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Jennifer Juniper Lyrics

Artist: Donovan

JENNIFER JUNIPER
Donovan

Jennifer Juniper lives upon the hill,
Jennifer Juniper, sitting very still.
Is she sleeping ? I don't think so.
Is she breathing ? Yes, very low.
Whatcha doing, Jennifer, my love ?
Jennifer Juniper, rides a dappled mare,
Jennifer Juniper, lilacs in her hair.
Is she dreaming ? Yes, I think so.
Is she pretty ? Yes, ever so.
Whatcha doing, Jennifer, my love ?
I'm thinking of what it would be like if she loved me.
You know just lately this happy song it came along
And I like to somehow try and tell you.
Jennifer Juniper, hair of golden flax.
Jennifer Juniper longs for what she lacks.
Do you like her ? Yes, I do, Sir.
Would you love her ? Yes, I would, Sir.
Whatcha doing Jennifer, my love ?
Jennifer Juniper, Jennifer Juniper, Jennifer Juniper.
Jennifer Juniper vit sur la colline,
Jennifer Juniper assise trs tranquille.
Dort-elle ? Je ne crois pas.
Respire-t-elle ? Oui, mais tout bas.
Qu'est-ce que tu fais, Jenny mon amour ?
Jennifer Juniper, Jennifer Juniper, Jennifer Juniper.

Comments/Interpretations

by Ralph on 6/2/2008 8:05am
love the old songs - very summery !
by thanks donovan on 6/12/2008 5:39pm
¡thanks for this song thanks!
by Lynda Heely on 7/19/2008 6:26pm
It describes my friend Jennifer exactly.How beautiful.
by I love this song on 8/5/2008 1:27pm
It is the name I chose for my 1st born daughter because of this song.
by ShopRite Clerk on 8/22/2008 5:27pm
Another song that I have to listen to every day at my job in a local grocery store. I detest it. It's awful. Try listening to it every day for eight years and see if it doesn't drive you effing crazy!
by Master P on 9/12/2008 3:47pm
ShopRite.....you've been in a grocery store for eight years? Ever consider another line of work where there are some prospects of moving up?
by Juniper on 9/25/2008 10:09am
I'm grateful that my parents picked the less common name in the song....
by Zilmo on 10/5/2008 1:55am
Beautiful song.
by Soozie12345 on 10/19/2008 2:11am
When I was 7 yrs old I heard this song one the radio and I decided that if I had a daughter that I would name her Jennifer.
Well, I named my 2nd daughter Jennifer. When Jenny heard this song and said it's silly, and very stupid, and she hates her name Jennifer, which it why she goes by Jenny.
So much for childhood dreams and schemes.
by hartman_john on 12/31/2008 7:40am
Jennifer Juniper is Donovan's ode to excessive Gin consumption.
According to the "Mental Floss History of the World" book, the word juniper derives from the Dutch, "genever." Juniper berries give gin its distinctive flavor, one which "was to 18th-century England what opium was to China...a cheap, highly addictive drug that destroyed communities."

The linguistic jump to "Jennifer" is simple and the Brits, including Donovan, were off to the races.

So, the next person considering naming their daughter, or son for that matter, Jennifer, had best understand the derivation of the word. You might be dooming your newborn to a lifetime of embarrassment and drunkeness.
by jennifer juniper on 1/8/2009 9:58pm
when i first heard this song. i lost all of my breath and was swept off my feet. and it made me really happy :)
by Mayday on 1/9/2009 12:57pm
Not true John H. This song was written for Jennifer Boyd, the sister of George Harrison's wife at the time (later Clapton's wife). Donovan was friend's with the Harrisons and briefly dated Jennifer.
by proudtobejennifer on 1/20/2009 11:20am
John is the name of all toilets.
by macnifico on 1/21/2009 11:50pm
hartman_john, you are completely wrong!
Jennifer Boyd, as pretty yet not as famous as her older sister Patty, was the inspiration for the song.
Imagine two sisters inspiring at least 3 great songs: Something, Layla, & Jennifer Juniper. Wow!
by angry boyfriend on 1/25/2009 11:25pm
my jennifer is not interested in alcohol at all. she loves the song and her name and has never gotten drunk on gin or any other substances before in her life. she is currently 26 by the way. you need to get your statistics straight mister.
by junips on 2/3/2009 6:39pm
she's my cousin, we call her juniper, she always has lilacs in her hair and we can never tell if she's sleeping! weeeirdddd!
by thepwnnessjenn on 2/26/2009 12:07am
yeah so i officially love this song that i just heard for the first time tonight. my name is jennifer and my nickname is juniper. its so cool
by chandrashekhar tripathi on 4/21/2009 12:23pm
i dont know y it is important to find out what inspired d artisit to write dese words or what is its implied meaning.
if u enjoy the song u do it for the meliflous dulcet voice in which words have been rolled like pearls on velvet maybe .
its such a pretty song. and wats d fuss abt d name jennifer or juniper , i am from india but i hav come across so many ppl named jennifer !!!
by Jennie on 5/8/2009 5:02am
christened a Jennifer but would rather be a Jennie. I got played this song heaps by my parents and dad always used to sing it! Slighly annoying when I was younger. Now, I can see it as a beautiful song.
by Gin lover on 5/23/2009 4:20pm
Nothing wrong in naming your daughter Jennifer, Juniper (or both), nor is it bad to drink alcohol in moderation. I love Gin, but only drink a shot every now and then, never get drunk. Great taste, this juniper berry, I must say.
by G. Luigi Alcivare on 5/25/2009 9:29pm
this is just a very groovy song.
by Ioan Llewellyn on 7/18/2009 12:17am
hartman_john:

Speaking of "a lifetime of embarrassment", you'd better re-check your etymology, boyo! Jennifer is actually a variant of the Welsh name Guinevere, meaning "fair one". Donovan's pairing of the two names notwithstanding, it has nothing whatsoever to do with juniper berries.
by junipers mommy on 7/21/2009 1:59am
nevermind the berries. there are between 50 and 67 of these beautiful shrubs and trees. its a wonderful nature name.
by Jennifer on 8/12/2009 9:11pm
:) Oh man this song brings back memories. My father used to sing me to sleep with this. I'm crying right now lol
by gmacshow on 9/4/2009 2:42am
my wife was Jennifer. She recently died. I love the name ,a beautiful name for a pretty woman & a beautiful lady. I only recently discovered this song & now know why my wife loved Donovan. It's a beautiful song & a fitting one for her
by Anchor on 10/31/2009 6:28pm
Just bought a bottle of "Genever" which does include "Juniper" berries... so, yes, Genever Juniper now makes perfect sense...
Genever is the antecedent of gin, but is quite different.
by ginsong researcher on 11/4/2009 1:07am
Genever/Juniper...Is it then, Donovan's way of saying she was intoxicating without spel-l-ing it out?
by John Lennon on 1/2/2010 4:22pm
This song has nothing to do with gin. What are you going to try next, playing it backwards? You have no idea how a song evolves.
by Jennnifer Hill on 6/14/2010 2:13am
Dad's ong for me...
by Jennifer Ann Hoekstra on 8/6/2010 1:50am
I was named after Jennifer Juniper.My B-Date,April,18,1970. My moms,April,15,1947.And she was rite I am pretty ,yes ever so,and my husband loves me ,yes he can sir!Be gratefull for this song and someone 2 sing it 2 you!!My Email:jenniferhoekstrajuiceplus@gmail.com email me 2 comnt n 2 get info on juiceplus.
by Donovan-groupie on 8/23/2010 8:58pm
Acording to many of my FaceBook friends who are "in the know", yes this song is about Jennifer Boyd. I guess it COULD also be about the gin, though I've never heard of that before...
by Jennifer on 12/8/2010 8:39pm
I used to play this song on my parent's record player when I was young and just loved it. Now I hear it and it sends me to a very happy place. There aren't many songs that have so much meaning and memories attached. This song is simply beautiful :)
by misturdan on 12/28/2010 7:47pm
If you assign the number 2 to A, 3 to B. 4 to C etc....now spell out Jennifer Jupiter backwards AND you get the true answer. .......GOD IS LOVE , ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE
Kewl huh....
by Interociter Operator on 1/29/2011 2:53am
I named my daughter "Gin Fizz" but she changed it. Who can figure out kids these days?
by DiNoSaUR on 3/17/2011 4:54pm
Jennifer Juniper assise trÈs tranquille.
by JeanieJeanwa on 3/30/2011 12:21am
Yes, this song is about Jennifer Boyd, Patty Boyd's sister, who was married to George Harrison from 1966 to 1977.
In the 60s they all hung out together. In fact Patty wrote about Donavon's song lyrics, in her autobiographical book,"Wonderful Tonight."
I love this song. It came out when I was 14.
by Shannon on 4/28/2011 10:55am
I heard the song on an episode of the Simpsons, gotta say, even hearing it only a couple of times (rewatching the ep), gotta say its a bad song... I don't know why. It just bugs me.
by Jennifer on 6/10/2011 7:23pm
I was named after this song 43 years ago today--I still love this song every day and makes me smile every time it comes on!
by Dinty Moore on 8/15/2011 3:00pm
I always thought that one of the lines near the end, when he switches to French, began, "Jennifer, je n'ai peur," which translates to "I am not afraid." Maybe something to do with my HS French class that I loved at the time.
by Moss on 9/10/2011 10:24pm
When I was a kid I thought it was Jennifer Jupiter!
by confused... on 10/23/2011 9:06am
I was told this was in new song, obviously they where wrong!
by Jennifer on 12/7/2011 11:34am
I was born in 1976, my parents named me after this song...my dad calls me Juniper...and ya know what, I love it!!!
by MetalMassacre on 2/6/2012 12:34pm
O yeah this song rocks.. Keep hopping Jennifer xP
by Marko on 3/3/2012 12:21am
I got laid the first time to this song. 1968. San Francisco. I'll never forget her name. Give me a moment. Long brown hair, hazel eyes, tallish. Oh well. Great song though. Qu'est-ce que tu fais.
by JenniferWilson on 4/10/2012 12:34pm
I find it ironic that I am severely allergic to Juniper. Born in 72, and my dad sang this to me all the time
by Jen Manglos on 5/10/2012 5:41pm
I have heard this song before. (born in 77) But just heard it again on rerun of the simpsons. Had to look up lyrics again. You Jennifer's that got your dad to sing this to you, I hope u feel very lucky!! Dont think i ever got any real affection from my dad or step dad matter of fact.
by miss darlene on 7/26/2012 6:06pm
my daughter was namead after this song...only time i ever heard it was on the way to the hospital ot have her...so glad i foudn it on here!
by Markus on 9/4/2012 11:38am
My cousin is named Jennifer, and my Uncle used to sing this song to her when she was a baby/toddler - brings back many memories.
by HOLLAND PARK BOY on 12/8/2012 8:48am
As stated the song is dedicated to Patti Boyds sister Jenny whose real name is 'Helen' at least during school days. Now married to Mick Fleetwood I believe so very musical family...........
Eric Clapton also dedicated 'Wonderful Tonight ' to Patti.........fabulous song....
by Jennifer Aline Wurl-Caldwell on 12/18/2012 5:22am
I was born in December of 1975 and was almost named Heather. I downloaded this song to my playlist tonight after talking on the phone with a man i am romantically involved with who asked me if i had ever heard it. I love it, thanks Richard!
by Jen on 1/9/2013 6:38am
This is the only song involving my name that I don't hate. I heard this song first when I worked at a restaurant, which was about 10-11 years ago. Most other songs (especially that stupid "867-5309 Jenny" song) drive me buggy. This is really sweet, I like it.
by Mt Black Jack on 1/26/2013 5:04pm
Born in KC, 1950, grew up in Phx. with all the great Music, Jennifer Juniper by Donovan makes me feel good, happy :) Went back to Phx. after being gone 42 years. Played the song, crusin... excellent, now it takes me back to two eras in my life. Thank you, the world feels innocent again when I hear it, and I smile :)
by grandpagreg on 2/6/2013 3:42pm
I was blessed with my first granddaughter 10-19-12! Josephine Juniper. I started right away humming this song. Beautiful,can't stop
by buzzinyow on 4/11/2013 10:23am
I brought to my kindergarden class in 1968. The reason being I had a huge crush on a girl who's name was Jennifer. The teacher played it for the whole class. My face went completely red.. Jennifer smiled. Made my week..
we never went out...we moved to the big city that summer...
by buzzinyow on 4/11/2013 10:24am
I brought this record to my kindergarden class in 1968. The reason being I had a huge crush on a girl who's name was Jennifer. The teacher played it for the whole class. My face went completely red.. Jennifer smiled. Made my week..
we never went out...I had to move to the big city that summer...
ah memories...age well like a fine wine!!!
by jmca on 11/5/2013 7:21am
Wonderful song!
But you should listen to others, by Donovan Leitch. As: Atlantis, Curry Land, The Season of the Witch, Lalena, Celia of the Seals... And so on, and on.
by Paul P on 11/23/2013 6:53pm
does anyone know the translation for the French lyrics in it ?
by Bluekangaroo on 1/13/2014 8:18am
I always thought that he sang: Jennifer rides the Daffodil (a dutch automobile in the sixties) but that's not true when I read the lyrics :-(
by ken on 1/24/2014 6:49am
such a moving song - very catchy too!
by Mark on 2/24/2014 8:27am
Donovan wrote this song for Patti Boyd Harrison's sister at Rishikesh where they were studying Transcendental Meditation along with the Beatles. Why does Jennifer appear to be sleeping and breathing low? Because she is meditating. This song has the same history as the Beatles' "Dear Prudence".
by juniper jennifer on 4/22/2014 8:04pm
My mother named me after this song , I believe it must have inspired many because I have many friends named jennifer, except my mother was going for juniper jennifer, gramp talked her down to jennifer, I think now it's beautiful
by Mandy on 5/15/2014 7:46am
Translation:

Jennifer Juniper lives upon the hill
Jennifer Juniper, sitting very still
Is she sleeping? I don't think so
Is she breathing? Yes but very low.
The clue was in the previous verse
by Jennifer 1971 on 11/10/2014 4:31pm
I was named after this song also. I love my name :)
by lyn on 4/10/2016 5:14am
He's peeping through her window ... as she is lying there he is unsure of whether or not she is in deep sleep...
by Re: hartman_john comment on 11/29/2021 7:21am
hartman_john is incorrect. The name Jennifer is not etymologically related to juniper or gin. It is related to Guinevere from the Arthurian legend, though. Check a reputable dictionary.








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