My dad would always ask, 'How's the money?' but I was never interested. Millions came and went, stolen by the robbers in the music industry. But as someone said, 'You'll never be poor as long as you can pick up a guitar.'
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that true wealth lies in creativity and passion rather than material wealth.
Donovan reflects on his experiences in the music industry, highlighting that despite the financial challenges and opportunistic behavior in the industry, his love for music and the ability to create through his guitar made him feel rich in spirit. The underlying message is that artistic expression and personal fulfillment are ultimately more valuable than monetary success.
In practice
During a speech about pursuing one's dreams regardless of financial gain.
I was around nine when a babysitter snuck 'Who's Next' onto the turntable. The parents were gone. The windows shook. The shelves were rattling. Rock & roll. That began an exploration into music that had soul, rebellion, aggression, affection.
When I started playing music, people weren't selling 5 million records. That was not the standard; that was not the focus.
Some 'people' think I'm a great singer. They don't know nothin'. I ain't no singer; I just talk in time with the beat and on pitch. That ain't singin'; that's talkin'.
Every time a new record started, people exhaled with pleasure, or their bodies moved automatically. I really started getting high off of the euphoric exclamations. Every record I put on was like a baptism.
I had a vague idea of the song's impact in the '60s, but that was tempered by the hate mail and threats I was receiving. It was only about ten years ago, when I finally put it back in my show because so many people were asking for it, that I understood 'Society's Child' real impact.
Hail, hail rock and roll / Deliver me from the days of old.
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