Black Eyed Dog - Nick Drake (cover)

"..the Harrowing Black Eyed Dog, as disturbing a piece of music as Mahler's Ninth Symphony or Hellhound On My Trail by the tormented blues guitarist Robert Johnson. From the depths of Sound Technique's eerie echo room, Nick's guitar rang like a funeral bell. From the depths of his own tortured soul, his fractured voice cried out 'I'm growin' old and I wanna go home'.
'He had no interest in living at all,' remembers Linda Thompson. 'The fruits of life meant nothing - shopping, sex, laughter - I don't remember him ever laughing.' She too was shocked by his appearance. 'Just before he died he looked like Howard Hughes. There was this beautiful boy with the milky white, almost see through skin, who always took great care of his hands and his fingernails, and now he was dirty and unkempt and his nails were too long to play the guitar'.
(Trevor Dann, from 'Darker Than the Deepest Sea: The Search for Nick Drake')

"Probably suggested by Winston Churchill's famous description of depression as a black dog, this stark piece played on just three strings is a harrowing listen. Nick's desperation is tangible. His tormented voice is beyond pleading. As the song proceeds his formally faultless guitar playing is marred by scuffs and scrapes. He's growing old and he wants to go home. The much bootlegged guitar only version is as disturbing as anything you'll hear." (Ibid)

"The eerie elements surrounding Heath Ledger's terrible death last week have a new twist. It turns out that Ledger made a video last year for a song by Nick Drake, the legendary British rocker who died of an antidepressant overdose in 1974. The video, as it's been described to me, is bleak. Ledger plays the main character in the song "Black Eyed Dog." At the end of the video, Ledger directed himself dead in a bathtub from drowning. Drake titled the song after a description Winston Churchill coined about depression. Ledger can be seen in a video from a 2007 Venice Film Festival press conference talking about his obsession with Drake, who died "in 1975 at age 25." Ledger pauses, takes a deep breath and then adds: "Suicide."

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sPKnGo_WOp4

see also:
http://raincoaster.com/2008/02/28/heath-ledgers-nick-drake-video-black-eyed-dog/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• black
• eyed
• dog
• nick
• drake
• cover
• joe
• burton
• folk

[andecundill2009]

awesome joeburton77 brilliant job i love nick drake n its great to hear people doing his songs they r so difficult to perfect too cracking job buddy ive attempted a few of his myself but still far from perfected gonna check out your other stuff now thanks for sharing with us man keep up the good work

[joeburton77]

@andecundill2009 thanks very much, glad you liked it - i did another version of this at the nick drake gathering which is in my videos which you may like

all the best

joe

[TheDakbie]

Awesome dude. I think your voice is brilliant. I guess some folk find it hard to accept some one else singing a Nick song. Much respect...

[joeburton77]

thanks, I am sure Nick would have liked that people are giving his music a go, regardless of their singing or playing ability!

cheers

joe

[starmanskye]

Whatta an absolutely terrisplendific tribute, wonderfully moving -- great song. This cover is Most Very FINE. Thanks for sharing it!

[joeburton77]

you're welcome, thanks

[marqujud]

wow i didnt know Heath Ledger was a fan! i became a pretty big fan when i was depressed, at that time listening to his songs was like walking with Nick through the landscapes of his songs, nature in the fall, desolate places. very fragile songs. ive only listened to Nick Drake alone, never with someone else. What about you guys? Is the fact that the songs are so melancholy they are more suited for listening alone?

[amccann7]

who cares dude, listen to the music!

[icoelmono]

THANKKKKKKKKKKKKK YOU for giving this the respect it demands of us!! Sincerely, this just made my heart sink into my chest! He is like a long lost brother of mine.. You are the only person I have ever heard or seen that does him any true respect or justice, my friend. Please accept this post as something sincere & painfully organic -- This cover truly turned me inside out & Nick Drake would be proud of your honesty. Cheers, mate. - Tokyo

[sanbrighid]

this is absolutely incredible

[theK0OKS]

wow.. you already touched the crap out of me with those first guitar notes..

fan freaking tastic

[jpmcconnell1]

This is absolutely awesome! Loved the camera effect as well... Great job man...

[Oirish1985]

like it man amazing piece of music

[joeburton77]

thanks, and for the sub! :)