Black Eyed Dog
Nick Drake Lyrics


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A black eyed dog he called at my door
A black eyed dog he called for more
A black eyed dog knew my name
A black eyed dog knew my name
A black eyed dog
A black eyed dog.

I'm growing old and I want to go home
I'm growing old and I don't want to know
I'm growing old and I want to go home.





A black eyed dog he called at my door
A black eyed dog he called for more.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nick Drake’s song Black Eyed Dog are mystical, haunting, and evocative, with several possible interpretations. Some people believe that the black eyed dog represents death or depression, evidenced by the lines ‘I'm growing old and I want to go home. I'm growing old and I don't want to know'. The dog may have come to take the singer away, to put him out of his misery, or to simply remind him of the fact that death is lurking around the corner.


The black eyed dog seems to have an awareness and knowledge of the singer, who remarks, ‘a black eyed dog knew my name’. This adds to the eerie and unsettling tone of the song. There is a sense of inevitability and foreboding as the dog keeps coming back, calling for more. The acoustic guitar and Nick Drake’s ethereal voice further contribute to the melancholy and mysterious atmosphere.


Overall, Black Eyed Dog is a captivatingly cryptic expression of pain, loneliness, and existential apprehension. The song leaves a lasting impression on the listener, inviting them to contemplate life’s darker aspects and examine their own mortality.


Line by Line Meaning

A black eyed dog he called at my door
Depression is haunting the songwriter and asking for more of his attention.


A black eyed dog he called for more
Depression is persistent and keeps coming back for more of the songwriter's time and energy.


A black eyed dog knew my name
The songwriter is familiar with depression and it is a constant presence in his life.


A black eyed dog
Repetition emphasizes the persistence and haunting nature of depression.


I'm growing old and I want to go home
The songwriter feels exhausted and longing for a sense of comfort and familiarity, perhaps reflecting on life's hardships.


I'm growing old and I don't want to know
The songwriter is avoiding facing the harsh realities of life as he grows older and more weary.


I'm growing old and I want to go home
Repetition emphasizes the desire for comfort and familiarity in the face of growing old and facing life's hardships.


A black eyed dog he called at my door
Depression is still present and persistent even as the songwriter longs for a sense of peace and rest.


A black eyed dog he called for more
Depression continues to nag and demand the songwriter's attention, making it difficult to find peace.




Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Nick Drake

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@geoffreylogsdon162

​@Joseph Grady Yes, his 'sloppy' playing was still excellent. This song fucking scares me and will scare anyone else struggling with mental illness.
And in my opinion, Nick was very aware of the persona he was creating...that is not to say he was not suffering. He certainly was.
No one will say it outright, but in my opinion*, with absolutely NO facts to back it up, l would *allege that he may have been sexually abused...and that is the core of his psychological damage.
The kid was shy yet would happily engage with people...then suddenly there was a major personality shift. He suddenly became an extremely withdrawn pothead.
Why?
And, there is anecdotal evidence (Linda Peters Thompson, for example, who had a major crush on him), that the very idea of intimacy or sex made him incredibly uncomfortable.
So we have a young man full of life and promise, who doesn't go off the rails in a Syd sort of way, but suddenly becomes a sad withdrawn cipher.
Am l the only one willing to allege that Nick's mental issues stemmed from possible sexual abuse?
The scenario absolutely fits, and is alluded to in one of the books written about Nick. Find it yourself...and figure out who the alleged monster might possibly have been.
I would have killed myself too.



All comments from YouTube:

@bert.hbuysse5569

"I'm growing old and I wanna go home.."
Hope you found that place, you are one of the most underapreciated artists of your time.

@yakacm

The bit were he sing I wanna go home, reminds me of my old fella when he was in the mid period of Alzheimer's, when he could still grasp the concept of home, as it was getting dark outside he's always ask how he was getting home, despite him sitting in and arm chair in the home he'd lived in for 30 odd years. Saddest most poignant thing ever, a disease that robs you of your home, so you can never go home ever again.

@vince2533

Sometimes I'm afraid to listen to this. That is power in a song.

@MsNd4Spd

I come back to listen at a few months interval, and my heart throbs all day long afterwards.

@leesaunders1930

@loveTheBlues same here 😔🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@lg7879

@loveTheBlues #METOO

@patricksharp425

Love you.

@deang5214

You need to grow a set man

6 More Replies...

@xiropigado

You can tell that at this point he has had enough. Very very sad, he never got to know just how much his music was loved and appeciated.

@igorsanmartin7654

I ended a 7-year relationship that I couldn't get over, I have advanced anxiety, a little depression, this COVID-19 made things even worse, today I went for a walk in a square and just wanted to go home with my parents , then that part of the song came to mind: "I'm growing old and I wanna go home, I'm growing old and I dont wanna know".

Nick, I'll always be special to me.

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