Week 3 challenge because the word "place" has more than one meaning.... as does "special place", now I think about it, although let's not go too deeply into that!
This is entirely Joni Mitchell's fault. I was on a bus through Ponders End while listening to her classic album Blue. Got home and wrote a Joni Mitchell-style song about going from the station to an annual conference I love (which has sadly been cancelled since 2020). Sadface.
I quite like this as a song, but I'm not happy with the demo - I fudged a few words, the guitar isn't very good, and I recorded it all with girlfriend in the room making collages, so there are some odd noises in the background.
To make it more Joni, I only recorded acoustic guitar and vocals. I added very minimal percussion, but you can barely hear that.
Got on a train at Ponders End
Puffed out and I've worked all day
Goin' in to see my friends
At a hotel down Camden way
Oh, the sun sinks down
I can't wait to go there
It's been years and years since I saw the people that I know there
My special place
Special place, I'm comin' in
Gonna take relaxin' bliss
Maybe have a little kiss
Special place, I'm comin' in
Met a redhead with a saintly smile
Pierced lip with a silver ring
Talked to her for a while
Showed her friends and they took her in
Oh, the laughter rose
Under the light of a sleepy moon
Sat and chilled for a while before I spent time in my room
My special place
Special place, I'm comin' in
Share some wisdom and a joke
Gonna be a friendly bloke
Special place, I'm comin' in
So now I'm lookin' out at Camdel Lock
In the room with the music playin'
Through the darkness, I see folk
Drinkin', flirtin', dancin', swayin'
Though I'm all alone
Still here like I've been before
Someone nice to talk to is all I'm really hopin' for
My special place
Special place, I'm comin' in
Close my eyes and feel it
Gonna be a real hit
Special place, I'm comin' in
@tomslatter Feb 2022
I have also written a song inspired by Ponders End, it was a few FAWMS ago. It was about drunk wizards.
I agree with @liz561 , I'd love to hear this with a more elaborate arrangement. I like the words and there's a good hook in the chorus too.
@liz561 Feb 2022
This is a very interesting song, and I agree it deserves a more elaborate treatment. Like the take on polysemy! Certainly could have a naughtier connotation.