Nick Drake was a 70’s musician who never enjoyed much fame as long as he was alive. His lyrics seem to reflect his inner turmoil and he was like a phantom in the music industry.
Nick seemed like a sombre and introspective guitarist. His lyrics employ elements of nature like the sun, the moon, trees and the rain.
In contrast to his previous albums like Bryter Layter which featured violins and sounds of nature overdubbed on its tracks, this album has little adornment. His singing is also subdued.
What I like about this album is the feeling of calm it brings about. It’s like a slowly rising sun on a still lake. He creates beautiful imagery that transports you to natural places. His voice is almost a murmur but his guitar work shines. It’s difficult to fathom his lyrics but here are five good songs you could check out.
1. Place to be
Nick takes you to an idyllic rolling meadow. He uses it as a metaphor to express how happy, strong and carefree he used to be. Now that he is disillusioned by the truth, he feels weak and sings that he needs you, perhaps referring to a girl, or maybe you, the listener.
2. Road
This song is about respecting perspectives. Different things work for different people. No matter how much people tell him to look at the bright side, he still sees the moon, and that’s the road that works for him.
Here, he warns the listener to be aware of the people who may try to their mind. The protagonist in this song finds himself taking flight and is discouraged by the people on the ground. The point the lyrics make here is that winning the people on earth isn’t worth your time and effort.
4. Parasite
This is the most solemn song from the album. The lyrics express feelings of alienation one might have in a town or city. He speaks on behalf of the daily struggles of countless people in a city. It’s easy to feel insignificant like a parasite in a big city, and he wonders if his struggles matter in the grand scheme of things.
This is an optimistic end to the album. The morning reminds us that it’s a new beginning. No matter how bad the previous day was, the rising sun in all its grandeur heralds a new day and another chance to rise.
ExclusivelyMusic 