Things Behind The Sun

Album: Pink Moon (1972)
Play Video
  • Please beware of them that stare
    They'll only smile to see you while
    Your time away
    And once you've seen what they have been
    To win the earth just won't seem worth
    Your night or your day
    Who'll hear what I say.
    Look around you find the ground
    Is not so far from where you are
    But not too wise
    For down below they never grow
    They're always tired and charms are hired
    From out of their eyes
    Never surprise.

    Take your time and you'll be fine
    And say a prayer for people there
    Who live on the floor
    And if you see what's meant to be
    Don't name the day or try to say
    It happened before.

    Don't be shy you learn to fly
    And see the sun when day is done
    If only you see
    Just what you are beneath a star
    That came to stay one rainy day
    In autumn for free
    Yes, be what you'll be.
    Please beware of them that stare
    They'll only smile to see you while
    Your time away
    And once you've seen what they have been
    To win the earth just won't seem worth
    Your night or your day
    Who'll hear what I say.

    Open up the broken cup
    Let goodly sin and sunshine in
    Yes that's today.
    And open wide the hymns you hide
    You find renown while people frown
    At things that you say
    But say what you'll say
    About the farmers and the fun
    And the things behind the sun
    And the people around your head
    Who say everything's been said
    And the movement in your brain
    Sends you out into the rain. Writer/s: Nick Drake
    Publisher: Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Graham from Sydney, AustraliaFor me the final line "When the movement in your brain, sends you out into the rain" sums up my impression of Nick's time on Earth. Not feeling empathy for society he seeks solace and solitude in the things other people don't do and the places they don't go. Well, that's what I get from it anyhow. Wonderful poetry, just sublime.
  • Ian from Aberdeen'Open wide the hymns you hide'.. wonderfully profound lyrics, fuelled by chemicals or not they show insight that so many lack, some good comments here too. The man was a genuine genius who sadly could have said so much more.
  • Kyle Walker from Dallas, TxI believe this is Nick’s more nihilistic view of things. To me, his music was a form of expressing his existential thoughts about life, death, nature, loneliness, misunderstanding, and the inability to fully comprehend and express his thoughts. This may be completely wrong, but it’s how I dissected his poetry.

    “Please beware of them that stare
    They’ll only smile to see you while
    Your time away...”
    I think Nick is talking about those who can only “stare” at the strange people they fail/choose not to understand; and so they dismiss them as irrelevant and keep their distance...

    “For once you’ve seen what they have been, To win the Earth just won’t seem worth your night or your day...”
    Once one realizes how superficial the said people that “stare” are, they won’t follow along and waste their life chasing the binding conformities and fruitless riches of this Earth...

    “Who’ll hear what I say...”
    Who will really listen to my truth

    “Look around you find the ground
    Is not so far from where you are...”
    People seem to blissfully forget the small, but important things that are right in front of them. If only they would stop and look.

    “If only you see
    Just what you are beneath a star
    That came to stay one rainy day
    In autumn for free...”
    If only people would see just what they are which are fragile and temporary beings living under the sun.

    “Yes, be what you’ll be...”
    I cannot change who you are or how you think, so be what you’ll be and live about your life.

    Nick is such an influencial artist. No one will know for sure what his writings really say or what he intended them to say, but the more important thing is to take what you want from the music and enjoy it as a representation of pure expression from an artistic genius gone to soon.



  • Luca from Milano, ItalyPeople "frown" at "things that you say" because Nick feels his art is misunderstood - but it is really art and he feels it is so. That is why he suggests the artist to "say what you say" even if these are things so concealed to be hidden behind the sun, they are literally "things behind the sun". And Nick does not give the proverbial flying f... about people "who say everything's been said" because it is not true. But clearly once you accept to be the outcast, and "the movement in your brain" your sharpness makes of you an outcast, you have to accept to feel the hardships - and this gift becomes a curse "and sends you out into the rain". The best folk song ever.
  • Andy from Lake City, Flthese lyrics are very complex. apparently nick had something specific in mind. the themes that jump out at me are ambition or success may disappoint you because you still can't touch a star or leave the ground. you're stuck in this life. also, maybe nick resented being joe boyd's slave...the pressure to sacrifice art to someone else's commercial demands.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gary LeVox

Gary LeVoxSongwriter Interviews

On "Life Is A Highway," his burgeoning solo career, and the Rascal Flatts song he most connects with.

Black Sabbath

Black SabbathFact or Fiction

Dwarfs on stage with an oversize Stonehenge set? Dabbling in Satanism? Find out which Spinal Tap-moments were true for Black Sabbath.

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions Answered

Why Does Everybody Hate Nu-Metal? Your Metal Questions AnsweredSong Writing

10 Questions for the author of Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.