Donovan - Sand And Foam Lyrics

simply priceless+

James....."I dug you digging me in Mexico"

I love this song but it sounds like he's singing "There's a donkey dick in me in Mexico" at the 00:40 mark. I had never picked up on it before, don't know if anyone else has ever noticed this.

I am quite a lot younger than you fans, I’m 13. You guys who’ve got to witness Donovan perform are so incredibly lucky.

This song fills me with longing, chords are beautiful. I met Donovan in a bookshop during a strange time in my life...Read about it here... https://www.meetingwithmusicmakers.com/2019/08/donovan.html

This song is so evocative of something perhaps more than Mexico. the surreal almost psychedelic lyrics open up a world like a Chagall paining. Sorry if that sounds like a bit up my own behind but it really hits my emotions and I cant express it any other way. These melancholic tunes were really Donovan's greatest achievements rather than the poppy 60's tunes he is perhaps more famous for.

"Grasshoppers creaking in the velvet jungle night, microscopic circles in the fluid of my sight". Who writes lyrics like that today? Certainly not Taylor Swift complaining about her latest boyfriend break-up.

As timeless as the universe....

I tried to get through his discography but couldn't. Songs like "Sea and Foam" are the only ones I dig, the rest Dylan-like rock'n'roll songs are just to archaic for me. So, guys, my question to you, what atmospheric, serene, guitar-and-vocals folk songs by Donovan can you recommend?

Colours (you may like the greatest hits version better than the original), Belated Forgiveness Plea, To Try for the Sun, Ballad of Geraldine, Hampstead Incident and pretty much the whole Mellow Yellow album.

Get Donovan Sutras album. You won't be disappointed. Released about 20 years ago, with Rick Rubin doing the production. Just Donovan and his guitar.... stripped down to what Don does best.

"And all because of the phos-phor-us, there in quantity...."

обожаю!

The most beautiful piece of music Donovan produced....fact!!!

Such a passionate picture..Can`t let go of my head, Grasshoppers will be creaking in my soul forever

Donovan, you've been an inspiration through my life, turning me into a song writer and guitarist ------- it's been a great road thanks.

donovan shared his brilliant gift from a flower to a garden.. we all grow together from his inspiration.

very nice song

tatooine tree.......not tattooed tree

I like Donovan and his songs they all have a story behind them

Brilliant song. It transports you to the place it's about like a magic carpet. One of Donovan's very best compositions.

beautiful music never bettered.

Brought tears to my eyes. When I was 15, I woke up paralyzed at 3:30 AM on 2/11/65. Diagnosed with MS. My mom played Donovan's LP "Catch the Wind" & S & G's LP "Wednesday Morning 3AM" over and over and over on my turntable while I just lay there, unable to move & unable to eat or drink (severe vertigo) for ten days. While I recovered, I listened to music as I slowly exercised. When only my left side was paralyzed, I returned to High School. But still I just listened to Donovan. Went to Summer School twice to catch up with my class. My Senior year, I sat in class and doodled the words to "Sand and Foam" and "Epistle to Dippy" in my notebook. Beautiful poetry put to music.I went on to get a PhD, travel, have a 30 year career loved and was loved back...I'm 67 now, widowed but still able to live independently in my home.Never give up. Life is awesome if you make it so. Donovan is love & so are you for listening--)-;

Sorry. Epistle to Derroll  (not Dippy)https://youtu.be/b0nRF9tYYqISweet dreams

Your story brought me to tears Janice

That's a heartwarming story! 💖
Music can help one to cope with so many situations!🙏

I hope that you are still living your best life-and Happy New Year! ^_^🌸

Awesome!!! Love it!!!!!

0:08 - 0:11 Don taking a slow, quiet toke on the seashell pipe the Gypsy's had made (Don's friend Gypsy Dave and woman friend). Use a good set of headphones to really hear it distinctly...

Amazing. We had the incredible luck to meet Donovan at his show in Seattle last October. He is just as kind and sensitive as his songs suggest, such a treasure.

Something tells me the Red Hot Chili Peppers have heard this song. Lawsuit? I hope not. Everyone's version is their own. I think these court cases that say one song sounds like another are B.S.

As long as credit is given where due. How would you like to go to work and someone else get your paycheck?

La magia de la vida expresada en el canto

Hermosísima canción hecha en las costas del Pacífico mexicano

The original traveling hippy ✌

best song ever !!

My favorite from the Mellow Yellow LP

One of the best sense-of-wonder songs ever. That "crystal thought time", I remember it well.

all the acid-takers saw their dreams in this song..... simply perfect+

I used to go to Mexico to cozumel island and this song makes sense of a stoned out scene passing a pipe a little grenadine on a h✌😎 tropical night full of geckos listen listening to t

One of his most beautiful songs ..sheer class..

4 sad gits.

My favorite Donovan song and I love all his songs.

who clicks thumbs down to this? lol. sad

+Randy Rand One of the best poems ever put to music , magic i agree with you 100000%

Some folks just don't have a soul I guess..

+Jason Wa

You'd know Jason.

grinches. well f them!

This song still gets me even 40 years later. . .

night of the iguana was with Ava Gardner

+Mark Radtke Elizabeth Taylor accompanied her new boyfriend, Richard Burton, to the set for the filming production of "Night of the Iguana.  You are right, Ava Gardner played the female lead in the movie.

An awesome movie about life and what to do of it, what to make of it, and what remained of it. Love it.

This song written about a beautiful place in mexico called Yelapa close to Puerto Vallarta . Yelapa the tropical paradise. In the 1960's there were no tourists in Vallarta until elizabeth taylor made a movie there called the night of the iguana with Richard burton. Donavan i think got there first.

@Torre Rodriguez Principle photography for the movie done there in 1962 when Donovan was 16, for whatever that is worth.

I was there in '66.

with a tattooine tree

I adore this song and this movie! Never knew of this strange connection, funny how life weaves itself sometimes.

I know this is a really old thread but I heard Donovan dated Sue Lyon back in the 60s. Sue Lyon starred in The Night of the Iguana, maybe Donovan wrote this songs about her.

Pity some of the lyrics are a bit hit and miss because the tune and the guitar chords are sweetly massive, check out Hampstead Heath, better lyrics, music almost as haunting; also Sunny Goodge Street; let's face it the guy had a generosity and natural emotion that Sneaky Bob never had.

This kind of Music hits home its So dark and beautiful, I love it.

Thank you Donovan.  This is a masterpiece from the Master himself.

@Steve Kocherhans Ain't that the truth Steve.

Fab song always hits the spot .

well said

As a teenager, saw Donovan at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 1967. Went expecting things like "Mellow Yellow" and "Sunshine Superman," and indeed he sang those, but in the second half of the show. His dad introduced him, and then the first thing he played was completely unexpected -- "Isle of Islay," in white robes under a purple light, with one guitar and a crystal clear, transcendental voice. It was so unexpected and beautiful it brought a hush over the crowd. He followed it up with half a dozen new songs, each one of them a gem. They included "Tinker and the Crab," "Widow With Shawl," and "Epistle to Derroll." And here was a crowd that was just coming down from H.P. Lovecraft and Mother Earth, but they lapped it up. Never have seen a performer weave such a spell. "Sand and Foam" is one of those little masterpieces, basking in a magical moment close to nature ("Kingdoms of ants, march across my feet..."), suspended in time forever. Hard to find anything approaching it before or since.

@SongwritingABCs
wow that was before my time but i have heard audio from that show. i wish i had been able to see it. i have only seen him once after Sutras was released. i am a huge fan and always will be. i am in Mexico right now. thanks for sharing your memory

+SongwritingABCs I believe I saw him on that same tour. Even in Baltimore Maryland he managed to win over the crowd with these simple song poems.

Thank you mate, I love it when old people tell these stories on youtube. It gives a very personal insight into a time that, for me, may as well be ancient history.

Found this for ya. https://art.famsf.org/sites/default/files/artwork/kouninos/6339304212470011.jpg

I love this song by Donovan. I don't get his cheerful or less-folky stuff but "Sea nad Foam" is just marvellous. Do you know any songs either by him or other artists that would evoke a similar feeling?

Kingdoms of AUNTS march across my feet!

I'm 66 years old, and I still stop here at times to listen to this song.  So hauntingly beautiful, and his guitar playing is otherworldly.  Thanks , Donovan.

worth stopping, amigo+

microscopic circles in the fluid of my sight, just excellent,  have you ever seen those?

Yes, many times, thanks to LSD. :)

@Abby Hanna Yes, they are fairly common (but never so eloquently described).

I try to, but every time I look towards them they scurry away!

This is such a hauting song.  I wonder if the artists ever come here to read about themselves?  If that's true, then thank you for this wonderful song, Mr. Leitch(sic?).
Kula Shaker rules, too.  Thanks, Haley.

I highly doubt that Donovan himself reads anything on youtube or even uses youtube...

+Luis Garcia He does have a web site Donovan.ie, and a Facebook page.

steve winwood posts some homecrafted music on the youtube. i bet he checks out the responding feedback. love this donovan tune!

@Luis Garcia ego is a strange bird, always taking flight, often at night when there's not much to do. but you might be right, Luis+ bless you

Floods across my feet.

What a golden age it was in the 60s and 70s, with fantastically creative singer/composers of folk and rock; People like Donovan, Dylan, Simon and Garfunkle, Joani Mitchell, Joan Baez, Judy Collins, to name a few. How barren the landscape seems today.

A veritable wasteland of auto-tuned insipidness....

Everyone's too busy staring at their cell-phones to allow time for creativity. You need to look at and feel the world around you to compose songs like "Sand and Foam".

One of his masterpieces.

First I listen this song On Sept 1969 in Casablanca on juk box.

This is really a masterpiece. Evokes such incredible atmosphere. Possibly one of Donovan's best songs.

A Dylan "clone" - emphatically not, due primarily to the definition of the word. That Donovan was much influenced by Dylan at the beginning of his career, is undeniable. Donovan was and remains one of the better folk singers and lyric poets of his era.

The only dylan-like song i can think of is codine...

And "Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do".

Thanks for posting!Lucky me for finding

This was a "B" side but I think it was one of his greatest songs.

Maybe in 1965, who says he is a dylan copier now?

Yeah he was cool in his day all right.My sis used to be hot for his knob

Hahaha! You are funny! No, he is no Dylan clone. They are actually nothing alike, except that they are both poets. Donovan's poetry is more lyrical, it follows the format and structure of poetry more to the letter. Rhyme, rhythm, meter, and such rich imagery! Dylan could do those things yes, but his poetry is sparer, not as lush. Donovan was a better singer, too. IMO, of course.

spot on

I'm sure you're familiar with Dylan's "Song to Woody"! If not check it out, he pays tribue not only to Woody but "Cisco and Sonny and Leadbelly too"!!

I just checked it out ...great song

Tom, old friend, it's the music that counts! Both these guys have given us a treasure trove of unique lyrics and intriguing melodies!

Sorry man, I agree with you. It was my fault for posting it as a reply to your comment, instead of as a General comment.

Roger that! And Dylan and Donovan both acknowldege thier influences! You probably know "Song For Woody" and early Dylan masterpiece!

...and Dylan has been influenced by everyone who he's ever listened to as well...everyone influences everyone else. Eventually Donovan became as unique as Dylan.

Well now! I didn't say he is a Dylan clone! Never believed that! I said he's a better singer and guitar player than Dylan and they're both damn good song writers! Donovan has said Dylan was a big influence on him but Dylan has influenced every singer/songwriter since he first came on the scene!

Saying that Donovan is a Dylan Clone is like saying Dylan is a Woody Guthrie Clone. Except that the latter is true, at least in his early days. By Intent and Design. Rambling Jack Elliott will tell you.

That line is perfect.

Donovan is NOT a Dylan clone. There is little similarity other than superficial things like having a harmonica. The styles and lyricism are very different. Donovan is melodically much more "smooth" and gentle. His lyrics are dreamy and intensely evocative of mystical experience. He is often wistful and resigned in other lyrics, where Dylan has at times a bitter or angry tone. I was of age back in the 60s and remember them at the time. I never confused or thought of them as "clones".

one of the most underrepresented musicians of the 20th century+

I like to think of "have the gaul" as in having a quasi nomadic possibly cave dwelling hairy french barbarian.... but I'm sure you are the correct one in this case. It's possible I played way to many historic strategy games in my day.

indeed, but isn't it gall - as in stones?

Well, he's a better singer and guitar player than Dylan. Both are pretty darn good with a lyric!

Well said ... couldn't agree more.

To make an accusation that Donovan was a clone of Dylan is pitiful. If you were there, you'd realize Dylan was a clone of a gigantic beast known as American music. Dylan was a distillation. If Donovan was anything he was part of what Leonard Cohen, Judy Collins, Buffy St. Marie, Mike Bloomfield, Taj Mahal and scores of Newport heros encouraged to explore by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez. To miss this point misses the fantastic time we had in the 1960s during this great time of exploration.

Never a Dylan clone.... the only similarity was the harmonica on a neck stand. Donovan has a totally different style of music (guitar picking) and poetry. A folk singer at first he became more famous for his psychedelic songs (Mellow yellow, Sunshine superman).....
Dylan was never as spiritual.....

@kemicon He was a Dylan clone for the first 6 mos..he existed..then he emerged HIMSELF and the stigma was left upon such a gentle soul..he never got the due he so richly deserved... a man of Peace and Deep thoughs and beautoful songs.

This doesnt sound like the original version..is it?

I'm only 21, wasn't around when this song came out..but it makes me dream of when I was a young child, happy and peaceful, none the less

@EmilySmeemFish Not really. You just aren't working hard enough to find it.

My gentle teacher.

Donovan is the man. to the douche faces that have the gaul to say he is a Dylan clone I shout a resounding FUCK THEEE!

IT ENDS!
IT ENDS!

what can a person ask more than this ? so pure !

emmis! this song is shadoobee! Been listening to it since the day I bought the record! This song is at a par with Malcom Lowry's Under the Volcano. Not in magnitude of course but in feeling.I'm shakin in my shoes in Mexico!

@locheelad2
"Poetic license," not poetic justice. :)

I love this one. The lyrics are incredible.

i think donny got phosphorous confused with something else.....

Phosphorescence... and yeah, lots of stuff in the pipe that Gypsy Dave had made

I got to meet Donovan after a show and thank him for his great songs which I absorbed all those years ago. He was still great. He played solo. I agree, this is one of his best.

Just been told I'm wrong ~ phosphorus appears in the Elements Song by Tom Lehrer.
Sand and Foam is still one of my favourite Donovan songs

This is poetry with a beautiful melody. Must be the only song with the word "phosphorus".
Also one of the few songs which conjures up beautiful images in the mind.

Microscopic circles in the fluid of our sight.

Expensive Heat.

This is possibly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. I can totally relate to the lyrics as well. Maybe not swimming in phosphorescent water tripping balls (sadly) but definitely remembering a moment you spent with a lost love. Gets me every time.

I have been thinking of this song for awhile. It is one of his best. Thanks for posting the lyrics; they are some of the most poetical I've ever heard. Your images are very well chosen.

Donovan was so ahead of his time with this song. He accomplished what bands today are still trying to copy.

John Mellencamp just ripped off this song for his "new" song "Someday the Rains Will Fall." At least he stole from the best.

you're pink floyd

i love the name emily. and ruby fo that matter.

"Put on a gown that touches the ground, ah ooh
Float on a river forever and ever, Emily
There is no other day
Let's try it another way
You'll lose your mind and play
Free games for may
See Emily play"

wow....never hurd this song before.....LOVE.

What an amazing poet!