Donovan wrote “Hurdy Gurdy Man” while in Rishikesh in India, where he was studying Transcendental Meditation with the Beatles.
The recording features a harder rock sound than Donovan’s usual material, supplying a range of distorted guitars and aggressive drums. It also features an Indian influence with the use of a tambura, a gift to Donovan from George Harrison, who also helped write the lyrics. The song may have been influenced by “Green Circles”, a psychedelic 1967 song by Small Faces. The similarity is in the melody of the descending verse, the strange vocal delivery, and the topic of being visited by an enlightened stranger. — LaWik
Thrown like a star in my vast sleep
I opened my eyes to take a peek
To find that I was by the sea
Gazing with tranquility
‘Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy,
Hurdy gurdy gurdy,” he sang
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy,
Hurdy gurdy gurdy,” he sang
Histories of ages past
Unenlightened shadows cast
Down through all eternity
The crying of humanity
‘Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Includes a missing verse that George Harrison wrote:
“When truth gets buried deep
Beneath a thousand years of sleep
Time demands a turn-around
And once again the truth is found.”
‘Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy,
Hurdy gurdy gurdy,” he sang
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy,
Hurdy gurdy gurdy,” he sang
Gerard Van der Leun
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I had a dream about this song and Sunshine Superman just last night. Weird.
On the original recording, none other than Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham — the guitarist, bassist, and drummer of what would later become Led Zeppelin — are backing Donovan on the track.
Met Mr. Leitch years ago after a gig. Nice guy.
He does seem to be a nice guy. I read about him falling in love with Linda Lawrence and his long wait to marry her.
Oh man, the colors!
If someone happens to break it, does Donovan try and catch the wind?
(!)
drum track on the original a salvo.
when the tune kicks off it’s killer.
I’m not hip and I’m pragmatic so I have not idea what the heck he’s warbling about. Hail Atlantis!
Many years ago I saw Donovan opening for Yes with an acoustic set. (Really.) This song really affected me. It could have been his delivery, or it could have been the herbal refreshment.
The amazing thing about Donovan’s songs is how good they are regardless of the passage of time. They actually, like wine, get better.
This little gem goes out to all the effete and wussified lovers of poetry, especially Yeats, and Donovan. 😉
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn6FwUtXhuc&feature=emb_title
@Jack: The Billy Batts scene in GOODFELLAS ruined that song for me forever! Scorsese’s use of pop songs on his film soundtracks as illustrative or ironic counterpoints to the action is such genius.
@Hazel: W.B. Yeats and Donovans — *Spacey Celts in da house!*