Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man

[TotalInformation]

From forums.about.com/ab-oldies/messages?lgnF=y&msg=949.26

Found my Donovan CD and I had been thinking of the wrong name. It is another live show, but it is titled "The Classics Live" (1991) and the label is Great Northern Arts, Ltd.

Donovan starts talking about how he was in India "with 4 Beatles, a Beach Boy and a Mia Farrow. They were all being quiet, the maharishi sitting cross-legged on a deerskin on the floor. John got up walked over to the maharishi, patted him on the head and said, "There's a good guru."

Donovan continued during the song. "Later that night, we all got out our guitars and I played "Hurdy Gurdy Man." George Harrison turned and said, "I could write a verse for that song, Don." And he did -- but I didn't record it. (laughter from the audience) Would you like to hear the long, lost verse of George?" (cheers from the crowd).

Donovan sings:

"When The truth gets buried deep
Beneath a thousand years of sleep
Time demands I turn around
And once again the truth is found
Awakening the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Who comes singing songs of love

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."

[eyesbleed]

Interesting verse ol' George wrote there.
Thanks for remembering that. I see this cd is fairly easy to get, in case anybody's interested. There's a few used copies at half.com for cheap.
half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid=1720352&domain_id=1876&meta_id=2

[fourthousandholes]

So, in context, the actual verse TI speaks of:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu-18cP4164

Hurdy Gurdy Man
(Donovan)

Thrown like a star in my vast sleep
I open my eyes to take a peep
To find that I was by the sea
Gazing with tranquillity.
'Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love,
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love.

chorus:
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.

Histories of ages past
Unenlightened shadows cast
Down through all eternity
The crying of humanity.
'Tis then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Comes singing songs of love,
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Comes singing songs of love.

(chorus)

When the truth gets buried deep
Beneath a thousand years of sleep
Time demands I turn around
And once again the truth is found
Awakening the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Who comes singing songs of love

(chorus)

Compare to:

Minstrel's Song
(Moody Blues)

Words a simple song
A minstrel sings
A way of life in his eyes
Hear the morning call of waking birds
When they are singing, bringing
Love - love.
Everywhere love is all around,
Everywhere love is all around.

Now the winter's gone
Cold wind has blown
The endless stream in our lives
Where the minstrel sings
This simple song
He's always bringing, singing,
Love - love.
Everywhere love is all around,
Everywhere love is all around.

Listen to the one
Who sings of love.
Follow our friend,
Our wandering friend,
Listen to the one,
Who sings of love.
Everywhere love is around,
Around, around.

Hear the nations sing
Our minstrel's song,
As he walks by in their lives
Soon the spring will come,
And everyone will all be singing, bringing
Love - love
Everywhere love is all around,
Everywhere love is all around.

Listen to the one
Who sings of love.
Follow our friend,
Our wandering friend,
Listen to the one,
Who sings of love.
Everywhere love is around,
Around, around.

[LOVELYRITA]

What were the Beatles known for in their pre 1967 years?

Love songs....

Interesting thread...Speaking about JPM as Hurdy, Gurdy man, but using such peculiar terms that one would not see that at first hearing of the song. But knowing the things he did, being in India at the time...makes sense to me that he knew more than one may suspect.