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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This was inspired by a 1965 British horror movie called The Night Of The Eagle.

The song takes its title from the Sea Witch nightclub on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. It was a small club where Donovan used to play. (thanks, Richard - Los Angeles, CA)

During Led Zeppelin's soundchecks, they often warmed up by playing this. The song allows for lots of jamming when played live, which makes it a popular cover for many bands.

This has only 2 chords and is ideal for long jams. (thanks, Craig - Dunedin, New Zealand)

Comments:

Hey, Lou Rawls did a suprisingly funky version of this!!
- tom, Woonsocket, RI

"Must be the season of the wiiiiiiiiiiitch" yah i loove it
- nady, adelaide, Australia

Was the featured soundtrack in "House, MD", S3E11, "Words and Deeds"
- D'n, Petah Tikvah, Israel

Another amazing Donovan song, one of my favorites.
- Lemicro, New York City, NY

While recording the demo at a studio in Denmark St, Donovan met and befriended Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, who were recording in a nearby studio. Coincidentally, he had also recently met Jones's ex-girlfriend, Linda Lawrence. (She had already had a son by Jones, but when she met Donovan her relationship with Jones was effectively over.) Donovan and Jones became close friends and their relationship lasted until Jones' untimely death in 1969. The meeting between Linda and Donovan was pivotal. They began an on-again-off-again romantic relationship that carried on sproadically for the next five years, and exerted a huge influence on Donovan's music. Linda refused to marry Donovan, and moved to America for several years in the late '60s. Although he had other relationships in between â?? one of which resulted in the birth of his first two children, Donovan Leitch Jr and Ione Skye Leitch â?? he remained strongly drawn to Linda, and she effectively became his muse. His confused feelings about her inspired dozens of songs, including "Catch The Wind", "Legend Of A Girl Child Linda", "Season Of The Witch", and many others. - Kim Huggins, Windsor, Connecticut
- Leslie, Windsor, CT

Julie Driscoll, Brian Aunger and the Trinity did a cover of this song...as did bloke called Richard Thompson...his version lasts over nine minutes and is bloody unreal! As good if not better than Donovan's original...if not a bit different (his style even suits the song better than Donovan's i believe). Thompson's version also featured quite a few times as background music in the TV show Crossing Jordan
- Cameron, Koroit, Australia

Regarding the Super Sessions with Stills, Bloomfield and Kooper, it's the same song. Written by Donovan, who is absolutely one of the greatest pop/rock musicians.
- David, Youngstown, OH

pretty sure it was written about some paranoia experienced by donovan right before a pot bust. but i could be wrong
- trish, old forge, PA

Does this have any relevance to Kooper & Stills Season of the Witch?
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

This song inspired the book "Season of the Witch" by James Leo Herlihy, author of "Midnight Cowboy". Taking place in early 1970, it is the story of a 15-year-old girl who runs away from her plastic suburban home along with her gay friend John, who has just received his draft notice. When the pair take street names, she calls herself Witch. The song is not referenced in the book, although many other songs of the period are.
- Ekristheh, Halath, United States

In Dunedin Graeme Wardrop's band used to play this in the late 60s.
- Stephen, London, England

Genius...!!!
- Craig, Dunedin, New Zealand

Season of the Witch is actually the name of the third Halloween movie
- AJ, Cleveland, GA

Luna did a cover of this. I actually like it better than Donovan's....
- maddie, Knoxville, TN

Vanilla Fudge did a decent cover of this. They also covered The Supremes' song You Keep Me Hangin' On in a similar vein.
- Martijn, Helmond, Netherlands