A recent song dedicated to the town where I went to school, heading north-west out of London on the Metropolitan Line of the London Underground; right to the very end of the line. To Zone 9, to be precise. I ended up moving back here last year due to Covid and this is a song about that journey. The accompanying image is a tree I run past most days that always invites me to stop, stare, connect and feel.

Lyrics:

A dance between resistance and acceptance,

I felt a fool, returning where I went to school.

A place for many,

But never for me;

Wasn’t what I planned

Yet here I am.

With so many places I could call home,

It was never here,

This was just where I grew up;

To be honest I felt alone.

I’d get out at every opportunity,

Get the tube out of Zone D -

Which they re-named Zone 9

Of the Met Line.

Zone 9 of the Met Line.

Zone 9, I’ve mis-judged you,

I’ve only seen what you lack;

And the reasons I felt stuck,

Was so quick to attack.

Now I value your natural Chess waters;

Where arty types historically gathered to bathe…

(And controversially express themselves in full view -

At last something I can relate to!)

Maybe I can be friends with you;

Now I can see the un-ending hills and trees…

Where I can run with kites and deer, totally free.

In Zone 9 of the Met Line.

In Zone 9 of the Met Line

There are people who seek to be kind,

Pursuing dreams, being who they are;

Sometimes to find connection,

Don’t need to go far.

Not just in cities in the world I treasure,

Can I find real pleasure;

Now I see, this could indeed be,

A home of mine.

This little town in Zone 9

Of the Met Line

© 2021 Written, composed, performed, recorded and produced by Ch'Lu ( under Camilla Mathias)