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.
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.
She Moved Through The Fair
Donovan Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'She Moved Through The Fair' by these artists:
Alan Stivell My love said to me, My mother won't mind And me…
Albrecht Mayer & The King's Singers My young love said to me, my mother won't mind…
Alex Campbell My love said to me: "My mother won't mind And me father…
Andrea Corr My love said to me My mother won't mind And me father…
Andreas Scholl My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And…
Anúna My young love said to me my mother won't mind and my…
Art Garfunkel My young love said to me: "My father won't mind And my…
Bert Jansch My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Bryn Terfel My young love said to me My mother won't mind And my…
Cara Dillon My young love said to me, ""My mother won't mind…
Carol Noonan My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Cécile Corbel My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind And…
Celtic Thunder My young love said to me, 'My mother won't mind, And…
Celtic Woman My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind And…
Charlotte Church My young love said to me "my mother won't mind And…
Charlotte Church/London Symphony Orchestra And Chorus/London Welsh Male Voice Choir y young love said to me "My mother won't mind And…
Charlotte Church/London Welsh Male Voice Choir/The London Symphony Orchestra y young love said to me "My mother won't mind And…
Chieftains & Sinead O'Connor My own love said to me "My mother won't mind.…
Eleanor Tomlinson My young love said to me My mother won't mind And my…
Elliot Goldenthal My young love said to me my mother won't mind, And…
Fairport Convention My young love said to me "My mother won't mind And…
Feargal Sharkey My young love said to me my mother won't mind And…
Folkmill My young love said to me: "My mother won't mind. And my…
Green Man I once had a sweetheart, I loved her right well I…
James Galway My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
James Galway/The Chieftains My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
joan baez My love said to me My Mother won′t mind And me Father…
Joan Baez & Damien Rice My young love said to me, My mother won′t mind And my…
Josh Groban My own love said to me My mother won't mind And my…
Loreena McKennitt My love said to me My Mother won't mind And me Father…
Lothlorien My love said to me My Mother won't mind And my Father…
Maireid Sullivan My young love said to me My parents won't mind And my…
Marianne Faithfull My young love said to me, "My brothers won't mind And…
Méav My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind And…
Méav Ni Mhaolchatha My love said to me My Mother won't mind And me Father…
Moya Brennan & Cormac De Barra My young love said to me, "My mother won′t mind, And…
Nadia Birkenstock My young love said to me, my mother won't mind and…
Patricia Cahill Una eternidad Esperé este instante Y no lo dejaré deslizar E…
Peter Hollens My love said to me My mother won't mind And me father…
Shannon My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Sian Edwards;Charlotte Church My young love said to me "my mother won't mind And…
Sinéad O'Connor My own love said to me "My mother won't mind And…
Sinead O'Connor & The Chieftains My own love said to me "My mother won't mind.…
The Celtic Tenors My young love said to me "My mother won’t mind" "And my…
The Chieftains & Sinéad O'Connor My own love said to me "My mother won't mind.…
The Chieftains / Van Morrison My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
The Chieftains feat. Sinéad O'Connor My own love said to me "My mother won't mind.…
The Chieftains feat. Van Morrison My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
The Chieftains; Van Morrison My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
The Irish Tenors My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind And my…
The King's Singers My young love said to me, my mother won't mind…
The Pentangle My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Trad. Irish My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind And my…
Van Morrison My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Van Morrison / The Chieftains My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Van Morrison feat. The Chieftains My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Van Morrison/The Chieftains My young love said to me, My mother won't mind And my…
Various Artists My young love said to me my mother won't mind And…
Washington Irving My love said to me My Mother won't mind And me Father…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Donovan:
01 Cosmic Wheels God is playing marbles With his planets and his stars Creati…
02) Catch The Wind In the chilly hours and minutes Of uncertainty I want to b…
11. Season of the Witch When I look out my window Many sights to see And when…
14) Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do Hey, hey, hey, why do you treat me like you…
15) Every Man Has His Chain From the album best of donovan ii I had a dream…
17 Young Girl Blues It's Saturday night, it feels like a Sunday in some…
19. Wear Your Love Like Heaven Color in sky, prussian blue Scarlet fleece changes hue Crims…
A Funny Man One day a funny kind of man Came walking down this…
A Mountain The lock upon my garden gate's a snail, that's what…
A Sunny Day Sunny day while away the afternoon Cutting nettles that are …
A Well Known Has-been From the album slow down world Tonight my life is heavy,…
A Working Man Leitch Here's a wee tune that I wrote while I was…
Age Of Treason On a lone and windy hilltop beneath a roof of…
Album Cosmic Wheels God is playing marbles With his planets and his stars Creati…
Appearances Can't get this shake together with the rock Movin' her body…
As I Recall From the album the hurdy gurdy man As I recall it,…
Astral Angel From the album donovan Domes upon the Desert Shimmering thr…
Atlantis The continent of Atlantis was an island Which lay before the…
Aye My Love Though you say that the sorrow is all yours And the…
Ballad of a Crystal Man From the album fairytale Walk along and talk along and live…
Ballad of Geraldine From the album fairytale Oh, I was born with the name…
Barabajagal She came, she came to meet a man, she found…
Be Mine Stars 'round the fair moon veil their own shining When She's…
Beat Cafe Leitch Can a cat think ? I think so She asked me,…
Belated Forgiveness Plea From the album fairytale As a pilgrim I did go To a…
Bert Been a-lookin' for a good girl, But it's taking time. A-been…
Black Widow From the album slow down world Kiss me sweet lover And ling…
Bleak City Woman From the album love is only feeling She came with her…
Boy For Every Girl From the album essence to essence For every boy there is…
Brave New World From the album donovan There's a Brave New World awaiting a…
Breezes of Patchulie The long gone breezes are blowing down the sky From my…
Brother Sun Sister Moon Brother Sun, Sister Moon Brother Sun and Sister Moon I sel…
Bye I hate to leave you grieving, darling It's the only way…
Can Ya Dance Can ye dance with silver moonsteps On the love couch of…
Can Ye Dance Leitch Can ye dance with silver moonsteps on the love cou…
Candy Man From the album fairytale Candy man, he's been and gone My C…
Car Car Car Car I'll take you riding in my car car Take you…
Catch the Wind In the chilly hours and minutes Of uncertainty I want to be …
Catch the Wind (Original Single version) In the chilly hours and minutes Of uncertainty, I want to…
Celeste Here I stand acting like a silly clown would, I don't…
Celia Of The Seals Should you wander this land to the North, And few seldom…
Celtic Rock Ye sons of Britain Who once were free Ye now are slaves…
Changes I swear you were talking in your sleep Or maybe I…
Children Of The World From the album slow down world Some of us believe in…
Circus of Sour From the album fairytale Circus of Sour, Holds shows every …
Clara Clairvoyant Clara Clairvoyant Consultation 10 to 4 In the shadows Leave …
Co'dine From the album best of donovan An' my belly is craving,…
Colors It wasn’t that long ago That I started to feel…
Colours Yellow is the colour of my true love's hair In the…
Colours (original single version) Yellow is the colour of my true love‘s hair, In the…
Cosmic Wheels God is playing marbles With his planets and his stars Creati…
Coulter's Candy Ally bally bally bally be Sittin' on yer mamy's knee Greetin…
Cryin Shame From the album slow down world Food in abundance, beggars a…
Curry Land Lady you are my peace of mind Were I to seek…
Cuttin I went down to jose's pool To see if she was…
Dare To Be Different From the album donovan Dare to be different - learn to…
Dark-eyed Blue Jean Angel From the album slow down world My love she's a flower Perfu…
Deep Peace From the album sutras Deep peace of the running wave to…
Dignity of Man Make a song, song maker Sing of love, sweet love. Do not…
Dirty Old Town MacColl I found my love by the gasworks croft Dreamed a dre…
Divine Days Of Deathless Delight Seek ye the mystery through all this energy To set your…
Do Not Go Gentle Leitch-Thomas Do not go gentle into that good night Old …
Do You Hear Me Now Jansch Freedom fighters, speak with your tongues Sing wi…
Do You Hear Me Now? Freedom fighters, speak with your tongues, Sing with the mig…
Dona On a wagon, bound for market There's a calf with a…
Donna On a wagon, bound for market There's a calf with a…
Donovan-Ramblin' Boy As I linger on this windy road My suitcase in my…
Earth Sign Man Leitch I'm an earth sign, mama, I want you to understand …
Eldorado Gaily bedight, a gallant knight In sunshine and in shadow Di…
Entertaining of a shy girl I'll sing you a song, Paint you a painting, Dance you a…
Epistle to Derroll Come all ye starry starfish Living in the deep blue sea Craw…
Epistle to Dippy Look on yonder misty mountain See the young monk meditating …
Everlasting Sea From the album sutras I love you like the sea I love…
Every Man Has His Chain From the album best of donovan ii I had a dream…
Every Reason Leitch There's every reason to believe you and me could b…
Fat Angel From the album sunshine superman He will bring happiness in…
Ferris Wheel Walking in the seashore twilight, It's then you spy carnival…
Fishes in Love The FISHES are IN LOVE with the water The birds are…
For Every Boy There Is a Girl From the album essence to essence For every boy there is…
Freedom Road Leitch I'm gonna ride my freedom road I'm gonna ride it on…
Get Thy Bearings From the album the hurdy gurdy man Get your bearings, know…
Give It All Up No gold worth digging for Without your golden love No trea…
Gold Watch Blues Red and white and blue and gold I wanna wait for…
Goldwatch Blues I WENT UP FOR MY INTERVIEW ON THE 4TH DAY…
Good Time Leitch Won't you come here, baby Won't you hold this in …
Good Trip Leitch Oh, won't you come here, baby Won't you hold this…
Guinevere Guinevere of the royal court of Arthur Draped in white velve…
Hampstead Incident Standing by the Everyman digging the rigging on my sail Rain…
Hamstead Incident From the album mellow yellow Standing by the Everyman, di…
Happiness Runs Little pebble upon the sand Now you're lying here in my…
Harmony Leitch We must be in harmony Before we do anything We m…
Henry Martin There were three brothers in merry Scotland In merry Scotla…
Hey Gyp I'll buy you a Chevrolet, Buy you a Chevrolet I'll buy you…
Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness) From the album best of donovan ii I'll buy you a…
Hi It From the album the hurdy gurdy man Hi, it's been a…
High Your Love From the album sutras All for the love of leaving am…
Homesickness Leitch Homesickness, it is driving me out of my mind Hom…
House Of Jansch From the album mellow yellow Girl ain't nothing but a willo…
How Silly HOW SILLY The politician look Wearing his public smile Tryin…
Hurdy Gurdy Man Thrown like a star in my vast sleep I opened my…
I I guess before I met ya I didn't know better You swept…
I Am the Shaman Yon wheeling of great stars Hath cast a silver web around…
I Like You You're such a good friend I'd hate to have you as…
I Love My Shirt Do you have a shirt that you really love, One that…
I Love You Baby I love you baby Ohhh I really do You don't have to think…
I'll Try for the Sun From the album fairytale We stood in the windy city, The gy…
In An Old Fashioned Picture Book Come take a look with me in an old fashioned…
International Man From the album donovan I like a pale Caucasian I like an…
Isle of Islay How high the gulls fly O'er Ilay How sad the farm lad Deep…
It's Been A Long Time From the album the hurdy gurdy man Hi, it's been a…
It's Coming to You Well I know it ain't been roses lately, baby, it's…
Its Been A Long Time From the album the hurdy gurdy man Hi, it's been a…
Jabberwocky 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in…
Jackie BeanStalk Leitch Well, there's not enough that I can say to you…
Jennifer Juniper Jennifer Juniper, lives upon the hill Jennifer Juniper, sitt…
Jennifer Juniper 1968 Jennifer Juniper, lives upon the hill Jennifer Juniper, sit…
Jersey Thursday From the album fairytale In the tiny piece of coloured glas…
Joe Bean Long and lazy schooner In lapis lazuli Aquamarina In a south…
Josie From the album catch the wind Josie, I won't fail ya, I…
Kalifornia Kiddies From the album donovan They grew right through the whole da…
La Moora Leitch We're sailing away to the sleepy lagoon By the li…
Lady Of The Lamp Lady Of The Lamp -------------- In the night In the dark nig…
Lady of The Stars From the album donovan She walks through the stars Past Sat…
Lalena When the sun goes to bed That's the time you raise…
Lay of the Last Tinker I can see by your eyes you're a good man, And…
Lazy Daze Looking for a place with a real lazy pace, Lay right…
Legend Of A Girl Child Linda I will bring you gold apples and grapes made of…
Liberation Rag From the album slow down world My henna-haired gal's all th…
Life Goes On La la la la la la la la La la la…
Life Is A Merry Go Round Beneath the weight of the world I can be found Among…
Life Is a Merry-Go-Round Beneath the weight of the world I can be found Among…
Listen When you can't find your way through the night When you've…
Little Ben Leitch Rain on a window, kettle on a stove Where is litt…
Little Boy in Corduroy Little Boy In Corduroy Donovan a little boy in corduroy A l…
Little Teddy Bear Leitch Come on little fella, dry your pretty eyes Someti…
Little Tin Soldier From the album fairytale Once in a town in the black…
Living For The Love Light What am I doing, where am I going? What am I…
Living For The Love Light In Your Eyes What am I doing, where am I going? What am I…
Local Boy He got weights on his shoulders He got chains round his…
London Town London Town ---------------------- Before you go, back to Lo…
Lord of the Dance I danced in the morning when the world was begun, I…
Lord of the Reedy River Lord of the Reedy River She fell in love with a…
Lord of the Universe Leitch I’m the Lord of the Universe, it's best you don't…
Lost Time Wolf-Leitch Timothy took his time to school Plenty of ti…
Love Floats Leitch If I was your lover, I’d take you to the…
Love Of My Life What was I to do? Down day. Nothing I could do…
Love Will Find a Way You may train the eagle To stoop down to your fist Feed…
and many more tracks by Donovan.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Jonai Dias
My true love said to me
My mother won't mind
And my father won't slight you
For your lack of kind
She laid her hand on me
And this she did say
"Oh, it will not be long, love
Till our wedding day"
She stepped away from me
And she moved through the fair
And so fondly I watched her
Move here and move there
And she made her way homeward
With one star awake
As the swan in the evening
Moves over the lake
Last night she came to me
My dead love came in
And so softly moved she
That her feet made no din
And she laid her hand on me
And this she did say
"Oh, it will not be long, love
Till our wedding day
Christine Yates
This version of ‘She moved through the fair’ was played at my Mum’s funeral 31 May 2019.
It’s a beautiful, simple version of haunting lament.
Budahbaba
Christine, love to you. I lost my mother in 2017 to cancer, and then my father earlier this year to -i guess his body just finally gave up. Obviously life is never the same again after losing your parents. But to this day, it is as if i sense them right by me, even though i never hear or see them. They are not gone. I often sense them trying to ask me questions, or scold me in reproof, and then i hate that i was not able to listen more closely and understand what they wanted! Again, love to you, and take care, Christine. I am glad that i outlived my parents instead of them me (they buried two sons) but outliving your parents, that is still a weight you shoulder for the remainder of your life, even if that is the natural order of things.
boboala1
Sorry to hear about your mommy(!) That's a tough one...and the first time I heard this song 2 months ago on a Sunday morn I had every nerve running up my spine pulsing with an amazing physical realization & appreciation of your 2 words when poetry, music and the human touch are combined in perfection: haunting lament!
Kenneth William Elkington
FINALLY! A simply warm, unadorned, yet brilliantly offered rendition.
I love this song, but dislike the overproduced and orchestrated versions.
Thanks to the Mystical Minstrel for posting this gem.
Toosiya Brandt
hI
I have been trawling youtube and heard many versions. Females have too high pitched voices to catch the droning undertone, and of the males only Donovan and Jerry Rafferty get the mournful mood. They rule supreme. Thank you for posting.
Toosiya Brandt
@boboala1 HI
OH my God!!!Absolutely awesome! I wept! Shalom to us only in ChristYeshua..
Toosiya Brandt
@boboala1 HI
O.K.! Thanks for that!🎧
boboala1
Hello Toos! I would ask if you've also heard Van Morrison's version, especially the last sentence of the last verse where there's no doubt he's finishing the song in the style of a man laying dying(!) I am delighted to hear that Jerry Rafferty has a version of this tune recorded as I've not heard it, so we can trade recommendations - you listen to Van's version & I shall try and find Jerry's.
boboala1
Thank you MysticalMinstrel, and I love your YT user name(!) I'm 60 years old, have degrees in music & vast performance experiences but when I first heard this tune by accident 2 months ago early on a Sunday morn (thanks to researching a certain Richard Thompson - what a talented and witty hoot he is!) my physical & emotional state were deeply moved by a simple but effective intersection of haunting poetry, airy ambient harmonic texture (the Irish singers keep the slow Lento tempo so well, yet keep the intensity/rubato without any hint of surging ahead...) and a folk singing style that I'm just not used to hearing over here in the states. A commenter below has indicated that Jerry Rafferty had a version recorded...perhaps on YT. I shall look for it. I'm still hung up on his & Joe Eagan's hit "Stuck in the Middle with You" from 1972. I read in an interview, before he passed away, that the royalties from just that one tune amounted to about $80,000 USD yearly! (Being used in a movie soundtrack helped greatly, I'm sure!)
Jochen Jeroen Smet
It touches me deep!