"Mellow Yellow" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, released in 1966 in the US and 1967 in the UK. It became a major hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 8 in the UK. The song is known for its laid-back, psychedelic vibe and was rumored to reference smoking dried banana skins, though Donovan later clarified that it was actually about being cool and relaxed—as well as a nod to electrical bananas, a slang term for vibrators at the time.
The track was arranged by John Paul Jones, who later became famous as the bassist for Led Zeppelin. Interestingly, Paul McCartney contributed background vocals, though the famous whispered "Quite rightly" line was actually Donovan himself.
