There’s nothing better than an album that only needs a single artist and their acoustic guitar to shine. Recorded over two nights, Pink Moon by Nick Drake encapsulates the simple beauty of a lone artist and a single instrument. Despite all the songs having mildly ambiguous lyrics, Drake is able to concisely convey many different emotions in the half hour this album runs.
As both the first and title track of the album, this song introduces the theme of depression. The only verse of the song has four lines and is repeated twice, with a bridge in between; it doesn’t give the listener very much information to work with. Drake describes a “Pink Moon” as something that’s “gonna get ye all” and compared to it, “none of you stand so tall.” Likewise, depression can affect anyone, no matter how confident in stature they are.
Further in the album, “Which Will” is a song of questions. While Drake could be speaking to the listener, it is more likely that he is speaking to a lover. It is clear that Drake’s lover does not reciprocate. Throughout the song, Drake asks his lover, “Which will you love the best?” Drake conveys a sense of “If not me, then who?” which implies that he has already been rejected, even if he has not asked.
“Horn” is the only instrumental song of the album. Although Horn precedes it by almost 50 years, the album instrumentals by Adrianne Lenker, shares the same, beautifully pensive sound that this song has.
“Things Behind the Sun” is a song about individual expression and alienation. Drake sings about people who “only smile to see you while your time away.” Throughout both Drake’s struggle with depression and his music career, many people did not offer him their support or encouragement. After he acknowledges this, the song takes a hopeful turn. Instead of getting hung up on people who won’t take you seriously or trying to “win the earth,” Drake says to “be what you’ll be” and “say what you’ll say”.
“From the Morning”, the final track of the album, takes a more hopeful tone. Drake reminds the listener to appreciate every morning and evening; despite all the struggles in life, a new day will always dawn. After all, life is just a game, a game we all learned from the morning.
