I can't even listen to this today, it's too upsetting. Nick's voice is so frail here, so very frail. Poor guy; I hope he's at peace now, wherever he may be.
There is a subtlety in things truly beautiful. The quiet that walks alongside morning. The distracted hues of color on fall leaves. The time spent between moments. His music reminds me of these things. Immune from marketing, billboards and money.
This may be the most depressing song of all time. It's lovely, but I break down sobbing every time I listen. The sadness in it is the inconsolable kind, not the cathartic kind. It sends chills down my spine sometimes.
I have spent over 16 years working in the Mental Health field and one thing I recall is that some severely depressed patients said they sometimes felt like it was a dark creature taking shape in the corners of a dark room. It is chilling to think you can actually see dispair take a form and it is closely related to the feelings of impending death or an omen of death. I have often wondered if this was his black-eyed dog.
Before my grandfather died, he was lying in the hospital bead and he looked up at my dad and said "you see that big black dog." at the time we just laughed, but I'm no longer laughing.
A beautiful but sad final entry to Nick Drake's legacy as his depression was so advanced by the time he recorded this great song that he could not sing it while playing his guitar. I't heart breaking what happened to him.
A black eyed dog he called at my door
A black eyed dog he called for more
A black eyed dog knew my name
A black eyed dog knew my name
A black eyed dog
A black eyed dog.
I'm growing old and I want to go home
I'm growing old and I don't want to know
I'm growing old and I want to go home.
A black eyed dog he called at my door
A black eyed dog he called for more.
Nick is my best friend in low moments, i find solace and comfort in his wondrous music, a true artist without peer, too talented. I will visit Tanworth in arden one day and lay a rose xxxxxxxxxx
You can almost feel the disillusionment , the disfunctionality, the pain, and the anxiety just by listening to this song. The last muddled, pained thoughts of a man clearly knocking on death's door. It almost sounds as if he is holding back tears. So distressing to hear. I wish someone had helped him. I would've.
Not your average song. Even for Nick Drake.
On one hand it's the song of a dying man. On the other hand he's going out fighting. All wounds to the front.