Way To Blue. Nick Drake & Van Morrison.

I finished reading the excellent Pink Moon by Gorm Henrik Rasmusson this afternoon. A great read and written in a very poetic style which you would expect as the author is a poet. Well done as well to the translator Bent Sorenson for translating it in to English so sympathetically. As a huge Van Morrison fan one thing that struck me is the similarities between Van and Nick especially as regards such early Van albums as Astral Weeks and Veedon Fleece. It is apparent that Nick was a fan of Astral Weeks. It is well documented that he gave it a lot of plays. When Nick was at Marlborough College he formed a band called The Perfumed Garden and part of their repertoire was St James Infirmary and Parchman Farm. As any Van fan will tell you, those songs have both been recorded by Van and often figure in his live act. The book tells us that Nick was a big fan of Mose Allison, as is Van to this very day. Georgie Fame was somebody else who Nick admired who went on to become a band member and close friend of Van’s. Also, Nick & Van do not appear to have any interest in explaining the songs. It is left to the listener to find meaning in the songs for themselves.

Another thing I noticed was they both were great admirers of William Blake. Nick & Van obviously recognised a kindred spirit there. Finally, I couldn’t help noticing how much rain is mentioned in the lyrics of both singers. They both seem to see rain & water as cathartic experiences.

I wonder if Nick hadn’t died so tragically young if Nick & Van’s paths might have crossed. I think they would have understood each other. Both seemed to have an underlying melancholy, and ambivalence about performing live. My own guess about the source of Nick’s unhappiness is that he inherited his mother’s sadness. After buying the Songs Of Molly Drake album last year I can see the same underlying depression that Nick suffered from in the words of Molly’s songs. I think it was her husband Rodney who gave Molly the stability she needed. Nick wasn't so lucky. Anyway, I’m now playing my Way To Blue album by the great Nick Drake.