Road

As with most of Drake's work, he really has a theme that almost everyone seems to get in his songs. I mean, look at these comments, almost everyone's in agreement that this is contrasting perspectives in life. It is almsot realist vs. idealist, but I think it boils down to Nick commenting on people who try to help his morose, pensive mood. People can say "well it's all how you look at it" or "look on the bright side" as a fix to a bad mood. This is true in that our perspectives define our lives. However, it's just as hard to look at a bad situation in a good light as it is the other way around. I think Drake is highlighting that. He says, 'you say you can see the sun, but I say I can see the moon. If you think I should be able to see the sun, you try and see the moon.' It's almost beyond choice at that point. Its telling idealists that they're comments on changing perspective are just as hard for them, and that different things work for different people. The road is the real symbol of our paths in life. Drake plainly says, changing my path to meet yours will not change anything, my path will lead me to where I'm supposed to go. Changing paths is a naive piece of advice, trying to steer your path in a different direction is the real advice that should be given. Of course this stems into many existential discussions, but this is Drake's response to that happy-go-lucky, sugary advice to 'change how you look at life'. I can change how I look at the moon all I want, but I'll always see the moon.

My interpretation:

You see your cheery method of things I'll take my way, it works for me. (angst, realist stuff)

• Love this song..

Given his history with depression, I would say that Drake is talking about how his view of the world differs from those that are "normal." He is acknowledging that they can take their own path because it works for them, but it will never work for him because of his condition.

People with depression many times are unable to go out a limb, take chances, etc. because they run the risk of shocking themselves. Sometimes they can't recover from such shocks. The path to the stars is the one that may be riskier but will have great rewards.

Drake was saying that he can't really shoot for the stars because he's just trying to get through each day.

It's hard to write simple songs and make them sound good. Nick does it so well.

The more a song uses universal symbols (sun, moon, road, stars), the more it can be interpreted...

One possibility that hasn't been mentioned yet: insomnia. I think I remember reading that Nick was an insomniac...

Also, I love "I can take the road that'll see me through." It's ultimately a song about being true to yourself.

this song makes me really happy about nick, you see when things just don't go as you want, or just go wrong, you always have to think that maybe is beacuase we all are different people and what may you think is ''good'' it is not for me. nick could sit under a tree and spend all the evening hearing a very gentle song of a bird and find it beautiful, and You may be surprised by the brightness of the sun but he could stare and astonish about the mysterous moon.

Let me add - one thing I like about this song is that he acknowledges the other person's viewpoint as valid. He seemed to be very fair in his assessments of other people, accepting them for who they were even though he never fit in with them. That's a healthy attitude for one as unwell as Nick.

I haven't been listening to him for very long - a few weeks - but I've immersed myself in his music. Every day a new song presents itself to me for consideration, and I realize how deceptively complex his "simple" songs are, and what a multilayered, complicated person Nick Drake was. God love him.

very simple, amazing lyrics.. i want to learn this song on the guitar.

I posted something similar on the page for Place To Be, but it seems to count for all of this album. It's so hauntingly beautiful, this song, and every other on the Pink Moon album

GOD it KILLS me to think about this beautiful, precious song-Why the fuck did he die? I wanted him to take the road that wouldve seen him through....

How do you know which road will see you through? Does anyone know?