Album: Sunshine Superman (1966)

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• When I look out my window
  Many sights to see
  And when I look in my window
  So many different people to be
  That it's strange, so strange
  
  You've got to pick up every stitch
  You've got to pick up every stitch
  You've got to pick up every stitch
  Mmm, must be the season of the witch
  Must be the season of the witch, yeah
  Must be the season of the witch
  
  When I look over my shoulder
  What do you think I see?
  Some other cat lookin' over
  His shoulder at me
  And he's strange, sure, he's strange
  
  You've got to pick up every stitch
  You've got to pick up every stitch, yeah
  Beatniks are out to make it rich
  Oh no, must be the season of the witch
  Must be the season of the witch, yeah
  Must be the season of the witch
  
  You've got to pick up every stitch
  The rabbits running in the ditch
  Beatniks are out to make it rich
  Oh no, must be the season of the witch
  Must be the season of the witch
  Must be the season of the witch
  
  Where'd I go?
  
  When I look out my window
  What do you think I see?
  And when I look in my window
  So many different people to be
  It's strange, sure is strange
  You've got to pick up every stitch
  You've got to pick up every stitch
  The rabbits running in the ditch
  Oh no, must be the season of the witch
  Must be the season of the witch, yeah
  Must be the season of the witch
  Where'd I go?
  Where'd I go? Writer/s: Donovan Leitch
  Publisher: Peermusic Publishing
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 25

• Ziggy from ViennaCompare this song to Led Zepelin´s "Ramble On", for me the most similar song
• Eric F from Tulsa, OkRecently was grooving on Donovan's greatest hits and this song came up. It reminded me of The Doors "The End". It has a similar flow, sinister-sounding lyrics in a minor key. In checking out the release dates of both songs, its difficult to say who might have been inspired by whom, if at all. Donovan released "Season of the Witch" Sept. 1966 and The Doors released their song Jan. 1967...but The Doors had been performing their song as early as the summer of 1966. Inspiration for both songs possibly was the zeitgeist of 1966.
• Dan from Washington, DcThis song was also featured on the final scene/closing credits of the 1995 movie: "To Die For" staring Nicole Kidman.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 29th 1968, Vanilla Fudge performed in concert* at the Civic Auditorium in Portland, Oregon...
  At the time their covered version of "Season of the Witch" was at #65 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart, and that was also its peaked position on the chart...
  The original version of "Season of the Witch" was track one of side two on Donovan's third studio album, 'Sunshine Superman'...
  * Interestingly, the concert's opening act were Led Zeppelin, who were touring the U.S.A. for the first time.
• The Blue Bus from Kihei, HiOne of the best versions of all hasn't been mentioned yet. That would be Terry Reid's. Enjoy!
• John from City, RomaniaAs kids, we listened to Donovan’s Season of the Witch, while playing Demon-Demon. In Romania, we did not have board games, so we used a pentagram made from rabbit bones, but now most teens draw one on a Monopoly board. Literally, became a bloody mess, if you lost a go, and still had stitches from the last game. You got to pick out every stitch, if you want to be rich.
• Rj from Philadelphia, PaThis will become the next song that does not leave my head for weeks...
• Sara from Silver Spring, MdThis song has nothing to do with witchcraft or magic. It is a song about paranoia.
  The line "Beatniks are out to make it rich" has been changed since.
• Sara from Silver Spring, MdDonovan wrote this shortly became the first British musician to be busted for drugs in the 1960s.
• Sara from Silver Spring, MdLinda Lawrence did not inspire this song nor did a 1965 movie.
• Tom from Woonsocket, RiHey, Lou Rawls did a suprisingly funky version of this!!
• Nady from Adelaide, Australia"Must be the season of the wiiiiiiiiiiitch" yah i loove it
• D'n from Petah Tikvah, IsraelWas the featured soundtrack in "House, MD", S3E11, "Words and Deeds"
• Lemicro from New York City, NyAnother amazing Donovan song, one of my favorites.
• Leslie from Windsor, CtWhile recording the demo at a studio in Denmark St, Donovan met and befriended Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, who were recording in a nearby studio. Coincidentally, he had also recently met Jones's ex-girlfriend, Linda Lawrence. (She had already had a son by Jones, but when she met Donovan her relationship with Jones was effectively over.) Donovan and Jones became close friends and their relationship lasted until Jones' untimely death in 1969.
  
  The meeting between Linda and Donovan was pivotal. They began an on-again-off-again romantic relationship that carried on sproadically for the next five years, and exerted a huge influence on Donovan's music. Linda refused to marry Donovan, and moved to America for several years in the late '60s. Although he had other relationships in between â?? one of which resulted in the birth of his first two children, Donovan Leitch Jr and Ione Skye Leitch â?? he remained strongly drawn to Linda, and she effectively became his muse. His confused feelings about her inspired dozens of songs, including "Catch The Wind", "Legend Of A Girl Child Linda", "Season Of The Witch", and many others.
  
  - Kim Huggins, Windsor, Connecticut
• Cameron from Koroit, AustraliaJulie Driscoll, Brian Aunger and the Trinity did a cover of this song...as did bloke called Richard Thompson...his version lasts over nine minutes and is bloody unreal! As good if not better than Donovan's original...if not a bit different (his style even suits the song better than Donovan's i believe). Thompson's version also featured quite a few times as background music in the TV show Crossing Jordan
• David from Youngstown, OhRegarding the Super Sessions with Stills, Bloomfield and Kooper, it's the same song. Written by Donovan, who is absolutely one of the greatest pop/rock musicians.
• Trish from Old Forge, Papretty sure it was written about some paranoia experienced by donovan right before a pot bust. but i could be wrong
• Johnny from Los Angeles, CaDoes this have any relevance to Kooper & Stills Season of the Witch?
• Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesThis song inspired the book "Season of the Witch" by James Leo Herlihy, author of "Midnight Cowboy". Taking place in early 1970, it is the story of a 15-year-old girl who runs away from her plastic suburban home along with her gay friend John, who has just received his draft notice. When the pair take street names, she calls herself Witch. The song is not referenced in the book, although many other songs of the period are.
• Stephen from London, EnglandIn Dunedin Graeme Wardrop's band used to play this in the late 60s.
• Craig from Dunedin, New ZealandGenius...!!!
• Aj from Cleveland, GaSeason of the Witch is actually the name of the third Halloween movie
• Maddie from Knoxville, TnLuna did a cover of this. I actually like it better than Donovan's....
• Martijn from Helmond, NetherlandsVanilla Fudge did a decent cover of this. They also covered The Supremes' song You Keep Me Hangin' On in a similar vein.

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