3:27
The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion, 1967
Written by Mike Heron
Sharing the same broad pastoral sound of Donovan's early work (the ISB being Scottish folk as well), this song also features a charming Middle Eastern and North African flavor, with oud and gimbri featured. Lyrically, it comes off as a twee hippie fable about on first listen, but it's actually using the hedgehog only as mouthpiece for a deeper point about making connections with people, specifically romantic connections. The narrator has dallied with plenty of women but wonders why he hasn't had a serious relationship; the hedgehog tells him, "I can tell by the sadness in your eyes / That you never quite learned the song." We may say the words and go through the motions, but unless our heart's in it, the song rings false.
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