There aren't many songs that mention Penge to my knowledge, let alone ones by great songwriters. But in 1967, on the B-side of his single 'Love you till Tuesday', David Bowie recorded a song called 'Did you ever have a dream?'. Not one of his best maybe, but that little corner of SE London does get a mention.
...And did you ever have a dream or two?
Have you ever woken up one day
With the feeling that you'd been away?
If the girl that you dreamed of last night
Had the same dream, in the very same scene
With the very same boy, hold tight
It's a very special knowledge that you've got, my friend
You can travel anywhere with anyone you care
It's a very special knowledge that you've got, my friend
You can walk around in New York while you sleep in Penge
I will travel round the world one night
On the magic wings of astral flight
If you've got the secret, tell me do
Have you ever had a dream or two?
Have you ever had a dream or two?
(more Bowie in South London stuff at Transpontine)
...And did you ever have a dream or two?
Have you ever woken up one day
With the feeling that you'd been away?
If the girl that you dreamed of last night
Had the same dream, in the very same scene
With the very same boy, hold tight
It's a very special knowledge that you've got, my friend
You can travel anywhere with anyone you care
It's a very special knowledge that you've got, my friend
You can walk around in New York while you sleep in Penge
I will travel round the world one night
On the magic wings of astral flight
If you've got the secret, tell me do
Have you ever had a dream or two?
Have you ever had a dream or two?
(more Bowie in South London stuff at Transpontine)
The lyrics brilliantly capture what its like to fall asleep on the 176 and wake up at the end of the line in Penge (an act responsible for 9% of all visits to the area!)
ReplyDelete