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.
The Evernow
Donovan Lyrics
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>From within the ...endless sky
The silence surges softly through me
Listening to the ...desert sigh
In the presence fo the Bo tree
Comes the dawning of the day
Dreaming as in a trance
Weaving...in Maya's dance
The only thing to...really learn
Living in the evernow
To only know the single moment
Living in the evernow
All things...they must pass
That which is born will die
Existence as...transient
Clouds in an autumn sky
Comes the dawning of the day
Dreaming as in a trance
Comes the rising of the sun
Nothing ever left to chance
The only thing to...really learn
Living in the evernow
To only know the single moment
Living in the evernow
Donovan's "The Evernow" is a meditation on the transience of all things. The lyrics suggest the idea that everything that begins must eventually come to an end, and the only way to really live is to embrace this truth and live in the moment. The song seems to be influenced by Eastern philosophy, particularly Buddhism, which teaches that attachment and desire are the root of all suffering, and that the key to happiness is to accept impermanence and live in the present.
The opening lines of the song set the scene for a contemplative experience: "From within the endless sky / The silence surges softly through me / Listening to the desert sigh / In the presence of the Bo tree." The Bo tree, also known as the Bodhi tree, is a sacred fig tree under which the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment. The image of the desert and the sky also evoke a sense of vastness and emptiness, which may represent the impermanence and transience of all things.
Throughout the song, Donovan emphasizes the importance of living in the present moment: "The only thing to really learn / Living in the evernow / To only know the single moment / Living in the evernow." The repetition of this idea underscores its importance for the singer, and perhaps for the listener as well. The song ends on a note of acceptance: "Comes the rising of the sun / Nothing ever left to chance / The only thing to really learn / Living in the evernow." Here, the singer seems to have embraced impermanence and found a sense of peace in living in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
From within the endless sky
The singer is positioned to listen and observe the world from the ever-present, infinite perspective of the sky.
The silence surges softly through me
Despite the ever-present noise of the world, the singer finds peace and clarity within the silence that permeates their being.
Listening to the desert sigh
The singer is tuned into the natural rhythms and phases of the world, paying close attention to the subtlest expressions of the environment.
In the presence of the Bo tree
The artist is grounded and centered in the face of great cosmic knowledge and wisdom represented by the Bo tree.
Comes the dawning of the day
A new moment arises, a new day filled with fresh possibilities and opportunities.
Dreaming as in a trance
The singer is in a state of deep contemplation and meditation, allowing their thoughts and consciousness to percolate and unfold.
Comes the rising of the moon
The singer observes and appreciates the natural cycles and changes that occur within the celestial realm of the moon.
Weaving...in Maya's dance
The artist is engaged in the intricate, bittersweet dance of life, full of joyous moments and melancholy realizations.
The only thing to...really learn
The artist has realized that the most profound lesson in life is to live in the present moment, without attachment to past or future.
Living in the evernow
The artist advocates for adopting a mindfulness mindset, living fully in the present moment rather than being distracted or harried by the past or future.
To only know the single moment
The singer espouses the idea that the present moment is all that truly exists, and that we should all aim to live as fully and intentionally as possible within it.
All things...they must pass
The artist understands that all things are fleeting and ephemeral, existing only for a brief time before changing, fading, or disappearing altogether.
That which is born will die
The singer acknowledges the existential reality of death and the inevitability of all living things eventually passing away.
Existence as...transient
Overall, the singer sees life as a brief, beautiful moment in the vastness of time and space, full of potential and change but ultimately fleeting.
Clouds in an autumn sky
The singer uses an evocative metaphor to describe the ephemeral qualities of existence, comparing it to the fleeting, ever-changing shapes of clouds in the autumn sky.
Comes the rising of the sun
The sun represents the cyclical nature of time and the inevitability of each day beginning anew, with fresh opportunities and challenges.
Nothing ever left to chance
The artist believes in the power of being intentional and purposeful, never leaving anything up to chance or serendipity.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DONOVAN LEITCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Niesje Raaphorst
His wonderfull voice fills my soul with warmth and love🌹🌹🌹
orestes tavares
Aplausos!
Stäni Steinbock
So very beautiful! I really regret i didn't buy the album when it appeared! Now it's probably impossible to find anywhere!
Adriano Pieretto
after all these years its sounds beatiful than ever your music has no age is cosmic universal
Niesje Raaphorst
I agree totally. Donovan makes the world a better place
Susan McMillan
He was right on spot with this one.......will always be one of my favorites. Amazing, hypnotic. Best music to fall asleep to ever. You will have the best dreams..........
Liz Horwill
I will listen to anything Donovan sings but I love this song so much.
AnnapurnaNepal
Thank you so much for uploading.
Great memories of the Nevada Desert come to mind.
Lewton Jones
donovan is precious.
quasarsphere
That mellotron!