Govinda

Album: K (1996)
Charted: 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Govinda is one of the many names of Lord Krishna. The lyrics of the song are said have been taken from a Sanskrit devotional song to Krishna previously recorded by singers from Radha Krsna Temple in a 1970 album produced by George Harrison. Crispian Mills mentioned it was an improvisation of a Hindu prayer to Krishna.
  • The lyrics are mainly made up of the different names for Krishna: Govinda, Gopala, Radharamana, Nrsinghadev, and Gaura Hari.
  • It is the only British Top 10 hit to to have been sung entirely in Sanskrit.
  • "Govinda" was the second single off Kula Shaker's debut album K. An alternate version of the song - "Govinda '97, Hari And St. George" appeared on the Summer Sun EP. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Radhika - Gurgaon, India, for all above

Comments: 1

  • Lige from Jefferson City, MissouriWonderful song!
see more comments

Editor's Picks

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Protest Songs

Protest SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know your protest songs (including the one that went to #1)?

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Michael Schenker

Michael SchenkerSongwriter Interviews

The Scorpions and UFO guitarist is also a very prolific songwriter - he explains how he writes with his various groups, and why he was so keen to get out of Germany and into England.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?