List of songs written by William D. Drake

The British composer and performer William D. Drake has written songs for his bands and projects as well as releases as a solo artist. Classically trained at piano until he was 18, Drake joined the punk and progressive rock-influenced cult band Cardiacs in 1983, where his virtuoso piano and melodic skills accompanied the textures of band leader Tim Smith to create multi-layered sound that attracted a devoted following. Several of Cardiacs' most "lovingly layered, emotionally potent and poetic" songs emerged during Drake's time in the band. "I Hold My Love In My Arms" featured music which Drake had written when he was 15, and he wrote the opening bars of "The Everso Closely Guarded Line" after having spent eleven years at boarding-school.

In the early 1980s, Drake and Smith both wrote extraneous music which did not go on Cardiacs records. They worked with Smith's then-wife Sarah on the side-project Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake, where Drake for the first time displayed his "weird music hall folk dirges, recalling ancient May Day celebrations and summer equinoxes, employing piano and synthetic keys to unfold his tales". Later using the name the Sea Nymphs, the trio showcased a gentler side to Drake and Smith's songwriting, in contrast with Cardiacs. The albums contain "many of Drake's most endearingly odd and sepia-tinted songs", which include "The Collar", "Dog Eat Spine", "Summer Is-a-Coming In" and "To My Piano from Mr Drake". Smith and Drake were described by Louder Than War as "arguably the most creative songwriting team of a generation", and the legacy of their music has been compared to the partnership of Lennon and McCartney from the Beatles. Drake amicably left Cardiacs in 1990, with the band's "playfully anarchic spirit" featuring in his subsequent solo work.

The short-lived band Lake of Puppies was an outlet for Drake's solo work after leaving Cardiacs, with the band's Lake of Puppies EP released in 2024. Drake's 2007 album Briny Hooves was an eclectic release with a nod to the High Llamas, the Associates and the Beatles, while Yew's Paw, a simultaneously released collection of piano miniatures with a "light classical" veneer, showcased Drake's pastoral roots. The 2023 EP Write to Be features Drake's song "Where Do You Go", produced by Mieko Shimizu.

Songs All information is sourced from the liner notes of the releases, except where noted.

+ List of songs, showing writer(s), release(s), and year of original release Song Artist Writer(s) Release(s) Year Music Words "59 Seconds"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Abade"William D. DrakeTim SmithThe Sea Nymphs "Airly Beacon"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Anchors Away"William D. DrakeOn the Dry Land "Ant Trees"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "At the End of the Harbour Wall"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Be Here Steryear"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRevere Reach "Bill's March"North Sea Radio OrchestraWilliam D. Drake Craig Fortnam North Sea Radio Orchestra ""William D. DrakeOn the Dry Land ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeColley CibberRevere Reach "Blind in Safety and Leafy in Love"Cardiacs William D. DrakeTim Smith "Susannah's Still Alive"Songs for Ships and IronsSampler "Blow'n' the Roof"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Bond of the Herd"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeJames JoyceBelievers Roast Presents: The Central Element "Cameras"Cardiacs Tim SmithWilliam D. DrakeMark Cawthra Cardiacs Live "Castaway"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeAnnie DachingerRevere Reach ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRevere Reach "Clack Dance"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRevere Reach "Close Your Eyes"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors ""Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr DrakeWilliam D. DrakeMr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake "Cooper Union Blue"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Da-Da-Da"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Dark Ecstasies"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRupert BrookeBriny Hooves "Distant Buzzing"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeJamie Kelsey-FryRevere Reach "Dog Eat Spine"William D. DrakeTim SmithThe Sea Nymphs ""Lake of Puppies William D. DrakeLake of Puppies "Dragonfly"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake ""Cardiacs William D. DrakeTim Smith On Land and in the SeaSampler "Father's Son"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Fidelité"Lake of PuppiesWilliam D. DrakePontus de TyardLake of Puppies "Fiery Pyre"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeCardiacs and Affectionate FriendsWilliam D. Drake ""William D. DrakeWilliam DrakeThomas Ashe"" ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeBriny Hooves "Freedom and Love"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake"Melancholy World"William D. Drake "Glassy I"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "God's Box"William D. DrakeTim SmithThe Sea NymphsAppealing to Venus EP "Good to Be Meek"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Harbour Wall"North Sea Radio OrchestraWilliam D. Drake Craig Fortnam Birds "Heart of Oak"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeDavid GarrickRevere Reach "Homesweet Homestead Hideaway"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRevere Reach "I Hold My Love in My Arms"Cardiacs William D. DrakeTim Smith "Baby Heart Dirt"On Land and in the SeaAll That Glitters Is a Maresnest "I'm Coming Up in My Submarine"Mieko Shimizu featuring William D. Drake Mieko ShimizuWilliam D. Drake (co.)I Bloom "I'm Eating in Bed"Cardiacs Tim SmithWilliam D. Drake Rude Bootleg"Is This the Life" "In an Ideal World"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "In Converse"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeJ.M.SyngeRevere Reach "Ivy Dun"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "January Night"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeThomas HardyBriny Hooves "Joseph on the Road"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Kiln"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeEarthy Shrine ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's PawEarthy Shrine "Laburnum"William D. Drake William D. Drake James Joyce "Large Life" William D. Drake Sharron SaddingtonCardiacs and Affectionate Friends (as "Largelife")"Melancholy World"Lake of Puppies "Lazy Light"Mieko Shimizu featuring William D. Drake Mieko ShimizuWilliam D. Drake (co.)"Lazy Light"I Bloom"Lazy Light" (Mike Lindsay remix) "Lifeblood"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRevere Reach "Liferaft"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRevere Reach "Lists of Clay"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Louisville or Ugly Ol' Vase"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Love in an Overcoat"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Love in the Universe"William D. DrakeWilliam Drake"Love in the Universe" "Mare's Nest"Cardiacs William D. DrakeTim Smith On Land and in the SeaGreatest Hits ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Me Fish Bring"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Me I'm Different"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Melancholy World"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake"Melancholy World"Briny Hooves "Miaow Miaow"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Mimnermus in Church"North Sea Radio OrchestraWilliam D. Drake Craig FortnamWilliam Johnson Cory North Sea Radio Orchestra "Mirmaid's Purse"William D. DrakeOn the Dry Land "Mr Drake's Big Heart"William D. DrakeThe Sea Nymphs "Mr Drake's Big Heart Reprise"William D. DrakeTim SmithThe Sea Nymphs "My Ancestors"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Nil in the Nest"William D. DrakeTim SmithThe Sea Nymphs "Old Care"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Old No. 9 (The Pusher)"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "On the Dry Land"William D. DrakeTim SmithOn the Dry Land "Orlando"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRevere Reach "Ornamental Hermit"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Pacman"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Paradox"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Piano Interlude"William D. DrakeThe Sea Nymphs "Pipistrelle"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Poor John"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Porn Angels"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors ""William D. DrakeHenry Wadsworth LongfellowThe Sea Nymphs "Quivvy Vivvy"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Ralspark"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Requiem for a Snail"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeBriny Hooves "Revere Reach"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeRevere Reach ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "" William D. Drake George DarleyOn the Dry Land "Sea Snake Beware"William D. DrakeTim SmithOn the Dry Land "Seahorse"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeBriny Hooves ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeBriny Hooves "Serendipity Doodah"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeBriny HoovesEarthy Shrine ""William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Sister to the Night"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakePinkneyEarthy Shrine "Sky in Yer Lap"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake ""Stephen Evens Caroline GilchristStephen GilchristWilliam D. Drake Here Come the Lights "Song in the Key of Concrete"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Stables"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors "Stone Carnation"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Summer Is-a-Coming In"Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr DrakeWilliam D. DrakeMr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake "Super Altar"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Sweet Peace"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeSamuel SpreeBriny Hooves "Sylvie's Proof"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Tarred and Feathered"Cardiacs Tim SmithWilliam D. Drake Rude BootlegBig ShipCardiacs LiveOn Land and in the Sea (unlisted Torso CD extra track)Songs for Ships and IronsAll That Glitters Is a MaresnestSampler "Then a Rainbow"NervousNervousSon of the Great Outdoors ""William D. DrakeTim SmithThe Sea Nymphs "To My Piano from Mr Drake"Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr DrakeWilliam D. DrakeMr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake "Todonkin"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Ubi Sum"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Ugly Fortress"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeErnest HillBriny Hooves "Where Do You Go"William D. Drake William D. Drake Mieko ShimizuWrite to Be ""Cardiacs Tim Smith William D. Drake Rude Bootleg "Wholly Holey"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake "Within My Skull"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Wolves"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeBriny Hooves "Yew's Paw"William D. DrakeWilliam D. DrakeYew's Paw "Ziegler"William D. DrakeWilliam D. Drake

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