THE BRITISH ARE COMING!

The British are coming! The British are coming!

The 60s was arguably the best area for self expressive music. Roots rock came around and revolutionized rock music by adding elements of folk, country, jazz, R&B, and blues. The main result of music changing though was the extremely prevalent British influence in POP-Rock music, this "British Invasion" seeped its way into America, but also all around the world. Of course today when anyone thinks of British rock immediately The Beatles and The Rolling Stones but one more interesting player in the game, whose name has faded through the years is Donovan. 

Donovan's album Mellow Yellow is true to the style of the time, but the way he manipulated his music to support the lyrics is what makes him such a musical genius. Specifically I'm talking about his song "Museum" which appears on the album. 

When I first looked at the lyrics of the song, I was thoroughly confused on what was happening. It Seemed to be an explanation of a day in the life of someone with a lot of time.

I drink sweet wine for breakfast
Slept bout an hour or so
Smiled a little in the silence
Decided on where to go 

But then I remembered the time period and what was happening in Britain and America. Drugs. And the drug of choice being L.S.D. (a highly referenced drug in some of the times most popular songs). Immigrants were coming to Europe and America bringing with them a lot of dope, heroin, and Psychedelics.  In both the U.S and the U.K, drug use had been cultivated by the hippy movement, which was heavily adherent to the music scene, making it no surprise that the visions and experiences that L.S.D provided users were expressed through art and songs. The realization of the time the song was written suddenly made it make more sense.

"Museum" started with lyrics describing the beginning of a hippy's journey through their day. Then a friend comes into the song,

Meet me under the whale at the Natural History Museum 
I think that is what she said
a little bit sad about having to leave them
Yawning in the sun
like a child I run

The friend  right off the bat seems a little bit off, but he goes to see her and then begins the trip. 

Little do you speak of beauty
isn't it a shame what ho
Maybe you should go get your power ring
and let all your troubles go

The first two lines are inferencing the affect of acid which opens up the users mind, and makes new connections which makes senses, especially sight altered. Donovan then goes on and in those second two lines and says to go become a hippy, find friends who will open up your mind to new possibilities. With that transformation of becoming a hippy and acknowledging beauty, your troubles will be let go.

The song is one big experience, and though the lyrics are not the most beautiful, and are basically drug propaganda, the song evokes an experience which is what poetry is. The psychedelic alt-jazz roots rock music in the background enhances the trip and the feeling of adventure and freedom that comes with the experience.

So much is packed into one three minute song and reading about it does not do it enough justice. The music behind it adds an incredible amount to the experience and I do highly recommend listening to it to experience it yourself. It's fun, it's happy, and overall a great bop.