Although he recorded only three albums, critics and fellow musicians hold his work in very high esteem. Drake failed to find a wide audience during his lifetime and had a strong aversion to performing. Since his death, however, Drake's music has gained a significant cult following.
Drake's father worked as an engineer. Although he was born in Rangoon, Burma, Nick's family moved back to England soon afterward, and Drake was brought up in Tanworth-in-Arden, a small village in the English county of Warwickshire. He went to public school at Marlborough College, where he learned to play the clarinet and piano. As a young adult, Drake enrolled in Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, to study English. His older sister, Gabrielle Drake, is an actress.
Drake was a fan of British and the emerging American folk music scene, including artists Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs. While a university student, Drake began performing in local clubs and coffee houses. He was discovered by Ashley Hutchings, the bass player of the folk rock group Fairport Convention. Hutchings introduced Drake to the other members of Fairport Convention, folk singer John Martyn and producer Joe Boyd.
He delayed attendance to spend six months at the University of Aix-Marseille, France, beginning in February 1967. While in Aix, he began to practice guitar in earnest and to earn money would often busk with friends in the town centre. Drake began to smoke cannabis, and that spring he traveled with friends to Morocco, because, according to traveling companion Richard Charkin, "that was where you got the best pot". Drake's associates convinced Island Records to sign the young singer-songwriter to a three-album contract. Drake began recording his debut album Five Leaves Left later in 1968, with Boyd assuming the role of producer. The sessions took place in Sound Techniques studio, London, with Drake skipping lectures to travel by train to the capital. At the age of twenty, he released his first album Five Leaves Left (1969), which featured a chamber music quartet on several songs and had a light, breezy sound. Drake's second album Bryter Layter (1970) introduced a more upbeat, jazzier sound, with keyboards, horns and several brass instruments. Both albums were produced by Boyd and featured several members of Fairport Convention.
Many accounts of Drake focus on his mythology, but a large part of his enduring popularity is due to his meticulous songwriting, prosody, odd guitar tunings and lyricism.
Drake was pathologically shy and resented touring. The few concerts he did play were usually in support of other British folk acts of the time, such as Fairport Convention or John Martyn and were often brief and awkward. Partially because of this, his work received little attention and sold poorly. Whilst in the recording studio, he was so shy that he'd always play into the wall so as to avoid people's gazes.
Severely depressed and doubting his abilities as a musician, Drake recorded his final album Pink Moon (1972) in two two-hour sessions, both starting at midnight. The songs of Pink Moon were short (the album consists of eleven of them and lasts only 28 minutes) and emotionally bleak. Drake recorded them unaccompanied, in the presence of only a sound engineer (a piano was later overdubbed on the title track). Naked and sincere, it is widely thought to be his best work.
At this point, he considered other careers including the army and computer programming, but more suitably as a songwriter for other artists. However, none of Drake's plans materialized. In the next few months, Drake grew severely depressed and maintained relationships only with close friends such as John Martyn, who wrote the title song of his 1973 album Solid Air for and about Drake and with Sophia Ryde. He was hospitalized several times and lived with Hardy for a few months. Friends from that time have described how much his appearance changed: his nails grown, his hair and frame gaunt and thin.
In 1974, Drake felt well enough to write and record a few new songs. However, on November 25, he died of an overdose of antidepressants. The coroner concluded that the cause of Drake's death was suicide, although this was disputed by friends and relatives. Antidepressants of that time were quite lethal if ingested in any higher dosage than the one prescribed. His mother recounts that he must have had difficulty sleeping and had got up in the night to have a bowl of cornflakes. It's unclear whether he took more pills to help him sleep or to take his own life.
His simple gravestone in the Tanworth churchyard bears the line "And now we rise/And we are everywhere", taken from From the Morning - the last song on the last album Nick lived to complete.
Posthumous popularity
Since Drake’s death, his music has grown steadily in popularity. Several modern musicians, such as Lucinda Williams, Badly Drawn Boy, Matthew Good, Sebadoh's Lou Barlow, R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, Blur’s Graham Coxon, and Belle and Sebastian, consider Drake an important influence. In early 1999, BBC2 aired a 40-minute Nick Drake documentary, "A Stranger Among Us — In Search of Nick Drake", as part of its Picture This strand. The following year saw the release of a documentary by Dutch director Jeroen Berkvens, titled A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake and featuring interviews with Joe Boyd, Gabrielle Drake, audio engineer John Wood, and arranger Robert Kirby. Brad Pitt is a fan of Drake and, in 2004, he narrated a BBC radio documentary about the singer.
Island has responded to Drake’s popularity with several new releases including Time of No Reply (1986), an album of unreleased material including four new songs recorded in 1974, Way to Blue: An Introduction to Nick Drake (1994), a "best of" album, remastered HDCD releases of his three studio albums in 2000, and Made to Love Magic (2004), featuring one new track and some newly recorded orchestration for a previously released track. A replacement for Way to Blue called A Treasury was also released in 2004 on Hybrid-SACD.
In 2000, Volkswagen licensed the track Pink Moon, the title track from Nick's third release, for a particularly serene car commercial in the US. The advertisement caused a significant bounce in Drake’s popularity, bolstered by uses of Drake's music on a number of film soundtracks, including 1998's Hideous Kinky and Practical Magic (featuring "Road" from Pink Moon and "Black Eyed Dog" from Time of No Reply, respectively). In 2001, two Bryter Layter tracks appeared in mainstream films: "Northern Sky" in Serendipity, and "Fly" in The Royal Tenenbaums. In the same year, "Cello Song" from Five Leaves Left was featured in Me Without You. In 2004, "One of These Things First" appeared in Garden State and "Northern Sky" was featured again, this time in Fever Pitch.
Drake's "River Man" has become quite popular among Jazz musicians. A piano improvisation based on the melody was released by Brad Mehldau on the album "Progression: Art Of The Trio, Volume 5", and a Jazz vocal version by Claire Martin appears on the album Take My Heart.
Drake's posthumous popularity has made many fans consider the lyrics to "Fruit Tree" a song from Five Leaves Left prophetic: “Fame is but a fruit tree / So very unsound. / It can never flourish / Till its stock is in the ground. / So men of fame / Can never find a way / Till time has flown / Far from their dying day.” In 2004 two of his singles reached low positions in the UK charts - "Magic" and "River Man".
Most recently, Nick Drake has emerged as a key influence in the resurgence of 1960's and 1970's folk traditions, apparent in the works of artists including Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, and Six Organs of Admittance.
In 2005, performer Beck updated his website during Christmas time with covers of three songs from Pink Moon: "Pink Moon", "Which Will" and "Parasite."
Family Tree, the next Bryter Music/Island record was released in July 2007.
02-river man
Nick Drake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said she had a word to say
About things today
And fallen leaves.
Said she hadn't heard the news
Hadn't had the time to choose
A way to lose
Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time.
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime.
Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn't sure.
For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more.
Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the ban
On feeling free.
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don't suppose
It's meant for me.
Oh, how they come and go
Oh, how they come and go.
The lyrics to Nick Drake's "River Man" tell the story of two friends, one named Betty and the other the singer, who are discussing life and their plans for the future. Betty comes by and shares her thoughts on the falling leaves, saying she hasn't had time to choose a way to lose but she still believes. The singer then mentions they are going to see the river man to tell him all they can about their plan for lilac time, hoping to learn about the way his river flows and the all-night shows that happen in summertime.
Betty speaks of her prayers, asking for the sky to either blow away or stay, unsure of what she truly wants. She finds comfort in the thought of summer rain and the memories it brings, and decides to stay for more. The singer then comes back, talking about their plan to see the river man and learn about the ban on feeling free. They express doubt that the information the river man holds is meant for them, and end with the repeated refrain of how things come and go in life.
The lyrics of "River Man" seem to be about the ephemeral nature of life and the idea that we can't control everything. Both Betty and the singer are looking for something - either answers or solace - but aren't quite sure where to find it. The river man, as a symbol of nature and the cycles of life, may hold the answers they seek, but it's unclear if they will find what they're looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
Betty came by on her way
A woman named Betty came to visit on her way somewhere else
Said she had a word to say
Betty had something important to share
About things today
Her message was about current events
And fallen leaves.
She also mentioned the change in seasons
Said she hadn't heard the news
Betty was unaware of recent developments
Hadn't had the time to choose
She hadn't had the opportunity to make a decision
A way to lose
She didn't know how to handle the situation
But she believes.
Despite uncertainty, Betty held onto her faith
Going to see the river man
The artist plans to visit someone who knows the river well
Going to tell him all I can
They want to share all they know
About the plan
The singer has a specific idea in mind
For lilac time.
This plan may involve the spring season
If he tells me all he knows
The singer hopes to gain more information from this person
About the way his river flows
They specifically want to know about the river's path
And all night shows
They also desire insight into the river's nighttime activity
In summertime.
This may relate to summer plans
Betty said she prayed today
Returning to Betty's story, she mentions a recent prayer
For the sky to blow away
Betty hoped for a clear, blue sky
Or maybe stay
Or perhaps the clouds would linger
She wasn't sure.
Betty was uncertain about what she truly desired
For when she thought of summer rain
Betty reflects on how she feels when summer storms arrive
Calling for her mind again
These memories bring her back to a certain mental state
She lost the pain
These memories seem to erase her troubles
And stayed for more.
Betty wanted to relive these moments
Going to see the river man
The singer repeats their plan to visit the river expert
Going to tell him all I can
The desire to share information remains strong
About the ban
They may also discuss something that is forbidden
On feeling free.
This could relate to a personal struggle for freedom
If he tells me all he knows
The artist still hopes for answers from the river man
About the way his river flows
Their curiosity about the river remains
I don't suppose
However, they doubt that they'll receive the desired insight
It's meant for me.
They feel like this information is not meant for them
Oh, how they come and go
The final lines suggest reflection on life's ever changing nature
Oh, how they come and go.
Another reminder of life's fleeting moments
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: EMILY DICKINSON, NICK DRAKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DavidLGX75
Betty came by on her way
Said she had a word to say
About things today
And fallen leaves.
Said she hadn't heard the news
Hadn't had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes.
Going to see the river man
Going to tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time.
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime.
Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn't sure.
For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for…
@raymondwunna
One of Nick Drake's best songs.
@matthieubourgouin9198
this is pureness at its peak level
@mattcunningham9235
Are you in an ice tea commercial?
@darkkiss7247
One of Nick's most beautiful songs 💖💖💖
@68blondynka
I listened to this album in the bath, candles, glass of wine....so relaxing and breathtaking
@slatalevoir840
Currently reading White Bicycles by Joe Boyd. When Nick Drake came along in the second half of the book I was curious in how his music sounded since Joe spoke so highly of Nick. Second song in the album and I’m already impressed and upset I hadn’t heard of him before.
@pamelamorrison4086
Check out John Martyn's Solid Air - written for Nick Drake and the most beautiful gift a friend gave to his memory.
@aelius_audio
I’ve never heard of Joe Boyd I’ll be checking that out. If y’all haven’t heard it, look up the Elton John Nick Drake sessions, he def had an influence in his time.
@rustysteel8714
@Pamela Morrison Solid Air? I thought I was the only one who knew. 71yo and STILL listen. 😉👍
@pamelamorrison4086
@Rusty Steel Oh no, I still listen to JM regularly.
His music penetrated my soul - and that doesn't go away, thankfully 😊