This song takes me back nearly sixty years to a young lad full of excitement and optimism for what tomorrow may hold. And now an old man nearing his three score years and ten, and wondering where this road will eventually lead. This song brought back so many happy memory's of a time long past. Remember this one thing, live your life for today and fear not what tomorrow may bring.
I used to pick this on the guitar, Donovan style, & sing this song. Self taught but I loved the picking rather than just strumming. It was one of his best.
Such a beautiful heartfelt song by my very favourite folk singer/songwriter, Donovan, since I was 16, oh so long, long ago. I was always drawn to his saddest songs. Here in this video is his then girlfriend (Linda), now wife and she was so, so cute with a child-like face. Oh, how I envied her, her looks and most of all captured Donovan's heart. 💑
Donovan moved from Maryhill when he was 3 to St Vincent Street Anderston until he was 10 and lived near Billy Connolly who stayed in the nearby Dover Street which runs one street up parallel to St Vincent Street and they may well have stayed in the same tenement block and may have known each other. I was brought up in a tenement in Maryhill in the 70’s and we all knew all the local children in the area.
The melody of this song is 90% “Boots of Spanish Leather” by Bob Dylan. Dylan is credited with writing, performing and recording the song in 1963, releasing it in 1964. “The Ballad of Geraldine” was recorded by Donovan in 1965. However, the song has roots in a traditional Scottish border ballad, closer to Donovan’s home turf: “Gypsy Davy”, with a 200 year tradition throughout the British Isles and America. Verses of Gypsy Laddie: (Imagine Dylan singing this to the tune of Boots fo Spanish Leather, it’s easy.) An English lord came home one night Inquiring for his Lady. The servants said on every hand, She’s gone with the Gypsy Laddie. Go saddle up my milk white steed, Go saddle me up my brownie, And I will ride both night and day Till I overtake my bonnie. Oh, he rode East and he rode West, And at last he found her. She was lying on the green, green grass And the gypsy’s arms all around her. Oh, how can you leave your house and land? How can you leave your money? How can you leave your rich, young Lord To be a gypsy’s bonnie?
You are so on the money here. I’m just explaining this to my very young nephews and the comparison is so true. I watched Donovan Leitch perform this at Greyfriars Monastery near Glasgow in 1964 and was blown away.
... lol 20 times ... i don't think so at all. All i hear from Dylan it's braying like a donkey. Wanna make a point there ... Dylan was great in the 60s because it was the 60s. Out of those 60s he melted like snow in the sun + a big tx to the Byrds for bringing his tunes to the front. Who'd buy or record one of his songs today ??? Who ?!
18 March 2022 So, I have just done as you suggest and - HEY-PRESTO - it works well. Think I've found a new song to perform at the next meeting of the folk club.
This melody has a million names. You pick those two chords on a guitar and sing stuff that harmonizes. You cannot claim copyright on those two chords. Lyrics is another thing.
Je devais oasser des nuits blanches à oqufiner mes dessins..Au Centre américain,du du Dragon,j'ai trouvé ce disque de Donavan..Et mes nuits passaient avec plaisir...A l'epoque(1968),ce n'etait pas aisé,car il fallait remettre le bras du tourne-disques,en place !
So ; who was the lovely Geraldine. was she a real person or a beautiful figment of our collective imagination? Whatever it was, its' still a beautiful thought and fantasy.
Oh, I was born with the name Geraldine With hair coal black as a raven I travelled my life without a care Ah, but all my love I was savin' Oh, the winds blew high and the trees did sway Not much from life was I askin' 'Tll I met someone to give all my love All my love, so long an' lasting Oh, good were the parts we played in our game And a long ways off was tomorrow But my love was a rambler and restless as the sea And in the tide came sorrow Oh, a child of the night is goin' to be born I can't explain my confusion Is my love thinkin' to marry me at all Or of the freedom he thinks he'll be losin'? I sit with my friends in the gay crowded room My friends, they're smokin' and a-talkin' But it all seems so empty, my love is not there So I'll go into the streets a-walkin' My baby is a-growin', as a-growin' it must If I were to lose it, it would grieve me My love is so helpless and I'm wonderin' what to do Oh, how I yearn to help him Oh, we could go to the land of your choice Where the false shame won't come knockin' at our door I've a feeling in my heart and it's crushing all my hopes I think I'm gonna be hurt some more Oh, I was born with the name Geraldine With hair coal black as a raven I travelled my life without a care Ah, but all my love I was savin'
This song takes me back nearly sixty years to a young lad full of excitement and optimism for what tomorrow may hold. And now an old man nearing his three score years and ten, and wondering where this road will eventually lead. This song brought back so many happy memory's of a time long past. Remember this one thing, live your life for today and fear not what tomorrow may bring.
❤
Lovely, thank you ❤
I could have wrote those fine words.
This song does not need our comments.
We just need to listen.
My big sister purchased Fairy Tale in 1966 when I was twelve years old. This song absolutely riveted me then, as only a child can be. Still does.
Same. I first heard it when I was a 19 year old optimist, it still hits just as hard.
I used to pick this on the guitar, Donovan style, & sing this song. Self taught but I loved the picking rather than just strumming. It was one of his best.
Ever since I first listened to it at the tender age of 14 in ‘65, I have found Fairytale to be a masterpiece
Such a beautiful heartfelt song by my very favourite folk singer/songwriter,
Donovan, since I was 16, oh so long, long ago. I was always drawn to his saddest songs. Here in this video is his then girlfriend (Linda), now wife and she was so, so cute with a child-like face. Oh, how I envied her, her looks and most of all captured Donovan's heart. 💑
Mrenid. I have the same words as yours. I have always loved Donovan and I always will. Now I am 71.
Donovan moved from Maryhill when he was 3 to St Vincent Street Anderston until he was 10 and lived near Billy Connolly who stayed in the nearby Dover Street which runs one street up parallel to St Vincent Street and they may well have stayed in the same tenement block and may have known each other. I was brought up in a tenement in Maryhill in the 70’s and we all knew all the local children in the area.
I like your story thank you for sharing it
I believe I heard this song just once before this, almost 60 years ago, and I can remember it because it left such an impression on me. It did again.
I still have my vinyl of fairy Tale, this is one of my favourite songs on the LP.
Still and will always be one of my most favourite songs
The melody of this song is 90% “Boots of Spanish Leather” by Bob Dylan. Dylan is credited with
writing, performing and recording the song in 1963, releasing it in 1964. “The Ballad of Geraldine” was
recorded by Donovan in 1965. However, the song has roots in a traditional Scottish border ballad,
closer to Donovan’s home turf: “Gypsy Davy”, with a 200 year tradition throughout the British Isles
and America.
Verses of Gypsy Laddie: (Imagine Dylan singing this to the tune of
Boots fo Spanish Leather, it’s easy.)
An English lord came home one night
Inquiring for his Lady.
The servants said on every hand,
She’s gone with the Gypsy Laddie.
Go saddle up my milk white steed,
Go saddle me up my brownie,
And I will ride both night and day
Till I overtake my bonnie.
Oh, he rode East and he rode West,
And at last he found her.
She was lying on the green, green grass
And the gypsy’s arms all around her.
Oh, how can you leave your house and land?
How can you leave your money?
How can you leave your rich, young Lord
To be a gypsy’s bonnie?
You are so on the money here. I’m just explaining this to my very young nephews and the comparison is so true. I watched Donovan Leitch perform this at Greyfriars Monastery near Glasgow in 1964 and was blown away.
thanks for that
... lol 20 times ... i don't think so at all. All i hear from Dylan it's braying like a donkey. Wanna make a point there ... Dylan was great in the 60s because it was the 60s. Out of those 60s he melted like snow in the sun + a big tx to the Byrds for bringing his tunes to the front. Who'd buy or record one of his songs today ??? Who ?!
18 March 2022
So, I have just done as you suggest and - HEY-PRESTO - it works well. Think I've found a new song to perform at the next meeting of the folk club.
This melody has a million names. You pick those two chords on a guitar and sing stuff that harmonizes. You cannot claim copyright on those two chords. Lyrics is another thing.
love this stuff, peace all.....
Great video, these melancholy images of an era gone by. Well done!
I believe the song was written about his wife to be Linda, he chose that name because aldin was an anagram in the middle of Geraldine
Beautiful song and I always love his songs Beautiful person
Wonderful ( as ever ) Donovan.
man two guys , Donovan and Bert jansch !
Bert's guitar playing was amazing . I love his songs too .🤍
Magnificent!
love those songs in G ! and love donovan !
Je devais oasser des nuits blanches à oqufiner mes dessins..Au Centre américain,du du Dragon,j'ai trouvé ce disque de Donavan..Et mes nuits passaient avec plaisir...A l'epoque(1968),ce n'etait pas aisé,car il fallait remettre le bras du tourne-disques,en place !
Still a beautiful listen…
Beuatiful edit
I always enjoyed Donovan's music, he's our male Melanie.
So ; who was the lovely Geraldine. was she a real person or a beautiful figment of our collective imagination? Whatever it was, its' still a beautiful thought and fantasy.
She is real. She became his wife ❤
Love it 💕
Тысячу лет не слышал тебя Донован! У меня была твоя пластинка! Обожаю твои песни! 💖🙏👍👍👍😊😊😊🎶🎶🎶👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
.. Popof ?
Nahhh… I think something got lost in translation.
Thanks a lot! Love the song and the video
Wow, thank you!
You're welcome!
Oh, I was born with the name Geraldine
With hair coal black as a raven
I travelled my life without a care
Ah, but all my love I was savin'
Oh, the winds blew high and the trees did sway
Not much from life was I askin'
'Tll I met someone to give all my love
All my love, so long an' lasting
Oh, good were the parts we played in our game
And a long ways off was tomorrow
But my love was a rambler and restless as the sea
And in the tide came sorrow
Oh, a child of the night is goin' to be born
I can't explain my confusion
Is my love thinkin' to marry me at all
Or of the freedom he thinks he'll be losin'?
I sit with my friends in the gay crowded room
My friends, they're smokin' and a-talkin'
But it all seems so empty, my love is not there
So I'll go into the streets a-walkin'
My baby is a-growin', as a-growin' it must
If I were to lose it, it would grieve me
My love is so helpless and I'm wonderin' what to do
Oh, how I yearn to help him
Oh, we could go to the land of your choice
Where the false shame won't come knockin' at our door
I've a feeling in my heart and it's crushing all my hopes
I think I'm gonna be hurt some more
Oh, I was born with the name Geraldine
With hair coal black as a raven
I travelled my life without a care
Ah, but all my love I was savin'
Agreed 👍
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I would like to hear Emily Linge sing this song.
Same melody of Spanish Boots…
A little bit, but I prefer Donovan’s voice to Dylan’s.
Geraldine Chaplin ?
I thought so too ,looks like her in the video
reminds one of the Dylan song. who cares where it came from, if it was theft or found.
Exactly like Spanish Boots of Spanish Leather.