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.
Preachin' Love
Donovan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm preachin' love
Straight from above
I know what to do, yes I do.
Well, I'm breathing love
Straight from above
I mean about what I said.
Is made about the finer sex.
Well, I don't know about any segregation -
Anyone may read the text.
All I do
Is study you
In your natural habitat.
And as I do
I find that you
Are all worth saving at that.
Get around the world and listen
Life is love is life
And when you see the teardrops glisten
I'll have it from trouble and strife.
Well, I like to be beside the sea
Diggin' where we came or what for.
Well, I think that we
Were meant to be
That is all I ever saw, oh, oh.
Oh, I feel so exhilarated, yeah
In love with love, with love.
I'm never explicated
I just can tell you're enough.
That's right, yeah.
Well, I'm preachin' love
Straight from above
I may know to her what I heard.
Well, I'm breathing love
Straight from above
I mean about what I said.
Well, I understand my congregation
Is made about the finer sex.
Well, I don't know about any segregation -
Anyone may read the text.
Well, I like to be beside the sea
Diggin' where we came or what for.
Well, I think that we
Were meant to be
That is all I ever saw, oh, oh.
Oh well I feel so exhilarated, yeah
In love with love, with love.
I'm never explicated
I just can tell you're enough.
Preachin' love, preachin' love
Preachin' love, preachin' love
Preachin' love, preachin' love
I know what to be true, yes I do, oh yeah.
The lyrics to Donovan's song "Preachin' Love" are a call to love and tolerance, straight from the heart and from a higher power. The singer is preaching love that comes from above, and he knows what to do to spread that message. He is breathing love, and he means everything he says. The singer understands that his congregation is made up of people of all sexes, and he does not believe in segregation. Anyone may read the text of love that he preaches.
The singer then delves into the topic of studying people in their natural habitats. He finds that all people are worth saving, despite their differences. He urges listeners to get around the world and listen, as life is love and when teardrops glisten, he will have it from trouble and strife. The singer mentions his love for the sea and muses that he thinks people were meant to be together in love.
Overall, the message of "Preachin' Love" is one of love and acceptance for all people, regardless of their differences. The singer understands that everyone is worth saving, and he wants to spread that message of love to everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm preachin' love
I am advocating for love as a way of life.
Straight from above
My love comes from a higher power.
I know what to do, yes I do.
I know that love is the answer to all of life's problems.
Well, I'm breathing love
I am living and embodying love in my daily life.
I mean about what I said.
I am serious about promoting love.
Well, I understand my congregation
I am aware that my audience is primarily interested in sex.
Is made about the finer sex.
They are concerned with romantic relationships and sexuality.
Well, I don't know about any segregation -
I don't believe in any kind of division or exclusion based on race or gender.
Anyone may read the text.
My message of love is accessible to anyone who wants to hear it.
All I do
My focus is on love and nothing else.
Is study you
I observe and analyze human behavior in relation to love.
In your natural habitat.
I observe people in their natural environment.
And as I do
Through my observation and analysis, I have come to realize that
I find that you
the people I observe
Are all worth saving at that.
are all deserving of love and are capable of receiving it.
Get around the world and listen
Travel the world and pay attention to what people are saying.
Life is love is life
The essence of life is love.
And when you see the teardrops glisten
When you witness suffering and pain,
I'll have it from trouble and strife.
Turn to love as a way to overcome adversity and hardship.
Well, I like to be beside the sea
I find peace and solace by the ocean.
Diggin' where we came or what for.
Reflecting on the mystery of human existence and purpose.
Well, I think that we
I believe that humans
Were meant to be
are destined to
That is all I ever saw, oh, oh.
pursue love and connection with others.
Oh well I feel so exhilarated, yeah
I feel ecstatic and joyful
In love with love, with love.
because of my passion for promoting love.
I'm never explicated
I can't explain my love for love
I just can tell you're enough.
I just know that love is enough to make life fulfilling and meaningful.
Preachin' love, preachin' love
I am spreading my message of love
Preachin' love, preachin' love
I am sharing my belief and passion for love.
I know what to be true, yes I do, oh yeah.
I know that love is the ultimate truth and I am confident in that conviction.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Groovy Guru
I've only heard the live version of this thanks for posting this this is great
Mauro Baldinelli
Thnnks for this great performance of Donovan with a Jazz Big Band,on the George Fame
style.
I suppose that it' s not available on cd
Ray Brown
It's on the four cd set, "Breezes of Patchouli", which is all his studio stuff from '66 to '69......recommended highly.....
Bruce Bernhard
Who knew Donovan was such a hep cat. Cool song.
Hans Elmerson
bob dylan never sounded like this......