B i o g r a p h y (by Richie Unterberger)
A singular talent who passed almost unnoticed during his brief lifetime, Nick Drake produced several albums of chilling, somber beauty. With hindsight, these have come to be recognized as peak achievements of both the British folk-rock scene and the entire rock singer/songwriter genre. Sometimes compared to Van Morrison, Drake in fact resembled Donovan much more in his breathy vocals, strong melodies, and the acoustic-based orchestral sweep of his arrangements. His was a much darker vision than Donovan's, however, with disturbing themes of melancholy, failed romance, mortality, and depression lurking just beneath, or even well above, the surface. Ironically, Drake has achieved a far greater stature in the decades following his death, with an avid cult following that grows by the year. Part of Drake's failure to attract a mass audience was attributable to his almost pathological reluctance to perform live. It was at a live show in Cambridge, however, that a member of Fairport Convention saw Drake perform, and recommended the singer to producer Joe Boyd. Boyd, already a linchpin of the British folk-rock scene as the producer for Fairport and the Incredible String Band, asked Drake for a tape, and was impressed enough to give the 20-year-old a contract in 1968. Drake's debut, Five Leaves Left (1969), was the first in a series of three equally impressive, and quite disparate, albums. With understated folk-rock backing (Pentangle bassist Danny Thompson plays bass on most of the cuts), Drake created a vaguely mysterious, haunting atmosphere, occasionally embellished by tasteful Baroque strings. His economic, even pithy, lyrics hinted at melancholy, yet any thoughts of despair were alleviated by the gorgeous, uplifting melodies and Drake's calm, measured vocals. Bryter Later (1970) was perhaps his most upbeat effort, featuring support from members of Fairport Convention, and traces of jazz in the arrangements.
On some cuts, the singer/songwriter, remarkably, dispensed with lyrics altogether, offering only gorgeous, orchestrated instrumental miniatures that stood well on their own. Neither album sold well, and Drake, already a brooding loner, plunged into serious depression that often found him unable to make music, work, or even walk and talk. He managed to produce one final full-length work, Pink Moon (1972), a desolate solo acoustic album that ranks as one of the most naked and bleak statements in all of rock. He did record a few more songs before his death, but no more albums were completed, although the final sessions (along with some other fine unreleased material) surfaced on the posthumous compilation Time of No Reply. Drake's final couple of years were marked by increasing psychiatric difficulties, which found him hospitalized at one point for several weeks. He had rarely played live during his days as a recording artist, and at one point declared his intention never to record again, although he wished to continue to write songs for others. (It's been reported that French chanteuse Françoise Hardy recorded some of Drake's songs, but she hasn't released any.) On November 26, 1974, he died in his parents' home from an overdose of antidepressant medication; suicide has been speculated, although some of his family and friends dispute this. In the manner of the young Romantic poets of the 19th century who died before their time, Drake is revered by many listeners today, with a following that spans generations. Baby boomers who missed him the first time around found much to revisit once they discovered him, and his pensive loneliness speaks directly to contemporary alternative rockers who share his sense of morose alienation.
My sugar so sweet Get together Don't think twice, it's alright If you leave me (pretty mama) Courting blues Strollin' down the highway Blues run the game Winter is gone Here come the blues All my trials Tomorrow is such a long time Cocaine blues Milk and honey Summertime Black mountain blues Rain Bird flew by To the garden
Introduction (Instrumental) Hazey Jane II At the chime of a city clock One of these things first Hazey Jane I Bryter Layter (Instrumental) Fly Poor boy Northern sky Sunday (Instrumental)
Pink moon Place to be Road Which will Horn (Instrumental) Things behind the sun Know Free ride Parasite Harvest breed From the morning
Time of no reply I was made to love magic Joey Clothes of sand Man in a shed Mayfair Fly The thoughts of Mary Jane Been smoking too long Strange meeting II Rider on the wheel Black eyed dog Hanging on a star Voice from the mountain
Rider on the wheel Magic River man Joey Thoughts of Mary Jane Mayfair Hanging on a star Three hours Clothes of sand Voices Time of no reply Black eyed dog Tow The Line
Mickey's Tune Joey in Mind Outside Blue Season
Tanworth-in-Arden 1967/68
My sugar so sweet
( Traditional )
Yes, mama, yes, girl Hear me calling you So sweet, so sweet My sugar's so sweet My baby don't you go Aint seen my little sugar come home So sweet, so sweet My sugar's so sweet But my baby she'd long gone But I've seen her - I must've been doing her wrong So sweet, so sweet My sugar's so sweet See my baby, don't act so smart I'll cut out your liver, and eat your heart So sweet, so sweet My sugar's so sweet Yes, mama - yes, girl Hear me calling you So sweet, so sweet My sugar's so sweet
Get together
( Dino Valenti )
Love is but the song we sing Fear the way we die It can make the mountains ring Make the angels cry So the bird is on the wind You may not know why Hey people now, smile on your brother Let me see you get together And love one another Some may come and some may go We will surely pass Will the one who left us here Return for us at last? We are but a moment's sunlight Fading in the grass Hey people now, smile on your brother Let me see you get together And love one another If you hear the song I'm singing You will understand You hold the key to love and fear All in your trembling hand Just one key unlocks them both It's at your command Hey people now, smile on your brother Let me see you get together And love one another
Don't think twice, it's alright
( Bob Dylan )
Well it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe It don't matter anyhow And it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe If you don't know by now When the rooster crows at the break of dawn Look out your window and I'll be gone You're the reason I'm travelling on Don't think twice it's all right Well it ain't no use in turning on your light, babe Light I've never known Ain't no use in turning on the light, babe I'm on the dark side of the road Wish there was something you could do or say Something to make me change my mind and stay We never did too much talking anyway Don't think twice, it's all right And it ain't no use in calling out my name, gal Like you've never done before It ain't no use in calling out my name, gal I can't hear you anymore I'm thinking and a wondering, walking down that road I once loved a woman - A child I'm told Gave her my heart, but she wanted my soul Don't think twice, it's all right So long, honey-babe Where I'm bound, I can't tell Goodbye is too good a word babe I'll just say, "Fare thee well" I ain't saying you treated me unkind You could've done better, but I don't mind You just kind of wasted my precious time Don't think twice, it's all right
If you leave me (pretty mama)
( Traditional / Dave Van Ronk )
Believe me, pretty mama Better not treat me right Just have to forget you After tomorrow night Believe me, pretty mama Better take your picture too Don't want to remember What a good looking girl can do Don't send me no letter Don't write me no postcard Thinking about you, baby Makes it twice as hard Believe me, pretty mama Better not treat me right Just have to forget you After tomorrow night Well I'm sitting here On the sudden Watching the trees go by My baby, at the end of the depot Lay me down and cry Believe me, pretty mama Better not treat me right Just have to forget you After tomorrow night
Courting blues
( Bert Jansch )
Green are your eyes In the morning, when you rise Don't you be afraid to lie By me, my love Your father will not know Love can be broken Though no words are spoken Don't you be afraid to lie By me, my love Your father will not know Love, don't cry I'll never try Don't you be afraid to lie By me, my love Your father will not know Green are your eyes In the morning, when you rise Don't you be afraid to lie By me, my love Your father will be told someday About our wedding day
Strollin' down the highway
Strolling down the highway I'm gonna get there my way Just keep on down-a-walking You hear my guitar, rocking Well I stroll On down On down the highway People think I'm a crazing Lot about how they're-a-lazing Sunshine's all day long Narcotics far too strong Well I stroll On down On down the highway Cars won't stop for no one But don't you think that you're just rolling down Think you are a spy Gonna shoot them as they go by Well, no cars No cars Won't stop for no one Strolling down the highway I'm gonna get there my way Just keep on down-a-walking You hear my guitar, rocking Well I stroll On down On down the highway
Blues run the game
( Jackson C. Frank )
Catch a boat to England, baby Maybe to spain Wherever I have gone Wherever I've been and gone Wherever I have gone, the blues I'd to sing Go bring me whiskey, baby Go bring me gin Me and room service, honey Me and room service Me and room service, well we're living like a sin When I'm not drinking, baby You are on my mind When I'm not sleeping When I'm not sleeping When I'm not sleeping, well you know, you'll find me crying Try another city, baby Try another town Wherever I have gone Wherever I've been and gone Wherever I have gone, the blues run the game Well maybe someday, baby Somewhere down the line I'll wake up older, honey So much older I'll wake up older and just stop all my trying Catch a boat to England, baby Maybe to spain Wherever I have gone Wherever I've been and gone Wherever I have gone, the blues run the game
Winter is gone
Winter is gone And the leaves are green Winter is gone And the leaves turn green Your innocent face So you never had seen Come on, my love And pay the world Come on, my love And pay the world You cheated me But I wish you well Rope is bought And the bough is swung Rope is bought And the bough is swung An innocent man This day will be hung Come on, my love And see me die Come on, my love And see me die See me dancing Dance beneath the sky 'Neath those gallows high Come on and see me die Winter is gone And the leaves are green Winter is gone And the leaves turn green Your innocent face So I wish I'd never had seen
Here come the blues
Monday is shining You know 'em Tuesday's rain Well, the days go by me Like a southbound train Yes, It's funny thinking You will never call my name Here comes long lonely Here comes the blues Well, the world's the same old comedy You know my time is cold Nothing new, blue lady I won't get old 'Cause the deal is gone now I'd just better hold Here comes long lonely Here comes the blues Well, sun has run down She has gone out to hide Yes, and now I'm out walking Where the midnight ride Just me and the good-time Charlies And the suicide Here comes long lonely Here comes the blues Well, Monday's dry Yes, and tuesday's just the same Maybe come down blue Wednesday I'm gonna grab the brakes again 'Cause no bottle of pills Could ever kill this pain Here comes long lonely Here comes the blues Here comes long lonely Here comes the blues
All my trials
I had a little book Was give to me And every page Spoke of liberty All my trials Will soon be over There is a tree In paradise The pilgrims call it The tree of life All my trials Will soon be over But it's too late, my friend Too late But never mind All my trials Will soon be over If religion were a thing That money could buy Then the rich would live And the poor would die All my trials Will soon be over All my trials Will soon be over
Tomorrow is such a long time
If today were not an endless highway If tonight were not a crooked trail If tomorrow weren't such a long time Then lonesome would mean nothing to me at all And only if my own true love were waiting for me And if I could hear her heart softly pounding If only she was lying by me Then I'd lie in my bed once again I can't see my reflection in the water Can't speak the sounds that show no pain I can't hear the echo of my footsteps Can't remember the sound of my own name And only if my own true love were waiting for me And if I could hear he heart softly pounding If only she was lying by me Then I'd lie in my bed once again There's beauty in the silver, singing river There's beauty in the sunrise in the sky None of these and nothing else can touch the beauty That I remember in my true love's eyes And only if my own true love were waiting for me And if I could hear he heart softly pounding If only she was lying by me And she could lie in my bed once again
Cocaine blues
( Luke Jordan )
Come, my baby Dressed in white Hey, baby Won't you stay the night Cocaine All around my brain Come, my baby Dressed in red Hey, baby Won't you come to bed Cocaine All around my brain Hey, baby Won't you please come quick This old cocaine Is making me sick Cocaine All around my brain Come, my baby Dressed in green Hey, baby Can't be seen Cocaine All around my brain Hey, baby Won't you please come quick This old cocaine Is making me sick Cocaine All around my brain Cocaine All around my brain
Milk and honey
Gold and silver Is the autumn Soft and tender Are the skys Yes and knows All the answers Written in My true love's eyes Autumn's leaving Winter is coming I think that I'll Be moving along I've got to leave her And find another I've got to sing My heart's true song Round and round The burning circle All the seasons One, two and three Autumn leaves And then the winter Spring is born And world is free Gold and silver Bounds my heart on All too soon They fade and die And then I'd know There'd be no others Milk and honey Where they lie
Summertime
( Gershwin/Heyward )
It's summertime And the living is easy Fish are jumping And the cotton is high Your daddy is rich And your mommy's good looking So hush pretty baby, don't you cry One of these mornings You're gonna wake up singing You're gonna spread your wings Take to the sky But till that morning There's just not a thing that can harm you With daddy and mommy standing by
Black mountain blues
Old black mountain Tried to spit in your face Old black mountain Tried to spit in your face Baby's grubbing whiskey Oh she's practising (?) Old black mountain Mean as they can be Old black mountain Mean as they can be They use ground butter Just to sweeten the tea Had a girl in black mountain Sweetest girl in town Had a girl in black mountain Sweetest girl in town But she met a sweet black man Then she threw me down Well, old black mountain Can't keep man in jail Well, old black mountain Can't keep man in jail Sure to call him guilty Judge will cry and bail I'm bound for black mountain Me and my razor and my gun I'm bound for black mountain Me and my razor and my gun Gonna cut her if she stands there And shoot her if she runs
Rain
Thoughts of rain at sunset Clouds of rainbow blue Thoughts of sun on sand-dunes Where the seabirds flew This was our season, and we said it couldn't end But my love left with the rain. Thoughts of leaves in autumn Falling from the trees Thoughts of hoaring tree tops Leading to the sea This was our season, no lies and no pretend But my love left with the rain. Thoughts of springtime rainfall Touching flowers that bend Thoughts of wind in willows Days that never end This was our season, but sorrow waited round the bend For my love left with the rain. Rain's the way you move now Sun the way you seem Leaves the way you wonder Flowers the way you dream This was our season, and we said it couldn't end But my love left with the rain.
Bird flew by
Bird flew by And wondered, wondered why She was white And ought to stay up in the sky From the air she could wonder For the reason What's the point of a year Or a season Your life flies away As the night turns to day If you start once to think Your hair will soon turn grey But one would like to wonder For the reason What's the point of a year Or a season The list of fallen stars And crumbled, broken hearts Comes from a need To play so many parts But one would like to wonder For the reason What's the point of a year Or a season The wind and the rain Shook hands again Untouched by the world They managed to keep sane They were able to wonder For the reason What's the point of a year Or a season Bird flew by And wondered, wondered why She was white And ought to stay up in the sky From the air she could wonder For the reason What's the point of a year Or a season
To the garden
In the bright red sky In the heat of an evening When only prisoners sleep She said she couldn't Come to the garden See an old man wheel She said her dreams What too far to be thought of As scars too white to view She said she couldn't Come to the garden See a blind man kneel She sailed away To a blue horizon In floating thoughts she'd sway She said she couldn't Come to the garden See an old man pray She wished them luck As they left on their journey Maybe she'd join them soon But she lost her grip At the tip of life's finger Went home and worshipped the moon
Five Leaves Left Time has told me
Time has told me You're a rare, rare find A troubled cure For a troubled mind And time has told me Not to ask for more For someday our Ocean Will find it's shore So I'll leave the ways of making me be What I really don't want to be Leave the ways that are making me love What I really don't want to love Time has told me You came with the dawn A soul with no footprint A rose with no thorn Your tears they tell me There's really no way Of ending your troubles With things you can say And time will tell you To stay by my side To keep on trying ‘til theres no more to hide So leave the ways that are making you be What you really don't want to be Leave the ways that are making you love What you really don't want to love Time has told me You're a rare, rare find A troubled cure For a troubled mind And time has told me Not to ask for more For someday our ocean Will find its shore
River man
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 Gonna see the river man Gonna 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 Gonna to see the river man Gonna 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
Three hours
Three hours from sundown Jeremy flies Hoping to keep The sun from his eyes East from the city And down to the cave In search of a master In search of a slave Three hours from London Jacomo's free Taking his woes Down to the sea In search of a lifetime To tell when he's home In search of a story That's never been known Three hours from speaking Everyone's flown Not wanting to be Seen on their own Three hours is needed To leave from them all Three hours to wonder And three hours to fall Three hours from sundown Jeremy flies Hoping to keep The sun from his eyes East from the city And down to the cave In search of a master In search of a slave
Way to blue
Don't you have a word to show what may be done Have you never heard a way to find the sun Tell me all that you may know Show me what you have to show Won't you come and say If you know the way to blue Have you seen the land living by the breeze Can you understand a light among the trees Tell me all that you may know Show me what you have to show Tell us all today If you know the way to blue? Look through time and find your rhyme Tell us what you find We will wait At your gate Hoping like the blind Can you now recall all that you have known Will you never fall When the light has flown Tell me all that you may know Show me what you have to show Won't you come and say If you know the way to blue?
Day is done
When the day is done Down to earth then sinks the sun Along with everything that was lost and won When the day is done. When the day is done Hope so much your race will be all run Then you find you jumped the gun Have to go back where you began When the day is done. When the night is cold Some get by but some get old Just to show life's not made of gold When the night is cold. When the bird has flown Got no-one to call your own Got no place to call your home When the bird has flown. When the game's been fought Newspaper blown across the court Lost much sooner than you would have thought Now the game's been fought. When the party's through Seems so very sad for you Didn't do the things you meant to do Now there's no time to start anew Now the party's through. When the day is done Down to earth then sinks the sun Along with everything that was lost and won When the day is done.
'Cello song
Strange face With your eyes So pale and sincere Underneath you know well You have nothing to fear For the dreams that came To you when so young Told of a life Where spring is sprung You would seem so frail In the cold of the night When the armies of emotion Go out to fight But while the earth Sinks to it's grave You sail to the sky On the crest of a wave So forget this cruel world Where I belong I'll just sit and wait And sing my song And if one day you should see me in the crowd Lend a hand and lift me To your place in the cloud
The thoughts of Mary Jane
Who can know The thoughts of Mary Jane Why she flies Or goes out in the rain Where she's been And who she's seen In her journey to the stars Who can know The reason for her smile What are her dreams When they've journeyed for a mile The way she sings And her brightly coloured rings Make her the princess of the sky Who can know What happens in her mind Did she come From a strange world And leave her mind behind Her long lost sighs And her brightly coloured eyes Tell her story to the wind Who can know The thoughts of Mary Jane Why she flies Or goes out in the rain Where she's been And who she's seen In her journey to the stars
Man in a shed
Well there was a man Lived in a shed Spent most of his days out of his head For his shed was rotten let in the rain Said it was enough to drive any man insane When it rained He felt so bad When it snowed he felt just simply sad Well there was a girl who lived nearby Whenever he saw her he could only simply sigh But she lived in a house so very big and grand For him it seemed like some very distant land So when he called her His shed to mend She said I'm sorry you'll just have to find a friend Well this story is not so very new But the man is me, yes, and the girl is you So leave your house come into my shed Please stop my world from raining through my head Please don't think I'm not your sort You'll find that sheds are nicer than you thought
Fruit tree
Fame is but a fruit tree So very unsound It can never flourish ‘Til its stock is in the ground So men of fame Can never find a way ‘til time has flown Far from their dying day Forgotten while you're here Remembered for a while A much updated ruin From a much outdated style Life is but a memory Happened long ago Theatre full of sadness For a long forgotten show Seems so easy Just to let it go on by ‘til you stop and wonder Why you never wondered why Safe in the womb Of an everlasting night You find the darkness can Give the brightest light Safe in your place deep in the earth That's when they'll know what you were truly worth Forgotten while you're here Remembered for a while A much updated ruin From a much outdated style Fame is but a fruit tree So very unsound It can never flourish ‘Til it's stock is in the ground So men of fame Can never find a way ‘til time has flown Far from their dying day Fruit tree, fruit tree No-one knows you but the rain and the air Don't you worry They'll stand and stare when you're gone Fruit tree, fruit tree Open your eyes to another year They'll all know That you were here when you're gone
Saturday sun
Saturday sun came early one morning In a sky so clear and blue Saturday sun came without warning So no-one knew what to do Saturday sun brought people and faces That didn't seem much in their day But when I remembered those people and places They were really too good in their way In their way In their way Saturday sun won't come and see me today Think about stories with reason and rhyme Circling through your brain And think about people in their season and time Returning again and again And again And again But Saturday's sun has turned to Sunday's rain So Sunday sat in the Saturday sun And wept for a day gone by
Bryter Layter
Hazey Jane II
And what will happen in the morning When the world it gets so crowded That you can't look out the window in the morning And what will happen in the evening in the forest with the weasel With the teeth that bite so sharp when you're not looking in the evening And all the friends that you once knew are left behind they kept you safe And so secure amongst the books and all the records of your lifetime What will happen In the morning When the world it gets so crowded that you can't look out the window in the morning Hey, take a little while to grow your brothers hair And now, take a little while to make your sister fair And now that the family is part of a chain Take off your eyeshade start over again Now take a little while to find your way in here Now take a little while to make your story clear Now that you're lifting Your feet from the ground Weigh up your anchor And never look ‘round Let's sing a song For Hazey Jane She's back again in my mind If songs were lines In a conversation The situation would be fine
At the chime of a city clock
A city freeze get on your knees Pray for warmth and green paper A city drought, you're down and out See your trousers don't taper Saddle up kick your feet Ride the range of a London street Travel to a local plane Turn around and come back again And at the chime of a city clock Put up your road block Hang on to your crown For a stone in a tin can Is wealth to the city man Who leaves his armour down Stay indoors beneath the floors Talk with neighbours only The games you play make people say You're either weird or lonely A city star won't shine too far On account of the way you are And the beads around your face Make you sure to fit back in place And at the beat of a city drum See how your friends come in twos, Or threes or more For the sound of a busy place Is fine for a pretty face Who knows what a face is for The city clown will soon fall down Without a face to hide in And he will lose if he won't choose The one he may confide in Sonny boy with smokes for sale Went to ground with a face so pale And never heard about the change Showed his hand and fell out of range In the light of a city square Find out that face that's fair Keep it by your side When the light of the city falls You fly to the city walls Take off with your bride But at the chime of a city clock Put up your road block Hang on to your crown For a stone in a tin can Is wealth to the city man Who leaves his armour down
One of these things first
I could have been a sailor Could have been a cook A real live lover Could have been a book I could have been a signpost Could have been a clock As simple as a kettle Steady as a rock I could be Here and now I would be, I should be But how? I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first I could have been your pillar Could have been your door I could have stayed beside you Could have stayed for more I could have been your statue Could have been your friend A whole long lifetime Could have been the end I could be Yours so true I would be I should be Through and through I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first I could have been a whistle Could have been a flute A real live giver Could have been a boot I could have been a signpost Could have been a clock As simple as a kettle Steady as a rock I could be Even here I would be, I should be So near I could have been One of these things first I could have been One of these things first
Hazey Jane I
Do you curse where you come from? Do you swear in the night? Will it mean much to you If I treat you right? Do you like what you're doing? Would you do it some more? Or will you stop once and wonder What you're doing it for? Hey slow, Jane, make sense Slow, slow, Jane, cross the fence Do you feel like a remnant Of something that's past? Do you find things are moving Just a little too fast? Do you hope to find new ways Of quenching your thirst? Do you hope to find new ways of doing Better than your worst? Hey slow, Jane, let me prove Slow, slow, Jane, we're on the move Do it for you Sure that you would do the same for me one day So try to be true Even if it's only in your hazey way Can you tell if you're moving With no mirror to see? If you're just riding a new man Looks a little like me? Is it all so confusing? Is it hard to believe? When the winter is coming can you Sign up and leave Hey slow, Jane, clear your eye Slow, slow, Jane, fly on by
Fly
Please give me a second grace Please give me a second face I've fallen far down the first time around Now I just sit on the ground in your way Now if it's time for recompense for what's done Come, come sit down on the fence in the sun And the clouds will roll by And we'll never deny It's really too hard For to fly Please tell me your second name Please play me your second game I've fallen so far for the people you are I just need your star for a day So come, come ride in my street-car by the bay For now I must know how fine you are in your way And the sea sure as I But she won't need to cry For it's really too hard For to fly
Poor boy
Never sing for my supper I never helped my neighbour Never do what is proper For my fair share of labour I'm a poor boy And I'm a rover Count your coins and Throw them over my shoulder I may grow older Nobody knows How cold it grows And nobody sees How shaky my knees Nobody cares How steep my stairs And nobody smiles If I cross their stiles Oh poor boy So sorry for himself Oh poor boy So worried for his health You may say every day Where will he stay tonight Never know what I came for Seems that I've forgotten Never ask what I came from Or how I was begotten I'm a poor boy And I'm a ranger Things I say May seem stranger than Sunday Changing to Monday Nobody knows How cold it flows And nobody feels The worn down heels Nobody's eyes Make the skies Nobody spreads Their aching heads Oh poor boy So worried for his life Oh poor boy So keen to take a wife He's a mess but he'll say yes If you just dress in white Nobody knows How cold it blows And nobody sees How shaky my knees Nobody cares How steep my stairs And nobody smiles If you cross their stiles Oh poor boy So sorry for himself Oh poor boy So worried for his health You may say every day Where will he stay tonight Oh poor boy So worried for his life Oh poor boy So keen to take a wife Oh poor boy So sorry for himself Oh poor boy So worried for his health Oh poor boy So worried for his life
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 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
Pink Moon
Pink moon
Saw it written and I saw it say Pink moon is on its way And none of you stand so tall Pink moon gonna get ye all And it's a pink moon I saw it written and I saw it say Pink moon is on its way And none of you stand so tall Pink moon gonna get ye all And it's a pink moon Yes, a pink moon Place to be
When I was young, younger than before I never saw the truth hanging from the door And now I'm older see it face to face And now I'm older gotta get up, clean the place And I was green, greener than the hill Where flowers grew and sun shone still Now I'm darker than the deepest sea Just hand me down, give me a place to be And I was strong, strong in the sun I thought I'd see when day was done Now I'm weaker than the palest blue Oh, so weak in this need for you Road
You can say the sun is shining if you really want to I can see the moon and it seems so clear You can take the road that takes you to the stars now I can take a road that'll see me through I can take a road that'll see me through You can take a road that takes you to the stars now I can take a road that'll see me through I can take a road that'll see me through I can take a road that'll see me through. Which will
Which will you go for? Which will you love? Which will you choose from? From the stars above Which will you answer? Which will you call? Which will you take for For your one and all? And tell me now Which will you love the best? Which do you dance for? Which makes you shine? Which will you choose now? If you won't choose mine Which will you hope for? Which can it be? Which will you take now? If you won't take me And tell me now Which will you love the best?
Things behind the sun
Please beware of them that stare They'll only smile to see you while Your time away And once you've seen what they have been To win the earth just won't seem worth Your night or your day Who'll hear what I say? Look around you find the ground Is not so far from where you are But don't be too wise For down below they never grow They're always tired and charms are hired From out of their eyes Never surprise Take your time and you'll be fine And say a prayer for people there Who live on the floor And if you see what's meant to be Don't name the day or try to say It happened before Don't be shy you learn to fly And see the sun when day is done If only you see Just what you are beneath a star That came to stay one rainy day In autumn for free Yes, be what you'll be Please beware of them that stare They'll only smile to see you while Your time away And once you've seen what they have been To win the earth just won't seem worth Your night or your day Who'll hear what I say Open up the broken cup Let goodly sin and sunshine in Yes that's today And open wide the hymns you hide You'll find renown while people frown At things that you say But say what you'll say About the farmers and the fun And the things behind the sun And the people round your head Who say everything's been said And the movement in your brain Sends you out into the rain Know
Know that I love you Know I don't care Know that I see you Know I'm not there
Free ride
I know you I care too I see through All of the pictures that you keep on the wall All of the people that will come to the ball But hear me calling, won't you give me A free ride Hear me calling, won't you give me A free ride I know too What you do When you're through Counting the cattle as they go by the door Keeping a carpet that's so thick on the floor But hear me calling, won't you give me A free ride Hear me calling, won't you give me A free ride I know you I care too I see through All of the pictures that you keep on the wall All of the people that will come to the ball But hear me calling, won't you give me A free ride Hear me calling, won't you give me A free ride
Parasite
Lifting the mask from a local clown Feeling down like him Seeing the light in a station bar And travelling far in sin Sailing downstairs to the Northern Line Watching the shine of the shoes Hearing the trials of the people there Who's to care if they lose Take a look you may see me on the ground For I am the parasite of this town Dancing a jig in a church with chimes A sign of the times today Hearing no bell from the steeple tall People all in dismay Falling so far on a silver spoon Making the moon for fun Changing a rope for a size too small People all get hung Take a look you may see me coming through For I am the parasite who travels two by two When lifting the mask from a local clown And feeling down like him And I'm seeing the light in a station bar And travelling far in sin And I'm sailing downstairs to the Northern Line Watching the shine of the shoes And hearing the trials of the people there Who's to care if they lose Take a look you may see me on the ground For I am the parasite of this town And take a look you may see me in the dirt For I am the parasite who hangs from your skirt
Harvest breed
Falling fast and falling free You look to find a friend Falling fast and falling free This could just be the end Falling fast you stoop to touch And kiss the flowers that bend And you're ready now For the harvest breed
From the morning
A day once dawned And it was beautiful A day once dawned from the ground Then the night she fell And the air was beautiful The night she fell all around So look see the days The endless coloured ways And go play the game that you learnt From the morning And now we rise And we are everywhere And now we rise from the ground And see she flies And she is everywhere See she flies all around So look see the sights The endless summer nights And go play the game that you learnt From the morning
Time Of No Reply
Time of no reply
Summer was gone and the heat died down And Autumn reached for her golden crown I looked behind as I heard a sigh But this was the time of no reply. The sun went down and the crowd went home I was left by the roadside all alone I turned to speak as they went by But this was the time of no reply. The time of no reply is calling me to stay There is no hello and no goodbye To leave there is no way. The trees on the hill had nothing to say They would keep their dreams till another day So they stood and thought and wondered why For this was the time of no reply. Time goes by from year to year And no one asks why I am standing here But I have my answer as I look to the sky This is the time of no reply. The time of no reply is calling me to stay There's no hello and no goodbye To leave there is no way.
I was made to love magic
I was born to love no one No one to love me Only the wind in the long green grass The frost in a broken tree. I was made to love magic All its wonder to know But you all lost that magic Many many years ago. I was born to use my eyes Dream with the sun and the skies To float away in a lifelong song In the mist where melody flies. I was made to love magic... I was born to sail away Into a land of forever Not to be tied to an old stone grave In your land of never. I was made to love magic...
Joey
Joey will come to see your flowers Joey will come to while away your hours But she will tell you you're not so good for her She wouldn't be there if it could be that you were. Joey has loved but never shown her tears So she may laugh in the autumn of your years And when you're with her, you'll wonder if it's true All they said of a world without you. Where she may come from Where she may go Who she may run from No one will know Why she was late may trouble you some Still you wait for Joey to come. Joey will come when once more it looks like snow Joey will come when it's really time to go And you may smile when you find that you've been wrong You thought you'd found her but she knew you all along.
Clothes of sand
Who has dressed you in strange clothes of sand Who has taken you far from my land Who has said that my sayings were wrong And who will say that I stayed much too long? Clothes of sand have covered yor face Given you meaning but taken my place So make your way on down to the sea Something has taken you so far from me. Does it now seem worth all the colour of skies To see the earth through painted eyes To look through panes of shaded glass See the stains of winter's grass. Can you now return to from where you came Try to burn your changing name Or with silver spoons and coloured light Will you worship moons in winter's night. Clothes of sand have covered your face Given you meaning but taken my place So make your way on down to the sea Something has taken you so far from me.
Well there was a man who lived in a shed Spent most of his days out of his head For his shed was rotten let in the rain Said it was enough to drive any man insane When it rained He felt so bad When it snowed he felt just simply sad. Well there was a girl who lived nearby Whenever he saw her he could only simply sigh But she lived in a house so very big and grand For him it seemed like some very distant land So when he called her His shed to mend, She said I'm sorry you'll just have to find a friend. Well this story is not so very new But the man is me, yes and the girl is you So leave your house come into my shed Please stop my world from raining through my head Please don't think I'm not your sort You'll find that sheds are nicer than you thought.
Mayfair
Mayfair strange in the morning light, Mayfair strange in the summer night, Mayfair strangest in the afternoon. Mayfair stretching far above, full of fame but lacking love, Could it be we see the Mayfair moon? Mayfair strange across the park, In the day or in the dark, There's no need to walk or even run. Mayfair faces clean and nice, But beauty here is cold as ice, Could it be we see the Mayfair sun? Mayfair strange at every hour, Hidden frowns with mystic power, Starry heights and golden throne, Down below you're on you're own. Mayfair strange for passers-by, Sights of wonder for the eye, Could it be they'll pass by again? Mayfair calling far and near, For even trees are wealthy here, Could it be we hear the Mayfair rain?
Please give me a second grace Please give me a second face I've fallen far down The first time around Now I just sit on the ground in your way Now if it's time to recompense for what's done Come, come sit down on the fence in the sun And the clouds will roll by And we'll never deny It's really too hard for to fly. Please tell me your second name Please play me your second game I've fallen so far For the people you are I just need your star for a day. So come, come ride in my my street-car by the bay For now I must know how fine you are in your way And the sea sure as I But she won't need to cry For it's really too hard for to fly.
Who can know The thoughts of Mary jane Why she flies Or goes out in the rain Where she's been And who she's seen In her journey to the stars. Who can know The reasons for her smile What are her dreams When they've journeyed for a mile The way she sings And her brightly coloured rings Make her the princess of the sky. Who can know What happens in her mind Did she come from a strange world And leave her mind behind Her long lost sighs And her brightly coloured eyes Tell her story to the wind. Who can know The thoughts of Mary Jane Why she flies Or goes out in the rain Where she's been And who she's seen In her journey to the stars.
Been smoking too long
( Robin Frederick )
Well I wake up in the morning Look at my clock It's way past noon time Now I'm late for work. Tell me, tell me What have I done wrong? Ain't nothing go right with me Must be I've been smoking too long. Well I go to find me some breakfast But I ain't got no food Take me a shower But the water don't feel no good. Tell me... I've got opium in my chimney No other life to choose Nightmare made of hash dreams. Got the devil in my shoes Tell me... Well when I'm smoking Put my worries on a shelf Don't think about nothin' Try not to see myself. Tell me... Well in this blues I'm singin' There's a lesson to be learned Don't go around smokin' Unless you want to get burned. Tell me...
Strange meeting II
Deep down in the depths of forgotten dreams So far away so long ago it seems The memory comes of a distant beach Pale sand stretching far from reach It was then I found my princess of the sand. As I traced the foam, peebles beneath my feet I looked behind, I saw this one so sweet She came to me and I saw in her eyes The heavy toll of a thousand eyes I called her my princess of the sand. She stared at me and my mind was in a maze As we moved along in a summer sea-dream haze She moved her mouth but there came no sound The message she brought can never be found But I called her my princess of the sand. One moment we walked with the night breeze in our face Then I looked, she'd gone. of her presence there was no trace Where she went or came from who can know Or if she'll ever return to help me know Who she is, my princess of the sand. Sometime when the summer nights come back I'll go back to the sea, follow that sandy track I'll look around, hope to find That strange young dream, close behind I'll call her my princess of the sand.
Rider on the wheel
And now you know my name But I don't feel the same But I ain't gonna blame The rider on the wheel. You know my song is new You know it's new for you I tell you how it's true For the rider on the wheel. And round and round we go We take it fast and slow I must keep up a show For the rider on the wheel For the rider on the wheel. And now you know my name But I don't feel the same But I ain't gonna blame The rider on the wheel The rider on the wheel.
Black eyed dog
A black eyed dog he called at my door The black eyed dog he called for more A black eyed dog he knew my name A black eyed dog he knew my name A black eyed dog A black eyed dog. I'm growing old and I wanna go home I'm growiing old and I don't wanna know I'm growing old and I wanna go home. A black eyed dog he called at my door A black eyed dog he called for more.
Hanging on a star
Why leave me hanging on a star When you deem me so high When you deem me so high When you deem me so high. And why leave me sailing in a sea When you hear me so clear When you hear me so clear When you hear me so clear. And why leave me hanging on a star When you deem me so high When you deem me so high When you deem me so high.
Voice from the mountain
Voice from the mountain And a voice from the sea Voice in my neighbourhood And a voice calling me. Tell me my friend my friend Tell me with love Where can it end it end Voice from above. The sound on the ocean wave And the sound in the tree Sound in a country lane Say you can be free. Tell me you crowd you crowd Tell me again Tell me out loud out loud This sound is rain. Tune from the hillside And tune full of light A flute in the morning And a chime in the night. I know the game again I know the score I know my name my name But this tune is more. Voice from the mountain And voice from the sea Voice from in my neighbourhood And a voice calling me. Tell me my friend my friend Tell me with love Where can it end it end Voice from above.
Made to love magic
Tow the line
This day is the day that we rise or we fall This night is the night that we win or lose all This time is the time that we wait for a while This year is the year that we wait with a smile If you call, we will follow If you show us we can tow the line And now that you're here you can show me the way Now that you're here we can try make it pay For while you were gone it was hard it was cold While you were gone we were time we were old If you call we will follow If you show us we can tow the line
Family Tree
Come into the garden
It in a bright red sky In the heat of an evening When only prisoners sleep She said she couldn't Come to the garden See an old man weep
*** Thanx a lot to Sarah for this one ***
They're Leaving Me Behind The tramp moves on to the end of the street I listen to the echo of his hobnail feet For some there's a future to find But I think they're leaving me behind. The world humes on at its breakneck pace People fly in their lifelong race For them there's a future to find But I think they're leaving me behind. The chances they come, but the chances have been lost Success can be gained, but at too great a cost For some there's a future to find But I think they're leaving me behind. The wind sweeps up and goes back to its tree The rain flows by and moves to the sea For them there's a future to find But I think they're leaving me behind
Time Piece Still it's time that grows in my brain Still it's time that calls me again Still I scream and time ticks Still I cringe from time's tricks Still I groan for time's loves But still I'll try for time perhaps
Poor mum Poor mum Poor mum After a lifetime of dreaming Poor mum Poor mum Whatever became of your scheming Nothing worked out in the way that you planned Nothing was quite as you thought Try very hard not to misunderstand Joy as it flies cannot be caught Poor mum Poor mum Where did you take a wrong turning Poor mum Poor mum Pack up that last little yearning Pack it away with the books and the toys Silent and bound Silent and mend Go out and grab at you life and forget You are poor, poor mum
*** Thanx a lot to Shani for this one ***
Strollin' Down The Highway (Bert Jansch) Strolling down the highway I'm gonna get there my way Just keep on down-a-walking You hear my guitar, rocking Well I stroll On down On down the highway People think I'm a crazing Lot about how they're-a-lazing Sunshine's all day long Narcotics far too strong Well I stroll On down On down the highway Cars won't stop for no one But don't you think that you're just rolling down Think you are a spy Gonna shoot them as they go by Well, no cars No cars Won't stop for no one Strolling down the highway I'm gonna get there my way Just keep on down-a-walking You hear my guitar, rocking Well I stroll On down On down the highway
Blossom Black days of winter all were through The blossoms came and they brought you Clouds left the sky And I knew the reason why They made way for you and the blossom. The seasons cycle turned again An april shower now and then Trees came alive And the bees left their hive They came out to see you and the blossom. People were laughing, smiling with the sun They knew that summer had begun. The nights grew warm, the days grew long Spring turned to summer and was gone It seemed so fine All the cider and the wine But I knew you'd go with the blossom. When spring returns I'll look again To find another blossom friend Until I do Find something new I'll just think of you and the blossom.
Kimbie
( Traditional / Jackson C. Frank )
Kimbie wants a nine dollar show Kimbie wants a nine dollar show She wants a nine dollar show And I need Well Kimbie let your hair hang down Kimbie let your hair hang down Let your hair hang down T'il it touches the ground Well Kimbie let your hair hang down Kimbie let your hair hang down Let your hair hang down Cause come the morning I'll be gone Well Kimbie where you been so long Well Kimbie where you been so long I've been down in your state pen With those rough and rowdy Rough and rowdy men Well Kimbie where you been so long Well Kimbie where you been so long I've been down in your state pen And I gotta go back again Well Kimbie where you been so long
Well I wished I was a mole in the ground I wished I were a mole in the ground I was a mole in the ground And that I'd tear this mountain I'd tear this mountain down Wished I was a mole in the ground
Come into the Garden It in a bright red sky In the heat of an evening When only prisoners sleep She said she couldn't Come to the garden See an old man weep She said her dreams were too far to be thought of Her scars too wide to heal She said she couldn't come to the garden See a blind man kneel She sailed away to a blue horizon In floating thoughts she'd sway She said she couldn't come to the garden See an old man pray She wished them luck as they left on their journey Maybe she'd join them soon But she lost her grin at the tip of life's fingers Went home and worshiped the moon
Do you ever remember
( Molly Drake ) Do you ever remember Now you're so far away Things that we used to laugh about Crazy things we'd say There were so many may times When everyone was a song There were so many gay times Before it all went oh so wrong But time is ever a vagabond Time was always a thief Time can steal away happiness But time can take away grief So I won't try to remember For that way leads to regret No I won't try to remember What I can never forget
Non Albums Tracks
Mickey's Tune Sailing in seas of forget-me-not Joining the race for the sun Following baits made of daisy-chains The new life has now begun. So go your way and I'll follow Just lead the way. Drifting in lights of the fairground Floating away on the breeze Dazzled by scenes of a merry go round You take the air with such ease. So go your way and I'll follow Just lead the way. Dancing to midsummer nightsongs Sprayed by the warmth of the rain Blurred in the heat of a landscape Fly to the moon once again. So go your way and I'll follow on the breeze Float with such ease Lead the way. Joey in Mind When Joey first came the light seemed to rise Thought it came in the night and left with her eyes And I wish that her face would return once again Just one day to remind me of Saturday's gain. As I sit in her city in fog and in steam Everything's blurred, for blurred is my dream So I'll leave for my terrace and tea laced with rum And wait for the day when Joey will come. And come all the dreams that never did try To live on a memory or float on a sigh Together we'll sit in the Saturday rain And dream of Joey or Mary Jane. Outside Seems the time is near for finding a place outside Seems the time is here for holding the window wide So I'm going to try To open up one eye But if the world is too wide I'll be home to hide Keep it warm inside, if it's strange, outside. Seems the time has flown, when we lived inside a cloud Seems the time has gone, when nothing we said was out loud Going to find a word Make myself be heard But if the world is too loud I'll be home from the crowd Keep it soft inside, if it's strange, outside. Seems the time has come for banging our feet to the ground Seems the time has come to see if the world is round Sweep the smoke away Reach the earth today But if the world is all wrong I won't be staying long Keep it cool inside, if it's strange, outside. Blue Season Snow in springtime, storm in the sea Mist at my window, no leaf on my tree Showers in the garden with no flowers to touch When will you bring us your sunshine and such. Season tell me true What's been wrong with you Won't you turn again Blow away the rain Blue season, turn away. Wind in the evening, dust in your eye Heart full of shadow and cloud in your sky Everything's wrong and you know you're to blame Nothing will change while you're still the same Cold in the city, tears on the street Faces are empty in those that you meet Lovers and losers who fail in the night When will it be that you'll treat them right. Season tell me true How much do we need you Won't you turn your wheel Hide your heart of steel Blue season, turn away. Countries and people caught in the rain When will they learn to feel fine again Wandering lost now for nothing is clear Waiting for signs of the turn of the year. Season tell me true What's been wrong with you Won't you turn again Blow away in the rain Blue season, turn away