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Total ratings: 2003
Length: 3:10
Plays (last 30 days): 3
I opened my eyes to take a peek
To find that I was by the sea
Gazing with tranquility
'Twas then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love
"Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy" he sang
"Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy" he sang
"Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy" he sang
Histories of ages past
Unenlightened shadows cast
Down through all eternity
The crying of humanity
'Tis then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Comes singing songs of love
Then when the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Comes singing songs of love
"Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy" he sang
"Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurd
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy" he sang
"Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy" he sang
Here comes the Roly Poly Man
He's singing songs of love
"Roly poly, roly poly, holy poly poly" he sang
"Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy" he sang
"Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy gurdy" he sang
c.
I miss seeing the year released info.
Released in April 1968.
Passage of 50 years and I finally learn that a hurdy gurdy is a musical instrument. And that odd sound on this song is one being played. Thank you, RP people.
needs more hurdy gurdy
I 've heard this song hundreds of times. I never thought of it as creepy until I heard it in the film "Zodiac".
I've always thought it a bit creepy
-
A Hurdy Gurdy player with his Hurdy Gurdy :
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JSZ5uOZ6aDU/UWQDXIdnwMI/AAAAAAAAP3Y/YxHZ1yB4e3c/s640/DSC02923_edited-1.jpg)
![crown](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/crown.gif)
funny, the only thing I hate about the track is the drums! I kept wondering how the track would sound without all those boring, cliched endless rolls around the tom toms and a more tasteful restrained approach from say a Bill Bruford, Mick Fleetwood, Vinnie Colaiuta, Bonham if he'd been available, and of course Phil Collins would have really nailed it.
![{#Clap} {#Clap}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/eusa_clap.gif)
Actually this was AM radio back in the day, at least in SoCal.
John Paul Jones - Arrangement/Musical Director and Bass Guitar
Alan Parker - Electric Lead Guitar
Clem Cattini - Drums
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![motor](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_motor.gif)
![{#Jump} {#Jump}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_jump.gif)
In case your wondering- This is a Hurdy Gurdy (without the man)
Spencer Tracy played a hurdy gurdy in the 1937 film Captains Courageous, (which is an absolutely fabulous movie from a sailor's point of view).
Far out......man!
![{#Cool} {#Cool}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_cool.gif)
It was a groovy scene...
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now, I cant stand the phecker. trite lyrics, musically repetitive and some songs like "season of the witch" just seem to go on and on with all the charm of a corset made of sandpaper.
i dont know what to rate this...... for now.
Gooble gobble we accept you. One of us. One of us.
Set your single next to my "In the Ghetto" and "Hey Jude" and "In the Year 2525" and "Space Oddity" singles.
I guess my "Oh Well" 45 fits in there too?
i had 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' and 'Atlantis' singles
can i still stay and listen to RP?
Gooble gobble we accept you. One of us. One of us.
Set your single next to my "In the Ghetto" and "Hey Jude" and "In the Year 2525" and "Space Oddity" singles.
Yes, quite the raconteur. Sadly, the singing voice is gone.
i had 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' and 'Atlantis' singles
can i still stay and listen to RP?
The Beatles sang a song about him.....' The fool on the hill ' I guess about his commune in Scotland in the 60's. I always thought that was a bit unfair for Mr. Mellow-Yellow. He was always himself and not a British Bob Dylan clone as he was accused of.
WHAT? I read that song was written about Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, with whom the Beatles, Donovan and a huge entourage spent weeks living, meditating, doing drugs with, etc.
Ok, if this can be believed to be from JPJ, from your link:
"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I have been contacted by Clem Cattini with regard to Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man
I would like to confirm that the musicians on the record were as follows
Donovan Accoustic Guitar
John Paul Jones Arrangement/Musical Director and Bass Guitar
Alan Parker Lead (electric) Guitar
Clem Cattini Drums
No other musicians were involved in this session
The session was produced by Mickie Most and engineered by Eddie Kramer.
John Paul Jones
London 05/2005"
BTW as a drummer, I've never thought this sounded like Bonham on drums, or Page on guitar for that matter as some have claimed.
Far out......man!
![{#Cool} {#Cool}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_cool.gif)
I don't think Jeff Beck played on this album; he and his group played on Donovan's next album ("Barabajagal") but it's still disputed whether or not Jimmy Page is playing on this either. Apparently, it was a guy named Alan Parker playing electric guitar.
Ok, if this can be believed to be from JPJ, from your link:
"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I have been contacted by Clem Cattini with regard to Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man
I would like to confirm that the musicians on the record were as follows
Donovan Accoustic Guitar
John Paul Jones Arrangement/Musical Director and Bass Guitar
Alan Parker Lead (electric) Guitar
Clem Cattini Drums
No other musicians were involved in this session
The session was produced by Mickie Most and engineered by Eddie Kramer.
John Paul Jones
London 05/2005"
BTW as a drummer, I've never thought this sounded like Bonham on drums, or Page on guitar for that matter as some have claimed.
This really dated poorly
John Bonham - Drums
John Paul Jones - Bass
Jimmy Page - Guitar
wow! never knew that . . . now that you told us, i definitely hear Bonham and the others ... thanks
![{#Jump} {#Jump}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_jump.gif)
In case your wondering- This is a Hurdy Gurdy (without the man)
John Bonham - Drums
John Paul Jones - Bass
Jimmy Page - Guitar
Thanks for sharing - had no idea!
Jimmy's not on guitar here. It was Jeff beck. JPJ was on bass.
I don't think Jeff Beck played on this album; he and his group played on Donovan's next album ("Barabajagal") but it's still disputed whether or not Jimmy Page is playing on this either. Apparently, it was a guy named Alan Parker playing electric guitar.
The Beatles sang a song about him.....' The fool on the hill ' I guess about his commune in Scotland in the 60's. I always thought that was a bit unfair for Mr. Mellow-Yellow. He was always himself and not a British Bob Dylan clone as he was accused of.
John Bonham - Drums
John Paul Jones - Bass
Jimmy Page - Guitar
Jimmy's not on guitar here. It was Jeff beck. JPJ was on bass.
love this marvelous song...
I love it!
Play it John Paul....
No.
Everybody in my church loves this song...
I like some of REM's offerings a lot, but this would also make an effective emetic.
![](https://ia.media-imdb.com/images/M/MV5BMTQxNjc2NzAwNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDg3NzMzMw@@._V1._SY317_CR0,0,214,317_.jpg)
(wonderfully creepy and thought-provoking movie, btw)
..funny, i always found him hard to miss..
This ancient one is appreciating it. :)
i just got donovan
only took me 40 years
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Good heavy stuff.
Shoot, Bill, if you are going to present a 60's-70's era song featuring the words "Hurdy Gurdy," why not play "China Doll" by the Dead?
This blows...
John Bonham - Drums
John Paul Jones - Bass
Jimmy Page - Guitar
No.
Dude just got the word stuck in his head and sang a song about it. Yech. Mute Button Engage.
Now how many songs can make a person want to do that? Quite an accomplishment - especially just for recording some music 40-some-odd years ago. Perhaps you should discuss this affliction with a mental health specialist... If I had the ability to write songs that could make people want to slam their heads against walls I would go broke trying to keep up my supplies of pens, paper, and guitar strings.
Why do you need to be 50 or older? The hurdy gurdy is an ancient instrument, with its roots in the Byzantine Roman Empire.
I don't know about you, but (being nearly 50 myself) I can't remember that far back.
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![{#Music} {#Music}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_music.gif)
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I read somewhere that Donovan, George Harrison and someone else were hanging out in India around the Maharishi when they came up with these lyrics.
Regarding music's healing effect, truer words were never spoken. And I wouldn't be surprised if this song had been written as you say, Giselle62.
Love some of the other comments here, like Parrothead's and Nagsheadlocal especially.
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Drummer Clem Cattini says it was Allan Parker (https://www.coda-uk.co.uk/clem_cattini.htm) and has an email from John Paul Jones saying the same.
Allan Parker's wife, Claire, says it was someone named Ollie Halsell (who is, alas, dead, so can't be queried).
According to the always-astounding Led Zep fan boys and their ability to look up anything and everything, Page wasn't in the UK at the time the song was recorded. He was in the US working with Jerry Wexler.
I think the weight of the evidence points to Parker.
I tried to find out online who played guitar but there seems to be a lot of debate whether it's Parker or Jimmy Page. Donovan credits Page, John Paul Jones (who booked the session musicians) says it's Parker. There's different documentaries crediting one or the other. There's also an urban legend saying that Led Zeppelin (minus Plant) was formed during the recording.
Cool song all the same. 8.
Funny, I never heard debate - thought it was always well-known fact to be Page. Sure sounds like him to me.
Anyway, I'm with you on the 8. Always loved this tune.
I read somewhere that Donovan, George Harrison and someone else were hanging out in India around the Maharishi when they came up with these lyrics.
Indeed, Donovan was in Rishikesh with the Beatles and others. He taught John Lennon a fingerpicking technique, which Lennon used on "Julia" and other tunes. The Beatles wrote many tunes in India that showed up on the White Album. So it's possible that Donovan and some of the Beatles collaborated.
This was one of those songs that made me reach forward, from the back seat, to turn up the radio in my Dad's Pontiac. He'd always say "turn that crap down" and my Mom would shoot him a look. He'd relent and I'd have my few minutes of musical bliss.
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Me, too!! Gives me shivers...
![{#Eek} {#Eek}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_eek.gif)
I read somewhere that Donovan, George Harrison and someone else were hanging out in India around the Maharishi when they came up with these lyrics.
I challenge you to take a printed copy of the lyrics to this song, the lyrics to any Dylan song, compare them, and then decide who has more talent. Sorry, but I didn't like this song back in the day, and it hasn't aged well for me.
I should listen to that cause right now its hard to imagine this song not sucking!
I tried to find out online who played guitar but there seems to be a lot of debate whether it's Parker or Jimmy Page. Donovan credits Page, John Paul Jones (who booked the session musicians) says it's Parker. There's different documentaries crediting one or the other. There's also an urban legend saying that Led Zeppelin (minus Plant) was formed during the recording.
Cool song all the same. 8.
![{#Notworthy} {#Notworthy}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_notworthy.gif)