Breaking Down Nick Drake's PERFECT Song

[@orangefiltersky1129]

I just discovered this miracle of a song today. And then I found your wonderful breakdown. Thank you so much for that.

[@GuyWhoLikesTheSnarkies1435]

I see Nick Drake, I instantly click! What a criminally underrated genius of his time, also a gentle but poor soul. I relate to the solitude and loneliness Drake had felt during his lifetime, depression is no joke and can be harmful. I feel deeply sorry he had to end his own chapters tragically, but his invaluable lifetime works will forever be remembered and appreciated dearly by all of his fans posthumously 🙏🙏

[@calendulabbra]

Not only of his time. 🙂

[@wicky4473]

Perfectly put. I agree wholeheartedly

[@gillesserrigny6324]

​@@Peter-pg8qnStrangely, River Man has become a jazz standard.

[@alexia_poly]

😊​@@gillesserrigny6324 .

[@5on-of-Fire]

Thankyou for covering Nick’s beautiful music. I first heard his music in 1992 after a night out clubbing at ministry of sound in London, and going back to a near stranger’s house in Richmond upon Thames, he pulled out a worn copy of Five Leaves Left in the early morning hours before we slept and asked if I’d ever heard of Nick Drake? The song he played me as the dawn rose was River Man and it has stayed with me as one of the most magical moments in my life. I visit Nick’s grave in the midlands to pay my respects and give thanks for his music in the sleepy village of Tamworth in Arden when I can. His gravestone is etched with the word ‘and now we rise and we are everywhere.’ Wonderful, timeless music.

[@countingcoup]

So glad a real musician has discovered Nick Drake and chose to breakdown one of many of his iconic songs ❤ His whole catalog is like finding a pirate’s chest of gold and jewel bootie 🌟 Much respect to your choice and channel ~

[@mysteryfox8717]

Nick Drake is to music what Fernando Pessoa is to poetry.

[@marksims3904]

The lyrics to Cello Song are unreal, for example. "Strange face with your eyes, so pale and sincere. Underneath in a world, for you have nothing to fear. For the dreams that came to you, when so young.........told of a light where spring is sprung". And the closing lines.........."And if one day you should see me in a crowd, lend a hand and lift me to your place in the cloud". Written in 1969 on the album Five Leaves Left..........he died in 1974. Five. Leaves. Left. Analyse that last line again and again. I LOVE Nick Drake.

[@louisvandenberg2153]

Drake's music is a sad, deep and beautiful mystery, from which you have lifted a veil, revealing a deeper mystery. You ask the question: "Where does this music come from?" It's a resonance of creation, both nothing and everything. If you know, you know, as Drake did. As you do. Well done.

[@Natalie-es3dc]

When I first discovered Drake, I listened to RIVER MAN on loop for 3 days.

[@tomservo5347]

I remember while stationed in Germany and getting stuck on rearguard this old retired GI had the radio on in the breakroom at the mailroom on some unknown public English language station. While eating lunch one day a 15 minute spot played on the genius of Nick Drake with excerpts from his songs and a musical breakdown for each one. I went straight to a local German music shop (great for finding music hard to find in the States-lots of British music) and got 'Bryter Layter'. Even the names of his albums had a melancholy touch-'Bryter Layter' being a play on weather forecasts in the paper, 'rain and clouds early, brighter later' and 'Five Leaves Left' being what was written on cigarette rolling papers to tell you that you were about to run out. As Jerry Cantrell stated, the best music usually comes from the darkest places.

[@supervox9283]

I still cry every time I hear it

[@SchwalbeundZinken]

“You’re a rare, rare find A troubled cure For a troubled mind” These lines from “Time has told me” make me cry everytime I hear them. Nick Drake was a phenomenal lyricist aside from the great music. There is an interesting version of “River Man” from the Nigel Kennedy Quintet with Boy George (!) on vocals. Thank you for the content you do not fail to produce in such fantastic quality. Listening to and learning from you is a great experience. Thank you very much, again!

[@petertaysum8947]

Nice to see someone else recognising NK & Boy George's version. BG's more mature voice is so good, and fits perfectly.

[@matthewschenker3170]

Thank you for leading me to this wonderful rendition of a beautiful song!

[@justinlinusotto1222]

The Cure got their band name from these lyrics

[@SchwalbeundZinken]

@@justinlinusotto1222 Oh, I did not know that. Thank you, now I like it even more 🙂

[@matthewschenker3170]

@@justinlinusotto1222: I love The Cure. I did not know they got their name from Nick Drake.

[@LionAndALamb]

This is the best analysis of a Nick Drake song that I've ever heard. Thank you for this. I wish every scholarly musician could speak as clearly as this. One more tidbit about Drake...those who worked with him say he usually recorded his guitar in one take no matter how downtrodden he was physically and mentally. Just showed up and laid down a perfect track right out of the gate. Prodigious talent in every way.

[@andyj482]

I read that the Pink Moon album was an exception to that - a lot of the vocals were separate because he couldn’t hold it together very well.

[@LionAndALamb]

@@andyj482 I'm sure he eventually reached a breaking point give how profoundly ill he was.

[@johnnyCheeseburger]

I just read Richard Morton Jack's biography of Nick Drake and was stunned that almost all of his songs were recorded live (aside from what @andyj482 correctly brings up about Pink Moon). I mean, River Man, Day is Done, Three Hours, Fruit Tree, Time of No Reply, Hazey Jane I, all the instrumentals. All those songs are pretty hard to play on their own, but his vocal melodies are distinctly different from those in the guitar parts. And he played them perfectly in time, without missing a note, every time. He was unbelievably good.

[@bmxmyth166]

@@johnnyCheeseburgerPink Moon was actually recorded over the course of two nights, with most of the songs being done live in one take (playing and singing at the same time). The last songs he recorded shortly before his passing (Hanging On A Star, Black Eyed Dog, Rider On The Wheel, Voice From The Mountain, and Tow The Line) were the ones in which he recorded his playing and vocals separately. There are some instrumental only versions of most of those songs on KZbin as well.

[@johnnyCheeseburger]

@@bmxmyth166 Even more impressive honestly. Thank you for the correction!

[@ñametrico]

I discovered it today and the surprise and emotions it aroused in me, were not normal. I was going to study it. Thank you for your analysis.

[@tommyfurrier6074]

Great video!!! Favourite lyrics? All. 🤩🤩🤩

[@julescg]

It is so, so beautiful. Also, for me, so evocative. My parents played this around me when I was a kid in the 80s. It takes me back there. Thank you for this video.

[@Yormsane]

Been listening to this song for almost 40 years now, that string section gives me goosebumps every time. The ebb and flow, the trills, the swirling undercurrents, and that strange 'magic chord' at the end, which evokes a feeling of things left unresolved. A young man peering into his own depths.

[@yocraigst]

Your channel doesn't give me what I want; it gives me what I didn't know I need! 🎼

[@LeeGee]

Always good to hear people loving Nick Drake.

[@MilesShade]

What’s there not to love?

[@LeeGee]

@@MilesShade His mother was talented af too

[@GregoryL-m7k]

Excellent analysis! Great video! I enjoyed this. Thank You.

[@thomasecallaghan1111]

Agree, always loved this mystical, dreamy, magical song. Thanks for the great breakdown 👍🎶

[@deannilvalli6579]

This guy never fails to drop the most excellent musical analyses. Just fantastic. Great song, great analysis of the song, great way to break it down and show it off.

[@2gooddrifters]

My favourite artist and song. Just wonderful.

[@rammpower5404]

love Nick Drake. Reminds me of Scott Walker compositions. Love that you're on a Nick Drake journey. Thank you for sharing.

[@alistairwood9853]

‘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?’ I love Northern Sky and we had this played as our exit music at our wedding. I got through the ceremony without needing a hanky but the opening bars of this as we left made me tear up. Nick was a genius. Thanks for this video, great insight. I’m so happy you got to discover his music.

[@theoriginalheartstrummer]

Awesome!! Came to comment this same verse. What an incredible moment that must have been for you.

[@aegeanteacher]

Beautiful song and perfect analysis. He reminds me of David Sylvian.

[@MrMissingReel]

Sylvian is influenced by Drake big time...he even has his own "River Man"

[@robbiepeterh]

He was such a technically brilliant player too. Such difficult chord shapes yet every note rings beautifully.

[@bobr6]

thank you for this video, love nick so much

[@Yoss2204]

I can never forget the first time I’ve heard that song - It was in the late 80’s, I was a teenager at my parent’s house, had my headphones on listening to a foreign radio station I recently discovered: The British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) that was located in Cyprus (I live in Israel). They had this special program every Friday night with two hosts that used to play non-mainstream music. They’ve put on “River man” and it was so unique and enchanting that I had to explore more about Nick Drake. I’ve managed to get a hold of the “Five Leaves Left” Vinyl which I found in the second-hand section of a record shop and later on as a Photographer I’ve created an art work that was dedicated to Drake which I named “Fruit Tree” - The song that sadly predicted his future and the popularity and recognition he got after his death. Thanks so much for this detailed analysis!

[@GaryIrving-x5o]

Superb exploration into one of Nick's Masterpieces!.👍☕👍

[@jasonscholz101]

wow i have chills because i had the same experience earlier this year--"discovering" the music and story of Nick Drake...just speechless

[@automatics1im]

This came on my feed at just the right time. Thanks.

[@earthboundboy]

Wonderful.

[@2gooddrifters]

My favourite musician. I am hypnotised by his music.

[@noe1543]

Love Nick Drake! Glad you discovered him.

[@smartti1970]

thanks so much for puting so much work in honoring Nick Drake's River Man and explaining in such precise and lovely way what and why it's so beautifull ... the string arangement by Harry Robertson is a marvel

[@chrisguevara]

Although Nike Drakes music can come across as sad, there is always glimmer hope in there. And that is why I love his music. Because, at times, I related to darkness/sadness, but its that hope that keeps me going!!!

[@Birchsongsltd]

The first time I heard Nick Drake's music was in a kitchen at work. A co-worker had put a disk in the music box and I asked him: "Who are we listening to? He told me then I asked if I could borrow the disk and take it home for a better and closer listen. I smoked some cannabis flower and put on The Cello Song. Blew my mind. Everything said in this video. River Man literally brought me to tears. I still love Nicks music.

[@girlplanetboy]

PDBass - the new Beato of breakdowns. Superb analysis of a sublime song. Can't ask for anymore than that.

[@robinmartini7968]

Fabulous, I also remember the first time I heard Nick Drake, well it was only 52 years ago… still play is songs regularly their beauty and emotional power continue to grow.

[@silaseaton8966]

Such a beautiful song! One of my favorites by Nick Drake.

[@Skizze37]

I would have never expected a Nick Drake analysis video from this channel, but boy am I chuffed.

[@johnpbh]

Brilliant breakdown.. Thank you. It's always nice to know the nuts and bolts beneath a song and man I have been listening to for over 50 years... (Yes, I am that old).. The best bit for me was the breakdown of the string parts.... and what a stunning understanding of Nick's song that composer had. And as for Danny Thompson... been lucky enough to have see him a couple of times... especially with John Martyn (Nick's great friend and confidant).. and Richard Thompson.. yet more great British music.... (Sorry for being a bit partiotic there.... LOL). Keep on Rocking)

[@rowanhancocks2782]

Been a Nick Drake fan since high school, great to see an in depth analysis!

[@PaigeGenest]

This was THE album that made me want to learn double bass when I was a teenager. Nick Drake is incredibly brilliant on his own (see Pink Moon) but Danny Thompson takes it to a whole nother level. Check out "Three Hours" for some of the most exhilarating bass you'll ever hear

[@RaymondPeckIII]

He's wonderful playing with Richard Thompson.

[@enossifiedossified3145]

@@RaymondPeckIII He’s wonderful playing with ANYBODY…recordings of Pentangle and John Martyn really show off his jazz roots.

[@ChuckWasHere]

This is and always will be my all time favorite song. There's never been one like at and there never will. Absolute masterpiece.

[@22fret]

Love Drake to bits. I can hardly listen to River Man without bursting into tears...

I loved your video. Congratulations, and thank you very much!

[@Monetize_This]

Love that song. The arrangement is beautiful.

[@markscountlessbarks]

Timeless!!

[@wombatboter]

I want to thank you for showing the beauty of Drake....it was mindboggling when I discovered him around 2001.

[@mgilcrease1]

You've rekindled my interest in learning some Nick Drake tunes. Thank you for this!

[@gregoryk7114]

A great artist, I love his music!

[@markyachnin1901]

Thank you for this wonderful analysis!

[@Foulfootwear]

More stuff on Nick Drake would be so helpful. The way he approaches harmony on the Pink Moon album has always blown me away, but eludes me....

[@benleydon]

strangely enough it comes from the music his mother would play on the piano - there is a documentary with a snippet of her playing - it all clicks as to his inspiration

[@clumsiii]

possibly in part because Nick used his own tunings so it's not easy to parse just by ear

[@clumsiii]

@@benleydon once upon a time i downloaded NIck's mom's songs -- back in kazaa days. eerie songs but magical

[@fliprim]

Fantastic insights into one of my favourite musician/composers. Thank you.

[@-k-b-]

"you can take the road that'll take you to the stars now I can take the road that'll see me through..." A very humbling artist that was gone too soon.

[@DavesMusicTube]

So glad you've found nick drake! A mate bought me five leaves left on vinyl a few years back. Never had such an immediate and deep reaction to music in my life! There's a few good documentaries on KZbin. Brad Pitt has done one!

[@alexlazaridisf.7276]

Oh my god, thank you for reconnecting me to this beautiful moving song. Hearing it again, even cut up, it goes right through me. I can’t explain how deep it goes. And thank you for the insight. I think I might be picking up my guitar to learn it.

[@vitovitus1391]

Commenting for the algorithm, great video!

[@bocobocoboco]

Thanks for explaining some of the magic behind this incredible piece of art

[@pclindholm]

Thanks for your analysis - what a beautiful, floating song

[@joewilmot]

So so great. I remember discovering Nick Drake maybe 20 years ago and being blown away that I hadn’t heard anything about his music.

[@TCMx3]

Nick's music is incredible. His mother, Molly, was also an unreal good musician.

[@stephanleo]

What a wonderful tribute Paul! Thank you!!!

[@FigidiniHillStudios]

Excellent analysis and a huge thanks for shedding light on how the bass supports Nick’s guitar. This song is a masterclass in balancing tension and release. The first time I played the Five Leaves Left album I also sat in awe and replayed River Man at least five times before moving to the next song.

[@jim_andrianakos]

One of my all time favorites.

[@charlesdrake3125]

I've been fascinated with this man's music since I first discovered it in the late 90s. All three of his albums are excellent and it's so sad that his work didn't receive much love when he was still here.

[@charlesclark3840]

I'm not a regular viewer of this channel (have watched before, selectively), but I have to watch this one. River man is my favorite Nick Drake song.

[@meridian1928]

The first time I heard this song I was floored. The harmony, the orchestration, everything. I'm so happy that you covered this!

[@BernardBlevins-s9c]

You always break it down perfectly!

[@els1f]

That part about recording the string section is SO COOL! Recording incredible musicians playing together sounds like madness nowadays lol 😋 It would be done in separate countries at different times and every instrument might get it's own mic -maybe even separate takes in the same position. I think we might be the crazy ones for overcomplicating it 🤣🤦‍♂️😭🤣

[@jofall91]

Love this man. Miss him, yet I wasn’t alive while he was… his music just touches me man. His entire discography is near flawless in my eyes. Thank you for this!

[@andyanderson9833]

I bought this album when it came out, I was in love with this song in particular, and I still am. It is perfect, in every way....

[@larsetom1]

I discovered ND about 20 years ago. His music takes you somewhere else. He's in a category by himself.

[@GreatWaterCircus]

Brilliant breakdown of my Fav Nick song... Thanks

[@deborahwatkins9557]

Thanks so much for this ! Discovered Nick and his music last year. Listened to and bought all his albums. Tragic genius. My 2nd favourite is From the Morning. Cried the first time I heard it.

[@PeteCarlton]

I'm so pleased for you,that you've found Nick Drake, one of UK music's hidden gems. Unfortunately, advertisers here turned his classics into clichés, so it's difficult for some of us to listen to these jewels without wincing. On the plus side, I think you're right - the sheer quality will outlast the jingles and the music will be listened to for generations to come. Lucky you, to hear it all fresh and un-hijacked!

[@mikeheidenberg2848]

So glad you discovered this song and Nick's music! Another song by Nick that has a similar timeless and yet contemporary feel is "Clothes of Sand," which has these lyrics: 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 I love in both songs -- and in many of Nick's lyrics overall -- how he makes the listener feel at the same time like you don't really know what the song is about and that you somehow understand it completely anyway.

[@scottkunghadrengsen2604]

Clothes of Sand was about himself, written from the point of view of his parents. Unbelievable to me having that kind of maturity and perspective in one's early 20's

[@geoffreymaher7169]

Northern Sky is my favorite song: 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

[@retrocool]

'Bright in my', surely?

[@genghis_connie]

I love how you play the part to point out ears. Very cool. Which Will is still my favorite In its simplicity, but that deep Cmaj on Riverman is heaven. I the 90s, my band was named after a lyric in Hazey Jane.

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

River Man was a big favorite with my audiences when I used to play it 20 years ago in my solo show. It's one of the few Nick Drake songs that are in standard tuning on the guitar, but he makes up for it with the odd time signature! ;) It was quite challenging to play the other half dozen Nick Drake tunes which I covered, because they were all in his weird and unique open tunings. I actually used a digital modeling guitar that allowed the user to store up to 16 programmable tunings into its onboard memory! (Line 6 Variax Acoustic 700 digital modeling guitar, circa 2004). Needless to say, it was quite difficult singing and playing this simultaneously, what with the 5/4 odd-time signature, contrasted with his syncopated vocal delivery. Took about six months to learn!

[@gillesserrigny6324]

You don't need to be a great guitarist to play River Man. But to catch this 4/5 tempo, it's "the hell"!

[@plev10]

Thank you for doing such a masterful job of analyzing and explaining what makes this song so magnificent.

[@Mookd0g1]

Thanks for this. So great to hear some details on why this song is such MAGIC. Nick's tragic life is so sad. "One of These Things First" is my favorite but "River Man" is a VERY close second. Please keep doing what you do! So great to be able to gain insight and appreciation from your prodigious musical knowledge. (Subscribed!)

[@NatureEllaJ]

👌🌸✨Thank You for sharing this beautiful Masterpeace, Artist ✨poet, composer, Nick Drake .... 🌹

[@MilesShade]

This song is pure magic.. Nicely deconstructed 👏🏻

[@Charlie-nc3kh]

Thank you for this. Nick Drake’s music has always captivated me, and it’s great to see you break down some of the intricacies of it. Always love hearing you play the upright also

[@m00nsplitter72]

Thank you so much for such an unpretentious, yet informative, analysis of music dear to my heart.

[@thejonathandoan]

Beautiful breakdown of an utterly GORGEOUS song...probably my second favorite Nick Drake tune (Place To Be is my favorite). I love how you gave us the musical notation and meaning behind the structure of the song, but in a way that wasn't too complicated. I'm also very happy Nick Drake's music is being found and adored by new fans all the time. He was an absolute genius. Thank you for the video!!

[@lynnegunn2425]

Hauntingly beautiful!!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@markjohnston6146]

Thank you, it's a song that can bear a look under the bonnet.

[@TEZMINGO]

I recently discovered his music as well. Bought all three of his studio albums within one month. Incredibly talented guy, I think his music needed time to sink in. With music so sophisticated, many of the public had to sort out what they were actually hearing and sadly, for many, maybe it was just too much!

[@rose-ed5ri]

This song, and that verse!!! Nick is just gorgeous. This song has magical powers. Thank you.

[@terencecarter7793]

This is awesome. When I found the music of Nick Drake in my '20s, it was courtesy of a CD attached to a Q Magazine music edition from England called "Q Essential Chill Out" (yes, that's how old I am). There was Groove Armada, Moloko, Goldfrapp, Grandaddy, and Nick Drake - "The River Man". We played that CD on repeat. And occasionally still do! While I worked out how to play The River Man on acoustic, you just can't play it without hearing the strings, production and Nick's unique voice and enunciation. A singular talent lost to his demons before we could see how far he could take his talent. Thank you for this!

[@WoodyGamesUK]

I first heard this song in the late 90's several times from a jazz radio station (in France), I didn't know Nick Drake but the song stuck in my mind. Then in the 2000's I got offered this album, (still not knowing anything about Nick Drake), and I immediately recognised the song River Man that I heard years before. I was surprised as the song didn't sound like it would come from the type of artist that Nick Drake appeared to be, a guitar playing folk singer,, but then I quickly realised that there are many different sides to Nick Drake, and they all blend together. River Man is still my favourite song by Nick Drake.

[@GaryIrving-x5o]

I first heard this in college in the South of England in 1971 when a roommate said, "You care to listen to some Nick Drake"? We listened to Five Leaves Left over and over again. He was our little secret.

[@blackberryway]

the arrangement around the core of the song is incredibly good, you see that everyone envolved in the recording makes the song greater, moments like that can't be planed, there's a magic to it.

[@srwaite7]

Great vid, my man! Been listening to Nick for many years. Never gets old. 👌🏻

[@Gregory_TheWatchman]

I found Nick Drake's music after watching a TV show that had a song of his playing in the background. I bought three CD's with his musik and just love the tonality of every song. A bit melancholy, yet so beautiful. He would have gone soo much further I'm sure. A couple of my favs..."At The Chime of A City Clock", and "Northern Sky"..."Hazey Jane I" is yet another beautiful composition of his. I love the string arrangements of his songs. Glad that you discovered his musik pdbass...It was a newly discovered gem for me as well.

[@Panzer_the_Merganser]

My wife burned my a mix CD when we were dating and included Cello Song. I liked it so much I bought Five Leaves Left, and still remember driving back from a Boarders Books when River Man came on…. My only thought was, “What is THAT?!?” Been obsessed with this song 20 years since. Thanks for the great video on such a sublime and nuanced song.

[@revivlerech9020]

Very illuminating. thank you

[@safetinspector2]

Thank you. I love this track (and literally all tracks on five Leaves left) so much. Nick was too beautiful and talented for this world, but I wish we could have had him longer.

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

Five Leaves Left? If that's the one you mean, agreed entirely. Worth binging.

[@safetinspector2]

@@joeldcanfield_spinhead yes, lol! My stupid memory tells me things and they always seem correct

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

@@safetinspector2 ah, the old "don't believe everything you think" challenge.

[@safetinspector2]

@@joeldcanfield_spinhead yes. I can remember the songs on the album well, and the album cover, and I can remember when the NPR “listening room” host introduced me to Nick in the nineties, buying the album on CD at the now long-defunct record store, but I still got the name wrong. Human minds are weird

[@joeldcanfield_spinhead]

@@safetinspector2 Kathryn Schulz, author of "Being Wrong", asks audiences what it feels like to be wrong. Answers are always "embarrassing, frustrating" etc. and she says, "No, that's what it feels like to *realize* you were wrong. Being wrong feels *exactly* like being right, because you don't know any different." "weird" is a stupendous understatement ;)