Donovan & Derroll Adams
Derroll Adams was a folk musician born in Portland, Oregon November 27, 1925 and died in Antwerp, Belgium 74 years later. He is best known for his husky style and voice, banjo playing, and teaming in his early years with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and later taking Donovan under his wing. Some say the American traditional music heard in early Donovan recordings is a result of Derroll Adams.
Have a look again at Pennebaker's documentary film of Bob Dylan's 1965 tour in the UK, Don't Look Back (1967), where Derroll Adams also shows up.
Here Donovan returns a favor, singing one of Adams' songs — a beauty, and do listen to the lyrics — with that Donovan gypsy quality for his American troubadour friend.
Derroll Adams was a folk musician born in Portland, Oregon November 27, 1925 and died in Antwerp, Belgium 74 years later. He is best known for his husky style and voice, banjo playing, and teaming in his early years with Ramblin' Jack Elliott and later taking Donovan under his wing. Some say the American traditional music heard in early Donovan recordings is a result of Derroll Adams.
Have a look again at Pennebaker's documentary film of Bob Dylan's 1965 tour in the UK, Don't Look Back (1967), where Derroll Adams also shows up.
Here Donovan returns a favor, singing one of Adams' songs — a beauty, and do listen to the lyrics — with that Donovan gypsy quality for his American troubadour friend.
The Mountain
(Derroll Adams - Donovan Music Ltd. London)
It was up some laughing riverWhere I'd gone to spend the day
I had such fantastic visions
I could hardly stand to stay
And I stood up within myself
And suddenly felt free
And I stood above the burdens
That puzzle you and me
I became awareness
That was shared with all around
With the trees the sky the flowers
And the wind the sun the ground
I heard the birds were singing
And I found them same as me
And I understood our sorrows
And why they should not be
I saw this plane of living
It was nothing more than faith
A skin that covered glory
Far beyond our love or hate
A living crystal fairy land
Where loving is our grace
A pyromanic garden
That knows no time or space
I saw what we've been doing to it
Saw it as insane
Still a-marching like good Christians
With our wars the sword the flame
To crash down all those infidels
To defend what should be shame
And again I shared our sorrows
Knew we all must bear the blame
I see it all as part of us
To know and share alike
With a universal willingness
To know and do what's right
To understand our brotherness
And stop this awful race
Let our children run and grow in peace
Know their lives shall not be waste
First there is a mountain
Then it seems the mountain's gone
But then if you take another look
Why - it's been there all along
We can be just like a river
As it laughs along it's way
Or stand beneath the shadows
That take the sun away
