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.

Nirvana
Donovan Lyrics

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From the album sutras

With no obstacles, and no fear
Liberates herself, from illusion
Now to realise perfect Nirvana
Gone, Gone, Gone to the other shore
O-awakening. All hail.
Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana,

Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana,
All Buddhas in the past, present and future
Thanks to this, Perfect Wisdom
Arrive at full and right, universal enlightenment
Gone, Gone, Gone to the other shore
Gone, together to the other shore
O-awakening. All hail.

Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana
Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Donovan's "Nirvana" are an ode to the Buddhist concept of spiritual awakening and enlightenment. The song speaks of a state of being where there are no obstacles or fears, where one is liberated from illusions and realizes perfect Nirvana. The repetition of the word "gone" could signify the release of attachment to material possessions and the physical world, as one transcends to a state beyond life. The lyrics also acknowledge the Buddha and his teachings on Perfect Wisdom, and how it has helped all Buddhas in the past, present, and future to arrive at universal enlightenment.

Overall, the lyrics describe a state of spiritual awareness and acceptance, where one has overcome the struggles of the physical world and attained true peace and enlightenment. The word "awakening" emphasizes the realization of Nirvana and the importance of breaking free from worldly attachments.

Line by Line Meaning

With no obstacles, and no fear
Breaking free from any mental or emotional barriers, releasing any apprehension or uncertainty

Liberates herself, from illusion
Freeing oneself from the false belief of the physical world and its materialistic tendencies

Now to realise perfect Nirvana
Understanding and achieving the ultimate state of peace and enlightenment

Gone, Gone, Gone to the other shore
Transcending to a different plane of existence, surpassing the limitations of the human form

O-awakening. All hail.
A triumphant celebration of reaching a heightened state of awareness and consciousness

Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana
The repetition of the word emphasizes the importance and significance of achieving Nirvana

All Buddhas in the past, present and future
Acknowledging the spiritual leaders and ideals that have existed, currently exist, and will exist in the future

Thanks to this, Perfect Wisdom
Realizing the importance of wisdom and knowledge in achieving Nirvana

Arrive at full and right, universal enlightenment
Achieving complete and accurate comprehension of the universe and reality as a whole

Gone, Gone, Gone to the other shore
Reiteration of transcending to a higher plane of existence

Gone, together to the other shore
Suggesting a communal aspect of achieving Nirvana with others in unison

O-awakening. All hail.
Further celebration of awakening to a higher level of consciousness and spirituality

Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana
Closing repetition of the importance and significance of Nirvana

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH, MOBI HO, THICH NHAT HANH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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