I dedicated today’s blog for one of the most accomplished british singer/songwriter, Nick Drake (RIP). On the spur of the moment, I decided to watch his life documentary ‘A Skin too few’ online. I fell in love right away when I first heard his music in the European music and history class at my school, Utrecht Conservatory of music. I remember, my teacher, Frank de Munnik was explaining about the history of British music. Like for instance they had Elgar, Holst, Britten in the ‘classical’ field. But they also had hug British ‘pop’ music culture which increase in the 60′s, like The Beatles of course, and also towards the simpler-folky one like Nick Drake.
He was born in Birma in 1948 from a quite wealthy rich family. His mom was a born-poet and singer. She composed some songs during her life, mainly for her children. Many people believe that actually Nick was heavily influenced by his mom’s style of harmonizing and also lyric writing. It wasn’t known that his mother might have wielded an abundant influence upon his music, as that film included a couple of recordings of Molly Drake that exhibited resemblance to her son. A couple of recordings of her playing piano and singing her own compositions, “Try to Remember” and “Poor Mum,” appear on the 2007 Nick Drake compilation Family Tree.
Nick Drake caught the attention of Joe Boyd, the producer of Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, and The Incredible String Band. Boyd mentioned that he always had 2 baskets of audition tape in his office. One for those which are great to listen to, the other one is for those which are bad. And guess what, Nick Drake’s never went to any of those. He directly went to Joe Boyd’s contact list and right away asked him to record an album!
The first recording of his first album ‘five leaves left’ (1969) went very well, with help from his fellow musician, Robert Kirkby, it result to great original fresh folky tunes, with a very tasteful-clever touch of orchestration which succeeded to enrich Drake’s music. Though some people thought that his songs were actually sounded much better without the string ensemble. One of his famous number ‘River Man’ has touched me deeply with its wonderful lyrics:
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 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
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That night, I reckon, “This is it. I found another one. A true poet”.
I was looking on almost of his lyrics. They are so fresh, exquisite, refine, simple, but deep. If you compare his music with nowadays music, his music/style was already much ahead than the others at that time. His music reminds me to the folky style mostly of The Cure and Kings of Convenience that has been quite popular these days. Even the famous jazz pianist, Brad Mehldau translates his music into piano and make covers of his songs. Guess Drake’s genuine music has stolen so many attention of many musicians from diverse historical and style backgrounds. I don’t know how to describe it properly about my obsession to Nick Drake’s masterpieces. But indeed I’ve found new inspiration for my music, my poem, and my life.
‘A Doomed Romantic’. That was what people entitled him as. Throughout his life, he suffered from Insomnia and abundant depression which often captured in most of his lyrics. He was a loner and a timid person. He spent most of his time with his guitar. He went to Cambridge to study English Literature. But after a while, he withdrew himself from the university. He refused to have concert tour or any commercial events to promote himself. So, it brought Joe Boyd to massive difficulties and bankrupt.
Drake started seeing psychiatrist after some time and kept taking anti-depressant pills, which later became an addiction. However, he achieved recorded his third album, ‘Pink Moon’. This time, he recorded the album with merely his voice and his fantastic guitar playing. After that, he decided to retire from music and went back to his parents house. Few years later in 1972, he suffered a nervous breakdown and hospitalised for quite sometime.
Somewhere in late November 1974, he died from an overdose of amitriptyline, a kind of anti-depressant. He left no trace. Some thoughts that he committed suicide, because of his asocial and great reluctance of meeting people. His death was a shocked for plenty British musicians at that time. They were in a huge loss, they claimed. His album remained unknown, until in 1999, his ‘Pink Moon’ was used in “Milky Way”, a Volkswagen Cabriolet commercial. Then in 2004, the single ‘River Man’ was in the UK top chart.
Once, Drake said to his mother: I wish I could help people with my songs. I will be very glad.
Well, if you could hear this up there, YOU HAVE CERTAINLY HELPED ME IN MANY WAYS. Your lyrics inspired me so much. You may gone now, but I’m sure, you are still alive in many people’s hearts. Thank you so much, Nick Drake! Salute!
Northern Sky
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.
It’s been a long time that I’m waiting
Been a long time that I’m blown
been a long time that I’ve wandered
Through the people I have known
Oh, if you would and you could
Straighten my new mind’s eye.
Would you love me for my money
Would you love me for my head
Would you love me through the winter
Would you love me ’til I’m dead
Oh, if you would and you could
Come blow your horn on high.
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.
