The Loneliest Place On The Map by Al Stewart

Album: Sparks of Ancient Light (2008)

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In a November 2008 interview with Simon Barrett, Al said this song was about Queen Dido, but he kept reworking it and the emphasis changed. "Songs are fluid, songs should not be constrained, and songs should grow and change over time. Once you record it though, it is cast in stone. There are several songs that I play regularly, and when I play them I want to put my other words in. In fact when I am on stage I sometimes have to catch myself mid song, and force my other lyrics from my mind," he said.

Queen Dido was the first Queen and in fact the founder of Carthage, but this is a song about modern times. Running to around 3 minutes 33 seconds, the big question is where is this place, perhaps some deserted French colony, or maybe some place in the nethermost reaches of the writer's mind? >>>
Suggestion credit:
Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 1

Richard M. Weber from United StatesThe answer to the question about, "Where is this place?" is the Kerguelen Islands aka The Desolation Islands. It is sub-Antarctic in the South Indian Ocean and has roughly 50-100 people at any time doing research. The reference in the song to, "Over the southernmost ocean so cold. A small group of rocks, seagulls and ice" and "A paper in french from long ago. A finger that juts out into the foam" which are references to is being French and the coastline which has many isthmuses that jab out into the sea like fingers.

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