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.
Sailing Homeward
Donovan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over the ocean of life we must roam.
And when you get there, say hello for me,
For I've a long, long way to go.
There may be stormy days, there will be fires
There will be valleys with mountains to climb.
And when you get there, say hello for me,
For I've a long, long way to go.
I know you'll be there for to see me through.
Da da da da da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da
And when you get there, say hello for me,
For I've a long, long way to go.
Donovan's song Sailing Homeward expresses a longing for home amidst the challenges of life's journey. The songwriter uses the metaphor of sailing across the ocean to describe life's journey, with its storms and obstacles. The idea of being "homeward bound" connotes a sense of comfort and safety, and the desire to be reunited with loved ones.
The opening lines convey a sense of urgency and the recognition of the inevitability of the journey. The repetition of "long, long way to go" emphasizes the distance that needs to be covered. The second verse acknowledges the challenges that will be faced along the way, including storms and mountains to climb. Despite these challenges, there is an underlying optimism and determination expressed in the lyrics, with the assurance that the singer will reach his destination and be reunited with loved ones.
The final verse expresses a sense of gratitude for the support and love of those waiting at home. The repetition of "Da da da da da" creates a sense of ease and comfort, and suggests that the singer will be able to find solace and support in his loved ones even when he is far away. Overall, the song conveys a sense of hopefulness and resilience, emphasizing the importance of connections with loved ones in navigating the challenges of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailing homeward, it's time to go home,
It’s time to leave this place and head back to our real home.
Over the ocean of life we must roam.
Life is like a never-ending ocean, and we have to keep going through its ups and downs.
And when you get there, say hello for me,
Please greet everyone on my behalf when you reach home.
For I've a long, long way to go.
I have a long journey ahead of me and can’t reach home any time soon.
There may be stormy days, there will be fires
There will be tough times along the way, and we need to be prepared for them.
There will be valleys with mountains to climb.
We will need to overcome obstacles in life to achieve our goals.
Whenever I wander weary, I'll reach for you,
Whenever I feel lost and tired, I know I can count on you.
I know you'll be there for to see me through.
You will always be there to help me and support me through tough times.
Da da da da da da da da da
Instrumental
Da da da da da da da da da da
Instrumental
And when you get there, say hello for me,
Please greet everyone on my behalf when you reach home.
For I've a long, long way to go.
I have a long journey ahead of me and can’t reach home any time soon.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@shiyoung8317
Sailing homeward, it's time to go home,
Over the ocean of life we must roam.
And when you get there, say hello for me,
For I've a long, long way to go.
There may be stormy days, there will be fires
There will be valleys with mountains to climb.
And when you get there, say hello for me,
For I've a long, long way to go.
Whenever I wander weary, I'll reach for you,
I know you'll be there for to see me through.
Da da da da da da da da da
Da da da da da da da da da da
And when you get there, say hello for me,
For I've a long, long way to go.
@lovelei1251
Prey movie brought me here
@christinerose4839
Me too
@hyakutake9569
I remember my dad showing me a movie when I was a kid where iirc Donovan did the whole score. When this song came on I was mesmerized. Listened to it on repeat for awhile there. Still come back from time to time
@kagawa_551
i found this song in the movie “prey 2021” , I repeatedly saw the scene in the action of this movie and now I found a song that I want to listen to😭this song is very meaningful in life👍
@christinerose4839
So did I ❤
@Grouchy1900
I found the song that will be played at my funeral
@namesvoorbugvall
Be happy
@Xi6cc
😭😭😭😂
@judejay2971
Movie "Prey" brought me here. Shitty movie. The song was the only good thing
@pabloemilioescobargaviria9914
Lol same , i never heard of this song until i saw that movie