Time of No Reply

The lyrics in this song are very depressing. It sounds to me like he so lonely and feels like there is no one to reach out to. And even if he were to, no one would be there for him. The last three lines suggests that he sees no way out of the depression.

This has to be one of my favourite Nick Drake songs, its so lush with ideas or perhaps more accurately thoughts. I can really relate to this song not so much in terms of loneliness or depression, I'm not sure really. I think its a part of the beauty of Nick Drake's music, it always resonates some where within. I feel the initial 'lazy afternoon' feeling it gives can really contextualise the deeper feelings of the song. Maybe like a blue sky day with no one to really share ones understanding with. I could note the idea of silence as a reference to sleep or death, and whilst I can really relate to this idea, I think it is necessary to consider that this idea isn't to be feared or looked to with pity or even disdain, but something truly beautiful. Its just one of those songs, that really draws your soul out to the point you can almost physically feel the music, and a longing to be apart of it. Even though it seems painfully obvious, with all the suggestions of loneliness and sadness throughout the song, it feels almost shallow to say the song is about depression or some such. Because even if we can't see it, the song has so much more to offer.

Time of no reply to me is about being invisible. Not being heard, not being seen... it is pretty sad. Loneliness is quite palpable throughout the song. Probably Nick´s best.

This song states that you can make your mark in this world, without having to answer to anything. Nick Drake wasn't famous in his time,, but through time,, he has become a great influence and is not here to answer anything,, just to have his music speak for itself

I THINK THIS IS A VERY SAD SONG TOO, BUT SOME WHAT OPTIMISTIC, The trees on the hill had nothing to say They would keep their dreams till another day, BUT WHAT A GREAT SONG, HONESTLY NICK DRAKE IS TOO AWESOME

This song is what Nick Drake is all about. If I were going to introduce a friend to his music it most likely be with this song. It's like Elliott Smith and his song Independence Day. It's just him in his purest form and that's what this is. I prefer the original version but I like listening to the one on Made to Love Magic, too.

I think this song is about how he is detached and can't speak because he is so ill in the mind as bibis817 stated with the depression.

Drake is a legend. He inspires people every day.

This song is what Nick Drake is all about. If I were going to introduce a friend to his music it most likely be with this song. It's like Elliott Smith and his song Independence Day. It's just him in his purest form and that's what this is. I prefer the original version but I like listening to the one on Made to Love Magic, too.

I think this song is about how he is detached and can't speak because he is so ill in the mind as bibis817 stated with the depression.

Drake is a legend. He inspires people every day.

This is one of my favourite Nick Drake songs; it has many meanings, I somehow interpret it that you don't need to have something to say to have a meaningful existence.

I love that silence after one of the "The time of no reply is calling me to stay" choruses - just like an absence of reply!

To me this song defines stillness. Drake relates himself to a tree as it stands in longing. The tree is still with nothing (including) the wind to stir it. Drake is a seeker in this song but has received no message from nature as all is passing and still. He is immobile as a tree but poetically dreaming and hoping as a tree is grounded, wise, aging and looking to the sky for its replenishment. A very simple depiction of the very human emotion of uncertainty. Poets such as Drake are so fragil as they are truly connected to the art all around them. "there is no hello and no good bye" defines the tree without spring or fall rather in between the perpetual seasons. "for me there is no way" defines Drake stands and waits for a direction and perhaps his next purpose. He gave us his journols in his songs. Beautiful.

I think the "time of no reply" is death. The warm seasons leave, the sun goes down, and death sets in. There's no hello or goodbye, and there's no way to leave because everyone dies. I find the "no way to leave" line interesting because it's rather ironic considering that you're leaving the earth when you die. Perhaps he means also that there's no real way he can make himself leave before his time (i.e. too afraid to commit suicide). I don't know; just ramblings.