Thursday October 7, 2021 “Catch the Wind” Donovan

We’re going to take a brief interruption to this week’s advice theme for a request...oh yes we do accept requests as long as they’re purposeful, sincere and I like the song choice (I do like thousands of songs though)...so don’t hesitate to send me any requests that you might have.

Today is a birthday request and it’s a lovely tune with not so much advice as perhaps direction about life and love.

“Catch The Wind” was the first song Donovan Leitch, feted as the ‘next Bob Dylan’ at the time, ever wrote. It was also his first record, released in the spring of 1965 as a single only. In a gentle waltz-time, the original single was sparse, just voice and guitar. 

Three years after recording it, with Mickie Most producing, Donovan made a full band version, which is longer and it begins like the original, just voice and guitar. But then the drums kick in, and then the strings and we’ve gone from 1965 to 1968 – from folk to folk-rock. Today's version is the original from 1965.

Donovan has said, "'Catch The Wind,' was written for Linda Lawrence although I hadn't really met her yet.”  Now this may sound a little confusing, but remember Donovan is the tunesmith who gave us “Mellow Yellow” a song about bananas and “Hurdy Gurdy Man” a song about...a hurdy gurdy man? Donovan married Linda in 1970.

Linda Lawrence was a London model who in 1968 was dating Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones.  Donovan has said  "Linda's in all the songs. 'Sunshine Superman,' 'Hampstead Incident,' 'Young Girl Blues'... Linda's the muse." She also happens to be the mother of Ione Skye (Leitch), the object of John Cusack’s affection in the 1989 movie Say Anything.

Stay safe and well...reach out and try to catch that wind, it could very well be worth it.

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

T'would make me sing

Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind

Diddy di dee dee diddy diddy

Diddy diddy diddy dee dee dee

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 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