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Nick Drake — Northern Sky
Album: Bryter Layter
Avg rating:
8.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1429









Released: 1970
Length: 3:41
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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
Brighten my northern sky

I've been a long time that I'm waiting
Been a long time that I'm blown
I've 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

Brighten my northern sky
Comments (151)add comment
Damn, but Nick Drake makes me smile!
Sublime - I don’t remember how but this was the first Nick Drake song I heard. Just love it. 10.
One of the best songs ever! I just love Nick Drake and all his works, but this one comes at the top.
Bartending in San Francisco one of my cohorts and I were talking ‘books’ and he said, “you know, if you liked that book I think you’d dig Nick Drake.” He parlayed literature and slid straight across the chasm into music…I thank him every time a Nick Drake tune plays. 
A beautiful tune. My favourite of Nick Drake’s although his catalogue is exceptional. 10.
Good tune!
I think that I may have already noted this, but if you like Nick Drake, you MUST see the documentary: A Skin Too Few: The Days of Nick Drake.  A beautiful documentary itself.
What an amazing soul Nick Drake is and may he Rest In Peace. Untreated mental illness and emotional pain can truly be catalysts for creative genius. Why is that?! 
One of favorite RP discoveries. I cannot believe I did not know of Nick Drake back in the day. I am pretty sure I would have latched onto this music immediately.
Nick Drake is fine, but simply overplayed for the past few months on RP
Still the best in music - ever!
 ScottishWillie wrote:
This is the song that turned me on to Nick Drake several decades ago. It was on a 99p sampler I got in the days when I use to go into record shops and flick through discounted albums and just invest a couple of pounds on anything that took my fancy. Best 99p I've ever invested!
 

Same here, I first heard it on a various artists compilation called "Children of the revolution" I think, when I was 17... Now I have all of the Nick Drake's albums :-)
Somehow I'd never heard of Nick Drake until Zach Braff included One Of These Things First on the Garden State movie soundtrack. I went out and bought whatever I could find & fell in love with it all. I was shocked when I found out he'd died in 1974.  Thanks to RP for helping to keep his music alive.
This is the song that turned me on to Nick Drake several decades ago. It was on a 99p sampler. This was back when  I use to go into record shops (remember these?) and flick through discounted albums and just invest a couple of pounds on anything that took my fancy. Best 99p I've ever spent!
Yes, Drake's songs always express exquisite writing and music.  But he was a melancholy soul writing songs for therapy. In my more delicate moods I need to segue from his poignant and almost childlike pain to more proactive and upbeat energies.   

Sublime. But always with an undercurrent of sadness.
  

Yes...  this song has a beautiful sadness to it...  nobody even needs to know about Nick Drake's personal history to be moved by this song...  love it...
 LaFranna wrote:
Sublime. But always with an undercurrent of sadness.
 

Yes...  this song has a beautiful sadness to it...  nobody even needs to know about Nick Drake's personal history to be moved by this song...  love it...

Sublime. But always with an undercurrent of sadness.
 Cynaera wrote:
As always, Nick Drake, seemingly effortlessly,  produced music and lyrics that transcended time. A tortured soul, he could still write songs like this, and his music holds true today.  I simply love his work, and I wish he could know how much it still impacts humanity now.

For now, I'll give every song of his that I hear a 10, because, well, it's Nick Drake, and it's all I can do to honor him. {#Sunny}
 

We miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 
Nice transition from Aimee Mann to this. Good call! 10s both.
Why is Nick so evocative?
Love how the piano just tries to find a way to squeeze into this song. Successfully, I might add. So many of his songs have that accompanist. did he/she play on other artist's songs or so solo work? Heading to wiki now..
 Giselle62 wrote:
Nick said he hated the album cover; but i kind of like it—-thank god for weird boys and their music.

 

Good point.  "Weird" folks often produce the best art.
 Dave_Mack wrote:
So nice.  Haven't heard this one before.
  I don't remember hearing it either, and I think I have the CD! It's going on tonight though. Nice.


Seriously, some songs just require an 11 rating....Bill?
So soothing!
O QUE NICK DRAKE ESTARIA TOCANDO SE AINDA ESTIVESSE VIVO ?
So nice.  Haven't heard this one before.
kinda sounds like donovan
Wow
As always, Nick Drake, seemingly effortlessly,  produced music and lyrics that transcended time. A tortured soul, he could still write songs like this, and his music holds true today.  I simply love his work, and I wish he could know how much it still impacts humanity now.

For now, I'll give every song of his that I hear a 10, because, well, it's Nick Drake, and it's all I can do to honor him. {#Sunny}


 Pharlap wrote:
How sad that he never knew how revered he would be some day
 
True dat

 Pharlap wrote:
How sad that he never knew how revered he would be some day
 
{#Yes}

How sad that he never knew how revered he would be some day
Nick said he hated the album cover; but i kind of like it—-thank god for weird boys and their music.

My absolute favorite Nick Drake song and that is really saying something!{#Yes}
It's a world of atmosphere in a tune.  Sublime.
 romeotuma wrote:


This song is absolutely incredible...  love it...


 
Ahhh, RT nice to see your comment. Yes this is great.
Just another incredibly beautiful Nick Drake song.
Timeless
Fantastic - with (Velvet Underground's) John Cale on keyboards & a few other instruments to boot.  A classic.
Great lyrics and balancing of melody and counter melody, Nick is pure genius and a must have to any serious collection.
 namp wrote:
{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajam}{#Heartkiss}

(Words are not enough....)

 
No, but I find that loud snoring is very expressive {#Sleep}
{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajam}{#Heartkiss}

(Words are not enough....)

Just love it. This song is similar to the sound track music to "Silent Running" that was done by Peter Schickele (PDQ Bach fame) and Joan Baez. It could seemlessly blend in with it...


Godlike!
when do we get to give an 11 rating?
Yes, we "could love yo til you're dead"....and way, way beyond Nick!  lovely
That guitar is like an orchestra. Cool tuning too. Great rainy-day artist.
Every time I hear the opening cords this song sends me to another world... planet... galaxy.... you know, another place altogether.
Meh.  Reminds me of Shawn Phillips, only not so depressing.....{#Yawn}
Not my favorite Nick Drake song. In fact, I find this one to be rather wimpy.
 Honeyman wrote:
I never heard of Nick Drake before RP, but love the guy. Which CD's should a novice Nick fan start with?
 
I think "Way to Blue" was sort of a best-of CD - it had this song.  Turned me on to Nick maybe 12 years ago.

 Honeyman wrote:
I never heard of Nick Drake before RP, but love the guy. Which CD's should a novice Nick fan start with?
 

Five Leaves Left is my favourite.  OR...


reverber wrote:


Just get the box set. You will end up with them all, anyways.

Cody
 


sublime
 squidish wrote:
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = big...
 
...Feet! Right? Luv the song.


Nice segue out of Aimee Mann's You Could Make A Killing.   Nick's not really my style but this is a nice enough tune.

A gem.
cvandoren wrote:
I am surprised to see all the great comments. When he went for those high notes I physically cringed and clicked over to see who that was with the awful voice. To each his own I guess.
Nick had something of a tumultuous life, and spent much of the time during his recordings on anti-depressant medications. His voice isn't the important thing, though, his guitar work and composition is what you should be paying attention to. This is why he is so well thought of.
I am surprised to see all the great comments. When he went for those high notes I physically cringed and clicked over to see who that was with the awful voice. To each his own I guess.
nice way to start this snowy day
Honeyman wrote:
I never heard of Nick Drake before RP, but love the guy. Which CD's should a novice Nick fan start with?
I would start with "Pink Moon" and maybe "Way To Blue", which is a kind of a Nick Drake primer.
Honeyman wrote:
I never heard of Nick Drake before RP, but love the guy. Which CD's should a novice Nick fan start with?
Just get the box set. You will end up with them all, anyways. Cody
I never heard of Nick Drake before RP, but love the guy. Which CD's should a novice Nick fan start with?
This is my fave Nick Drake tune - thanks for playing!
Genius
yep i needed to hear this song today. pittsburgh weather perfect; f*ck the volkswagen adverts.
tony99 wrote:
If I had to choose just one Nick Drake song, this would be it.
I think mine would be River Man, but how painful that would be to only choose one.
What 1wolfy said. Growing in the RP music garden.
horstman wrote:
Like Elliot Smith. . . Sad, but true. Vincent Van Gogh?
"The World was never meant for one as beautiful as you" Say what you will about Don McLean, he could turn a phrase. Rest In Peace, Nick, Elliot, and Vincent.
Nicks music is growing on me. One of the many new sounds RP has introduced me to.
squidish wrote:
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = big...
Well, they used to be called "Brothel Creepers" where I grew up - on the nice side of town, mind you).
slowhand wrote:
It's sad that he is more popular today than when he was alive. This is the measure for great artists.
Like Elliot Smith. . . Sad, but true. Vincent Van Gogh?
99 wrote:
Would have been cool to transition to Dream Academy's Life in a Northern Town...or is it too obvious?
...and then run into 'It's Grim Up North' by the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu.
squidish wrote:
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = ...
Really skinny legs?
y-y-yayo nick drake
squidish wrote:
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = big...
feet?
99 wrote:
Would have been cool to transition to Dream Academy's Life in a Northern Town...or is it too obvious?
so what if it is too obvious? bring on the Dream Academy i say!
davin wrote:
there are some things about this that remind me of Genesis - The Carpet Crawlers.. lovely tune.
I'd never heard that link before, thanks! Reminds me of John Martyn cuts from the same period - timeless stuff.
slowhand wrote:
It's sad that he is more popular today than when he was alive. This is the measure for great artists.
Or maybe we're just smarter today. Or have better access to great music to RP! (Just trying to see the glass as half full, here)
It's sad that he is more popular today than when he was alive. This is the measure for great artists.
Would have been cool to transition to Dream Academy's Life in a Northern Town...or is it too obvious?
tony99 wrote:
If I had to choose just one Nick Drake song, this would be it.
Admittedly, that piano bridge gets me every time. But Cello Song still takes my vote as Most Brilliant Song Ever.
there are some things about this that remind me of Genesis - The Carpet Crawlers.. lovely tune.
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = big...
Love song with a melancholy feel. Capture's that feeling of being in love for the first time perfectly. A excellent foil to one of the other top 10 love songs of all time: the Who's Magic Bus.
he's really great
tony99 wrote:
If I had to choose just one Nick Drake song, this would be it.
Me too.
What a great album, just recently got on board. Don't know how I was asleep at the wheel on this guy all these years. He was brilliant.
That is one big ass pair of shoes on the album cover.
If I had to choose just one Nick Drake song, this would be it.
H-bomb wrote:
Great lineup of Elliott Smith, Aimmee Mann, and Nick Drake! Good Work!
great song, aimmee mann does go well with this. i know an h-bomb!
Great lineup of Elliott Smith, Aimmee Mann, and Nick Drake! Good Work!
NiceGuy2005 wrote:
Nicks good. Not godlike, but good. It's interesting that his work now finds a market. I think a lot of new music has gone Nick's melancholy direction. Certainly this type of music has its place, but notice how many bands these days seem to have captured Nicks sound, more or less, in fact, Coldplay comes to mind. The point of this rambling post though is, where is the music that just flat out ROCKS?
For some people it's a matter of maturing.Others like a little contrast. Or maybe it's the depressing happenings in the world. I've been listening to Nick since the late sixties. I listened to a lot of Jimi Hendrix too.It was all of the mellow hippie stuff that was going on. Love Peace man.
Nicks good. Not godlike, but good. It's interesting that his work now finds a market. I think a lot of new music has gone Nick's melancholy direction. Certainly this type of music has its place, but notice how many bands these days seem to have captured Nicks sound, more or less, in fact, Coldplay comes to mind. The point of this rambling post though is, where is the music that just flat out ROCKS? Im not talking about headbanging or angst filled neopunk, I'm talking about early REM style music, you know the type where you can't help but get up and dance aroung your chair. It seems that in the day of anti-depressants (spelling) aspartime (known for its supression of seratonin), society seems to have lost its taste for fun. This last set, Aimme Mann, Nick Drake, Michael Hedges and Sinead O'Conor have made even someone like Tracy Chapman sound down right upbeat.
An RP favorite, but just doesn't do anything for me.
I would say this is my favourite Nick Drake song. Just so lovely and sad.
One of his best. The man who really defines the word WISTFUL
He's good. Goose-bump good
drife wrote:
Love this song. Wasn't it used for the soundtrack of "Serendipity"?
That's how I first found out about Nick Drake... I heard that song, and thought to myself, "this sounds like the same guy singing in the volkswagen commercial," which turned out to be Pink Moon. I bought Five Leaves Left shortly after. All thanks to mainstream media!
I will always be indebted to a friend who encouraged me to listen to his collection of Nick (lots of cassettes!) back in high school. I have only recently, almost two decades later, come to appreciate the true beauty of his music. I only wish I could find this friend now, wherever he is, and thank him.
I love, love, LOVE Nick Drake. What a great set of music. Thanks RP!
Hard to pick your fav song ever but this would def be in my top ten for sure beautiful song.
Wow, it's been great discovering someone like Nick Drake on RP. He was a great talent, to be sure.
Man, this stuff just doesn't get old.
An unreal song from one of the true masters of music.
Listening to this tune driving alongside the Catalina Mountains on the way home from fireworks this evening was a great way to top off the night. Among my faves from Nick Drake.
Some Nick Drake is melodic and nice...others are depressingly dull-hummmm what to do? :-k
Ahhh..finally, a Nick Drake song that sounds a little different from another Nick Drake song....
Beeeea-uuuutiful tune!
drife wrote:
Love this song. Wasn't it used for the soundtrack of "Serendipity"?
Just checked imdb.com, and yes, Northern Sky was used in the soudtrack
Love this song. Wasn't it used for the soundtrack of "Serendipity"?
ANNE_MARIE wrote:
i think you could be right! :goodvibes:
It just could be the most beautiful song I've ever heard as well. There are many cliches about the tragic death of artists. For Nick Drake they all ring true. His music truly is transcedent. The music on all of his three in-lifetime albums ranges from the extraordinary to the sublime. Thanks, Bill, for this amazing turn-on.
I love it.
Someone wake me when the incoherent mumbling stops.
llazare wrote:
Simply put, the most beautiful song I've ever heard.
indeed
Thanks RP. This is great music. Sadly he made only 2 or 3 albums in the early 70's. A few weeks ago there was a documentary on Dutch tv on Nick. Saw his sister reading old letters and playing demo-tapes. It introduced me to the music of Nick Drake. Great guitar sound and a nice and balanced production. Peace to everyone.
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