Nick Drake
Nick Drake lives in the middle ground — 65 moderate songs that balance intensity with control. 23 quiet anchors and 13 songs where they let go completely.
The character of Nick Drake
Across the 101 Nick Drake songs we've measured, intensity averages 41/100 — calmer than the typical song we measure (46/100).
They run from Hazey Jane I (the calmest here, 11) to First Person Shooter (the most charged, 85), with layered textures most common and a mix of the expected and the surprising. It spans 1969–2025.
The widest dynamic swing belongs to Down Hill.
5.8
Avg Intensity
101
Songs Decoded
0
Fan Stories
The songs that hit hardest
Marvins Room
intense
complex texture · mild changes · DR 8
· 2011
Worst Behavior
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 2013
10 Bands
intense
layered texture · mild changes · DR 8
· 2015
Energy
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 2015
One Dance
intense
layered texture · none changes · DR 8
· 2016
No Frauds
intense
complex texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 2017
Money in the Grave
intense
complex texture · frequent changes · DR 8
· 2019
Knife Talk
intense
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2021
Jimmy Cooks
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 2022
First Person Shooter
intense
layered texture · extreme changes · DR 8
· 2023
Meltdown
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 2023
Rich Baby Daddy
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 2023
Family Matters
intense
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 8
· 2024
The controlled burn
Cello Song
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 4
· 1969
Poor Boy
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1970
Hazey Jane II
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1971
Black Eyed Dog
moderate
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 1972
Parasite
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1972
Rider on the Wheel
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 6
· 1972
Best I Ever Had
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 6
· 2009
Forever
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2009
Successful
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2009
Find Your Love
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 6
· 2010
Miss Me
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2010
Moment 4 Life
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2010
Over
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2010
Crew Love
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2011
HYFR
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2011
Headlines
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2011
Make Me Proud
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2011
Own It
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2011
Take Care
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 7
· 2011
The Motto
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2011
The Ride
moderate
complex texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2011
Poetic Justice
moderate
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2012
Hold On, We're Going Home
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 6
· 2013
Mine
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 2013
Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 5
· 2013
Started From the Bottom
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2013
Too Much
moderate
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 4
· 2013
Tuscan Leather
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 2013
Wu-Tang Forever
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2013
Only
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 8
· 2014
Truffle Butter
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2014
Back to Back
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2015
Jumpman
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2015
Know Yourself
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2015
Legend
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2015
Controlla
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2016
Hotline Bling
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 2016
Summer Sixteen
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2016
Too Good
moderate
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 2016
Emotionless
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2018
God's Plan
moderate
smooth texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2018
In My Feelings
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2018
Mob Ties
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2018
Nice for What
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 7
· 2018
Nonstop
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2018
Fake Love
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2020
Laugh Now Cry Later
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2020
Fair Trade
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2021
TSU
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2021
Wants and Needs
moderate
layered texture · moderate changes · DR 7
· 2021
Way 2 Sexy
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2021
What's Next
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2021
Down Hill
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 9
· 2022
Falling Back
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 5
· 2022
Flight's Booked
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2022
Massive
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2022
Overdrive
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2022
Sticky
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2022
Texts Go Green
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 5
· 2022
Away From Home
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2023
Fear of Heights
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2023
Virginia Beach
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2023
Push Ups
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2024
THE HEART PART 6
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2024
NOKIA
moderate
layered texture · mild changes · DR 6
· 2025
The quiet ones
Day Is Done
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1969
Fruit Tree
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 1969
River Man
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 6
· 1969
Time Has Told Me
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1969
Way to Blue
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1969
At the Chime of a City Clock
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1970
One of These Things First
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 1970
Fly
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1971
Hazey Jane I
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1971
Northern Sky
safe
layered texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1971
From the Morning
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1972
Hanging on a Star
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 1972
Joey
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 1972
Know
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1972
Pink Moon
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1972
Place to Be
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1972
Road
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1972
Things Behind the Sun
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1972
Which Will
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 3
· 1972
Magic
safe
layered texture · none changes · DR 4
· 2004
Passionfruit
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 5
· 2017
Elevate
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 2018
Toosie Slide
safe
smooth texture · none changes · DR 4
· 2020
Frequently asked about Nick Drake
Answered from our measurements of every song above.
What is the most intense Nick Drake song?
Of the 101 Nick Drake songs we've measured, “First Person Shooter” scores highest at 85/100 for intensity — computed from its dynamic range, texture, sudden changes and tempo.
What is the calmest Nick Drake song?
“Hazey Jane I” measures gentlest at 11/100. It runs 72 BPM. The songs here span 11–85 on our 0–100 intensity scale.
How intense is Nick Drake overall?
Nick Drake averages 41/100 intensity across 101 measured songs — calmer than the 46/100 catalog average.
What is the average tempo of Nick Drake?
The Nick Drake songs we've measured average about 101 BPM — midtempo.
Which Nick Drake songs are calm enough for background listening?
These measure in our gentlest band (steady level, no sudden shifts): “Hazey Jane I”, “Things Behind the Sun”, “Which Will”, “Time Has Told Me”.
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