Friday Sessions #101: ‘They’ll only smile to see you while your time away’ – ‘Things Behind The Sun’ Nick Drake
There are very few video recordings of English Musician, Nick Drake. A shy character who was reluctant to tour and perform in front of live audiences, he released the album ‘Pink Moon’ in 1972, and only received wide recognition following his death in 1974.
Today’s lyric: “They’ll only smile to see you while your time away ”
It’s difficult to select just one word or expression from the brilliant lyrics to ‘Things Behind the Sun.’ But let’s talk about this wonderful phrasal verb (very appropriate for hot summer days….) ‘to while your time away‘ or,…. to ‘while away your time.’
The word ‘while’ holds a very different meaning from the one you are probably familiar with, when we use this phrasal verb, we are talking about the action to enjoy spending time without doing anything in particular.
Check the following examples with the basic meaning: a non specific time interval
“See you in a while.”
“I haven’t seen her for a while.”
“You need to wait a while before they respond.”
Examples using the phrasal verb ‘to while away’:
“It’s the perfect holiday escape to just while away the days and totally disconnect.”
“His flight was delayed, so he decided to while away the extra time sitting in a cafe.”
Lyrics:
Please beware of them that stare
They’ll only smile to see you while your time away
And once you’ve seen what they have been
To win the earth just won’t seem worth your night or your day
Who’ll hear what I say
Look around you find the ground
Is not so far from where you are
but don’t be too wise
For down below they never grow
They’re always tired and charms are hired
From out of their eyes
Never a surprise
Take your time and you’ll be fine
And say a prayer for people there
Who live on the floor
And if you see what’s meant to be
Don’t name the day or try to say
It happened before
Don’t be shy you learn to fly
And see the sun when day is done
If only you see
Just what you are beneath a star
That came to stay one rainy day
In autumn for free
Yes, be what you’ll be
Please beware of them that stare
They’ll only smile to see you while your time away
And once you’ve seen what they have been
To win the earth just won’t seem worth your night or your day
Who’ll hear what I say
Open up the broken cup
Let goodly sin and sunshine in
Yes that’s today
And open wide the hymns you hide
You find renown while people frown
At things that you say
But say what you’ll say
About the farmers and the fun
And the things behind the sun
And the people round your head
Who say everything’s been said
And the movement in your brain
Sends you out into the rain