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.
Sunny South Kensington
Donovan Lyrics
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Any day of the week.
See the girl with the silk Chinese blouse on,
You know she ain't no freak.
Come loon soon down Cromwell Road, man,
You got to spread your wings.
A-flip out, skip out, trip-out, and a-make your stand, folks,
To dig me as I sing.
Jean-Paul Belmondo and-a Mary Quant got
Stoned to say the least
Ginsberg, he ended up-a dry and so
He a-took a trip out East.
If I'm a-late waitin' down the gate, it's such a 'raz' scene,
A groovy place to live.
In the Portobella I met a fella with a cane umbrella,
Who must've used a sieve.
So come loon soon down Cromwell Road, man,
You got to spread your wings.
A-flip out, skip out, trip-out and a-make your stand, folks,
To dig me as I sing.
Hmm, hmm, hmm.
Come take a walk in sunny South Kensington
Any day of the week.
Come see the girl with the silk Chinese blouse on,
You know she ain't no freak.
If I'm a-late waitin' down the gate, it's such a 'raz' scene,
A groovy place to live.
In the Portobella I met a fella with a cane umbrella,
Who must've used a sieve.
Jean-Paul Belmondo and-a Mary Quant got
Stoned to say the least
Ginsberg, he ended up-a dry and so
He a-took a trip out East.
Hmm, hmm, hmm.
Come loon soon down Cromwell Road, man,
You got, you got to spread your wings, yeah.
See the girl with the silk Chinese blouse on, yeah,
You know she ain't no freak, hmm, hmm
Donovan's song "Sunny South Kensington" is an ode to the vibrant neighborhood of South Kensington in London, England. The song encourages the listener to take a walk and explore the area, highlighting the cool and groovy atmosphere that can be found there. The first verse describes a girl wearing a silk Chinese blouse who is not a "freak," suggesting that the neighborhood is free-spirited but not extreme. The second verse references famous figures like Jean-Paul Belmondo, Mary Quant, and Allen Ginsberg who have visited the area and experienced its charms. The last verse repeats the invitation to come visit and see the "raz" (meaning crazy or wild) scene for oneself.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of excitement and enjoyment of life in South Kensington, with its diverse cultural influences, artistic trends, and experimental lifestyles. The use of slang and casual language ("flip out," "groovy," "late waitin' down the gate") adds to the relaxed and informal tone of the song, inviting listeners to join in on the fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Come take a walk in sunny South Kensington
Any day of the week.
Join me for a stroll through the bright and cheerful neighborhood of South Kensington any day of the week.
See the girl with the silk Chinese blouse on,
You know she ain't no freak.
Observe the lovely woman in the Chinese silk blouse, and appreciate that she is not an unusual or abnormal person.
Come loon soon down Cromwell Road, man,
You got to spread your wings.
A-flip out, skip out, trip-out, and a-make your stand, folks,
To dig me as I sing.
Let's explore Cromwell Road, and take the opportunity to relax, have fun, and enjoy life by dancing and listening to my music.
Jean-Paul Belmondo and-a Mary Quant got
Stoned to say the least
Ginsberg, he ended up-a dry and so
He a-took a trip out East.
Belmondo and Quant experienced the effects of drugs, and Ginsberg went on a spiritual journey to the East.
If I'm a-late waitin' down the gate, it's such a 'raz' scene,
A groovy place to live.
If I happen to be delayed waiting for you, it's because there are so many fascinating and interesting people and things to see and do.
In the Portobella I met a fella with a cane umbrella,
Who must've used a sieve.
I encountered a man in Portobello who used a sieve as an umbrella, implying that he was unconventional or eccentric.
Come loon soon down Cromwell Road, man,
You got to spread your wings.
A-flip out, skip out, trip-out and a-make your stand, folks,
To dig me as I sing.
Hmm, hmm, hmm.
Once again, let's visit Cromwell Road and enjoy a carefree, adventurous spirit through dancing and listening to my music.
See the girl with the silk Chinese blouse on, yeah,
You know she ain't no freak, hmm, hmm
Once again, appreciate the beauty of the woman with the Chinese silk blouse and acknowledge her normalcy.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind