Among his various backing musicians, Drake was accompanied by Richard Thompson, at that time with Fairport Convention and Danny Thompson of The Pentangle. Robert Kirby, a friend of Drake's from his youth, arranged the string instruments for several tracks while Harry Robinson arranged the strings for "River Man".
The title of the album is said to be a reference to the old Rizla cigarette papers packet, which used to contain a printed note near the end saying "Only five leaves left". Drake died five years after recording the album.
The album regularly appears on lists of the best albums of all time. The album was ranked number 283 on Rolling Stone magazine's original 2003 list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". NME ranked it at number 258 on their 2013 list of "NME's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".
It is said that Drake felt frustrated at the lack of commercial success his music initially gathered, considering the help he had on his debut record. Besides fine production from Joe Boyd and assistance from folks like Fairport Convention's Richard Thompson and his unrelated bass counterpart from Pentangle, Danny Thompson, Drake also recruited school friend Robert Kirby to create most of the just-right string and wind arrangements. His own performance itself steered a careful balance between too-easy accessibility and maudlin self-reflection, combining the best of both worlds while avoiding the pitfalls on either side. The result was a fantastic debut appearance, and if the cult of Drake consistently reads more into his work than is perhaps deserved, Five Leaves Left is still a most successful effort.
Having grown out of the amiable but derivative styles captured on the long-circulating series of bootleg home recordings, Drake assays his tunes with just enough drama -- world-weariness in the vocals, carefully paced playing, and more -- to make it all work. His lyrics capture a subtle poetry of emotion, as on the pastoral semi-fantasia of "The Thoughts of Mary Jane," which his soft, articulate singing brings even more to the full. Sometimes he projects a little more clearly, as on the astonishing voice-and-strings combination "Way to Blue," while elsewhere he's not so clear, suggesting rather than outlining the mood. Understatement is the key to his songs and performances' general success, which makes the combination of his vocals and Rocky Dzidzornu's congas on "Three Hours" and the lovely "'Cello Song," to name two instances, so effective. Danny Thompson is the most regular side performer on the album, his bass work providing subtle heft while never standing in the way of the song -- kudos well deserved for Boyd's production as well.
According to the River Man Songfacts, the album title referred to the warning found towards the end of a packet of Rizla cigarette papers, that there were only five leaves left.
Time Has Told Me
Nick Drake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're a rare, rare find
A troubled cure
For a troubled mind
And time has told me
Not to ask for more
Someday our ocean
Will find its shore
So I'll leave the ways that are making me be
What I really don't want to be
Leave the ways that are making me love
What I really don't want to love
Time has told me
You came with the dawn
A soul with no footprint
A rose with no thorn
Your tears they tell me
There's really no way
Of ending your troubles
With things you can say
And time will tell you
To stay by my side
To keep on trying
'Til there's no more to hide
So leave the ways that are making you be
What you really don't want to be
Leave the ways that are making you love
What you really don't want to love
Time has told me
You're a rare, rare find
A troubled cure
For a troubled mind
And time has told me
Not to ask for more
So someday our ocean
Will find its shore
Nick Drake's song "Time Has Told Me" is a poignant ballad that reflects on the human condition of searching for meaning and purpose in life. The song's narrator is addressing a troubled individual, extolling the virtues of their uniqueness ("You're a rare, rare find") but also acknowledging their inner turmoil ("A troubled cure/For a troubled mind"). By invoking the power of time as a guiding force, the singer encourages the person to let go of their self-destructive tendencies and embrace a more hopeful future.
The lyrics are both personal and universal, touching on the challenges that all humans face in their lives, such as the struggle between conforming to societal norms versus following one's true desires. The singer advises the person to "leave the ways that are making me be/ What I really don't want to be" and "leave the ways that are making me love/ What I really don't want to love," urging them to take control of their life and follow their heart.
The song's final verse is perhaps the most powerful, as the singer speaks of the inevitability of time ("And time has told me/ Not to ask for more") and the possibility of finding inner peace ("So someday our ocean/ Will find its shore"). The song ends with a hopeful note, suggesting that by staying together and persevering, the troubled individual and the singer can weather any storm.
Line by Line Meaning
Time has told me
Through experience and the passage of time, I have gained wisdom.
You're a rare, rare find
You are a special and unique person.
A troubled cure
Even though you can help to heal me, you also have your own struggles.
For a troubled mind
I have a mind that is troubled and in need of help.
And time has told me
As time continues to pass, I am learning more and more.
Not to ask for more
I have learned to be content with what I have and not always seek more.
Someday our ocean
One day, our problems and difficulties will come to an end.
Will find its shore
Everything will eventually work out and come to a conclusion.
So I'll leave the ways that are making me be
I will try to change my behavior and actions that are causing me to become someone I don't want to be.
What I really don't want to be
I want to change my ways to become someone I truly want to be.
Leave the ways that are making me love
I need to stop loving things that are not good for me.
What I really don't want to love
I want to change my love and affection toward things that are better for me.
You came with the dawn
You entered my life when things started to look brighter.
A soul with no footprint
You are someone whose existence has not yet made a big impact on the world.
A rose with no thorn
You are someone who is beautiful, without any flaws or negative qualities.
Your tears they tell me
Your sadness and pain are communicated to me through your tears.
There's really no way
There is no easy solution or answer.
Of ending your troubles
It is hard to find a way to stop the things that are causing you pain and difficulty.
With things you can say
Words alone cannot solve the problems and troubles you are facing.
And time will tell you
You will also gain wisdom and understanding over time.
To stay by my side
You will be encouraged to continue being there for me and supporting me.
To keep on trying
Even when things get tough, you will be encouraged to persist and not give up.
'Til there's no more to hide
To keep on going until all the issues are addressed and resolved.
You're a rare, rare find
You are a special and unique person.
A troubled cure
You are someone who is both a help and a hindrance when it comes to my troubles.
For a troubled mind
You are someone who can help me deal with my troubled thoughts and emotions.
And time has told me
As time continues to pass, I am learning more and more.
Not to ask for more
I have learned to be content with what I have and not always seek more.
So someday our ocean
One day, our problems and difficulties will come to an end.
Will find its shore
Everything will eventually work out and come to a conclusion.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Nick Drake
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Preston
on Kimbie
And I need a Mackinaw
Preston
on Kimbie
hawl
Preston
on Kimbie
It's not a show. It's a shawl. The point here is that can be once a luxury item, a shawl that costs $9, while the speaker needs a Mackinaw, which is a practical warm coat. She "wants" something, but he "needs" something.
Preston
on Kimbie
Kimbie wants a nine dollar show
Kimbie desires a performance that costs exactly nine dollars
Kimbie wants a nine dollar show
Kimbie repeatedly expresses her desire for a nine dollar performance
She wants a nine dollar show
Kimbie is insistent on attending a nine dollar show
And I need
The artist has a need that is yet to be revealed
Well Kimbie let your hair hang down
The artist is telling Kimbie to let her hair loose and relax
Kimbie let your hair hang down
The singer repeats his request to Kimbie, urging her to let go of her worries
Let your hair hang down
The singer encourages Kimbie to let her hair down, implying that she should stop worrying and enjoy herself
T'il it touches the ground
The artist suggests that Kimbie should let her hair down completely
Well Kimbie let your hair hang down
The artist reminds Kimbie to let go of her worries as he intends to depart soon
Kimbie let your hair hang down
The artist emphasizes the importance of Kimbie letting her hair down before he leaves
Cause come the morning I’ll be gone
The singer implies that he will not stay for long
Well Kimbie where you been so long
The artist questions Kimbie's whereabouts since he last saw her
I’ve been down in your state pen
Kimbie has spent time in a prison located in the singer's state
With those rough and rowdy
Kimbie has been surrounded by aggressive and unruly people
Rough and rowdy men
The people Kimbie has been surrounded by in prison are male and are known for their aggressive behaviour
Well Kimbie where you been so long
The artist repeats his question, wondering where Kimbie has been and why she has been away for so long
And I gotta go back again
Kimbie reveals that she has to return to prison once again
Well I wished I was a mole in the ground
The singer expresses his wish to be a mole that burrows underground
I wished I were a mole in the ground
The singer repeats his desire to become a mole
I was a mole in the ground
The artist imagines himself as a mole burrowing beneath the surface of the earth
And that I’d tear this mountain
The artist imagines himself digging through a mountain
I’d tear this mountain down
The artist would use his strength to destroy a mountain if he were a mole
Wished I was a mole in the ground
The singer repeats his desire to become a mole, implying that he wants to be free from the burdens of the human world
Dave
on Free Ride
That interpretation isn't correct at all.