The jazzy, humorously self-pitying folk-rock of "Poor Boy" was given an unexpected jab by a chorus of soulful female singers gently making light of Nick Drake's sorrow. Pianist Chris McGregor only got to play on the track by asking to stick around after producer Joe Boyd mixed his record that morning. "When I heard 'Poor Boy,' I thought of 'So Long, Marianne' on the Leonard Cohen album and its mocking chorus of girls' voices," recalled Boyd. "When I suggested it to Nick, he looked at me for a minute, unsure how to respond, but didn't seem entirely convinced."