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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1245








Released: 1970
Length: 3:42
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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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 (148)add comment
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. 
Posted 3 weeks ago by SkyWhip    [ Reply ]
A beautiful tune. My favourite of Nick Drake’s although his catalogue is exceptional. 10.
Posted 8 months ago by cambuddyf    [ Reply ]
Good tune!
Posted 2 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 2 years ago by xray38    [ Reply ]
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?! 
Posted 2 years ago by surfergirl    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 2 years ago by jchap5    [ Reply ]
Nick Drake is fine, but simply overplayed for the past few months on RP
Posted 3 years ago by Matt_Maurer    [ Reply ]
Still the best in music - ever!
Posted 3 years ago by martinlovesRP    [ Reply ]
 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 :-)
Posted 4 years ago by manmachine909    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 4 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 5 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
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...
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 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...
Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]

Posted 10 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
Sublime. But always with an undercurrent of sadness.
Posted 11 years ago by LaFranna    [ Reply ]
 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...
 
Posted 11 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
Nice transition from Aimee Mann to this. Good call! 10s both.
Posted 11 years ago by d-don    [ Reply ]
Why is Nick so evocative?
Posted 11 years ago by Lichenia,    [ Reply ]
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..
Posted 11 years ago by djengs    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 11 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 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.


Posted 12 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Seriously, some songs just require an 11 rating....Bill?
Posted 12 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
So soothing!
Posted 12 years ago by megaboogieman    [ Reply ]
O QUE NICK DRAKE ESTARIA TOCANDO SE AINDA ESTIVESSE VIVO ?
Posted 12 years ago by dududarezi    [ Reply ]
So nice.  Haven't heard this one before.
Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
kinda sounds like donovan
Posted 13 years ago by sheetsy    [ Reply ]
Wow
Posted 13 years ago by katiediddler    [ Reply ]
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}


Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 Pharlap wrote:
How sad that he never knew how revered he would be some day
 
True dat

Posted 13 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
 Pharlap wrote:
How sad that he never knew how revered he would be some day
 
{#Yes}

Posted 13 years ago by lattalo    [ Reply ]
How sad that he never knew how revered he would be some day
Posted 13 years ago by Pharlap    [ Reply ]
Nick said he hated the album cover; but i kind of like it—-thank god for weird boys and their music.

Posted 13 years ago by Giselle62    [ Reply ]
My absolute favorite Nick Drake song and that is really saying something!{#Yes}
Posted 13 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
It's a world of atmosphere in a tune.  Sublime.
Posted 13 years ago by Sorcha    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:


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


 
Ahhh, RT nice to see your comment. Yes this is great.
Posted 13 years ago by nalle    [ Reply ]
Just another incredibly beautiful Nick Drake song.
Posted 14 years ago by Rick_V    [ Reply ]
Timeless
Posted 14 years ago by LaurieinTucson    [ Reply ]
Fantastic - with (Velvet Underground's) John Cale on keyboards & a few other instruments to boot.  A classic.
Posted 14 years ago by lumper5    [ Reply ]
Great lyrics and balancing of melody and counter melody, Nick is pure genius and a must have to any serious collection.
Posted 14 years ago by bigbobbybubba    [ Reply ]
 namp wrote:
{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajam}{#Heartkiss}

(Words are not enough....)

 
No, but I find that loud snoring is very expressive {#Sleep}
Posted 14 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajam}{#Heartkiss}

(Words are not enough....)

Posted 14 years ago by namp    [ Reply ]
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...


Posted 14 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
Godlike!
Posted 14 years ago by namp    [ Reply ]
when do we get to give an 11 rating?
Posted 14 years ago by cirruss    [ Reply ]
Yes, we "could love yo til you're dead"....and way, way beyond Nick!  lovely
Posted 14 years ago by Randomax    [ Reply ]
That guitar is like an orchestra. Cool tuning too. Great rainy-day artist.
Posted 14 years ago by donnyballgame    [ Reply ]
Every time I hear the opening cords this song sends me to another world... planet... galaxy.... you know, another place altogether.
Posted 14 years ago by sunybuny    [ Reply ]
Meh.  Reminds me of Shawn Phillips, only not so depressing.....{#Yawn}
Posted 15 years ago by George_Tirebiter    [ Reply ]
Not my favorite Nick Drake song. In fact, I find this one to be rather wimpy.
Posted 15 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 15 years ago by bindi    [ Reply ]
 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
 


Posted 15 years ago by peyotecoyote    [ Reply ]
sublime
Posted 15 years ago by peyotecoyote    [ Reply ]
 squidish wrote:
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = big...
 
...Feet! Right? Luv the song.


Posted 15 years ago by inindian    [ Reply ]
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.

Posted 15 years ago by RadioDoc    [ Reply ]
A gem.
Posted 15 years ago by peterata    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by SoundChaser    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by cvandoren    [ Reply ]
nice way to start this snowy day
Posted 16 years ago by NanMac    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by crinky    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 16 years ago by reverber    [ Reply ]
I never heard of Nick Drake before RP, but love the guy. Which CD's should a novice Nick fan start with?
Posted 16 years ago by Honeyman    [ Reply ]
This is my fave Nick Drake tune - thanks for playing!
Posted 16 years ago by Tree_Hugger    [ Reply ]
Genius
Posted 16 years ago by geordiezimmerman    [ Reply ]
yep i needed to hear this song today. pittsburgh weather perfect; f*ck the volkswagen adverts.
Posted 16 years ago by darlingbuds    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by ktnsb    [ Reply ]
What 1wolfy said. Growing in the RP music garden.
Posted 16 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Nicks music is growing on me. One of the many new sounds RP has introduced me to.
Posted 16 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
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).
Posted 16 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]
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?
Posted 16 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 16 years ago by Pazzat    [ Reply ]
Posted 17 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
squidish wrote:
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = ...
Really skinny legs?
Posted 17 years ago by meydele    [ Reply ]
y-y-yayo nick drake
Posted 17 years ago by araujokrl    [ Reply ]
squidish wrote:
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = big...
feet?
Posted 17 years ago by ADD_IT_UP    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 17 years ago by gernick    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by raelic    [ Reply ]
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)
Posted 17 years ago by phreels    [ Reply ]
It's sad that he is more popular today than when he was alive. This is the measure for great artists.
Posted 17 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
Would have been cool to transition to Dream Academy's Life in a Northern Town...or is it too obvious?
Posted 17 years ago by 99    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by esotericderek    [ Reply ]
there are some things about this that remind me of Genesis - The Carpet Crawlers.. lovely tune.
Posted 17 years ago by davin    [ Reply ]
Lurve the platform creepers. You know what they say, big shoes = big...
Posted 17 years ago by squidish    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by bluelight    [ Reply ]
he's really great
Posted 17 years ago by meower    [ Reply ]
tony99 wrote:
If I had to choose just one Nick Drake song, this would be it.
Me too.
Posted 17 years ago by kult    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by Sunman    [ Reply ]
That is one big ass pair of shoes on the album cover.
Posted 17 years ago by Jack_Jefferson    [ Reply ]
If I had to choose just one Nick Drake song, this would be it.
Posted 17 years ago by tony99    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 17 years ago by Snaz    [ Reply ]
Great lineup of Elliott Smith, Aimmee Mann, and Nick Drake! Good Work!
Posted 17 years ago by H-bomb    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 17 years ago by frednic    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by NiceGuy2005    [ Reply ]
An RP favorite, but just doesn't do anything for me.
Posted 18 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
I would say this is my favourite Nick Drake song. Just so lovely and sad.
Posted 18 years ago by kult    [ Reply ]
One of his best. The man who really defines the word WISTFUL
Posted 18 years ago by highwindows    [ Reply ]
He's good. Goose-bump good
Posted 18 years ago by Luna2    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 18 years ago by aekl    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by vvlee    [ Reply ]
I love, love, LOVE Nick Drake. What a great set of music. Thanks RP!
Posted 18 years ago by babygirl614    [ Reply ]
Hard to pick your fav song ever but this would def be in my top ten for sure beautiful song.
Posted 18 years ago by Alvinyoungbloodhart    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
Wow, it's been great discovering someone like Nick Drake on RP. He was a great talent, to be sure.
Posted 18 years ago by babygirl614    [ Reply ]
Man, this stuff just doesn't get old.
Posted 18 years ago by dolfan    [ Reply ]
An unreal song from one of the true masters of music.
Posted 18 years ago by Rickvee    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 18 years ago by Roverfish    [ Reply ]
Some Nick Drake is melodic and nice...others are depressingly dull-hummmm what to do? :-k
Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Ahhh..finally, a Nick Drake song that sounds a little different from another Nick Drake song....
Posted 19 years ago by beelzebubba    [ Reply ]
Beeeea-uuuutiful tune!
Posted 19 years ago by GottaSneeze    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 19 years ago by drife    [ Reply ]
Love this song. Wasn't it used for the soundtrack of "Serendipity"?
Posted 19 years ago by drife    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
I love it.
Posted 19 years ago by Dais    [ Reply ]
Someone wake me when the incoherent mumbling stops.
Posted 19 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
llazare wrote:
Simply put, the most beautiful song I've ever heard.
indeed
Posted 19 years ago by peedee    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 19 years ago by Bicky    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 19 years ago by rascal420    [ Reply ]
Damn you, RP, I've got work to do. Not easy after something so beautiful.
Posted 19 years ago by newfff    [ Reply ]
Great song from a great talent. RIP. I'd like to thank the girl from the now defunked NME forums for turning me on to this guy.
Posted 19 years ago by Geed    [ Reply ]
Lovely :daisy.gif:
Posted 20 years ago by istanbulbaby    [ Reply ]