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.
Young but Growing
Donovan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The leaves they do grow green
Many's the time my love I have seen
Many the hour I watched him on the go
He's young but he's daily growing
Father, dear father
You've done to me great wrong
I'm twice twelve and he is but fourteen
He's young but he's daily growing
Daughter, dear daughter
I've done to you no wrong
I've married you to a rich man's son
He'll make a Lord for you to wed to borne
He's young but he's daily growing
Oh father, dear father
Ifin you besee-ee fit
I'll send him to college for one year yet
I'll tie blue ribbons all around his head
To let the maidens know that he's married
One day while I was walking
On my father's castle wall
I saw the boys, they were playin' with the ball
My own true love was the flower of them all
He's young but he's daily growing
At the age of fifteen
He was a married man
The age of sixteen, a father of a son
The age of seventeen, the grass grew over him
Grew that soon put an end to his growing
The trees they do grow high
The leaves they do grow green
Many's the time my love I have seen
Many the hour I watched him all alone
He's young but he's daily growing
The song "Young But Growing" by Donovan is a traditional folk ballad that tells a story of a young girl who is married to a boy who is too young. She pleads with her father to send him to college for at least one more year to let him grow and mature. She ties blue ribbons around his head to let other maidens know he's married. The young boy reciprocates her love, and she sees him as the flower of all the boys. However, tragedy befalls him as he becomes a father at sixteen and dies at just seventeen years old. The song ends with the refrain "He's young, but he's daily growing," highlighting the idea that even in death, he's still experiencing growth and transformation.
The lyrics of the song speak to the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. It's a song about the beauty and frailty of life and how growth and change are inevitable. The young boy's premature death signifies the fleeting nature of life and how even a short life can have a significant impact on those around them.
Overall, "Young But Growing" is a poignant and melancholic song that tells a timeless story of love, tragedy, and personal growth. It's a perfect example of how traditional folk ballads can convey significant emotional depth and complexity.
Line by Line Meaning
The trees they do grow high
The trees grow tall, like how time passes by and the boy will grow old.
The leaves they do grow green
The leaves grow vibrant and healthy, depicting the youth and life of the boy growing up.
Many's the time my love I have seen
The girl has seen her beloved many times, expressing her heartfelt love for him.
Many the hour I watched him on the go
The girl has watched the boy grow up and mature, even when he's been busy with his own endeavors.
He's young but he's daily growing
Although the boy is still young, he is continuously growing and learning from his experiences and mistakes.
Father, dear father
The girl addresses her father with love and respect.
You've done to me great wrong
The girl feels wronged and betrayed by her father.
You've married me to a boy who is too young
The girl is married to a boy who is younger than her.
I'm twice twelve and he is but fourteen
The girl is 24 years old and her husband is only 14, which is an unusual age gap between spouses.
Daughter, dear daughter
The father addresses his daughter with affection.
I've done to you no wrong
The father believes he has not done his daughter any injustice.
I've married you to a rich man's son
The father has arranged for his daughter to marry a wealthy man's son.
He'll make a Lord for you to wed to borne
The girl's husband will eventually become a lord, providing her with a rich and valuable inheritance.
Ifin you besee-ee fit
If you think it's appropriate or necessary.
I'll send him to college for one year yet
The girl requests that her husband be sent to college for further education and growth.
I'll tie blue ribbons all around his head
The girl will proudly adorn her husband with blue ribbons to show he's taken and to ward off other women.
To let the maidens know that he's married
The blue ribbons will serve as a sign for other women that the boy is already married.
One day while I was walking
While walking one day, the girl experienced a significant event.
On my father's castle wall
The girl was on a castle wall that belonged to her father.
I saw the boys, they were playin' with the ball
The girl observed children playing ball.
My own true love was the flower of them all
The girl's husband was the most beautiful and impressive among the boys.
At the age of fifteen
At 15 years old.
He was a married man
The boy was already married at a young age.
The age of sixteen, a father of a son
The boy became a father at 16 years old.
The age of seventeen, the grass grew over him
The boy passed away at 17 years old, depicted by the grass growing over him.
Grew that soon put an end to his growing
The grass overtook him and ended his life, mirroring how anyone's growth can be ended abruptly.
Many the hour I watched him all alone
The girl has spent countless hours reminiscing and mourning her lost love.
He's young but he's daily growing
Although the boy died young, he was continuously growing and learning throughout his short life.
Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carl's Folk Club
You're very welcome my friend, i am a big fan of Donavan myself and i love this song...
Belgo Jack
Hmm, been a huge Donovan fan for a long time, but just recently got into John Renbourn and Pentangle. Then discovered this... so much awesomeness. Thanks for the post.
Anna chandra
That flute solo omg
Carl's Folk Club
@Taggerung12 thank you Emilee,i have always liked this one and "Donovan" made some real good songs.thanks for watching. Carl
beldengi
Donovan was one terrific folk singer but Pentangle's version of this song is much to be preferred.
ashley barnett
love Pentangles version,but i prefer Donovans..dont know why,though i like the flute.
Isabella
Great!
Carl's Folk Club
@BluzJack Hi Rene,yeah its not one of his songs that your hear that often,but its a good one.many thanks for watching. Carl
Carl's Folk Club
Hmm it's well good ain't it, thanks for stopping by.. Carl
Linijipi Turururu
Great song! Do you know something of the song´s history?