Rock of Ages: Nick Drake - "Things Behind the Sun" (1970)

Nick Drake is the melancholy Bob Dylan. He has a very distinct voice that makes him stick out among many other singer/songwriters. His haunting yet beautiful moan sweeps over his utterly transcendent guitar playing on every track. On his final album Pink Moon, this is all we get. Guitar, vocals, the occasional embellishment from some piano and Drake's signature elegiac lyrics. Drake's most melancholy and beautiful poem comes in the form of his track "Things Behind the Sun." Drake's lyrics in this beautifully somber song have a very poetic structure. Each line has an intricate rhyme scheme. The lyrics sweep in and out on the vessel of Drake's sleepy and deep voice. It adds an element of dark beauty to an already haunting song. Equally intricate is Drake's wonderful guitar work. His guitars are always tuned in strange ways and they elicit these emotional unique chords that compliment his song writing style.

Nick Drake's whole final album is set up this way, but "Things Behind the Sun" is definitely a masterwork. To finish up this write up, which is short but sweet, I leave you with the words of this wonderful tune.

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
Don´t 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 find reknown 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.



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