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Nick Drake — Day Is Done
Album: Five Leaves Left
Avg rating:
7.8

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Total ratings: 1296









Released: 1969
Length: 2:25
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done.

When the day is done
Hope so much your race will be all run
Then you find you jumped the gun
Have to go back where you began
When the day is done.

When the night is cold
Some get by but some get old
Just to show life's not made of gold
When the night is cold.

When the bird has flown
Got no-one to call your own
Got no place to call your home
When the bird has flown.

When the game's been fought
You speed the ball across the court
Lost much sooner than you would have thought
Now the game's been fought.

When the party's through
Seems so very sad for you
Didn't do the things you meant to do
Now there's no time to start anew
Now the party's through.

When the day is done
Down to earth then sinks the sun
Along with everything that was lost and won
When the day is done.
Comments (78)add comment
Gorgeous..
Posted 1 year ago by jmkate    [ Reply ]
His voice is buried in the mix on this version.  Not so on my old LP.
Posted 2 years ago by trevc    [ Reply ]
 nigelr wrote:

Ahhhh, the perfect antidote to REM............



Is that the best you've got to express your (I guess) appreciation for Nick Drake?
Posted 3 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
Of course he was a brilliant songwriter, lyricist and singer. What is not often discussed is his outstanding guitar work. All sorts of inventive, original open tunings and great fingerstyle playing. What a talent.
Posted 3 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 drewd wrote:

Amitriptyline  is still prescribed to this day. It is also called Elavil.......https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...


Indeed; I was recently prescribed it for post-herpetic neuralgia.
Posted 3 years ago by Edweirdo    [ Reply ]
just finishing work on a Friday, what a song to finish up to and set up the weekend! 
Posted 3 years ago by jkforde    [ Reply ]
 jayhamiljr wrote:

I've been told by people with a wide knowledge of psychiatric drugs that the medication he was on was known for killing some patients at a young age.  An unfortunate side effect, as it were...  It could be effective, but it's impact was somewhat unpredictable.  Needless to say, it's out of use.  Such was the state of anti-depressants at the time. Odds are it was not suicide. 
 
Amitriptyline  is still prescribed to this day. It is also called Elavil.......https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Posted 4 years ago by drewd    [ Reply ]
 drtjdel wrote:
drtjdel wrote:
Suicide by anti depressant? It just doesn't make sense.
Crash helmets on Kamikaze pilots? It doesn't make sense.
 
I've been told by people with a wide knowledge of psychiatric drugs that the medication he was on was known for killing some patients at a young age.  An unfortunate side effect, as it were...  It could be effective, but it's impact was somewhat unpredictable.  Needless to say, it's out of use.  Such was the state of anti-depressants at the time. Odds are it was not suicide. 
Posted 4 years ago by jayhamiljr    [ Reply ]
 memoryboxer wrote:
Curious to find all the Stairway to Heaven comments, when what I hear is Jethro Tull's "We Used to Know'. I'm used to the "Did the Eagles 'Hotel California' come from Tull?' debate, but have never even seen a reference to Drake's song in that context, and to my ear they have far more in common. Both came out in '69 and they'd likely have been in range of each other on the British tour circuits more often than the brief tour period when the Eagles opened for Tull.
 
Despite the court case, I still think that the opening descending chord structure of STH come from the first Spirit album (circa '68) and Randy California's instrumental song, "Taurus."
Posted 5 years ago by NelsonBlack    [ Reply ]
Curious to find all the Stairway to Heaven comments, when what I hear is Jethro Tull's "We Used to Know'. I'm used to the "Did the Eagles 'Hotel California' come from Tull?' debate, but have never even seen a reference to Drake's song in that context, and to my ear they have far more in common. Both came out in '69 and they'd likely have been in range of each other on the British tour circuits more often than the brief tour period when the Eagles opened for Tull.
Posted 5 years ago by memoryboxer    [ Reply ]
Что за восхитительная мелодия!
Posted 5 years ago by ArNikiTenS    [ Reply ]
 stevendejong wrote:
"And she's buuu-ying a stairway..."
 
Well, no.
Posted 5 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
I must confess to taking an inordinate amount of pleasure in discovering that Nick Drake's second name is Rodney. and that Tom Waits' second name is Alan.
Posted 5 years ago by fredhatman    [ Reply ]
 stevendejong wrote:
"And she's buuu-ying a stairway..."
 
I see where you’re coming from. While this predates the Zeppelin song by a couple of years and Zep has been quoted saying they were influenced by Nicks work. However, I suspect there is no link as Five Leaves Left sold less than 5000 copies during his life.
Posted 9 years ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
Utterly timeless. A genius.
Posted 9 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
 fiddlechick wrote:
Nick Drake is on my short-list (with Gram Parsons) of died-too-young wish-I-could-hear-what-they-woulda-come-up-with-later-in-life musicians.


 
Ya know, I think he did actually have enough time to fully exploit the best of his talent.  It is too bad he died.
Posted 10 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 LizK wrote:
violin?  cello? A not-60's arrangement to be sure.

 

Really? Tell that to the Beatles-Eleanor Rigby
Posted 11 years ago by Aud    [ Reply ]
violin?  cello? A not-60's arrangement to be sure.
Posted 11 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
A documentary "A Skin Too Few; The Days of Nick Drake" - A poetic man
Posted 11 years ago by ambrebalte    [ Reply ]
wow - a Nick Drake song that isn't on Way to Blue! Wonder why this was left off, it's lovely.
Posted 12 years ago by apd    [ Reply ]
 stevendejong wrote:
"And she's buuu-ying a stairway..."
 
...in a bo-ot-tle.

Posted 13 years ago by govna    [ Reply ]
Very beautiful.
Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
 stevendejong wrote:
"And she's buuu-ying a stairway..."
 
Excuse me? {#Stupid}


Posted 13 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
only gorgeous.
Posted 14 years ago by anabel    [ Reply ]
2 Pangs.  One when I listen to this very evocative song.  The other when I lament our collective loss of Nick.  A cruel beauty.  Thanks Bill for not letting this music slip into obscurity.
Posted 15 years ago by S-curvy    [ Reply ]
Skorokoro wrote:
is anyone else making music like this?

ROSSinDETROIT wrote:
Sufjan Stevens, Jose Gonzales, Great Lakes Swimmers.  Others.

inindian wrote:
Well they're good but actually no they're not making music like this.


Posted 15 years ago by inindian    [ Reply ]
 stevendejong wrote:
"And she's buuu-ying a stairway..."
 
This song pre-dates that one by over a year.  "Taurus" by Spirit is even earlier.

Posted 15 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 oscar_driver wrote:
8!
 

9!
Posted 15 years ago by peyotecoyote    [ Reply ]
"And she's buuu-ying a stairway..."
Posted 15 years ago by stevendejong    [ Reply ]
 Skorokoro wrote:
is anyone else making music like this?
 
Sufjan Stevens, Jose Gonzales, Great Lakes Swimmers.  Others.

Posted 15 years ago by ROSSinDETROIT    [ Reply ]
 nigelr wrote:
Ahhhh, the perfect antidote to REM............
 
Very much so.
Posted 16 years ago by Frater_Kork    [ Reply ]
Ditto!

nigelr wrote:
Ahhhh, the perfect antidote to REM............

Posted 16 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
nigelr wrote:
Ahhhh, the perfect antidote to REM............
HAHAHAH ditto!
Posted 16 years ago by oscar_driver    [ Reply ]
8!
Posted 16 years ago by oscar_driver    [ Reply ]
is anyone else making music like this?
Posted 16 years ago by Skorokoro    [ Reply ]
Ahhhh, the perfect antidote to REM............
Posted 16 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
kerr wrote:
Bill - The segue from Wim Mertens into this was just perfect... sent a shiver down this listeners spine.
Same seque, same effect a couple months later. Anyone got any stats on the content and frequency of Bill's inspired little (or large?) streams of joy?
Posted 16 years ago by duggerd    [ Reply ]
Nick Drake is on my short-list (with Gram Parsons) of died-too-young wish-I-could-hear-what-they-woulda-come-up-with-later-in-life musicians.
Posted 16 years ago by fiddlechick    [ Reply ]
kerr wrote:
Bill - The segue from Wim Mertens into this was just perfect... sent a shiver down this listeners spine.
Yes, Bill's the King.
Posted 16 years ago by sub-arctic    [ Reply ]
Bill - The segue from Wim Mertens into this was just perfect... sent a shiver down this listeners spine.
Posted 16 years ago by kerr    [ Reply ]
babygirl614 wrote:
I decided this morning that life is much better with a little Nick Drake, and a little early Van Morrison, every day.
Could not agree more.
Posted 16 years ago by Bleyfusz    [ Reply ]
Rules of engagement...it doesn't make sense
Posted 16 years ago by EssexTex    [ Reply ]
drtjdel wrote:
Suicide by anti depressant? It just doesn't make sense.
Crash helmets on Kamikaze pilots? It doesn't make sense.
Posted 17 years ago by drtjdel    [ Reply ]
...and from me as well.a_genuine_find wrote:
This is inspired musical genius. Thanks RP for opening my ears to another gem.
Posted 17 years ago by 1wolfy    [ Reply ]
This is inspired musical genius. Thanks RP for opening my ears to another gem.
Posted 17 years ago by a_genuine_find    [ Reply ]
Suicide by anti depressant? It just doesn't make sense.
Posted 17 years ago by drtjdel    [ Reply ]
Nick was a supernova.
Posted 17 years ago by slowhand    [ Reply ]
Nick Drake is, well, pretty good. These last four songs have been great, what a great layout
Posted 18 years ago by Daniel_Pittenger    [ Reply ]
dkwalika wrote:
Is this where we slit our wrists? Is that the theme here?
um,
On November 26, 1974, Drake died in his parents' home from an overdose of antidepressant medication; suicide has been speculated, although some of his family and friends dispute this.
Posted 18 years ago by NoEnzLefttoSplit    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by witchchild    [ Reply ]
Is this where we slit our wrists? Is that the theme here?
Posted 18 years ago by dkwalika    [ Reply ]
hardly the best song on this album, but still good.
Posted 18 years ago by whafrog    [ Reply ]
pdhski wrote:
Um, Day Is Done - recorded in 1969. Time in A Bottle - recorded in 1972.
This came out in 1969? Wow. He was way ahead of his time.
Posted 18 years ago by rluking    [ Reply ]
I decided this morning that life is much better with a little Nick Drake, and a little early Van Morrison, every day.
Posted 18 years ago by babygirl614    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by R_P    [ Reply ]
Bodhisattva wrote:
I made that comparison immediately as well. (Except Croce is welcome in my book. It's not his fault what commercial radio did to his songs after he died.) Perhaps Drake was influenced by Croce a bit. We'll never know I guess.
Um, Day Is Done - recorded in 1969. Time in A Bottle - recorded in 1972.
Posted 18 years ago by pdhski    [ Reply ]
54-40 wrote:
"Time in a Bottle!?" *Whew!~ That was close.
I made that comparison immediately as well. (Except Croce is welcome in my book. It's not his fault what commercial radio did to his songs after he died.) Perhaps Drake was influenced by Croce a bit. We'll never know I guess.
Posted 18 years ago by Bodhisattva    [ Reply ]
I think it's safe to say that I adore every song Nick created in his (far too brief) life. This one is heartbreaking and beautiful.
Posted 19 years ago by am    [ Reply ]
picked this album up a few months ago and listened to it one day about 17 times in a row...mellow and relaxed...
Posted 19 years ago by soulspin    [ Reply ]
Art_Carnage wrote:
This would be nice... if only someone could strip out those annoying vocals.
Good man, Art, you reflect your surroundings ... :-s
Posted 19 years ago by tony99    [ Reply ]
Really nice!
Posted 19 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
"Time in a Bottle!?" *Whew!~ That was close.
Posted 19 years ago by 54-40    [ Reply ]
This would be nice... if only someone could strip out those annoying vocals.
Posted 19 years ago by Art_Carnage    [ Reply ]
i know he never appeared in any volkswagon ads, but it would be lovely to hear a little sandy bull sometime. anyone got anything they can upload? all i have are LPs...
Posted 19 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
Bravo :-({|=
Posted 20 years ago by Dais    [ Reply ]
I love the cello arrangement on this one! If I could just find the sheet music...
Posted 20 years ago by curious_cat    [ Reply ]
Slipstream wrote:
*cough*iTunes*cough* It's only $9.90. This has NOT been a paid endorsement.....unfortunately......
eBay copies are listed from about $5... Just need to be persistent.
Posted 20 years ago by dave_porter    [ Reply ]
ortenzia wrote:
anyone have this album and want to burn it and send it to san francisco? i'll gladly return the favor with an album of the senders choosing.
*cough*iTunes*cough* It's only $9.90. This has NOT been a paid endorsement.....unfortunately......
Posted 20 years ago by Slipstream    [ Reply ]
anyone have this album and want to burn it and send it to san francisco? i'll gladly return the favor with an album of the senders choosing.
Posted 20 years ago by ortenzia    [ Reply ]
Nice song. I was a bit thrown by the intro, however; I would have sworn we were about to hear Jim Croce "Time in a Bottle." Glad it wasn't.
Posted 20 years ago by the_om    [ Reply ]
nick is always ahhhhmazing. thanks for a great set!
Posted 20 years ago by Althea    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by MylenerHead: Hauntingly beautiful.....
Exactly! I love this song. How tragic that he's no long with us.
Posted 21 years ago by triviagal    [ Reply ]
Hauntingly beautiful.....
Posted 22 years ago by MylenerHead    [ Reply ]
Every Nick Drake song makes me stop whatever I\'m doing and listen ... so very sad.
Posted 22 years ago by tawanda    [ Reply ]