[ ]   [ ]   [ ]                        [ ]      [ ]   [ ]
Donovan — Catch The Wind
Album: Summer Day Reflection Songs
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1825









Released: 1965
Length: 2:51
Plays (last 30 days): 1
In the chilly hours and minutes
Of uncertainty, I want to be
In the warm hold of your lovin' 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

Di di di di, di di di di
Di di di di, di di di di
Di di di

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

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
Comments (182)add comment
Great Britain's own Bob Dylan, and every bit as talented.
 WilliDoc wrote:

Oh, dear. Just dire. 
I still feel uncomfortable watching  Don't Look Back, when Donovan croons his latest  ditty, and Bob just slays him with Baby Blue. Actually felt sorry for Donovan. 
Just the once.



It isn't dire at all, you just don't care for it.  Personally I prefer the version with strings, very nostalgic for me (reminds me of school days) and very atmospheric. Lovely tune.
Oh, dear. Just dire. 
I still feel uncomfortable watching  Don't Look Back, when Donovan croons his latest  ditty, and Bob just slays him with Baby Blue. Actually felt sorry for Donovan. 
Just the once.
Never realized until now how Dylanesque this is 
 westslope wrote:

Gorgeous.   And no matter how much I love Dylan, Donovan's voice is far better.



there was a time when Bob sang beautifully...but not so much anymore
 nomnol wrote:

How many artists can play guitar and harmonica at the same time and imagine how hard that must be?
Donovan, Dylan, Neil Young, Murray McLaughlin... any others?




John Lennon?
 nomnol wrote:

How many artists can play guitar and harmonica at the same time and imagine how hard that must be?
Donovan, Dylan, Neil Young, Murray McLaughlin... any others?


Throughout history there have been very many artists who played harmonica and guitar at the same time - a lot of musicians still do.  Go to an acoustic open mic night and you'll probably see at least one.  Anyhow, it's not really that difficult to do, it just takes a little practice.
Good song.
 coyote620 wrote:


you may say it was a rip off and some may agree and some may not.  It is not easy to copy and do it well.  There are many songs that were written during this time that would sound similar but yet are not as inspired.  This one musically and lyrically stands out not because it is a copy, but because it is simply a very well written and thoughtful song.



Well said 
 saellig668552 wrote:

Where is the difference between be influenced by an artist and by copying the artist?




If someone copied me i would take that as a complement, yes he did copy the styles of his pals and maybe that stalled his popularity, he is a very talented artist and a good man . 
 nomnol wrote:

How many artists can play guitar and harmonica at the same time and imagine how hard that must be?
Donovan, Dylan, Neil Young, Murray McLaughlin... any others?




He is surely underrated
I saw Donovan in Dumfries Scotland maybe three years ago in our home Galloway and although he has very strong similarities with other artists of the time i do enjoy his music and also listening to the stories of his time with the Beatles in London and up on the farm in Scotland.  The end of an Era 
How many artists can play guitar and harmonica at the same time and imagine how hard that must be?
Donovan, Dylan, Neil Young, Murray McLaughlin... any others?
Sweet. Ness.
You lost me at "Di di di"
Utterly derivative, but still nice. It has been said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
 ziggytrix wrote:
Bob Dylan invented the folk song. True story.
 
Thanks for the chuckle.
How quiet the forest if only the best bird sings.
Where is the difference between be influenced by an artist and by copying the artist?
He released this when he was just 19? - Wow!
It's always been unfair and inaccurate to compare Donovan to Dylan. A genius in his own right who drew his inspiration more from Celtic folk than Mr Zimmerman.
The original Hurdy Gurdy man. 
Jennifer, Junipher! Universal Soldier
 randyblew wrote:
Kay, I seldom add a negative post - I try to stay positive, and my tastes are so varied that I have a musical big tent. But that is so horribly a Dylan rip that it pains me to listen. And I like Donovan, quite a bit! And yes, I know his bio and that this is how he got his start. At best, I can say he was hugely inspired by Dylan, and this was his fawning effort.
 

you may say it was a rip off and some may agree and some may not.  It is not easy to copy and do it well.  There are many songs that were written during this time that would sound similar but yet are not as inspired.  This one musically and lyrically stands out not because it is a copy, but because it is simply a very well written and thoughtful song.
 westslope wrote:
Gorgeous.   And no matter how much I love Dylan, Donovan's voice is far better.
 

Agreed, it has the same color to it, but it's not as obnoxious.
You are not alone. Always have, always will.

 
rluking wrote:
Is it blasphemous to say that I've always preferred him over Dylan
 rluking wrote:
Is it blasphemous to say that I've always preferred him over Dylan?
 
No 
Is it blasphemous to say that I've always preferred him over Dylan?
 hayduke2 wrote:
saw this fun film the other night on TCM in which Donovan performs in a smoky cafe'
Suzanne Pleshette is gorgeous, and the whole cast is terrific  : )
If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium.jpeg
 
Dang it; Not available on Netflix or its DVD subsidiary.
What a wonderful, unique musician.  So nice to hear again.
My first album, in mono. Hey Gyp would be a great track to play RP.
 Proclivities wrote:

I haven't seen that movie in years.
  Yeah, she was beautiful.  The legendary Norman Fell is also in that movie.
 
And that's Ian McShane, which I mainly know from Deadwood. That clip just blew my mind. 
Gorgeous.   And no matter how much I love Dylan, Donovan's voice is far better.
Sigh. Song has so much meaning for me, not just for itself, but how it brings back the context where I first heard it.
 ...me too   {#Yes}  folkrocker wrote:
This song tugs at my heart like no other.

 

Saw him in SF, 1965, I think.
{#Smile}
{#Daisy}
Lovely. I've always liked Donovan. A top shelf troubadour. 
But I'm clearly picking up a Chimes of Freedom melody harmonica tone emulation homage thingie going on.  
Oh, so little is entirely unique anyway. 
This song tugs at my heart like no other.
A love song. They don't make them like this any more.
 hayduke2 wrote:
saw this fun film the other night on TCM in which Donovan performs in a smoky cafe'
Suzanne Pleshette is gorgeous, and the whole cast is terrific  : )
 
I haven't seen that movie in years.
  Yeah, she was beautiful.  The legendary Norman Fell is also in that movie.
{#Devil_pimp} still zesty !
saw this fun film the other night on TCM in which Donovan performs in a smoky cafe'
Suzanne Pleshette is gorgeous, and the whole cast is terrific  : )

If It's Tuesday.jpeg
saw this fun film the other night on TCM in which Donovan performs in a smoky cafe'
Suzanne Pleshette is gorgeous, and the whole cast is terrific  : )

If It's Tuesday.jpeg"If its Tuesday this must be Belgium"
 Skydog wrote:
the only Donovan record i ever bought was the 45rpm single 'Hurdy Gurdy Man'
he had a ton of hits in the 60's and always heard him on the radio 
so i didn't need to buy any
 

  
Billbecca , listening and reading this comment, really realized the power of you keeping radio alive and FREE. It was free and unified people, so they made it go away. Rock on.

Whoooa, playin Carnegie Hall tonight! Still very much around.
 https://donovan.ie/event/sunshine-superman-tour-new-york-city-usa/
Donovan still around?
 
Much better than Dylan. 
Far between sundown's finish and midnight's broken toe... 

But I've always liked Donovan anyway. He had, has some terrific songs.  
I don't know why I only rated this a '3' before - think I was in a bad place then. Yep - that was it. Now, I'm in love, and it's a solid '8'. Ha! Life's like that.
the only Donovan record i ever bought was the 45rpm single 'Hurdy Gurdy Man'
he had a ton of hits in the 60's and always heard him on the radio 
so i didn't need to buy any
 
I played this album endlessly in my basement as a teenager, singing along on Universal Soldier
 
When he played this at The Rainbow in '85 we all got teary-eyed; such a wonderful, heartfelt song — he's such a Cosmic Troubadour! 
This is a good song but Donovan had not yet found his voice. Donovan's best stuff came later. 
such a thoughtful, stirring song.

 Ubaldo wrote:
And these days I drop ANTacid . . .
 

Otomi wrote:


Formicable, man!

 Image source: https://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/103/5/3/psychedelic_ant_by_jompiete-d4w15rn.jpg



 
{#Clap} {#Notworthy}

Well played, sir. 
Mr. Leitch is in full Dylan Mode for this song.


Once upon a time, long ago and far away, we all believed in things that have now evaporated.

People change, priorities change and what was shared is never valued equally on each side of the balance...

These days begins our season of discontent
 Ubaldo wrote:
And these days I drop ANTacid . . .

 

Formicable, man!

 Image source: https://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/103/5/3/psychedelic_ant_by_jompiete-d4w15rn.jpg


  {#Daisy}   {#Daisy}   {#Daisy}    ..flowers for Donovan -  great music!
 Ubaldo wrote:
And these days I drop ANTacid . . .

 
...... yes, love it, I know where your coming from:))
"OUTSTANDING" song 
Love it!  Such a profound piece when I were a teen, and now... 

...go Donovan :-)
as if dylan had a monopoly on 'the wind' for f's sake! donovan is one of the most original artists 'out there', i'm fed up with 'your comparisons', sure, i love dylan for his dylanness and donovan for his donovaness, why waste time on comparisons, duh..?
And these days I drop ANTacid . . .

Everybody in my church loves this song...
 
I, for one, thinks he channelled Dylan quite well! I mean, if you think it's Dylan, and it turns out to be Dylan, you should only be pissed cause he fooled ya!

Well done, and well played. 
 zepher wrote:
"Is that freedom rock man?"

"Yeah man"

"Well turn it up man"

 
{#Lol}
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixttp2yibX8
 (former member) wrote:


Who farted?

 
 
Probably someone dancing in your cell block
 (former member) wrote:


Who farted?

 
 
He who said it...let it.
Beautiful! Makes you want to fall in love
Kay, I seldom add a negative post - I try to stay positive, and my tastes are so varied that I have a musical big tent. But that is so horribly a Dylan rip that it pains me to listen. And I like Donovan, quite a bit! And yes, I know his bio and that this is how he got his start. At best, I can say he was hugely inspired by Dylan, and this was his fawning effort.
Yeah. I haven't heard this in a while. It's really very Dylanesque — but it's still a nice song. I prefer Sunshine Superman and Hurdy Gurdy Man and Epistle to Dippy myself. 
 
 sine-quinn-non wrote:
I only skimmed a few of the other comments to see many Dylan comparisons.  It sounded so much like Chimes of Freedom specifically that I now want to see which song came first.
 
The Dylan song was first by a year. I assume that Donovan listened to Dylan. It is possible that "Catch the Wind" wasn't influenced by "Chimes of Freedom." Possible, but not probable, imho. 
"Is that freedom rock man?"

"Yeah man"

"Well turn it up man"


I only skimmed a few of the other comments to see many Dylan comparisons.  It sounded so much like Chimes of Freedom specifically that I now want to see which song came first.
 Stratocaster wrote:
I am conflicted by the fact that I first heard this song on a Toyota commercial about 4 years ago...don't know why I'd never heard it before then.

I then Googled a couple lines of lyrics and found it was this song.

I utterly love it.  Obvious Dylan influence, but that's OK. 
 
While we're at it, Happy Birthday, Bob Dylan! 71 today!
Donovan does his best Dylan imitation ever.
 onerb wrote:
love this...
 




I am conflicted by the fact that I first heard this song on a Toyota commercial about 4 years ago...don't know why I'd never heard it before then.

I then Googled a couple lines of lyrics and found it was this song.

I utterly love it.  Obvious Dylan influence, but that's OK. 
love this...
 kurtster wrote:
Donovan qualifies as a singer / songwriter.

Dylan is certainly a songwriter and a great one, but a singer ?

End comparison.
 

Yes, but overall body of work points to Dylan being one of the great poetsongwriters of the 20th century who influenced millions and Donovan was a good little singersongwriter in the 60's.

End comparison.

BTW, I know Dylan did not like Donovan anyway, but this song really had to grate his cheese when he first heard it!{#Lol} Great song 8.

The nasal twang and phrasing produces an immediate image of George W. Bush performing this tune. I'm glad he's mellowed out.
A timeless song.  Not over-produced.  Simple and poetic.
as moving tonight as ever
can't help but sing/hum along with this and wonder about things that might have been and things that are yet to be...an old song but it strikes a deep cord
Ah, the futility...
Possibly the prettiest song I know.

Oh, the memories . . .
I saw Donovan on a flight from Ireland to the UK a couple of years ago and couldn't resist asking him for his autograph for my brother, a longtime fan and crooner of his songs at various parties ;-)   He was lovely (Donovan that is!), really happy to speak to me for a few minutes and to do a nice autograph.  Really nice bloke.  And very good songs too!
This song can still choke me up after all these years. Glad to be hearing more Donovan on RP. 
One of those classic gems that never gets old for me.

a great song for 'our' last day of winter!
{#Umbrella}

 On_The_Beach wrote:

. . . or if he was a pale imitation of himself.
 
I'd rather be a bucket than a pail...


 sdn wrote:
This is what Dylan would sound like, if only he could sing.
 
. . . or if he was a pale imitation of himself.
This is what Dylan would sound like, if only he could sing.
This song really reminds me of being a teenager and taking the subway over to Manhattan on the weekend to hang out on Macdougal Street and wearing a peacoat and a goofy hat. I think I had every Donovan album.
1964

{#High-five}

 fireboydan wrote:
The Irish Descendants do a pretty decent version of this tune, too. Not up to Donovan, but good. Great harmonies in their version.
 
Yes, I really like that version too.

I just don't like this guy.  Everything he did sounded contrived and wimpy.
Donovan qualifies as a singer / songwriter.

Dylan is certainly a songwriter and a great one, but a singer ?

End comparison.
 amblemourne wrote:
Clue sticks slide off of you don't they? :)
I'll take a stab at his point. Donovan recorded a banal Dylan sound a like song because he was broke and needed a fix. Nothing artistic, poetic or melodic about this song.
 
{#Lol} Thank you, amblemourne. That pretty much says it.
I do kinda like the song, though (despite it's none-too-subtle similarity to "Blowin' in the Wind").


This is Donovan's 1st hit written when he was 17 or 18.  It came out in 1965.  Check out Donovan & Bob Dylan video.  Dylan admired Donovan.  This song is wonderfully poetic!  How old are you?

sharkey wrote:
& your point is?
Clue sticks slide off of you don't they? :) I'll take a stab at his point. Donovan recorded a banal Dylan sound a like song because he was broke and needed a fix. Nothing artistic, poetic or melodic about this sone.
On_The_Beach wrote:
This is now a Volvo commercial. Guess old Donovan needed the dough.
& your point is?
gjeeg wrote:
I can see how Dylan might have derided him for being such a sound-a-like.
It came to me during this song that Donovan was Ryan Adams Natural father. Dylan without any meaningful words. Which is a frightening thing to listen to.
I can see how Dylan might have derided him for being such a sound-a-like.
The Irish Descendants do a pretty decent version of this tune, too. Not up to Donovan, but good. Great harmonies in their version.
Moak wrote:
The song still gives me chills after, what, 35 years of hearing it - that kind of magic goes beyond any rating.
Exactly. That's what matters.
kazuma wrote:
I actually didn't know this was not Bob Dylan.
All this Dylan/ Donovan debate... Bob obviously thought enough of this song to record a version of it himself.
This reminds me of Volvos. They used it in brand wide advertisement campaign a couple of years ago.
catsoup wrote:
I usually like Donovan but this reminds me of Bob Dylan . In a bad way.
A bit of Dylan, but in a good way. A bit of David Gray, but in a good way.
Takes me back to a very good place.
Just as beautiful as 40 years ago, thanks for playing this gem!
Groovy.
I usually like Donovan but this reminds me of Bob Dylan . In a bad way.
The song still gives me chills after, what, 35 years of hearing it - that kind of magic goes beyond any rating.
Reminds me of summer camp (that's a good thing).
Mari wrote:
... Donovan is alive and well and still playin' beautiful music, heard him on Indie 103.1 only yesterday, just before Nico Stai, both interviews and music, the old and the young are very complimentary and if they could only read the tripe that is written here they would just laugh, they are so not into ego or comparisons, they're in it for the music and the love and the love of music and the music of love
Soooo yes to that
One of a select few songs that touch my very heart.
That was the best segue of the day. Donovan, David Gray, and Ben O. from Gomez share a single voice.