When we think of the ’60s we tend to think of the social movements for civil rights and against the war in Vietnam, which gives the impression that people back then were wrapped up in serious issues. We tend to forget that the hippie era gave rise to just as much bunkum and bullshit as any other. Case in point: Donovan’s apparently heartfelt belief in the Atlantis myth, which led him to release a song with a 110-second spoken introduction extolling the wonders of the lost continent. The song itself consists of a single line repeated ad infinitum, which I suppose necessitated the long intro. The record company wasn’t impressed, releasing it as a B-side, but DJs favored it over the A-side and the 45 reached No. 7 on the US charts. Hail Atlantis indeed.
