Nick visited Morocco in March 1967 after visiting Aix. Clothes Of Sand was recorded in November 1968 so chronologically fits with the Morocco visit being its inspiration. According to accounts from his co-travellers, it was a drug-filled, memorable trip including crashing a car, being mistaken for being The Rolling Stones (they were in Morocco at the time too and were photographed by Cecil Beaton) and playing guitar to Mick Jagger and his two friends in a restaurant. Clothes Of Sand might be evidence of his absorption of the Moroccan culture and his inspiration to incorporate it into his work: the title, lyrics and theme of this song have very strong Middle Eastern overtones.
Nigel Davies (adapted from The Nick Drake Files)
Nigel Davies (adapted from The Nick Drake Files)