A Stranger Among Us: Searching for Nick Drake (1999)

Documentary about singer songwriter Nick Drake. The film traces his life story through his friends and colleagues vague memories of him, but all they have is an impression of someone they never really knew.

[@A27-j5v]

I've just discovered Nick Drake in 2024. What a very sad story. I can't stop listening to his music, Saturday Sun in particular.

[@lindahandley5267]

I'm glad you found him. Enjoy!🌹

[@lolafinch]

Saturday sun keeps me alive. fr fr no cap

[@lindahandley5267]

We can speculate all day about Nick, but unless a person has experienced depression, it's hard to understand. It is a living hell. There's no real pleasure or joy in life, concentration and focus is difficult, you feel like there's no way out, sleep is impacted, it can be physically painful. I've had a taste of it and it was easily the scariest thing I've ever been through. My heart breaks for him or anyone who suffers with it. RIP dear Nick.🌹

[@Lalairu]

I hope you are doing better now, I've had depression too and it was one of the worst moments of my life. I really thought it wouldn't end. I also play guitar and it affected me a lot, I wasn't able to play without feeling tremendously miserable. I have some anxiety recently but nothing compared to the past times. It is so sad how many people suffer from this pain and never get out. Nick also lived in a time in which mental health issues weren't properly treated, and his drug use didn't help much. Big hugs from Spain :)

[@lindahandley5267]

​@@Lalairu Thank you for your sweet reply. I'm so sorry that you had to experience such a nightmare. It is the loneliest place to be. I hope you are doing well also! Many years ago I had post-partum depression with my first son. It was supposed to be the happiest of times, yet I was overwhelmed, confused, lost and desperate to find the light. I wasn't sure how to do it, but I had to get some relief and who knows how it could have ended. Meds just made it worse. One day I was feeling so desperate, that I dropped to my knees, looked up and asked Jesus to please help me. Within 2 days, the fog began to lift and each day after was better. I don't know how you feel about prayer but He was the only One who could save me from an uncertain time. He IS the 'Great Physician'! Take good care of yourself!❤

[@diana.po.]

@@lindahandley5267 I've seen your lovely comment on the other Nick Drake documentary ( A Skin Too Few) and they were lovely words about missing someone you never knew. Now having read your experience here I couldn't help myself but give testimony to what you have shared with all of us. I've been there too, and still am struggling quite often, and so far the best medicine had always come from praying to the Lord, the only comfort that truly heals your wounds. I give you an embrace and wish you peace of mind and happiness with all your loved ones! A mother who loves Nick Drake's music must surely be a very inspiring one!

[@lindahandley5267]

@@diana.po. Dear Diana, your precious words have me crying. That is the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me. Yes, the Lord is my saving grace. He's truly the only One who can help. I've had too many losses to talk about on here, but Faith has gotten me through. So many people get turned off when Jesus' name is mentioned, which is a mystery to me. I'm so glad we're sisters in Christ! When I wrote those words about Nick, I don't know where they came from. There was just something so special about him...there was a sadness about him and his music. Even though he's crossed over, his music is still affecting so many people. Keep praying and I will say a prayer for you too! I don't know you, but I love your spirit and I thank you again. You made me cry and smile at the same time! 💗

[@diana.po.]

@@lindahandley5267 oh, this is so beautiful! I know what you mean about people being turned off when mentioning Jesus’s name. But truly I think the same, that Faith helps us get through. If I haven’t rerurned to my faith, I don’t think I would be alive to this day. And I love that we struck a chord with each other and it was thanks to Nick Drake’s sensitive music: I hope he found peace and forgiveness! Have a beautiful life, Linda! Lift up your heart!❤️🤗

[@jipes]

One of the most incredible songwriter and an amazing creating guitarist; Hard to believe that such a beautiful soul couldn't stay longer with us

[@James-J-J-J]

I constantly return to Nick’s music. The annual gathering for him in Tanworth in Arden is always a treat. 😊

[@A27-j5v]

Can you tell me more about this please?

[@josefinagarza241]

​@@A27-j5vyes plz❤

[@josefinagarza241]

Publish those pictures plz❤❤❤

[@robday3968]

I remember watching this programme late one night whilst I was studying at Bristol University in 1998/99. I actually felt guilty and or slightly embarrassed that I had no idea who Nick Drake was! The very next day I went down to a record shop and bought every single album of Nicks that was there. I'm not so much of a lyrics man, but far more in love with music, and the clarity and precision of Nicks playing is what blew me away. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

[@lindahandley5267]

That seems to be the effect he and his music have on people just discovering him. I know it did me. I was in awe! Plus, I was saddened that I hadn't been enjoying his music all these years, and how could I not have known about him?

[@MrsLevinson175]

River Man is my favourite Nick Drake song ❤

[@josefinagarza241]

I first heard Road,am hooked❤

[@lindahandley5267]

Mine too. It just does something to my soul. How grand would it have been to have met him or watched him perform live. But, as we all learned he was a shy sort and I can certainly understand that, having to perform in front of people. I think I would just die. I almost didn't make through high school with having to give 'book reports' in front of the English class.😩

[@portcullis5622]

I am surprised that in all the interviews, books and radio programmes I have seen/read/ heard about Nick Drake, I have never heard anyone mention autism. I was diagnosed as autistic myself a few years ago, in middle age. I don't claim to be exceptionally talented at anything, but autistic people often are. Nick Drake's social awkwardness and introverted, withdrawn or retiring behaviour that people describe, sound like textbook autistic traits to me. I just wonder if people are too quick to attribute a lot of his shyness and awkwardess to depression and drugs, when it could have been a lot more complex than that. Autistic people are often very creative and exceptionally talented, but can lack self-belief and confidence in a crowded situation. It could explain Nick's reluctance to perform in public and, in later years, to become less communicative. In social situations, many autistic people have to work very hard to try to fit in and find small talk very difficult. We call it "masking" and it can be exhausting.

[@lindahandley5267]

That was a beautiful explanation and you know firsthand. It sure sounds like the Nick I've learned about. I'm glad you said this because he just seemed too intelligent to have gotten involved with heavy drugs at the time. I have read that he overdosed on his depression medication, whether or not it was intentional. Anyway, it seems rare to see a pic of him smiling. He always looked somber. I'm so sorry that he isn't here anymore. He would have been 76, and probably still writing and singing his beautiful music.😪

[@charliefenton8719]

19/09/2023 - Nick Drake such a settling voice

[@1seansouth]

I'm always fascinated by what the brain remembers from documentaries decades later - 25 years since I saw this and what I had remembered was the extraordinary confrontation near the end when the record label man described Drake's poetry as adolescent. The bravery of doing that stood out and also his sister's beautiful accent. Now many left who speak like that anymore.

[@rheahayes3149]

Nick Drake Lives On In His Amazing Music. I’m grateful I came across “Northern Sky”…a beautifully enchanting song which led me to the rest of his phenomenal songs. RIP Nick Drake~You are eternally Loved & Revered🙏🩷💕

[@australianmade2659]

Vincent Van Gogh, Eva Cassidy and Nick Drake. All died without knowing fame. All are known the world over decades later.

[@stevenbaker7696]

18/06/23 How strange, I am watching this having just found the John Grant version of 'Day is Done' posted four days ago, from a forthcoming 'covers' album. In fifteen minutes it will be Nick Drake's birthday ... time has told me ...

[@paulyeomans850]

He had pure natural talent did Nick.

[@seedsower42k50]

Another brilliant light, dimmed by manic depression unto an untimely death ❤ 😢

[@mjh5437]

He was just straight out very depressed,I have never heard nor read of any manic episodes.

[@Polygor2]

Schizophrenia, according to Richard Morton Jack's book, The Life

[@michemackinnon7058]

One can surmise that it’s a form of manic depression given how productive / prolific he was. In addition to his depression he likely was having mixed states with some mania and depression present. It’s challenging to produce such incredible content when you’re in throes of just pure depression (as he experienced sometimes)

[@josefinagarza241]

​@@michemackinnon7058poor sweetie, left us rich with his music❤

[@Michel-r6m]

Just discovered Nick Drake. Going by his music I'd say he was an introvert. You can only hear him when listening 😉

[@martinboere3274]

The Island executive's notion that Nick Drake's lyrics are 'adolescent' (30:24) might have met fierce contradiction by the other persons present in the room. I mean, come on! If Nick Drake's lyrics are 'adolescent' then how to classify lyrics by for instance Lennon/McCartney or David Bowie? I guess the guy has been too much of a businessman to bother to listen.

[@olliecrees]

Yep. Him saying that really upset me. He's clearly not listening properly.

[@kevinkenny6975]

He's just saying that because he knows he failed Nick

[@martinboere3274]

Probably, yeah. @@kevinkenny6975

[@carlrichards9333]

Some people just don't get it and this Island Executive Freak definitely didn't...

[@ravenblack136]

I don't agree with what that music executive said about Nick's lyrics, but I think he was extremely prescient in saying that Nick would have been more comfortable in today's times, when you can make music at home and then reach a significant audience via the internet. And that is even more true today (2024) than it was in the late nineties, when this documentary was made.

[@marclayne9261]

Nick Drake , A Romantic Poet...' A Dream Within A Dream'...

[@ernestintownandjackintheco1024]

I’ve always thought it very strange that the prophetic lyrics of fruit tree were on the first album. You would expect perhaps this kind of song on his third album when Drake realized that he wasn’t making a dent amongst his contemporaries.

[@nickdomenicos5987]

Yes, at this point he would have expected something to happen with his music and yet he is resigned to what he says in fruit tree about fame. You are right, it is very strange, although he would have observed post death fame in others in history maybe...also the creative process is not always entirely conscious therefore he may have been articulating these ideas sub consciously because his temperament tended towards this... All these ideas are maybes😊

[@ernestintownandjackintheco1024]

@@nickdomenicos5987 all we can be sure of is that it is great music!

[@lindahandley5267]

@@nickdomenicos5987 That makes a lot of sense. He was a mysterious and complicated young man.

[@gerrymurphy3854]

So little was known about Cannabis psychosis in the late '60s/early '70s. These people have known so little about depression, which they mistake for self-seeking solipsism. ND was a sick young man. For people who associate illness with the lower classes, they'll ruminate forever. The truth is those who knew him feel deeply guilty. They have not the spiritual resources to praise his memory and say a prayer for the repose of his soul...

[@jandekker6055]

In what strange imagination are public schools microcosms of British society?

[@silaslangsyd]

Internal pecking order

[@storiesue1699]

They aren't. Most of us didn't go to a public school, we just jog on hoping for the best. The outside world thinks we all speak like the late Queen and drink tea all day😊 Nonsense.

[@sachetsofrelish]

"He found it hard to communicate with anyone". Anyone with a public-school-Cambridge cut-glass accent, maybe.

[@johnarundell7951]

Nick had the same accent, his recorded speaking voice sounds exactly like Prince Charles .. known as Morning Monologue which was when he recorded himself rambling after driving home drunk on the wrong side of the road from a party (he explains that he recently returned from 'abroad' where he had been driving on the other side) that's the only time I've heard him speak apart from a few words in the studio between songs.

[@sachetsofrelish]

@@johnarundell7951 'Perhaps I should say, 'without a cut glass accent'.

[@storiesue1699]

It doesn't matter what his background was. Different courses for different horses. It didn't help him, coming from a privileged background, did it? Maybe it had the opposite effect. Expectations and all that.

[@sachetsofrelish]

@@storiesue1699 what I'm getting at is that ND's background was very oldskool English, especially as his parents were returned expats. In the early 70s he may well have felt estranged and entitled at the same time.

[@storiesue1699]

@@sachetsofrelish they sure were. He'd have probably been officer class if he'd gone in the army, etc

[@carlrichards9333]

The fact he told his father he didn't want a "safety net" when his father pleaded with him to go get a degree tells you so much he wanted nothing to do with institutions like universities or to live in the Box of regular society....

[@JorgeSantos-ik4qq]

Such darkness in all of these people's eyes

[@justmadeit2]

I could imagine Bob Dylan singing bryter later

[@daynamarie54]

Rest in peace Nick Drake , I love your music

[@robbflynn4325]

Probably ended up taking too many drugs. They can have a very negative effect. Great talent though.

[@evelynap9728]

If he would have been American..............🌹🌹🙏

[@ryandudley3616]

Love the music, interested in the guy; but all this hoity toity posh background sh it is quite off putting. Imagine the horror of him having to work a full time job on top of having depression.

[@speedysteve9121]

In an industry dominated by money-grubbers, Nick Drake was too good. The music press savaged his work because they prefer mindless savage beats.

[@marclayne9261]

'Gemini's are most creative Artists..

[@CitizenCult]

....what the fuck did she say at 1:43 ??

[@siamangape8853]

she forgot the script

[@navidasadisaravi6148]

36:22

[@lolafinch]

What's with lynda's objectifying and dehumanising?😂

[@hollywooda111]

This is the most British thing you'll ever see ha...