LALENA
Donovan
When the sun goes to bed
That's the time you raise your head,
That's your lot in life, Laleña
Can't blame ya, Laleña.
Arty tart, ladeda,
Can your part get much sadder ?
That's your lot in life, Laleña.
Can't blame ya, Laleña.
Run your hand through your hair,
Paint your face with despair.
That's your lot in life, Laleña
Can't blame ya, Laleña.
When the sun goes to bed
That's the time you raise your head.
That's your lot in life, Laleña
I can't blame ya, Laleña.
Arty tart, oh so ladeda,
Can your part ever get, ever get much sadder ?
That's your lot in life, Laleña.
I can't blame ya, Laleña, no, no, no, Laleña,
Oh, Laleña.
Donovan
That's the time you raise your head,
That's your lot in life, Laleña
Can't blame ya, Laleña.
Can your part get much sadder ?
That's your lot in life, Laleña.
Can't blame ya, Laleña.
Paint your face with despair.
That's your lot in life, Laleña
Can't blame ya, Laleña.
That's the time you raise your head.
That's your lot in life, Laleña
I can't blame ya, Laleña.
Can your part ever get, ever get much sadder ?
That's your lot in life, Laleña.
I can't blame ya, Laleña, no, no, no, Laleña,
Oh, Laleña.
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I'd never really payed attention to the lyrics before, but they really are sad. I got an image right away from the "paint your face with despair" line of a young woman putting on whore-like makeup. The despair is painted all over her face.
I really love the breathlessly sung lyrics of this song. They are soaked in a bitterseet sadness. I wonder as I listen to it if Donovan is singing about a prostitiute who has been forced into her trade by the circumstances of her life. The lyrics, "When the sun goes to bed, That's the time you raise your head," seem to suggest that she is a Lady of the Night. And, "That's your lot in life, Laleña Can't blame ya, Laleña." suggests that she has been forced into the lifestyle she leads and can't be blamed for it as she did not choose it willingly.
Donovan's lyrics are usually sparse, but they are always on the mark. He conveys Lalena's inner pain when he sings, "Run your hand through your hair, Paint your face with despair." I can almost see this woman as she sits up in bed after much thought, runs her hand through her hair, reveals her despair in a facial gesture and slowly exhales as she acknowledges that she most likely will never escape the lifestyle she has been forced to live.
Donovan has often been portrayed as the "Poor Man's Dylan" and atlthough that may be true, it shouldn't detract from his real songwriting talent. He was, after all, barely 18 years old when he wrote the first of his most famous songs. And because of his youth he trusted the advice of his producer at the time, Mickie Most, in developing a more Psychedelic Pop style which projected him into mainstream music rather than placing him on the outside cutting edge with performers like Bob Dylan.
Would love to hear what others think of the lyrics to this and other Donovan songs. I think that he has been pretty much ignored because of some of his kind of silly songs and that is a real shame. His music helps to define an eclectic period of pop music; the mid 60's to the early 70's.
Layena is about the 'poor little rich girl' type that hung about the scene in London and Donovan is gently mocking the type of hanger-on that can afford to be there to be cool or in but isn't realy getting what is going on. Well said prog rocker7 and if you want to talk Donovan then mail me, I did interview him several times.
I never thought of it meaning that at all. I felt maybe a person was working a graveyard shift many years, tried, putting on make-up to had there sadness. Also not showing that sadness turning it around to a carefree thinking person whom can exist in this screwed up crazy mixed-up world we live in. ladeda had 2 expression meanings like rich people sticking there noses in the air or carefree spirit type person. When I named my daughter LaLeania , I did it because it was a beautiful name & unusual. I felt since she was beautiful she needed...
I never thought of it meaning that at all. I felt maybe a person was working a graveyard shift many years, tried, putting on make-up to had there sadness. Also not showing that sadness turning it around to a carefree thinking person whom can exist in this screwed up crazy mixed-up world we live in. ladeda had 2 expression meanings like rich people sticking there noses in the air or carefree spirit type person. When I named my daughter LaLeania , I did it because it was a beautiful name & unusual. I felt since she was beautiful she needed a name to fit & it did. to me I felt that in her life she would overcome all the bitterness & sorrow in the world & turn it around into something that she could live with, carefree, loving. I may sound crazy but I used to be a professional clown & I would hear this song & it reminded of me putting on my make up to hide my sadness to make others happy & feeling good. So we all think differently about the meaning of this song. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl I always said to people who would ask me why I named her that.
@still stupid I am named after this song, my mum loved Donovan. Although she spelt my name Lelainya
@still stupid I am named after this song, my mum loved Donovan. Although she spelt my name Lelainya
I just love how this song can be interpreted however you like. I think the first idea that comes to mind is a prostitute, but it definitely could be a young partier who just wants to be around whatever is going on. Either way, she's just sad and you can't help but sympathize.
Donovans song is dedicated to the singer and actress Lotte Lenya. Maybe it is also inspired by her work.