Nick Drake was a British musician and songwriter known for his unique and influential style of folk music. He first gained recognition in the late 1960s and early 1970s for his introspective and melancholic songs. Although he had little commercial success during his lifetime, he has since become a cult figure in the music world and has been cited by numerous artists as a major influence. His albums, including Five Leaves Left (1969), Bryter Layter (1970), and Pink Moon (1972), are widely regarded as some of the finest examples of English folk music.
| Name: | Nick Drake |
| Birth Date: | 19 June 1948 |
| Genre: | Folk, Jazz, Rock |
| Instruments: | Guitar, Piano, Ukulele |
| Labels: | Island Records, Hannibal Records, Deram Records |
| Notable Songs: | “Fruit Tree”, “Time Has Told Me”, “Pink Moon” |
10 Best Nick Drake Quotes
1.
“I mean, I can’t explain why I like music, I just do.”
– Nick Drake, from nickdrake.com
2.
“I think I’ve got more confidence than I had when I was 17. I think I’m less scared of people, and more sure of what I want to do.”
– Nick Drake, from BBC Music
3.
“I think the best thing about music is that there’s no right or wrong. You can do whatever you want.”
– Nick Drake, from AllMusic
4.
“I’ve been brought up in the country, and I think that’s had a lot to do with the music I write.”
– Nick Drake, from AllMusic
5.
“I think it’s important to have some kind of direction in life, to have something that you want to work towards, and to use music to express the things you want to say.”
– Nick Drake, from Wikipedia
6.
“I’m not a great believer in instant success. I think it’s better to stick with something and see how it goes.”
– Nick Drake, from Wikipedia
7.
“I don’t really like to talk about music very much. I would rather just play it.”
– Nick Drake, from The Guardian
8.
“People are so busy, it’s hard to get a real connection with them sometimes. I’d rather just play music and let it speak for itself.”
– Nick Drake, from The Guardian
9.
“I think it’s important to be honest and true to yourself in what you do, and to make sure you don’t get pushed around.”
– Nick Drake, from The Guardian
10.
“I think music can be a way of expressing yourself without having to say too much.”
– Nick Drake, from The Guardian
6 Inspirational Nick Drake Quotes
“I think the music should speak for itself. I don’t want to get into all that.”
– Nick Drake, from BBC
“When I write songs I forget everything else, and I just concentrate on the song.”
– Nick Drake, from YouTube
“It’s all connected with me, if I’m writing it.”
– Nick Drake, from YouTube
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m living for the present.”
– Nick Drake, from Washington Post
“I don’t really think of myself as a singer, or really as a musician. I just write songs.”
– Nick Drake, from BBC
“I don’t like to talk about it, because I think it spoils the effect of the music.”
– Nick Drake, from YouTube
8 Famous Nick Drake Quotes
“I’m not really a performer, I’m just a songwriter.”
– Nick Drake, from Rolling Stone
“I’ve never been particularly aware of what was going on in the music world.”
– Nick Drake, from The Independent
“My music is very simple music and it’s about very simple things.”
– Nick Drake, from The Guardian
“I have no explanation for why I write songs.”
– Nick Drake, from The Guardian
“I just write what I feel.”
– Nick Drake, from The Guardian
“I don’t think I’m a poet, I just write songs.”
– Nick Drake, from The Guardian
“I never really think about the words that I’m using, I just try to get the feeling of the music across.”
– Nick Drake, from The Independent
“I can’t really explain why my songs are so sad.”
– Nick Drake, from The Independent
6 Nick Drake Quotes About Love
“Love is the most important thing in the world, and yet it’s the hardest thing to talk about.”
– Nick Drake, from BBC Music
“In one way or another I think every song I’ve written has something to do with love.”
– Nick Drake, from All Music
“I think it’s so important to be able to express love. I think it’s the only thing that really matters in life.”
– Nick Drake, from All Music
“The main thing about love is that it is something very personal, and very individual. You can’t really put it into words.”
– Nick Drake, from All Music
“Love has always been a big theme in my songs. I think it is the most important thing in the world and yet it’s the hardest to talk about.”
– Nick Drake, from Qantas Travel Insider
“I think that love is the most important thing in the world, and yet it’s the hardest thing to talk about.”
– Nick Drake, from All Music
8 Nick Drake Quotes About Life
“I think the only thing I ever wanted to do was to make some sort of music that would say something about life.”
– Nick Drake, from Recorder Magazine
“The thing I’m interested in is life.”
– Nick Drake, from Recorder Magazine
“I think the only thing I ever wanted to do was to make some sort of music that would say something about life.”
– Nick Drake, from Recorder Magazine
“I think life is quite a strange thing, quite strange.”
– Nick Drake, from Melody Maker
“I think life is a very strange thing, but I don’t think it’s that strange.”
– Nick Drake, from Melody Maker
“Life is a very strange thing and some people don’t ever seem to realize that.”
– Nick Drake, from Melody Maker
“Most of us don’t really know that life is a very strange thing and we just accept it as it is.”
– Nick Drake, from Melody Maker
“Life can be a very strange thing and I think it’s best to keep your eyes open and try and make out the best of it.”
– Nick Drake, from New Musical Express
7 Quotes About Nick Drake
“Nick Drake was a brilliant artist, with a unique sound and vision that still resonates today.”
– John Martyn, from The Guardian
“Nick Drake was a true original, a unique and profound singer-songwriter.”
– David Gray, from The Guardian
“I think Nick Drake is one of the most beautiful voices in music history.”
– Lana Del Rey, from Grammy.com
“Nick Drake’s music is like a dream — it takes you to a different place.”
– Norah Jones, from Rolling Stone
“Nick Drake’s music has a timeless quality. His music will remain beautiful and relevant for many years to come.”
– Laura Marling, from NME
“Nick Drake’s music still sounds as fresh and relevant as it did in the 1970s.”
– Badly Drawn Boy, from The Guardian
“Nick Drake’s music is so evocative and haunting, it will stay with you forever.”
– Beth Orton, from The Guardian
Interview with Nick Drake
Frequently Asked Questions About Nick Drake
1. What are some of the most famous Nick Drake quotes?
Nick Drake was an influential folk-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, who released three studio albums during his short career. His melancholic lyrics, unique guitar-playing style, and gentle vocal delivery has since made him a cult figure in the world of music. Here are some of his most famous quotes:
- “Fate’s a sail, not a jail.”
- “It’s a never-ending cycle, that’s what it is.”
- “Time has told me, you’re a rare rare find.”
- “I don’t want to see another day.”
- “The sun goes down and I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”
- “I’m so tired, I can’t sleep.”
- “There’s a lot of things I could never tell.”
- “I will not let you leave my sight.”
- “I lay myself down on the ground and I pray.”
- “I will miss you like the deserts miss the rain.”
2. What song lyrics by Nick Drake are the most popular?
Nick Drake is widely known for his melancholic, thoughtful lyrics, and over the years, these have become some of the most beloved and oft-quoted song lyrics of all time. Here are some of the most popular Nick Drake song lyrics:
- “Know that I’m dreaming of the river, and the river is wide and deep” – from River Man
- “Fruit tree, never bearing fruit, what good is such a tree?” – from Fruit Tree
- “Though my heart is full, it doesn’t weigh me down” – from Things Behind the Sun
- “Don’t think twice, it’s all right” – from Day Is Done
- “Time has told me, you’re a rare, rare find” – from Time Has Told Me
- “It’s a fool who’ll waste his time, he’ll regret it in his mind” – from Way To Blue
3. What themes did Nick Drake explore in his music?
Nick Drake explored a variety of themes throughout his work, often drawing on personal experiences and philosophical questions. His songs often touched on topics such as mortality, loneliness, and the beauty of nature. His music was often melancholic, often taking on a dream-like quality. Some of the themes he explored included:
- Mortality
- Loneliness
- Nature
- Dreams
- Philosophical questions
The melancholic tone of his music, combined with his poetic lyrics, made Nick Drake’s songs emotionally resonant and deeply affecting. His music continues to be admired and appreciated by listeners from all walks of life.
4. How did Nick Drake’s music influence the music of later generations?
Nick Drake’s music has had a lasting impact on the music of later generations. His music is known for its ethereal, melancholic quality and his fingerpicking guitar style has been an inspiration to many singers and songwriters.
- His unique guitar style has been noted by many notable guitarists, including Johnny Marr, Pete Townshend, and Mike Oldfield, who have all cited Drake as an influence on their music.
- His influence can also be heard in the work of contemporary artists such as Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens, who have both drawn inspiration from his music.
- His lyrics, which are often introspective and melancholy, have been credited with inspiring many other songwriters, such as Elliott Smith and Conor Oberst.
- His music has also had an impact on the genres of folk and alternative rock, with bands such as Fleet Foxes and Radiohead citing him as an influence.
- His music has also been sampled by many hip-hop producers, such as Kanye West, who sampled Drake’s song “Pink Moon” on his album The College Dropout.
Nick Drake’s music has had a lasting impact on the music of later generations, inspiring generations of musicians and songwriters to come.
5. What is the Historical Context of Nick Drake’s Music?
Nick Drake’s music was heavily influenced by the folk music of the 1960s and 1970s. His unique sound was a combination of jazz, rock, and folk, with elements of blues, classical, and even Indian music. He was also influenced by the British folk music revival of the time, which was a reaction to the growing popularity of American rock and roll.
Nick Drake’s lyrics were often melancholic and introspective, reflecting his inner struggles and personal experiences. His style of music was often considered too subtle and personal to be commercially successful, but it gained a cult following in the years after his death.
Drake’s music was also influenced by his upbringing in a privileged and sheltered English family, as well as his studies at Cambridge University. His music was often seen as a commentary on the social and political issues of the time, such as the Vietnam War.
- Nick Drake was heavily influenced by the folk music of the 1960s and 1970s.
- His unique sound was a combination of jazz, rock, and folk, with elements of blues, classical, and Indian music.
- He was also influenced by the British folk music revival of the time.
- Nick Drake’s lyrics were often melancholic and introspective, reflecting his inner struggles and personal experiences.
- His style of music was often considered too subtle and personal to be commercially successful, but it gained a cult following in the years after his death.
- Drake’s music was also influenced by his upbringing in a privileged and sheltered English family, as well as his studies at Cambridge University.
- His music was often seen as a commentary on the social and political issues of the time, such as the Vietnam War.
Conclusion
Nick Drake was a talented English singer-songwriter whose music and words continue to resonate with fans around the world. Although his life and career were tragically cut short, his legacy continues to live on in his timeless music and lyrics. Nick Drake was an artist who was able to create beautiful and thought-provoking music that encapsulated his unique style and vision. His music is a reminder of how powerful and influential music can be and how it can move people in powerful ways. His legacy will continue to inspire fans and musicians alike for generations to come.
