Donovan (Donovan Phillips Leitch, born 10 May 1946, in Maryhill, Glasgow), is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music. Donovan came to fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965, and his popularity spread to the USA and other countries. He scored a string of hits in the UK, the USA, Australia and other countries, including several British and American #1 hits and million-selling records.

He became a friend of leading pop musicians including Joan Baez, Brian Jones, Bruce Springsteen, and The Beatles. He influenced both John Lennon and Paul McCartney when he taught them his finger-picking guitar style in 1968. Some of his most popular songs are Catch The Wind, Sunshine Superman, Colours, Universal Soldier, and many more.

My absolute favorite song, though, is Atlantis. The song starts very quietly with only a guitar and a piano in the background. It ends with a style closer to rock music with slight elements of psychedelia (at least that’s how I would describe it – I am not a music expert). The beginning of the song is nevertheless the strongest, most fascinating part of the song where Donovan, with his distinct Scottish accent, tells his version of the island of Atlantis. He literally tells the story, meaning he doesn’t sing at first.

According to the time when the song was written (some time in the 1970′s) he can’t help to take a swing at the time’s political situation by saying “…the elders of our time choose to remain blind…” Looking at Washington D.C. these times makes me think that the meaning of the song is not outdated as of yet.

Atlantis by Donovan P. Leitch

The continent of Atlantis was an island
Which lay before the great flood in the area we now call the Atlantic Ocean
So great an area of land, that from her western shores
Those beautiful sailors journeyed to the South and the North Americas with ease
In their ships with painted sails
To the East Africa was a neighbour
Across a short strait of sea miles
The great Egyptian age is but a remnant of the Atlantian culture
The antediluvian kings colonised the world
All the Gods who play in the mythological dramas
In all legends from all lands were from fair Atlantis.
Knowing her fate, Atlantis sent out ships to all corners of the Earth
On board were the Twelve: The poet, the physician, the farmer, the scientist,
The magician and the other so-called Gods of our legends.
Though Gods they were - And as the elders of our time choose to remain blind,
Let us rejoice and let us sing and dance and ring in the new.
Hail Atlantis!
Way down below the ocean where I wanna be, she may be
I wanna see you some day

P.S. I have taken the liberty to comprise the end of the lyrics, since that part is highly repetitive.

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Stuart Martin Berry has only three months left to find a publisher for his first novel. In a desperate attempt to reach his goal he leaves his home to live in New York. His wife has given him free rein to do whatever it takes to get a book deal. Her only request was not to give her any details on how he got there. If he fails he will be forced to give up his dream of being a famous writer and take a regular forty hour a week job. For Stuart this is sufficient motivation to start a three month adventure full of sex, lies, and deceit, without losing focus of the ultimate goal. When he finally reaches the finish line, he has evolved and become a top expert in the publishing world.

The question remains, what does it take these days to get a book deal with a traditional publisher? What do you do when, hypothetically, you are running out of time and mere talent is not the be-all and end-all?

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