(These lyrics were originally from Andrew Marvick's The Garden.)

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"Lord of the Reedy River"


B-side of Sat In Your Lap single

Written by Donovan Leitch 



Cover of single
Back of single
       


[This song was composed by Donovan Leitch. Donovan performed the  song
in a sequence from the film If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium,  in 1968; and
later included a recording of it on his album H.M.S.  Donovan. It is through the
latter version that Kate became familiar  with the song.]







 I fell in love with a swan. 


 My eyes were filled with feathers, 


 He filled me with song, 


     In the reedy river, 


     In the reedy river. 






 I in my boat long hours, 


 He in his royal plumage-- 


 I threw him some flowers, 


     In the reedy river, 


     In the reedy river. 






 Black was the night and starry. 


 I loosened off my garments 


 And let forth my hair,* 


     In the reedy river, 


     In the reedy river. 






 Sadly we mourned and sighed, 


 Whilst in evening twilight 


 Two swans glide and fly 


     In the reedy river, 


     In the reedy river, 






          ("Two swans glide and fly") 




     In the reedy river. 






          ("Two swans glide and fly") 








 I fell in love with a swan... 


          (unintelligible spoken words) 






 *--"let forth":


Donovan's original words were probably 


and "let fall". 




[As much as it pains this fan to report it, I must mention that  Kate
has made what appears to be a slight error in the course of  adapting the song
from the third to the first person (a change which  becomes possible because of
Kate's ability to assume the role of the  song's female character). In the final
verse the original line--"SaDLy  they mourned and sighed"--apparently
refers to an implied group of  mourners, perhaps friends and relatives, who
believe that the heroine  of the song has drowned and been lost in the river,
when in fact the  lovers--now both swans--fly over the mourners' heads. Kate,
however,  changes the pronoun "they" to "we", in keeping
with her other shifts  from third to first person. This change unfortunately
confuses the most  likely meaning of the verse. Other interpretations which
accomodate  Kate's version are possible, however.]


[In fact, a rumour persists that Donovan himself contributed  backing
vocals to the recording, even though no official credit is  given to Donovan.
Immediately following the final repetition of the  opening line at the
conclusion of Kate's recording, what sounds like a  male voice can be heard
whispering a couple of words (so far not  deciphered by me).] 






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