Original air date Jan 25, 2014 | Time 56:00
Nick Drake only recorded three albums in his too-short life. "Five Leaves Left" (1969) and "Bryter Layter" (1970) were produced by Joe Boyd, who also managed Fairport Convention and then Fotheringay. Boyd brought in Richard Thompson (guitar) and Danny Thompson (double bass) to record with Nick since he had always been a solo performer.
We hear Danny Thompson with Pentangle from their 1970 "Basket of Light".
Finally we hear Fotheringay, also produced by Joe Boyd with Sandy Denny's songs "The Sea" and "Pond and the Stream". Nick died young at 26 yrs and we also lost Sandy when she was only 31.
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River Man by Nick Drake
Betty came by on her waySaid she had a word to say
About things today
And fallen leaves.
Said she hadn't heard the news
Hadn't had the time to choose
A way to lose
But she believes.
Gonna see the river man
Gonna tell him all I can
About the plan
For lilac time.
If he tells me all he knows
'bout the way his river flows
And all night shows
In summertime.
Betty said she prayed today
For the sky to blow away
Or maybe stay
She wasn't sure.
For when she thought of summer rain
Calling for her mind again
She lost the pain
And stayed for more.
Gonna see the river man
Gonna tell him all I can
'bout the ban
On feeling free.
If he tells me all he knows
About the way his river flows
I don't suppose
It's meant for me.
Oh, how they come and go
Oh, how they come and go