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Josie, I won't fail ya
I won't fail you have no fear
Josie, I won't fail ya
Give me one more chance to be as near
With these words begins the discography of Donovan, an artist unfortunately relegated over time to remain in the shadow of the certainly more famous Bob Dylan. Many are the similarities between the two figures of the world Folk singer-songwriter scene, many the differences. Time has taught us that Donovan managed to navigate multiple genres, much like Topo Gigio, while maintaining a musical integrity that makes him recognizable among thousands. And I say this because as we know 1965 is the famous date when Dylan made a turn that was sensational at the time, leaving everyone astonished, moving from the classic acoustic guitar and harmonica Folk to what was commonly defined as Rock. Donovan experiments, doesn't remain anchored to the roots, but does so through a psychedelic rock (let's remember we are in the 60s) through the album considered a classic by many, Sunshine Superman.
But it's not only in musical genres that we find similarities and differences between the two. It's their approach to music that distinguishes them. Bob Dylan, a ruthless narrator of reality and a fierce accuser of the world he lived in, Donovan, a daydreamer who narrates life through an almost pantheistic union with nature. Two undoubtedly sensitive souls, two almost opposite ways of showcasing themselves as well.
Precisely in 1965, three years after his cousin's debut, Donovan gave birth to his What's Bin Did and What's Bid Hid. The opener of the album, one of the masterful Scottish artist's sweetest pieces, is 'Josie'. From this song, Donovan's narrative intentions immediately become apparent, expressing an almost unnatural love towards a woman through symbols and images that recall nature (I love you darling Josie/The trees of pine, they grow so tall). Disarmingly light. But the track that surely carries the album is the famous 'Catch The Wind', which was also a single. Acoustic guitar and dreamy voice, a text that on the same lines as the previous Josie evokes dreamy images recalling nature, a love perhaps with impossible connotations (To stay in your heart/where I long and desire to be/ah but I may as well try to catch the wind). The song climbed the charts, becoming perhaps the iconic piece of the first part of the songwriter's career. It's noteworthy that Lucio Battisti was inspired by the song for his 'Era'.
Among other pieces, many of which have numerous covers, we remember 'Remember The Alamo', by Jane Bowers, narrating the soldiers' suffering in war, a theme very dear to Dylan, the playful 'Car Car', a cover of the undisputed Folk master Woody Guthrie, 'You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond', a blues arrangement of the old Blind Willie Johnson. A special note should be made for 'To Sing For You', written by the young Donovan, and performed by him in the documentary film Don't Look Back in a friendly song duel with Bob Dylan (the latter responded with 'It's All Over Now Baby Blue'). To close it all, 'Ramblin' Boy' another "Donovan-style" song in which he tells of himself, defining himself as a traveling boy, thus betraying the trust of a woman who would have always wanted him with her.
Things will evolve years later, with 'Sunshine Superman' our boy with long hair, the hat, and the dreamer's voice will introduce novelties in his sound without ever excessively modifying his figure. We are left with the image of an artist who has never been talked about enough, deserving of a place among the greats of his genre.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Josie (03:28)
Josie,I wont fail ya,
I wont fail you have no fear,
Josie,I wont fail ya,
Give me one more chance to be as near.
The meadows they are bursting
the yellow corn is in your hands,
and with the night comes sorrow
as the tide of dawn slips on the land.
The long breezes are blowing
all down the sky into my face,
Ive a worried kind of feelin
that my time has come and gone to waste.
I love you darling Josie,
the trees of pine they grow so tall,
how can you come to love me
when you didnt love me at all.
Josie,I wont fail ya,
I wont fail you have no fear,
Josie I wont fail ya
Give me one more chance to be as near.
My Josie looks a child now
as she lies beyond my breast,
in the night I think about her
in the day I get no rest.
I cut me a young pine cone
And gave it to the river deep,
It sailed way by your window
where you lay so long in sleep.
God bless you darling Josie
with your sparkling eyes so bright and clear,
Josie,I wont fail you have no fear,
Josie,I wont fail ya
Give me one more chance to be as near.
02 Catch the Wind (02:56)
In the chilly hours and minutes
Of uncertainty I want to be
In the warm hold of your loving mind
To feel you all around me
And to take your hand along the sand,
Ah but I may as well try and catch the wind
When sundown pales the sky
I want to hide a while behind your smile
And everywhere I'd look your eyes I'd find
For me to love you now
Would be the sweetest thing 'twould make me sing
Ah but I may as well try and catch the wind.
When rain has hung the leaves with tears
I want you near to kill my fears
To help me to leave all my blues behind
For standin' in your heart
Is where I want to be and I long to be
Ah but I may as well try and catch the wind
Ah but I may as well try and catch the wind
03 Remember the Alamo (03:04)
880 were challenged by Travis to die
By a line that he drew with his sword as the battle drew nigh
A man that crossed over the line was for glory
And he that was left better fly
And over the line crossed 179
Hey Up Santa Anna, they're killing your soldiers below
So the rest of Texas will know
And remember the Alamo
Jim Bowie lay dying, the blood and the sweat in his eyes
But his knife at the ready to take him a few in reply
Young Davy Crocket lay laughing and dying
The blood and the sweat in his eyes
For Texas and freedom a man was more willing to die
Hey Up Santa Anna, they're killing your soldiers below
So the rest of Texas will know
And remember the Alamo
A courier came to a battle once bloody and loud
And found only skin and bones where he once left a crowd
Fear not little darling of dying
If this world be sovereign and free
For we'll fight to the last for as long as liberty be
Hey Up Santa Anna, they're killing your soldiers below
So the rest of Texas will know
And remember the Alamo
04 Cuttin' Out (02:19)
I went down to Josie's pool room
To see if she was there
I didn't find nobody
Nobody anywhere
So I cut on out of there
I cut on out of there
I was standing behind this colored man
In a bar way down town
I didn't said not one was
We didnt care a damn
We just cut on out of there
Cut on out of there
I went down to jose's pool room
See if my baby was there
I didn't find nobody
Nobody anywhere
So I cut on out of there
I cut on out of there
08 To Sing for You (02:45)
When you're feeling kind of lonesome in your mind
With a heartache following you so close behind
Call out to me as I ramble by
I'll sing a song for you
Thats's what I'm here to do
To sing for you
When the night has left you cold and feeling sad
I will show you that it cannot be so bad
Forget the one who went and made you cry
I'll sing a song for you
Thats's what I'm here to do
To sing for you
When you feel you just can't make it anymore
With your head bowed down you're staring at the floor
Search out to me with your weary eyes
I'll sing a song for you
Thats's what I'm here to do
To sing for you
Now every man he has his work you know
And to find out mine you ain't got far to go
Call out to me with your weary eyes
I'll sing a song for you
Thats's what I'm here to do
To sing for you
09 You're Gonna Need Somebody on Your Bond (04:04)
From the album catch the wind The wine's just fine. You're gonna need somebody when I'm gone, You're gonna need somebody when I'm gone. Hmm, hmm, your eyes are black as midnight, Death comes trippin' and a-runnin', You gonna need somebody on your bond. You're gonna miss somebody when I'm gone, You're gonna miss somebody when I'm gone. Hmm, you're gonna wake up tryin', You're gonna wake up cryin', You're gonna miss somebody when I'm gone. I don't just see-ee the rising sun, I don't just see-ee the rising sun. An' I'm gonna wake up in the mornin' My eyes all stargazed. You're gonna need somebody one of these days. You're gonna need somebody when I'm gone, You're gonna need somebody when I'm gone. Well, you wake up in the mornin', An' death comes trippin' and a-runnin', You gonna need somebody when I'm gone.
11 Donna Donna (02:56)
On a wagon, bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye
High above him, there's a swallow
Winging swiftly through the sky
How the winds are laughing
They laugh with all their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through
And half the summer�s night
Donna donna�
Stop complaining, said the farmer
Who told you a calf to be?
Why don't you have wings to fly with
Like the swallow so proud and free
Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
But whoever treasures freedom
Like the swallow has learned to fly
12 Ramblin' Boy (02:33)
as I linger on this windy road my suitcase in my hand I think on how some hours ago together we did stand bewildered tears lay in your eyes as you tried to make me see that if you gave your love to me I could leave so easily cos I am called the ramblin' boy like the wind that is so free yes I am called the ramblin' boy so ramblin' boy I'll be I turn my collar to the cold I pull my cap down low I sing this song I wrote for you wherever I may go so I linger on this windy road I hope your tears are dry don't you never forget this ramblin' boy no matter how hard you try cos I am called the ramblin' boy like the wind that is so free yes I am called the ramblin' boy so ramblin' boy I'll be
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