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 Trip
Donovan Lyrics
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When in should come-a my dream woman, She got sequins in her hair, Like she stepped out off a Fellini film, She sat in a white straw chair But I thought I'd take a second look Just to see what I could see And my scene had popped out like little bubble does, There was nobody there but me. I sai, "Girl, you driunk a lot of drink-me, But you ain't in Wonderland You know I might-a be there to greet you, child, When your trippin' ship touches the sand." What goes on? Chick-a-chick. What goes on I really want to know. What goes on? Chick-a-chick. What goes on I really want to know.
A silver goblet of wine is-ato be Held in a bejewelled glove And the knights they toast the tournament, The falcons they fly above. And the queenwill drink of the dew tonight But the jester she cries alone, Because Merlin he spoke of an instant spell To make the devil's white knights moan And-a all and all, the seagull said, "As I look to where I've been, The whole human race Has a-taken far too much Methedrine." What goes on? Chick-a-chick. What goes on? I really want to know. Whaaat goes on? So near What goes on? I really want to know.
Yeah well, come on.
Donovan's song, The Trip, recounts a night out in downtown LA, where the singer gets caught in a colorful shower that almost blows his mind. He sees signs in the sky urging him to take a trip, and he ends up in a reality company seeking instant sleep. But even in his dreams, he encounters a girl who's taken a lot of drink-me and thinks she's in Wonderland. He tells her that when her tripping ship touches the sand, he might be there to greet her. In the subsequent verses, Donovan sings about knights toasting tournaments, queens drinking of dew for the night, and seagulls bemoaning that the human race has taken too much methedrine. The song mentions Bobby Dylan, who is "the Mad Hatter," Julian, who sat on a diamond ring, and Joannie, who sat in white lace with a black lace fan. The song ends with Donovan asking what goes on repeatedly.
Line by Line Meaning
We was a-d-d-d-drivin' d-downtown L.A., About a-midnightb hour
We were driving downtown L.A. around midnight.
And it almost be - be - blew my mind, I got caught in a coloured shower.
The lights were so dazzling that it overwhelmed me.
All the lights were a t-t-twinkling on Snset, I saw a sign in the sky. It said, "T-t-t-trip a t-trip, I trip,trip," I couldn't keep up up if I tried.
The lights were shining on Sunset Boulevard and there was a sign in the sky telling me to take a trip, which I couldn't resist.
Ah, we stepped down to reality company To get some instant sleep And the driver turned, I said, "Welcome back" He smiled and he said, "Beep beep."
We stopped at a hotel to rest for a bit, and when we got back in the car, the driver greeted us with a smile and the sound of a beep beep.
What goes n? Chic-a-chick. What goes on? I really want to know. What goes on all around me, What goes on? I really want to know.
I am curious about what is happening around me and what is going on in the world.
When in should come-a my dream woman, She got sequins in her hair, Like she stepped out off a Fellini film, She sat in a white straw chair But I thought I'd take a second look Just to see what I could see And my scene had popped out like little bubble does, There was nobody there but me.
I dreamt about a woman who looked like she came from a Fellini film with sequins in her hair, but when I took a closer look, she disappeared.
I sai, "Girl, you driunk a lot of drink-me, But you ain't in Wonderland You know I might-a be there to greet you, child, When your trippin' ship touches the sand."
I told the woman that she's not in Wonderland despite all the drinks she's had, but I might still be there to greet her when she arrives.
A silver goblet of wine is-ato be Held in a bejewelled glove And the knights they toast the tournament, The falcons they fly above. And the queenwill drink of the dew tonight But the jester she cries alone, Because Merlin he spoke of an instant spell To make the devil's white knights moan And-a all and all, the seagull said, "As I look to where I've been, The whole human race Has a-taken far too much Methedrine."
There is a tournament going on where knights are toasting with wine and the queen is going to drink the dew, but the jester is crying alone because of a spell mentioned by Merlin. The seagull reflects on the human race's excessive use of Methedrine.
Yeah well, come on.
An expression of encouragement or enthusiasm.
We sat in a velvet jewel case With sparkles everywhere, And Julian sat on a diamond ring And-I talked of the days gone by. We spoke of a common kaleidoscope And the pros and the cons of Zen And he spoke and-a said for a piece of cake He really did have a yen. Bobby Dylan he sat "the Mad Hatter", A broken hour glass in his hand, And-a Joannie sat in a white lace Looking cool with a black lace fan.
We were sitting in a luxurious location with Julian sitting on a diamond ring. We talked about the past and the perspectives on life. Julian even mentioned having a yen for a piece of cake. Bobby Dylan and Joannie were present, with Bobby holding a broken hourglass and Joannie looking cool with a black lace fan.
What goes on? chick-a-chick. What goes on? I really want to know. What goes on? Please tell me. What goes on? I really want to know.
I am still curious about what is happening around me and what is going on in the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AcidHead710
We was a-d-d-d-drivin' d-downtown L.A.,
About a-midnight hour
And it almost b-b-blew my mind,
I got caught in a coloured shower.
All those lights were t-t-twinkling on Sunset,
I saw a sign in the sky
It said, "T-t-t-trip a t-trip, I trip, trip,"
I couldn't keep up up if I tried.
Ah, we stepped down to reality company
To get some instant sleep
And the driver turned, I said, "Welcome back"
He smiled and he said, "Beep beep".
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
What goes on all around me,
What goes on? I really wanna know.
When in should come-a my dream woman,
She got sequins in her hair,
Like she stepped out off of a Fellini film,
She sat in a white straw chair
But I thought I'd take a second look
Just to see what I could see
And my scene had popped out like a bubble does,
There was nobody there but me.
I said, "Girl, you drank a lot of drink-me,
But you ain't in a Wonderland
You know I might-a be there to greet you, child,
When your trippin' ship touches sand."
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
A silver goblet of wine is-a to be
Held in a bejewelled glove
And her knights they toast the tournament,
The falcons they fly above.
And the queen will a drink of the dew tonight
But the jester she cries alone,
Because Merlin he spoke of an instant spell
To make the devil's white knights moan
And-a all in all, the seagull said,
"As I look to where I've been,
The whole wide human race
Has a-taken far too much Methedrine".
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
What goes on? So near
What goes on? I really wanna know.
Yeah well, come on.
We sat in a velvet jewel case
With sparkles everywhere,
And Julian he sat on a diamond ring
And-a talked of the days gone by.
We spoke of a common kaleidoscope
And the pros and the cons of Zen
And he spoke and-a said for a piece of cake
He really did have a yen.
Bobby Dylan he sat "the Mad Hatter",
A broken hour glass in his hand,
And-a Joannie sat in a white lace
Looking cool with a black lace fan.
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
What goes on? Yes please tell me.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
@aarthurblack5491
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Lyrics
We was a-d-d-d-drivin' d-downtown L.A.,
About a-midnight hour
And it almost b-b-blew my mind,
I got caught in a coloured shower.
All those lights were t-t-twinkling on Sunset,
I saw a sign in the sky
It said, "T-t-t-trip a t-trip, I trip, trip, "
I couldn't keep up up if I tried.
Ah, we stepped down to reality company
To get some instant sleep
And the driver turned, I said, "Welcome back"
He smiled and he said, "Beep beep".
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
What goes on all around me,
What goes on? I really wanna know.
When in should come-a my dream woman,
She got sequins in her hair,
Like she stepped out off of a Fellini film,
She sat in a white straw chair
But I thought I'd take a second look
Just to see what I could see
And my scene had popped out like a bubble does,
There was nobody there but me.
I said, "Girl, you drank a lot of drink-me,
But you ain't in a Wonderland
You know I might-a be there to greet you, child,
When your trippin' ship touches sand."
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
A silver goblet of wine is-a to be
Held in a bejewelled glove
And her knights they toast the tournament,
The falcons they fly above.
And the queen will a drink of the dew tonight
But the jester she cries alone,
Because Merlin he spoke of an instant spell
To make the devil's white knights moan
And-a all in all, the seagull said,
"As I look to where I've been,
The whole wide human race
Has a-taken far too much Methedrine".
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
What goes on? So near
What goes on? I really wanna know.
Yeah well, come on.
We sat in a velvet jewel case
With sparkles everywhere,
And Julian he sat on a diamond ring
And-a talked of the days gone by.
We spoke of a common kaleidoscope
And the pros and the cons of Zen
And he spoke and-a said for a piece of cake
He really did have a yen.
Bobby Dylan he sat "the Mad Hatter",
A broken hour glass in his hand,
And-a Joannie sat in a white lace
Looking cool with a black lace fan.
What goes on? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on? I really wanna know.
What goes on? Yes please tell me.
What goes on? I really wanna know
@mrpual49
This album is a forgotten masterpiece. It is one of the few records that I've listened to continuously for going on nearly 60 years.
@herbwahlsteen6413
Donovan is multi-talented. This song is about how he was tripping while hanging out w/Bob Dylan and Joan Baez. The guitar player here is Jimmy Page. The bass player is John Paul Jones. Donovan also played w/The Jeff Beck Group. He is the other voice on Alice Cooper's "Million Dollar Babies." He did great folk, folk-rock, rock, blues, jazz, and even classical. He also had a great literature background, and his lyrics were very poetic.
@SuperMiley1994
What a legend.
@73rams12
we know about the alice cooper part
@73rams12
and its billion, not million
@tannwich5350
Wow. Was just going off on the guitar and bass, but never suspected. Dang.
@asmith9040
Herb Wahlsteen there’s nothing in the guitar or bass that makes me think or believe that it’s Page and Jones ....what’s your source?
@LeFraudHasChokedInSIXFinals
When assembling my music collection I was surprised that Donovan, best known as a folk singer, was one of the most psychedelic artists ever.
@linshanhsiang
"The whole wide human race is takin' far too much methedrine". So true, so true!
@b.thomasdiener4928
Perhaps Donavan's most catchy, toe-tapping song.