As with far too many musicians, Drake ( and this is still debated today ) took his own life via drug overdose, with many saying that he had given up on the world. Drake was a tortured soul. He possessed so much talent, yet he held himself back. During the very few live performances held, he would face away from the audience as he performed because of his extremely shy nature. It is said that Drake didn't have many friends in his life. I listen to his songs and i hear a person inside screaming to come out. His music is breathtakingly beautiful and some songs even full of hope that was not immediately apparent in his life. One such song that is a beautiful example is "Northern Sky".
I like to look at this song as a prayer of sorts. Nick was most probably singing about a friend he had made, and the joy he received from the friendship. But as i look at it and listen to it, a bigger picture reveals itself to me.
The first verse deals with the realization of new feelings and experiences. the way i relate to this is when God opens my eyes to see Him in the mundane of everyday life. I find myself saying, "i never noticed such and such before...", or "holy crap, that is so beautiful that i am without words." Drake here is conveying the same idea in terms of the beauty he sees in this friendship that evaded his vision before. Our eyes are opened and it is as if we've been given new eyes with perfect 20/20 vision. Drake doesn't want his vision to fail him now that he sees this beauty, not just the beauty in the friendship, but the beauty he now sees all around. His northern sky has been illuminated. Once living in a state of perpetual darkness, even at mid day. For the winter and autumn months in the northern hemisphere offer little, if any daylight, yet now, even the night is as day.
/if you would and you could/
/straighten my new mind's eye/
a petition for continued vision ...
/would you love me for my money?/
/would you love me for my head?/
/would you love me through the winter?/
/would you love me 'til I'm dead?/
/oh, if you would and you could/
/come blow your horn on high/
In this section, Drake is asking for confirmation of this love he now feels/sees. In a conditional world, a world where we are judged by our looks first and character last and held to ridiculous Hollywood standards, finding the unconditional love of God is a rapturous event that gives us pause and a heart full of joy, but also of questions and doubt.
"Would you still love me if...
The first verse deals with the realization of new feelings and experiences. the way i relate to this is when God opens my eyes to see Him in the mundane of everyday life. I find myself saying, "i never noticed such and such before...", or "holy crap, that is so beautiful that i am without words." Drake here is conveying the same idea in terms of the beauty he sees in this friendship that evaded his vision before. Our eyes are opened and it is as if we've been given new eyes with perfect 20/20 vision. Drake doesn't want his vision to fail him now that he sees this beauty, not just the beauty in the friendship, but the beauty he now sees all around. His northern sky has been illuminated. Once living in a state of perpetual darkness, even at mid day. For the winter and autumn months in the northern hemisphere offer little, if any daylight, yet now, even the night is as day.
/if you would and you could/
/straighten my new mind's eye/
a petition for continued vision ...
/would you love me for my money?/
/would you love me for my head?/
/would you love me through the winter?/
/would you love me 'til I'm dead?/
/oh, if you would and you could/
/come blow your horn on high/
In this section, Drake is asking for confirmation of this love he now feels/sees. In a conditional world, a world where we are judged by our looks first and character last and held to ridiculous Hollywood standards, finding the unconditional love of God is a rapturous event that gives us pause and a heart full of joy, but also of questions and doubt.
"Would you still love me if...
... i wasn't successful?"
... i wasn't good looking/attractive?"
... i mess up continuously and hurt you?"
... i didn't love you back?"
... i wasn't good looking/attractive?"
... i mess up continuously and hurt you?"
... i didn't love you back?"
the questions come forth as fast and as furious as the blood being pumped out.
and we don't want our questions to be met with deafening silence, or a wishy washy answer of "maybe" or "that depends". we want a definitive, resounding "Yes!"
we want it whispered in our ears, shouted from the mountaintops. we want to see evidence of it. we want it proclaimed with blasts from the trumpet. we are so insecure, but the only real surety and security we have, both within and without of this world, is God's unconditional love and grace that He is constantly affirming to us. He has spoken loudly throughout history. He has whispered in our ears; breathed on us. He's given us visible symbols of it, both in Creation and the Cross of Christ.
so may He grant us vision and light. may He brighten our dismal northern skies and illuminate to us the evidence of the Love he heaps upon us, whether it be through a friend ( as Nick Drake experienced ) or any of the myriad of other ways God affirms His love. May He, indeed, show us treasure everywhere. Amen.
and we don't want our questions to be met with deafening silence, or a wishy washy answer of "maybe" or "that depends". we want a definitive, resounding "Yes!"
we want it whispered in our ears, shouted from the mountaintops. we want to see evidence of it. we want it proclaimed with blasts from the trumpet. we are so insecure, but the only real surety and security we have, both within and without of this world, is God's unconditional love and grace that He is constantly affirming to us. He has spoken loudly throughout history. He has whispered in our ears; breathed on us. He's given us visible symbols of it, both in Creation and the Cross of Christ.
so may He grant us vision and light. may He brighten our dismal northern skies and illuminate to us the evidence of the Love he heaps upon us, whether it be through a friend ( as Nick Drake experienced ) or any of the myriad of other ways God affirms His love. May He, indeed, show us treasure everywhere. Amen.
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