for someone, possibly someone with henna tattoos or red hair.
You are the one
Describing someone as the most important or significant person in their life.
Ma silver moon lady
Describing someone as having a gentle and ethereal presence, possibly with a reference to the moon's associations with femininity.
She like a choir boy
Comparing someone's innocence or purity of voice to that of a choir boy.
Hair all a-cloudy
Describing someone's hair as having a hazy or cloud-like texture.
And flying and real
Possibly describing someone's imagination or sense of adventure.
A halo a sky gold
Describing someone's aura or presence as having a golden glow or radiance reminiscent of a halo.
A moon on the water
Another reference to the moon, possibly signifying the vagaries of human emotion or a sense of reflection.
A scuddy go cloud
Describing a cloud as drifting or moving quickly across the sky, possibly symbolizing emotional turbulence.
Aroundy the sky bowl
Describing the sky or atmosphere as a container, with clouds swirling around it.
My copper go-go-girl
Describing a woman with red or orange hair who wears go-go boots or dances in a go-go bar. Hinting at a sense of nostalgia or longing for a past era.
She like a show girl
Comparing someone's presence or behavior to that of a performer or actress.
Delightful Dolores
Another reference to a specific person or character, possibly from popular culture or mythology. May connote a sense of pleasure or delight in their presence.
Ma Anna Belinda
A term of endearment for someone named Anna Belinda, possibly a friend or acquaintance of the singer.
Maggie yer reggae
Describing someone's sense of rhythm or style as reminiscent of reggae music.
You move me along
Describing someone's presence as motivating or inspiring them to move forward in life or in a particular situation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind