Sunny Goodge Street

Album: Fairytale (1965)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Goodge Street Station is a Tube stop in the Fitzrovia district of London where Donovan would get hashish. The song takes us on a journey where he makes the score, smokes it, and goes on a mind-expanding trip where in the end, there is love.

    The song is one of the first to explicitly mention the drug, as Donovan sings: "Violent hash-smoker shook a chocolate machine."
  • Even casual marijuana use was seen as dangerous and nefarious among much of the British population in 1965, when the Dangerous Drugs Act was passed, emboldening police to go after offenders. Thanks in part to this song, Donovan became a target, and in 1966 he was the first rocker to go down in a series of raids that also nabbed members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

    In our interview with Donovan, he said, "I was the first to actually mention it in a song, and that's why I would be the first to be busted in London."
  • One of Donovan's earliest recordings, this song found him blending a variety of musical styles, which became his imprint. Elements of folk, jazz, classical and blues music come together on this track.

Comments: 1

  • David from UsaWhy do all the lyrics sites say "crazy Kali goddess" when he's clearly saying "crazy color goddess" and in his live version he says " crazy colors goddess"?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Roger McGuinn of The Byrds

Roger McGuinn of The ByrdsSongwriter Interviews

Roger reveals the songwriting formula Clive Davis told him, and if "Eight Miles High" is really about drugs.

Francis Rossi of Status Quo

Francis Rossi of Status QuoSongwriter Interviews

Doubt led to drive for Francis, who still isn't sure why one of Status Quo's biggest hits is so beloved.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.