Epistle to Dippy

Album: Donovan's Greatest Hits (1967)
Charted: 19
Play Video
  • Look on yonder misty mountain
    See the young monk meditating rhododendron forest
    Over dusty years, I ask you
    What's it been like being you ?
    Through all levels you've been changing
    Getting a little bit better no doubt,
    The doctor bit was so far out.
    Looking through crystal spectacles,
    I can see I had your fun.
    Doing us paperback reader
    Made the teacher suspicious about insanity,
    Fingers always touching girl.
    Through all levels you've been changing
    Getting a little bit better no doubt,
    The doctor bit was so far out.
    Looking through all kinds of windows
    I can see I had your fun.
    Looking through all kinds of windows
    I can see I had your fun.
    Looking through crystal spectacles
    I can see I had your fun.
    Looking through crystal spectacles
    I can see I had your fun.
    Rebelling against society,
    Such a tiny speculating whether to be a hip or
    Skip along quite merrily.
    Through all levels you've been changing
    Elevator in the brain hotel
    Broken down a-just as well-a
    Looking through crystal spectacles,
    Ah, I can see I had your fun.
    dumb dumb dumb, dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
    dumb dumb dumb, dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
    dumb dumb dumb, dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
    dumb dumb dumb, dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb
    dumb dumb dumb, dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb Writer/s: DONOVAN LEITCH
    Publisher: Peermusic Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Tdot from Lakewood, Wa.The correct lyrics from the songbook are: Line 9: "I can see you had your fun." Line 10: "During hours paperback reader." Line 12: "Fingers always touching, girl." (The comma changes the meaning).
  • Matthew from Toronto, OnWow! How come this song isn't better known? Following hot on the trail of mega hits "Sunshine Superman" and "Mellow Yellow," it deserved a much better fate. The intricate arrangement, the baffling lyrics, the drug-inspired imagery, the tempo changes, the hooks, it all should have added up to an irresistable major chart presence. It came at the right time, too, the wistful and idealistic mid-60's when radio audiences were willing to listen to anything different & original. It did okay, but it should have done much, much better. Today, it's forgotten.
  • Sara from Silver Spring, MdLike many Donovan songs of the time this is said to have LSD references. In his autobiography Donovan says Dippy was the sax player in a band where Donovan was the drummer.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Cy Curnin of The Fixx

Cy Curnin of The FixxSongwriter Interviews

The man who brought us "Red Skies" and "Saved By Zero" is now an organic farmer in France.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?