One Of These Things First is a song by Nick Drake from his 1971 album Bryter Layter. It presents a poetic meditation on the many possibilities life could take, imagining different identities and roles, from a sailor or a cook to ordinary objects like a book or a clock, to show how choices shape a life. The refrain I could have been highlights a sense of longing for what might have been, balanced by a quiet acceptance of life’s paths. Musically it sits in the folk and singer-songwriter tradition with a simple, melodic arrangement that underscores Drake’s introspective lyrics. The track reflects Drake’s broader themes of solitude, meaning, and the endless questions of life’s what ifs, inviting listeners to reflect on their own possibilities.
