"Northern Sky" is a song from Nick Drake's 1970 album Bryter Layter. Leading up to and during the recording sessions for the album, the chronically shy and notably withdrawn songwriter formed a friendship and eventually a mentorship of sorts with producer Joe Boyd. Boyd was an early catalyst for the singer, and saw commercial potential in the acoustic and unaccompanied demo version of the song, and recruited former Velvet Underground member John Cale to assist in the production.