The 1960s Folk Singer Who Helped George Harrison Start Writing His Own Songs

One could argue that there is truly no one writer of a song. Really, no one person can be given sole credit for the endless amount of inspiration and guidance that goes into one song, given that a plethora of different people are involved in both matters. In other words, the crafting of a song does not happen in a vacuum, not in the slightest. Hence, it comes as no surprise that 60s folk singer, Donovan, helped George Harrison start writing his own songs for The Beatles.

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While he was and still isn’t as popular as The Beatles, Donovan was a heavy-hitting act in the 60s and a mighty fine musician. Primarily known for his singles, “Season Of The Witch”, “Catch The Wind”, and “Hurdy Gurdy Man”, Donovan rose to prominence in the 1960s British folk scene. That being said, he became friends with George Harrison and ultimately helped him start writing his own songs for The Beatles.

According to Donovan, He Was George Harrison’s Songwriting Mentor

As we all know, the two primary songwriters for The Beatles were John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Though, as we also all know, George Harrison and Ringo Starr had loads of material they had to offer to The Beatles. So, when George Harrison started developing some of that material, he reportedly called upon Donovan to help him out.

Regarding how Donovan helped Harrison with his songs, he stated, “I became George’s mentor for songwriting.” “He was in the shadow of John and Paul for so many years and I said, ‘Look, I’ll show you a few tricks, how to encourage the songs,’” Donovan added per Gold Radio.

Donovan continued, “There’s a way to encourage the song to come. You can tease it, like fishing. I told him how to play a chord, then put your ear on the guitar, listen to the open chord, and try a tempo. You can hear melodies, believe it or not. Melodies appear, but you’ve got to be quick to catch them.”

Reportedly, Donovan particularly helped George Harrison write the infamous Beatles track, “Something”. However, he did not confirm or deny that in his comments. Regardless, this story shows that even the brightest of minds need a little creative motivation, help, and inspiration when starting their own creative endeavors. So, per George Harrison’s actions, it is never a bad thing to ask for help.

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