In this song on the already bleak Pink Moon, Nick Drake paints a lonesome picture of himself by describing daily activities, but from the view of a parasite, which he compares himself to- just crawling around on the ground, noticed by no one.
[Verse 1]
Lifting the mask from a local clown
Feeling down like him
Seeing the light in a station bar
And travelling far in sin
Sailing downstairs to the northern line
Watching the shine of the shoes
Hearing the trials of the people there
Who's to care if they lose?
[Chorus 1]
Take a look, you may see me on the ground
For I am the parasite of this town
[Verse 2]
Dancing a jig in a church with chimes
A sign of the times today
Hearing no bell from the steeple tall
People all in dismay
Falling so far on a silver spoon
Making the moon for fun
Changing a robe for a size too small
People all get hung
[Chorus 2]
Take a look, you may see me coming through
For I am the parasite who travels two-by-two
[Verse 3]
When I'm lifting the mask from a local clown
And feeling down like him
And I'm seeing the light in a station bar
And travelling far in sin
And I'm sailing downstairs to the northern line
Watching the shine of the shoes
And hearing the trials of the people there
Who's to care if they lose?
[Chorus 3]
Take a look, you may see me on the ground
For I am the parasite of this town
And take a look, you may see me in the dirt
For I am the parasite who hangs from your skies
Parasite was written by Nick Drake.
Parasite was produced by Nick Drake & John Wood.
Nick Drake released Parasite on Fri Feb 25 1972.