His first album was called Five Leaves Left. Five years later, in 1974, he died. A prolific writer and classically-trained musician, Nick Drake wrote melancholy folk songs that are as beautiful as they are prophetic and haunting. Here are some of his highlights.
10. One of These Things First – from the album Bryter Layter
I could have been your statue…Could have been your friend…A whole long lifetime…Could have been the end, Drake sings on one of his more upbeat tunes that exemplifies the existential questions Drake’s lyrics often pose. The song is off his second album, which incorporated a list of studio musicans to fill up the pastoral sound of Drake’s first album, which didn’t do so well, with more bass and drums. Veteran producer, Joe Boyd, claims it is the only album he’s produced in which he wouldn’t change a thing.
9. Pink Moon – from the album Pink Moon
This was the first song I heard by Nick Drake, as I may assume is the story for many others. It was featured in a great Volkswagon commercial where a group of kids are on the way to a party on a beautiful evening. As they listen to Nick’s calm and elegant song about the apocalypse, they opt to not go to the party and enjoy the evening and music (and car!) in peace. Great commercial…and a greater song!
8. Fruit Tree – from the album Five Leaves Left
Fruit tree, fruit tree…No-one knows you but the rain and the air…Don’t you worry…They’ll stand and stare when you’re gone. It’s eerie when you know Nick Drake’s story to hear this prophetic song that is obviously about coming to terms with his lack of commercial success. Drake was very passionate about his music and it plagued him that he couldn’t achieve some sort of reasonable success. This haunting song is all to accurate with its predictions of his posthumous success. He’s sold more and more albums every years since he died.
7. Black-eyed Dog – 1974
I’m growing old and I wanna go home…I’m growiing old and I don’t wanna know…I’m growing old and I wanna go home. One of the last songs Nick ever recorded. It was supposedly inspired by Winston Churchill description of depression as a “black dog.” However, it seems just as likely that the dog represents death itself.
6. Fly – from the album Bryter Layter
Another song of the superb Bryter Layter, this bright and inspired song was teatured in the film, The Royal Tenenbaums by Wes Anderson.
5. Hazey Jane II – from the album Bryter Layter
This is one of the few Nick Drake songs that could be referred to as “fun.” In it, he asks, “What will happen in the morning when the world it gets so crowded that you can’t look out the window in the morning?” Nick Drake didn’t really fit into modern society. He was a simple loner in a complex world, for which music was his only escape. He sings, “If songs were lines, in a conversation, the situation would be fine.”
4. Hazey Jane I – from the album Bryter Layter
Like I said, Nick always felt like an outsider. Exemplified in this song he sings, “Do you feel like a remnant of something that’s past? Do you find things are moving just a little too fast?”
3. Cello Song – from the album Five Leaves Left
This song features a beautiful cello arrangement written by Nick’s college friend, Robert Kirby. It also is another example of Nick’s seeming desire to escape this world. “And if one day you should see me in the crowd…lend a hand and lift me to your place in the cloud.”
2. Time Has Told Me – from the album Five Leaves Left
A perfect example of Nick Drake’s calm and pastoral folk music. A flawless song and my wife’s favorite.
1. Northern Sky – from the album Bryter Layter
In my opinion this the best love song ever written. My wife and I danced to this song at our wedding. These lyrics say it all:
I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you’re here
Bright in my northern sky
