Place to Be by Nick Drake (from Pink Moon, 1972) 

Over beautiful acoustic guitar playing, Nick Drake sings of searching for… what the title suggests. He looks toward the past, which isn’t always a beneficial thing to do, but it might be something he needs. The song’s narrator sees the flaws and mistakes of his past and knows he needs to change, no matter how difficult and painful it may be. To face difficult truths and examine weaknesses is no small thing - it can make you weak as you work to be stronger. You can end up feeling lost, compared to the certainty of your past. But the terrible alternative is to not live at all, to close up your emotions, no matter how turbulent or complicated they are. “A place to be” might be a search for that state where you can live with yourself, and be happy.

But I think there is another way to hear this song (or, it’s one of mine, anyway). “A place to be” might be  the state you enter when listening to music you love. You become transformed, finding that place of happiness, or contentment - or whatever state your place to be actually is, as the music works on you, if only as long as it lasts. “Place to Be” could be described as an existential song, but it could be self-reflexive, as well. While listening to Nick Drake (who, sadly, may have never found his), you might find your place to be.

(with thanks to athousandvoicestalk)