Why does the original version of Hurdy Gurdy Man still sound like it was just MADE for the Butthole Surfers?

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Was Donovan a clairvoyant who subconsciously decided to write a song just for Butthole Surfers? (Well, he did have a song called "Clara Clairvoyant") I just don't understand it. I mean, sure I heard the Surfers song first, but I'm just surprised that when I hear the original the same goofy electric guitar swoop and distorted vocals are there. I find I can't divorce this song from the whole Surfers wacky tomfoolery at all. I'm more a Donovan fan than a Surfers fan, though so I'd be interested to hear from proper Surfers fans.

― Bimble (bimble), Monday, 25 October 2004 02:51 (twenty-one years ago)

cause donovan got 3/4ths of led zeppelin to play the music, like DUH!

(OK, minus the DUH! part that answer is actually serious.)

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Monday, 25 October 2004 02:59 (twenty-one years ago)

I had no idea there was a Butthole Surfers version, but I can imagine it perfectly.

― Sonny, what a prick!, Monday, 25 October 2004 03:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Because Donovon and the Buttholes both liked acid?

― Piers (piers), Monday, 25 October 2004 04:41 (twenty-one years ago)

the opening bars of donovan's "hurdy gurdy man" are teh awesomest

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Monday, 25 October 2004 04:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Because the Butthole Surfers are classic rock, at least some of the time.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Monday, 25 October 2004 12:08 (twenty-one years ago)

'Cause Jimmy & Bonzo surfed the Butthole first.

― briania (briania), Monday, 25 October 2004 12:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Cos the BS did a straightforward cover of it

― Andrew Blood Thames (Andrew Thames), Monday, 25 October 2004 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

And because Hurdy Gurdy Man was the prototype for the Surfers in the first place.

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 25 October 2004 12:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Just 'cos Donovan's ancient doesn't mean he wasn't a crazy bastard. In his day he was probably more out there than the Butthole Surfers were in theirs. eg. In "Superlungs My Supergirl" his "chick" is "only fourteen"! "Barabajagal" is just a pretty wild album, especially the freakout jam of the title track.

― everything, Monday, 25 October 2004 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)

If you like 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' and 'Hurdy Gurdy Man' then you'll love 'Hurdy Gurdy Men by the Evolution Control Committee. (Or at least be slightly amused by it.)

― Graeme (Graeme), Monday, 25 October 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

I heard it on the soundtrack to "L.I.E." and forgot what a good song it was.

― Damn Yankees- High Enough (nordicskilla), Monday, 25 October 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i have a LOT more time for donovan than the butthole surfers, not least because they are named the "butthole surfers"

― amateur!!!st (amateurist), Monday, 25 October 2004 22:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Whatta great song! The summer of 67 produced so many classics.

― jim wentworth (wench), Monday, 25 October 2004 23:39 (twenty-one years ago)

amateur!!!st what have you heard by the Butthole Surfers? I'd definitely take them over Donovan, but I haven't heard that much of his stuff.

― Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Monday, 25 October 2004 23:41 (twenty-one years ago)

nine months pass...

This song has some of the best tongue-in-cheek lyrics ever:

Thrown like a star in my vast sleep
I open my eyes to take a peep
To find that I was by the sea
Gazing with tranquillity.
'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 gurdy.
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, gurdy he sang.
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, gurdy he sang.
Here comes the roly poly man and he's singing songs of love,
Roly poly, roly poly, roly poly, poly he sang.
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, gurdy he sang,
Hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, hurdy gurdy, gurdy he sang

― Hurting (Hurting), Friday, 29 July 2005 05:39 (twenty years ago)

This is all utter madness. Obviously Donovan intended the song for Neil (of the Young Ones), for his 1985 Heavy Concept Album.

― Nag! Nag! Nag! (Nag! Nag! Nag!), Friday, 29 July 2005 12:52 (twenty years ago)

five years pass...

For Eisbar and other:

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 - Acoustic 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

― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 26 August 2010 13:23 (fifteen years ago)

Yes. The Bonham myth was dispelled on another thread a while back.

― Nate Carson, Thursday, 26 August 2010 19:48 (fifteen years ago)

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