The Legend of Xanadu

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

About The Legend of Xanadu

"The Legend of Xanadu" is a single by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich that reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1968, and was the group's biggest hit. As with many of their singles, it was written by songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, and like many of the group's recordings, it features novelty elements — in this case a trumpet section and the distinctive sound of a whip cracking in the chorus. The musical accompaniment was directed by John Gregory.


Year:
2007
3:54
1,930 
#8

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You'll hear my voice 
On the wind cross the sand 
If you should return 
To that black, barren land 
that bears the name of Xanadu 

Cursed without hope 
Was the love that I sought 
Lost from the start 
Was the duel that was fought 
to win a heart in Xanadu 

Now no footsteps leave their traces 
Only shadows move in places where we used to go 
And the buildings open to the sky 
All echo with the vultures cry as if to show 
Our love was for a day 
And doomed to pass away 
In Xanadu 
In Xanadu 
In Xanadu 

What was it to you that a man lay down his life for your love? 
Were those clear eyes of yours ever filled with the pain & tears of grief? 
Did you ever give yourself to any one man in this whole wide world? 
Or did you love me and will you find your way back one day to Xanadu? 

You'll hear my voice 
On the wind cross the sand 
If you should return 
To that black, barren land 
that bears the name of Xanadu 

In Xanadu

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich (also known as DDDBMT), were a British pop/rock group of the 1960s. Two of their single releases sold in excess of one million copies each, and they reached Number One in the UK with the second of them, "The Legend of Xanadu". more »

1 fan

Written by: ALAN BLAIKLEY

Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Band Origin
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich were a British pop/rock group of the 1960s. The band formed in 1961 and initially disbanded in 1973.
Chart Success
"The Legend of Xanadu" by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in 1968, spending one week at the top.
Variety in Sound
This song is well-known for its whip-cracking sounds, which were actually provided by the band's namesake Dave Dee.
Instrumentation
One of the most distinctive elements of "The Legend of Xanadu" is its Spanish guitar riff, which provides the song with a unique, instantly recognizable sound.
Lyrics
The song features a narrative story about a knight from the Middle Ages on a quest for love, giving it a timeless, romantic character.
Controversial Release
“The Legend of Xanadu” was not initially released in the US because their American label considered it too similar to their previous song “Zabadak.”
Songwriters
The song was written by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, who had a successful collaboration and wrote multiple hits for various artists in the 1960s.
Last Big Hit
This was the last big hit for Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick, and Tich. After "The Legend of Xanadu," the band had no other number one hit before they disbanded.
Cover Versions
This song has been covered by several artists over the years, including Black Lace, The Fall, and James Last and his orchestra.
YouTube Popularity
The official music video of the song "The Legend of Xanadu" on YouTube has been viewed more than 1 million times as of November 2021.

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