This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave

When you dive into This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave, you encounter a piece that originated from a rumor and evolved into something far more personal. The original idea emerged in 1986, when there was talk that Pet Shop Boys would compose the soundtrack for a James Bond film. Although that opportunity didn’t materialize and A-ha ultimately handled the theme, the song remained as a creative exercise. The lyrics, according to Neil Tennant, aren’t about espionage but rather a recurring dream of being back at school, facing exams without understanding how he had ended up there. It’s a reflection of his school memories, including masses and football matches, experiences he preferred to avoid.

The recording of this track, which lasts 5:30, took place at Red Deer Studio in Munich, Germany, under the production of Harold Faltermeyer. At the time, the duo sought to move away from digital synthesizers and turn to analog equipment, and Faltermeyer was an expert in that technology. The result was a sound that stood out from earlier works like Introspective and the later Very. The mixing was handled by Julian Mendelsohn. Additionally, the guitar on this song features Johnny Marr, who was once a member of The Smiths.