Riki Tiki Tavi

Album: Open Road (1970)
Charted: 55
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Riki Tiki Tavi is the name of the mongoose in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book who protects a family against a giant cobra. In this, one of Donovan's last songs to make the charts, the character is seen as a victim of society.
  • Donovan recorded this with the Open Road band, which was an acoustic band that he traveled with throughout 1970. There is another version of the song on the Troubadour boxed set that contains drug references. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Sara - Silver Spring, MD, for above 2

Comments: 1

  • Zabadak from London, EnglandReleased on the Dawn label in the UK.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

Kerry Livgren of Kansas

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.