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Fun Music Information -> Donovan

This is the most recent information about Donovan that has been submitted to amIright. If we have more information about Donovan, then we provide a link to the section where it appears (the actual page whenever possible).

Our newest site, amIwrong has an albums order quiz where you need to put this performer's albums in order of release.

Possible Misspelled Names:

These are the alternate spellings of the performer's name we've had to correct in submissions to amIright.

Wouldn't You Like to Know...

Quotes:

He's five feet two and he's six feet four
He fights with missiles and with spears
He's all of 31 and he's only 17
He's been a soldier for a thousand years
He's a Catholic, a Hindu, an atheist, a Jain
a Buddhist and a Baptist and a Jew
and he knows he shouldn't kill
and he knows he always will
kill you for me my friend and me for you

- Donovan - Universal Soldier

Submitted by: LucidLupin

Music Performer Pseudonyms:

Also known as: Donovan Leitch. Submitted by: groove

Music Performer Nicknames:

Known informally as: Prince of Flower Power. Submitted by: KL Fan

Weird Names of Music Performer's Children:

Astrella Celeste - Astrella is another typically earthly name for one of Donovan's kids. He did write a song named "Celeste", so I imagine that is where the name came from. Submitted by: Eric Andrews
Oriole - For a perennial flower child like him, something "nature" sounding is not too unusual for Donovan. Submitted by: Eric Andrews
Ione Skye - Submitted by: shawn50272

Singers Who Act:

Notable Acting Credits	Comments & Submitter Name
"The Pied Piper, The Secret Policeman's Ball"	also composed the music for Brother Sun Sister Moon and The Pied Piper. - KL Fan

Vainity Songs:

Song Name	Comments & Submitter Name
"Invincible Donovan University"	Donovan rewrote the song "Universe Am I" for his new university of meditation and arts in Scotland. He never recorded it but the song can be found on YouTube in a live performance. - KL Fan

Former Career:

Name	New Career	Comments & Submitter Name
"Donovan"	"Drummer"	Before he was a guitarist, he played drums in his high school band "The Macabres". His sax player was Ron "Dippy" Gale and the song "Epistle to Dippy" was dedicated to him. - KL Fan

Song Titles Not Used as Lyrics:

Song Name	Comments & Submitter Name
"Colours"	The world "color" is in the song but never as a plural. ("Yellow is the color of my true love's hair... Blue's the color of the sky... Green is the color of the sparkling pond...") - KL Fan
"Poor Cow"	Originally titled "Poor Love", this was the theme for the movie of the same name. The song originally included a Lord of the Rings reference. "Oh I did dwell in the northern part of the country, Faramir far from here". - KL Fan
"Breezes of Patchulie"	Originally to be named "Darkness of my Night"...and that was used in the lyrics! - Paul Warren
"Sunshine Superman"	Opening line is "Sunshine came softly through my window today". And other verses open with the word "Superman". But the two words never come together anywhere in the lyrics to create the title phrase "Sunshine Superman". - Melissa Conway
"Epistle to Dippy"	Why it was called 'Epistle to Dippy' is way beyond me. - Paul Warren

New Song Names:

Original Song Name	New Song Name	Submitter Name
"Wear Your Love Like Devon"	"Wear Your Love Like Heaven"	Leopard Seal
"Young Girl Booze"	"Young Girl Blues"	Sonya Raynos
"Universal Shoulder"	"Universal Soldier"	Ned MacCamden
"Mellow Hello"	"Mellow Yellow"	Lydia Idyl
"Mellow Cello"	"Mellow Yellow"	Lydia Idyl
There are additional Donovan new song names available.

Literally Impossible Song Titles:

Song/Performer	Comment	Submitter Name
"Brother Sun, Sister Moon,"	Neither celestial body has a sibling.	Brit Boxx
"Ballad Of A Crystal Man,"	No person is a crystal or made of crystals.	Candy Welty
"Hurdy-Gurdy Man,"	Once again, man cannot be a musical instrument,	Brit Boxx
"Universe Am I,"	He is not the universe	KL Fan
"The Sun Is A Very Magic Fellow,"	Since when does the sun do magic or be a fellow?	KL Fan
There are additional Donovan literally impossible song titles available.

Use a Song Title to Answer a Different Song:

Song & Band Name	Song & Band Name
"What's Your Favorite Color?," Living Colour	"Mellow Yellow," Donovan
"Who Are You?," The Who	"Jennifer Juniper," Donovan
"Sister, Do You Know My Name?," The White Stripes	"Jennifer Juniper," Donovan
"I'm Going Home," Ten Years After	"To Susan On The West Coast Waiting," Donovan
There are additional songs titles that answer other songs available.

Remove a Letter From a Song Title:

"Catch the Win" originally "Catch the Wind"

Bob

"Ballad Of A Crystal Ma" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Candy Welty

"Wear Your Love Like Haven" originally "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"

Wendy Torrance

"Wear Your Love Like Heave" originally "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"

Wendy Torrance

"Wear Our Love Like Heaven" originally "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"

Candy Welty

There are additional Donovan song titles with a letter removed available.

Add a Letter to a Song Title:

"Ballad Of A Crystal Manx" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Candy Welty

"Ballad Of A Crystal Main" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Main, as in water main

Candy Welty

"Ballad Of A Crystal Mane" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Candy Welty

"Ballad Off A Crystal Man" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Candy Welty

"Texas" originally "Teas"

Samantha Wayland

There are additional Donovan song titles with a letter added available.

Change a Letter:

"Ballad Of A Crystal Max" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Jessica Childress

"Ballad Of A Crystal Maw" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Jessica Childress

"Ballad Of A Crystal Tan" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Jessica Childress

"Ballad Of A Crystal Ran" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Ballad Of A Crystal ran on for a long time?

Jessica Childress

"Ballad Of A Crystal Nan" originally "Ballad Of A Crystal Man"

Jessica Childress

There are additional Donovan song titles with a letter changed available.

Song Parody Lyrics:

Original Song Name	Parody Song Name	Parody Author
"Mellow Yellow"	"Augie Doggie"	Porfle Popnecker
"Josie"	"Dozy"	Donna VanLeitch
"Catch The Wind"	"Get Some Z's"	Donna VanLeitch
"Mellow Yellow"	"Yellow Jell-O"	Donna VanLeitch
"Goldwatch Blues"	"Cold Broth Blues"	Donna VanLeitch
"Hurdy Gurdy Man"	"Hurly-Burly Man"	Donna VanLeitch
"Colours"	"Dullard"	Donna VanLeitch
"Jennifer Juniper"	"Men With Nerve, Dudes In Skirts"	Donna VanLeitch
"Sunshine Superman"	"Punch Lines, Stupid Fans"	Donna VanLeitch
"Atlantis"	"Arcana"	Donna VanLeitch
There are additional Donovan song parodies available.

Songs for Commercials, That Haven't Been Done Yet:

Song Name	Product	Submittor
Mellow Yellow	The Simpsons	Rich
Mellow Yellow	"The Simpsons" tv series new episode promos	BlueEYE
Mellow Yellow	Mello Yello	crazydon
Intergalactic Laxative	Dulco-lax (laxative)	pickle*

Bad Choices for On Hold Music:

Song Name	Company/Organization	Submittor
Atlantis	New Orleans Chamber of Congress	British Bullcrap
The War Drags On	The Anti-War Campaign	Paul Warren
Mellow Yellow	The Makers Of Mountain Dew	crazydon
Atlantis	Galveston, TX/Johnstown, PA Chamber of Congress	oldschool

Songs for Duets, That Haven't Been Done Yet:

First Band/Song Name	Second Band/Song Name	New Song Name	Submittor
Big Yellow Taxi Joni Mitchell	Mellow Yellow Donovan	Big Mellow Yellow Taxi	Edward
One Tin Soldier Coven	Universal Soldier Donovan	One Tin Universal Soldier	Peter
The Unknown Soldier The Doors	Universal Soldier Donovan	The Unknown Universal Soldier	Peter
Let Me Be The River Willie Nile	River Song Donovan	Let Me Be The River Song	Gretchen Wieners
There are additional Donovan duets that haven't been done yet available.

If Groups Combined, Their Names Might Be:

Madonovan

Madonna combined with Donovan

Submitted By: nally

Bonovan

Bono combined with Donovan

Two one-named male singers combine their names.

Submitted By: nally

Misheard Lyrics:

"Wear Your Love Like Heaven" Misheard Lyrics: Wear your love like leather Original Lyrics: Wear your love like heaven	"Mellow Yellow" Misheard Lyrics: They call me Henrietta Original Lyrics: They call me Mellow Yellow
"Sunshine Superman" Misheard Lyrics: It'll tick-tock Original Lyrics: It'll take time	"Happiness Runs" Misheard Lyrics: Happiness runs in a virtual motion Original Lyrics: Happiness runs in a circular motion
There are additional Donovan misheard lyrics available.

Misheard Lyrics Stories:

"Mellow Yellow"

Misheard Lyrics:

They call me Hello Bello

Original Lyrics:

They call me Mellow Yellow

Story about this misheard lyric by: Cody Finke

I heard this in a Hello Bello commercial that spoofs this song.

There are additional Donovan misheard stories available.

Funniest Song Lyrics:

"Mellow Yellow"

The Funny Lyrics:

Electrical banana

Why They're Funny:

I was listening to my dad's albums, and when this line came up, I started cracking up and couldn't stop. It's mostly in the way it's said. Eee-lektrical banaaaah-naaaaaaah

Submitted by: SpongeBob SquarePants' Lady Friend

Repetitive Song Lyrics:

"Hurdy Gurdy Man" The Repetitive Lyrics: Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, gurdy he sang. Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, gurdy he sang. Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, gurdy he sang Why They're Repetitive: Shut up, shut up, shut up I sang! Submitted by: sXe LeXi 5X2	"First There Is A Mountain" The Repetitive Lyrics: First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is. Why They're Repetitive: its says it for the whole song, except for about 4 lines. Submitted by: Hurricane64
There are additional Donovan repetitive lyrics available.

Nonsensical Song Lyrics:

"Sunshine Superman"

The Nonsensical Lyrics:

You can just sit there, thinking, on your velvet throne,
'Bout all the rainbows you can have for your own,
When you make your mind up forever to be mine.

Why They're Nonsensical:

Could ANY amount of sitting and thinking on a velvet throne cause one to think up anything on Earth more IMPOSSIBLE for one to possess than rainbows? I think not.

Submitted by: Karen Smith

"Hurdy Gurdy Man"

The Nonsensical Lyrics:

Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man Comes singing songs of love
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, gurdy he sang
Here comes the roly poly man and he's singing songs of love
Roly poly, roly poly, roly poly, poly he sang

Why They're Nonsensical:

What is all this 'hurdy gurdy' and 'roly poly' nonsense and what's the point of it?!

Submitted by: sXe LeXi 5X2

There are additional Donovan nonsensical lyrics available.

Insulting Song Lyrics:

"The Intergalaxtic Laxative"

The Insulting Lyrics:

The intergalaxtic laxative will get you here to Mars.

Why They're Insulting:

Truly an insult to astronauts, but funny in a way!

Submitted by: KL Fan

Inappropriate Song Lyrics:

"Sunshine Superman"

The Inappropriate Lyrics:

Sunshine came softly through my a-window today
could've tripped out easily
but I knew m' way

Why They're Inappropriate:

At the time the song was written "sunshine" was a slang term for lsd. "tripped out" could also refer to taking a "trip" through lsd. donovan wrote this for his girlfriend whom he just split up with and would marry a few years later. in his autobiography he says he remembers giving her an lsd trip so...

Submitted by: Kl Fan

Dirty Song Lyrics:

"Mellow Yellow" The Dirty Lyrics: Electrical banana Is gonna be a sudden craze Why They're Dirty: I first heard that song when I was a teen, and I didn't know what that means. An 'electrical banana' was a vibrator, that is shaped like a penis. Submitted by: Abc	"Pee Song" The Dirty Lyrics: How much of a pee do you wee? When you're little and you're only three Can you wiggle and wash Does it tickle and splotch Can you do like a dog on a tree? Why They're Dirty: the lyrics say it all, this was on an album for kids! Submitted by: KL Fan
There are additional Donovan dirty lyrics available.

Song Lyrics That Name Check Celebrities:

"Lalena" The Lyrics: That's your lot in life Lalena Who They Mention: The name "Lalena" is a variation on German actress Lotte Lenya who was often cast in the role of prostitutes. Submitted by: Sara	"Joe Bean's Theme" The Lyrics: When I hear Astrud, jasmine fills the air. Who They Mention: Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto. "Joe Bean" is a wordplay on Antonino Carlos Jabim, the famous Brazilian songwriter. Submitted by: KL Fan
There are additional Donovan celebrity lyrics available.

Song Lyrics That Mention Other Songs:

"Writer in the Sun"

The Song Lyrics:

The Days of Wine and Roses are distant days for me.

Song They Mention:

Days of Wine and Roses by Henry Mancini

Submitted by: Paul Warren

Songs That Open With Their Titles:

"Jennifer Juniper"

Opening Lines:

Jennifer Juniper lives upon the hill

Comments:

Submitted by: Candy Welty

"Atlantis"

Opening Lines:

The continent of Atlantis was an island that lay before the great flood

Comments:

Donovan's Top 10 hit of 1969 about the legendary lost continent of Atlantis. He speaks the first part and then the chorus sings "Way down below the ocean, where I wanna be she may be".

Submitted by: KL Fan

Made Up Words in Songs:

"Barabajagal"

The Made Up Words:

Barabajagal

Comments:

This song is a good jam song.

Submitted by: Paul Warren

Song Title Space Change:

"La Lena" originally "Lalena"

Submitted by: Blake Dreary

"Weary Our Love Like Heaven" originally "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"

Submitted by: Yvette Bristle

"Mellow Yell Ow!" originally "Mellow Yellow"

Sounds a bit contradictory.

Submitted by: George Straitjacket

"Sun Shines Up Erma N." originally "Sunshine Superman"

Submitted by: Emmy Kay Butanone

Band Name Anagrams:

Avon Nod Submitted by: Lorraine Thoanjer

Don Avon Submitted by: Lorraine Thoanjer

Don Nova Submitted by: Susie Creamcheese

Could be some guy's first and last name.

No Do Van Submitted by: George Straitjacket

Does that mean he doesn't hold concerts in a van?

Song Title Anagrams:

"Dry Hungary Mud" originally "Hurdy Gurdy Man"

Submitted by: Frederick Gale

"Our Weary Heaven-like Love" originally "Wear Your Love Like Heaven"

How could something heaven-like grow weary?

Submitted by: Kimberly Townsend

"Hints Manager" originally "Earth Sign Man"

Submitted by: Ring Around The Rosie O'Donnell Abu Dhabi

"His Ant Manger" originally "Earth Sign Man"

Submitted by: Ring Around The Rosie O'Donnell Abu Dhabi

"Anger This Man" originally "Earth Sign Man"

Submitted by: Alyssa Jayne

There are additional Donovan Song Title Anagrams available.

Real Places Mentioned in Songs:

"Atlantis" The Lyrics: The continent of Atlantis was an island that lay before the great flood in the area we know call the Atlantic Ocean Why: The legendary lost continent of Atlantis which may or may not have existed. Located in the Atlantic Ocean it also mentions Africa as a neighbor and South and North America. Submitted by: KL Fan	"Sand and Foam" The Lyrics: I dug you diggin' me in Mexico Why: The song is inspired by a trip Donovan took to Mexico in 1966. The song is often subtitled "Mexico". Submitted by: KL Fan
There are additional Donovan Real Places Mentioned in Songs available.

Lyrics Pronunciation:

"Mellow Yellow"

The Lyrics:

I'm just mad about Fourteen
And Fourteen's a mad about me

Why:

He says "fourteen" as "faurting" or "Fontine". Donovan was originally from Scotland and sometimes his grammar is incorrect

Submitted by: KL Fan

Super Long Pop Songs:

"Legend of a Child Girl Linda" Length: 6:50

Probably Donovan's longest song ever.

Submitted by: Paul Warren

Super Short Pop Songs:

"Oh Gosh" Length: 1:47

It's a very nice jazz-style song which only lasts less than two-minutes.

Submitted by: Paul Warren

Song Title Acrostics:

US: "Universal Soldier"

Submitted by: Candy Welty

COTS: "Celia Of The Seals"

Submitted by: Candy Welty

MY: "Mellow Yellow"

Submitted by: hamp

Song Title Spoonerisms:

"Young Burl Glues" originally "Young Girl Blues"

Submitted by: Sonya Raynos

"Young Burl Glues" originally "Young Girl Blues"

Submitted by: Sonya Raynos

"Yellow Mellow" originally "Mellow Yellow"

Reverses the order of the two words!

Submitted by: Melissa Leo the Lion

"Thirst Mare Is A Fountain" originally "First There Is A Mountain"

Submitted by: D. Melody Dole, MD

"Thirst Fare Is A Mountain" originally "First There Is A Mountain"

Submitted by: D. Melody Dole, MD

There are additional Donovan Song Title Spoonerisms available.

Foreign Language in English Songs:

"Jennifer Juniper"

The Lyrics:

Jennifer Juniper, vis sur la colline,
Jennifer Juniper assie trs tranquille. Dort-elle?
Je ne crois pas.
Qu'est-ce que tu fais, Jenny mon amour?

Why:

This is the French version of the first verse of the song , which goes like this.... Jennifer Juniper, lives upon a hill, Jennifer Juniper, sitting very still. Is she sleeping? I don't think so. Is she breathing? Yes, very low. Whatcha doing, Jennifer my love?

Submitted by: Paul Warren