Donovan was not of the sixties or seventies or of any other time period. But thankfully, he has been with us since the sixties, and against that backdrop of psychedelia, he looks quite fine. The Gift From a Flower to a Garden album is a tour de force of humanness. Gift was released as a two-record boxed set featuring glowing color prints of Donovan in fantasy attire alone and communing with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, also of Beatles fame. One of the two records was entitled For Little Ones and was filled with music suitable for children. Many of the songs are characterized by a mood of gentle fantasy, with exquisite lyrics evoking brilliant and surprising images, laid over smoothly-structured, elegantly simple acoustical guitar arrangements.
More important even than the music from Donovan has always been the message. Donovan’s message is that of a troubadour who extols the wondrous experience of life on a magical earth. He often sings stories with a medieval tinge to them, and loves romantic ideals, colors of a Renaissance mural.
During the sixties, a lot of people listened to Donovan on psychedelics. Donovan’s music provided a soundtrack for deep insights, with his strong, sensitive voice, his love for life, and his choice of idealistic, romantic themes. Donovan’s songs urged us to become spiritual wanderers in search of wonders and marvels to share with all mankind. His voice was encouraging, protecting and kind. Many people have benefited from his timely expression of positive thoughts and music. His music is genuinely healing.
His music is still exquisitely beautiful. Very little of it is dated, since he rarely has bowed to musical trends. When your brow is fevered and your heart is empty, this is the man to listen to. Take a walk in flowered fields, go wandering on the beach with him and gaze across the waves. Soon you will understand why he is a remarkable man.
