I searched around a bit for an album written entirely by a female artist and quickly became frustrated. My first thought was Joni Mitchell but I knew Jim was covering one of her tunes. Then I saw The Bee Gees and was going to pick one of theirs (I hope somebody else does!) but then thought of Nick Drake. Both of these cuts are from albums where he wrote all of the songs.
Nicholas “Nick” Rodney Drake was born on 6/19/48, in Rangoon, Burma, and died on 11/25/74, at the age of 26, in the home he shared with his parents in Warwickshire, UK. He died of an overdose of prescribed anti-depressants. You are not going to believe me when I tell you I did not realize that he died 44 years ago today (11/25/18) when I chose this song. ::cue eerie music::
I like the minimal lyrics that are open to interpretation. Metaphor? Reincarnation? Perhaps if he’d been different it would have worked out (with a lover)(life)? Up to you to decide. In light of his life ending way too soon, it takes on some measure of consideration.
The video has lyrics with it. It is from the “Bryter Layter” album, recorded in 1970 and released in March 1971. I think Dave Matthews Band gave him a nod with their song, “Dancing Nancies.”
The second song I chose was my first introduction to Nick. A colleague showed me how easy it was to make a mix tape using a music service that would give you songs like one you liked using algorithms. Back then it was like magic. I gave him a title and Nick’s, “Pink Moon” was one that fit the algorithm. It’s from the eponymous album, recorded on Halloween 1971 and released in February 1972. The lyrics are simple, yet they are also mysterious. What is this Pink Moon that is on its way and that none of us will escape? Whatever it is, the melody is hauntingly beautiful.
Pink Moon
I saw it written and I saw it say
Pink moon is on its way
None of you stand so tall
Pink moon gonna get you all
And it's a pink moon
It's a pink moon
Pink, pink, pink, pink
Pink moon
A pink, pink, pink, pink
Pink moon
I saw it written and I saw it say
A pink moon is on its way
And none of you stand so tall
Pink moon gonna get you all
It's a pink moon
It's a pink moon
Songwriter: Nick Drake
Album: Pink Moon
Jim Adams is the host of Song Lyric Sunday. This week, Jim wants a song from an album where the group or artist wrote all their own songs.
Tao Talk 
New music to me and I like that. Very profound. I think a lot about what could have been. Sad that he is gone too soon yet his song lives on.
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yes, just listened to it again and started crying again.
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I cried too but I like to cry though. Full release of feelings.
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Four years later, no longer new but still as impactful! <3 <3 Li you knocked it outta the park with these two songs.
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J impactful is an apt adjective for Nick’s music. Thanks so much <3
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It was such a treat to see this and that I had commented on it in 2018 as well.
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<3
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Nick Drake was tremendous. A tragic loss.
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Wonderful song, such a tragedy. He weote about what could have been. Truly sad.
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I have never heard of him before…so sad that his life ended that way.
Very emotional!
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he was a very sensitive soul from what i gather, and the life of celebrity and crowds was not for him. it hurt getting his music out there for others, which in turn, couldn’t have helped with his feelings in regards to the dilemma of it
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Pink Moon is a song that always gets me. Didn’t know this one.
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another good one by him. something haunting about his songs
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Yes there is…I think he was just a haunted individual, and it really came out in his songs.
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This is an extremely difficult post to comment on, Lisa. I am unfamiliar with Nick Drake and do not recall ever reading anything about him or listening to any of his music, which only compounds the extreme sadness of his life. Having just read about him online, I find myself wondering if there was ever a time when he was not depressed; what a very sad thought to have about someone. It’s a tragic story and his music is heartbreaking.
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Nancy, I understand the difficulty of responding to a tragedy like this. Like a baby chick, with a world of potential in their wings, that never fledges. It makes me angry also that it was prescription pills that killed him. Honestly, I wonder how many wonderful human beings have died via toxic “legal medicine.”
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The numbers, I’m sure, are staggering.
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I found Pink Moon on a commercial and that is when I found out about this amazing guy. I never heard One Of These Things First … but that is excellent. His voice is unworldly and always great lyrics. Such a sad story.
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Max, thanks for giving the song a chance. He was an amazingly talented songwriter, and perfect descriptor of his voice.
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Oh…Lisa…I give this guy everything. He was a cut above the rest nevermind what happened in his life…not that I do but you know what I mean. His music was great enough to be heard on it’s own. The story is just heartbreaking.
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I saw a doc on him awhile back and his story truly is heartbreaking.
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It really is Lisa. His sister has been really good on promoting him to the world.
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Mind-blowing songs
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A great choice for SLS! I almost went for Nick too, but as I had featured him a few months back I decided to look elsewhere for today. Beautiful music, and such a tragic back story – I’ve been a fan ever since I heard one of his songs on one of those sampler albums record companies released in the late Sixties/early Seventies.
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Clive, thanks so much, and happy you are familiar with him and featured him before. Yes, so tragic. Hard to know what led to his tortured life but angering that prescription drugs killed him :(
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He was a troubled soul, but he left us some beautiful music.
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What a great loss to humanity and the music world – such a beautiful writer and acoustic guitarist, thanks for choosing this track Lisa ❤️
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Ange, agree on all of what you say. You are welcome, happy to get his music out to others.
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Nick Drake is really an artist I know nothing about- so this was an introduction for me. Both solid choices- he writes and performs what I like to call-‘a thinking man’s music’ and I am sure that had a lot to do with his early demise- sometimes this life just becomes way too heavy for those of us that think too much.
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V, I imagine him spending a lot of time in his room, thinking about this, that, and the other. Like Don McClean’s song, “Vincent,” I think of Nick that way <3 Can you imagine, Vincent sitting in a field in heaven with Nick strumming along?
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Nice choice, Lisa and I was surprised to read all the comments that people made about not knowing who Nick Drake was, even though he not popular during his short lifetime, failing to find a wide audience and selling very few records despite releasing three acclaimed albums, he did become popular later. He had a strong cult following posthumously, particularly after the song “Pink Moon” was featured in a 2000 Volkswagen commercial, leading to a massive surge in record sales.
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Jim, there is something obscene about Nick remaining an unknown until his song showed up in a commercial. Max has said it many times, when a tune is used commercially it does get it on peoples’ radar. A mixed blessing. Thanks, Jim, and glad you liked the music.
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Beautiful, gentle music Li and such a sad, short, life story of Nick Drake. Here’s hoping his next life resolves his issues from this one 😢
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Christine, I like to think of reincarnation that way also. He obviously has insights into the human condition.
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Yes Li. It is the only thing that has ever made sense to me and I can wrap my arms around it. Everything else is hooey. 🥰
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I love his work, Gone too soon.
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He’s the guy I listen to in the middle of winter, wrapped in a blanket, sipping hot cocoa.
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Wow! I love these songs. So sweet and lovely. I want to listen to more of his songs. Great pick for today!
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Marina, they truly are. I hope you do. Thank you.
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With his airy vocals, Nick Drake reminds me a bit of Donovan. “One of These Things First” and “Pink Moon” are great songs. I featured the latter in one of my Sunday posts back in June. That said, I’ve yet to explore Drake’s music. Another super-talented artist we lost way too early under tragic circumstances!
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Christian, I can see the resemblance to Donovan. Perhaps Donovan was more extroverted and got out there and made those musical connections where Drake was at home, navel gazing? Yes, how many have we lost :(
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That Bryter Layter album is a real gem is it not. As was Nick. Very nice Lisa.
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Randy, I admit I need to listen to more of Nick’s music and haven’t heard either of the whole albums. mentioned in the post. Another one to add to the list.
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There’s a great Nick Drake tribute album that I have called “Way to Blue”. And I saw there’s just a new one out as well that I didn’t know about. A wonderful songwriter.
I don’t know if you remember the Kick-About prompt about his mother Molly, also a songwriter. (K)
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Once I listened to it yes I do. How heartbreaking to lose her son so young.
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Yes. Too many gone the same way.
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So sad that such a gifted young man died so young to drugs and challenges. This song is heart piercing.. “I could have been”.. A lovely tribute, Li!
💔
I just found out a friends son died 27 in the neighborhood died in a motorcycle accident and the service is tomorrow. Sooo sad.
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what did they used to call them: the young and the restless. it can be a lethal combination.
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Yes, sooo true!!! 🫶🙏🩷
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