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.
06. Things behind the sun
Nick Drake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They'll only smile to see you while
Your time away
And once you've seen what they have been
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Your night or your day
Who'll hear what I say.
Look around you find the ground
But not too wise
For down below they never grow
They're always tired and charms are hired
From out of their eyes
Never surprise.
Take your time and you'll be fine
And say a prayer for people there
Who live on the floor
And if you see what's meant to be
Don't name the day or try to say
It happened before.
Don't be shy you learn to fly
And see the sun when day is done
If only you see
Just what you are beneath a star
That came to stay one rainy day
In autumn for free
Yes, be what you'll be.
Please beware of them that stare
They'll only smile to see you while
Your time away
And once you've seen what they have been
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Your night or your day
Who'll hear what I say.
Open up the broken cup
Let goodly sin and sunshine in
Yes that's today.
And open wide the hymns you hide
You find renown while people frown
At things that you say
But say what you'll say
About the farmers and the fun
And the things behind the sun
And the people around your head
Who say everything's been said
And the movement in your brain
Sends you out into the rain.
The song "Things behind the Sun" by Nick Drake is a complex and poetic exploration of human consciousness, perception, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose. The lyrics warn against the dangers of those who judge and manipulate, urging the listener to be wary of those who would distract them from the beauty and potential of life. He advises the listener to look within and discover their true self, to not be ashamed of their feelings or beliefs, and to not be deterred by the cynicism of others. The song also celebrates the power of art and music to unite and uplift, offering hope to those who feel lost or alone.
The lyrics are rich with metaphor and allusion, as Drake draws upon a variety of themes and images to create a deeply introspective and thought-provoking song. The opening lines caution against those who would "stare" and "smile" at the listener, suggesting that they are being looked down upon or judged by others. Drake urges the listener to reject such negative influences and instead focus on their own inner strength and potential. Throughout the song, he uses imagery of the natural world to evoke a sense of wonder and awe, as well as to explore the mysteries of consciousness and perception.
Overall, "Things behind the Sun" is a song that invites reflection and introspection, inviting listeners to question their assumptions, beliefs, and values in order to find deeper meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Please beware of them that stare
Be cautious of people who stare at you in a peculiar manner
They'll only smile to see you while
These people will pretend to be friendly and happy to see you
Your time away
They will waste your time and distract you from your goals
And once you've seen what they have been
Once you understand their motives and true nature
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Earthly possessions and success will no longer hold any value
Your night or your day
Whether it is day or night, success will not satisfy you
Who'll hear what I say.
Who will listen to my warning and advice?
Look around you find the ground
Observe your surroundings and realize that you are not so far from the truth
Is not so far from where you are
The truth is not far away from you
But not too wise
Don't become too wise or knowledgeable that you lose touch with reality
For down below they never grow
People who live in the lower classes never prosper
They're always tired and charms are hired
They are always exhausted and use artificial means to get by
From out of their eyes
From their expressions and body language
Never surprise.
Their condition should come as no surprise to you
Take your time and you'll be fine
Be patient and you will overcome obstacles and succeed
And say a prayer for people there
Offer your thoughts and prayers to those in difficult situations
Who live on the floor
Those who are impoverished and living on the ground
And if you see what's meant to be
If you can recognize fate or what is destined to happen
Don't name the day or try to say
Don't predict the exact date or time it will occur
It happened before.
It has already occurred in the past
Don't be shy you learn to fly
Don't be afraid to pursue your dreams and take risks
And see the sun when day is done
Enjoy the beauty of life after you've worked hard
If only you see
If you can perceive and recognize
Just what you are beneath a star
Your true self, shining brightly like a star
That came to stay one rainy day
An opportunity that seemed improbable that you have captured
In autumn for free
Given to you without expectation of reward
Yes, be what you'll be.
Embrace and embody your true self
Open up the broken cup
Allow yourself to feel whole again
Let goodly sin and sunshine in
Welcome positivity into your life and let go of past negativity
Yes that's today.
This is the present moment, which is all we truly have
And open wide the hymns you hide
Express your deepest thoughts and emotions
You find renown while people frown
Even if some disapprove of your message, others will admire you for it
At things that you say
At the ideas and beliefs that you express
But say what you'll say
Speak freely and authentically
About the farmers and the fun
Discuss the mundane and light-hearted elements of life
And the things behind the sun
Address the deeper and more hidden aspects of existence
And the people around your head
Those who doubt or criticize you and your ideas
Who say everything's been said
People who believe that all knowledge and ideas have been explored or exhausted
And the movement in your brain
The creative and innovative thoughts in your mind
Sends you out into the rain.
Compels you to venture out and face life's challenges
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC
Written by: NICK DRAKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
crittheory
Lyrics...
Please beware of them that stare
They'll only smile to see you while
Your time away
And once you've seen what they have been
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Your night or your day
Who'll hear what I say.
Look around you find the ground
Is not so far from where you are
But not too wise
For down below they never grow
They're always tired and charms are hired
From out of their eyes
Never surprise.
Take your time and you'll be fine
And say a prayer for people there
Who live on the floor
And if you see what's meant to be
Don't name the day or try to say
It happened before.
Don't be shy you learn to fly
And see the sun when day is done
If only you see
Just what you are beneath a star
That came to stay one rainy day
In autumn for free
Yes, be what you'll be.
Please beware of them that stare
They'll only smile to see you while
Your time away
And once you've seen what they have been
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Your night or your day
Who'll hear what I say.
Open up the broken cup
Let goodly sin and sunshine in
Yes that's today.
And open wide the hymns you hide
You find renown while people frown
At things that you say
But say what you'll say
About the farmers and the fun
And the things behind the sun
And the people around your head
Who say everything's been said
And the movement in your brain
Sends you out into the rain.
Nick O
Does anyone recognize what an excellent guitarist he was?!
Sacha Collins
Brilliant he was and the lyrics and his voice...truly a genius
Allison Franks
There are many videos and articles which discus his playing and unique technique and tuning. I’m not a guitarist but as I understand it Nick is difficult to replicate.
Pablo Pereira
@Mike Baptiste take a look at Eduardo Mateo, full álbum "Mateo sólo bien se lame"
Mike Baptiste
It’s 2020,I’m 55 and just finally listening to Nick.unbelievable guitar work.and I don’t know why,but pink moon makes me cry(kind of) lol
Lindsay
@Anna Sanchez and his
crittheory
Lyrics...
Please beware of them that stare
They'll only smile to see you while
Your time away
And once you've seen what they have been
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Your night or your day
Who'll hear what I say.
Look around you find the ground
Is not so far from where you are
But not too wise
For down below they never grow
They're always tired and charms are hired
From out of their eyes
Never surprise.
Take your time and you'll be fine
And say a prayer for people there
Who live on the floor
And if you see what's meant to be
Don't name the day or try to say
It happened before.
Don't be shy you learn to fly
And see the sun when day is done
If only you see
Just what you are beneath a star
That came to stay one rainy day
In autumn for free
Yes, be what you'll be.
Please beware of them that stare
They'll only smile to see you while
Your time away
And once you've seen what they have been
To win the earth just won't seem worth
Your night or your day
Who'll hear what I say.
Open up the broken cup
Let goodly sin and sunshine in
Yes that's today.
And open wide the hymns you hide
You find renown while people frown
At things that you say
But say what you'll say
About the farmers and the fun
And the things behind the sun
And the people around your head
Who say everything's been said
And the movement in your brain
Sends you out into the rain.
Anna Sanchez
This man was so great. I believe he was closer to God than most of us.
Keith Crooks
I could write volumes about the truths of his lyrics and the depths of his playing but suffice it,to,say I,love Nick Drake's music!
Tim Kinney
Youtube, I will never forgive you for putting ads in between every single goddamn song on one of the greatest albums ever made.