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.
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.