A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => One Deep River / The Boy => Topic started by: Jules on January 30, 2024, 11:38:07 AM
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Scavengers Yard 4:33
I closed my eyes and made a wish
Lord, don't let me lose this fish
Scored myself a genuine squillionaire
I'm the drawing room boy with the pinky ring
I'm here to sell you anything
I've got a brand new friend
And we're doing a good job there
Thought he'd come down to sniff around
In my old blood-stained hunting ground
Walked right in, I never should have stayed
He's taking all my sage advice
So keep it shut, you'll get your slice
We do him both ends twice, and we both get paid
In Scavengers Yard where the wild things roam
Welcome, the bag man's home
Come on down to where the tigers roar
In Scavengers Yard, the wild things roam
Welcome, the bag man's home
You'll find me down on the killing floor
Now as someone I'd recommend
I bring you in, a dear old friend
Who knows just where there's another shiny toy
It goes the way I want it to
There's a major drink in this for you
Finder wins and seller too, old boy
He's a greedy swine, he loves a steal
We tell him here's one killer deal
I'll hold his hand, and a reaming there will be
I've let him know he's number one
I've told him as a rule of thumb
I don't trust anyone, not even me
Never had a sucker come on like this
He's giving me arthritis
I feel like I have grown a set of claws
I'm not going to let this one slip
And I don't intend to lose my grip
Now that I've got him in my jaws
In Scavengers Yard where the wild things roam
Welcome, the bag man's home
Come on down to where the tigers roar
In Scavengers Yard, the wild things roam
Welcome, the bag man's home
You'll find me down on the killing floor
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The gripping storytelling of ‘Scavengers Yard
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GF:
One of the running sonic themes through the album has been a particular guitar sound. Mark bought the idea to the table when we started recording ‘Scavengers Yard’. He wanted a rhythm guitar, almost a loop but with an electric/acoustic/lo-fi feel. We achieved this by recording Mark on his Gibson 330 in the control room going into a Fender Vibrolux but also with a U67 about 18” from the pickups of the guitar. There was a two bar segment which had a beautiful ring to it so I looped that and the track was literally built round it.
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This one is my favorite from the first listening, it has a kind of DS reminiscence, with a lot of flavour from Tony Joe White and Sonny Landreth, and also made me think a lot about this Mk colaboration of some years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmwMLUjcDSQ
Also quite funny most of the effect used, starting from MK guitars, you can hear the sound of his electric strings without being plugged, also the same sound but plugged all together, some interesting rythmic notes and the very distorted guitar sound probably from his black Pensa, many synths things by Guy, voice effects, and as DMG said to me, the come back of Doctor Parkinson!
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What a great single/lead song this would have made!
On first listening, the opening bars tricked me into thinking this was Broken Bones 2.0, but then…woah! Mark’s guitar kicks in with some of the most glorious controlled feedback and one of the most distorted tones I’ve ever heard from him
Love it.
“Never had a sucker come on like this/he’s giving me arthritis…”
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Snippet:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hxwvAbGGFL0?si=dqjtIWZIeUHPB7fj
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Snippet:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hxwvAbGGFL0?si=dqjtIWZIeUHPB7fj
Thank you! I know I'm going to love this one, even after just a few seconds. :)
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Snippet:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hxwvAbGGFL0?si=dqjtIWZIeUHPB7fj
Thank you! I know I'm going to love this one, even after just a few seconds. :)
NOT representative of the rest of the album.
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Snippet:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hxwvAbGGFL0?si=dqjtIWZIeUHPB7fj
Thank you! I know I'm going to love this one, even after just a few seconds. :)
NOT representative of the rest of the album.
Better or worse than the rest of the album?
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Snippet:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hxwvAbGGFL0?si=dqjtIWZIeUHPB7fj
Thank you! I know I'm going to love this one, even after just a few seconds. :)
NOT representative of the rest of the album.
Better or worse than the rest of the album?
I’d say better! Love this song!
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Snippet:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hxwvAbGGFL0?si=dqjtIWZIeUHPB7fj
Thank you! I know I'm going to love this one, even after just a few seconds. :)
NOT representative of the rest of the album.
Better or worse than the rest of the album?
Oh I think it's perhaps one of the better ones but ultimately opportunity lost due to no solo. A real shame he sees fit to simply strum and think that cool noises are enough. And does this mark the return of Dr Parkinson? More like the break down in Pyroman actually.
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Better or worse than the rest of the album?
I'd say better, because for me it is one of the high points of the album. Quite different from the rest, though.
And actually, I don't miss a real solo: the atmosphere of the song, and the way he plays guitars, are the real deal. A solo wouldn't have added much, apart form the divine ones of the 80s...
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NOT representative of the rest of the album.
Totally. It's the high point for me when considering the songs individually, but I actually think it doesn't fit the album. It's like watching a quiet, serious quality drama and then suddenly the Joker (as played by Heath Ledger) turns up ;D
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I like it
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If this would have been a bonus track, everybody would complain ;D
I think it's one of the best songs of the main album. It took me a while to remember where I heard one of the licks before, but it's from the end of Behind with the Rent (same key as well).
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It took me a while to remember where I heard one of the licks before, but it's from the end of Behind with the Rent (same key as well).
There is one that reminded me of Punish the monkey
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I instantly liked this but it's grown on me more and more. I'd now make it one of my favourites.
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It took me a while to remember where I heard one of the licks before, but it's from the end of Behind with the Rent (same key as well).
There is one that reminded me of Punish the monkey
Yes!
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Snippet:
https://youtube.com/shorts/hxwvAbGGFL0?si=dqjtIWZIeUHPB7fj
Thank you! I know I'm going to love this one, even after just a few seconds. :)
NOT representative of the rest of the album.
I agree. The song is amazing but it shatters the mood of the album for me. However, it doesn't give me peace of mind. There is something about it. I don't know what yet.
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It took me a while to remember where I heard one of the licks before, but it's from the end of Behind with the Rent (same key as well).
There is one that reminded me of Punish the monkey
Yes!
and we can get wild too
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What an absolutely cool and original song this is and what a fantastic arrangement. Sublime!
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Scavengers Yard is the immediate stand-out song for this old boy!
This must be the meanest lead guitar we've had from Mark since... Well, I don't know, decades!? (Millionaire Blues comes to mind.)
I like the way the two drastically different lead guitars move around each other, in different styles, and the recurring line from the less distorted one is great.
The drums, the groove, the evil laughter (!)... This is one different beast! :clap
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Scavengers Yard is the immediate stand-out song for this old boy!
This must be the meanest lead guitar we've had from Mark since... Well, I don't know, decades!? (Millionaire Blues comes to mind.)
Oklahoma Ponies? ;D
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Scavengers Yard is the immediate stand-out song for this old boy!
This must be the meanest lead guitar we've had from Mark since... Well, I don't know, decades!? (Millionaire Blues comes to mind.)
Oklahoma Ponies? ;D
Don't ruin the mood ;D
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This song reminds me of this one by Ry Cooder for some reason. Probably because of the "nasty" guitar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pQtYznW9qc
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Any or pur native English speakers could suggest what's the song might be about?
It has very interesting lyrics and music but I get lost...
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Could be some some greedy "businessman"/crook who's trying to cheat some other very rich and greedy guy by promising him a special deal. A Trump sort of guy, perhaps?
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Could be some some greedy "businessman"/crook who's trying to cheat some other very rich and greedy guy by promising him a special deal. A Trump sort of guy, perhaps?
That's the general idea I made up but wasn't entirely sure as I don't get most of the references...
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Could it be about the Putin/Trump relationship?
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Maybe that's one way of reading it.
"Bag man" has loads of different meanings, most of which are to do with money.
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My favourite track after one listen.
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Could be some some greedy "businessman"/crook who's trying to cheat some other very rich and greedy guy by promising him a special deal. A Trump sort of guy, perhaps?
That's the general idea I made up but wasn't entirely sure as I don't get most of the references...
The phrase "sage advice" made me think it might be about Covid.
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My favourite track after one listen.
Its a cool song, stand alone I like it very much, but imo it doesnt fit too well with the rest of the vibe of the album.
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Could be some some greedy "businessman"/crook who's trying to cheat some other very rich and greedy guy by promising him a special deal. A Trump sort of guy, perhaps?
That's the general idea I made up but wasn't entirely sure as I don't get most of the references...
The phrase "sage advice" made me think it might be about Covid.
Seemed like a small time crook to me.
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Seemed like a small time crook to me.
Definitely a crook! But he's gone up in the world, dealing with squillionaires. 🤑🤑
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Seemed like a small time crook to me.
Definitely a crook! But he's gone up in the world, dealing with squillionaires. 🤑🤑
Yeah, but he’s small time, and hoping that hooking the big fish will get him into the big time?
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Seemed like a small time crook to me.
Definitely a crook! But he's gone up in the world, dealing with squillionaires. 🤑🤑
Yeah, but he’s small time, and hoping that hooking the big fish will get him into the big time?
Could well be. It's the "drawing room" that made me think of some grandiose setting, a villa perhaps? Or maybe he's working for some mafio boss type of guy, who owns the place?
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A drawing room is just another word for living room, isn't it? But I don't get the setting really. 'Drawing room boy with the pinky ring'? Who's that guy?
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Seemed like a small time crook to me.
Definitely a crook! But he's gone up in the world, dealing with squillionaires. 🤑🤑
Never thought I'd hear that word in one of his songs. Loving this one though.
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Seemed like a small time crook to me.
Definitely a crook! But he's gone up in the world, dealing with squillionaires. 🤑🤑
Yeah, but he’s small time, and hoping that hooking the big fish will get him into the big time?
Could well be. It's the "drawing room" that made me think of some grandiose setting, a villa perhaps? Or maybe he's working for some mafio boss type of guy, who owns the place?
Isn't a drawing room used for entertain as opposed to a living room for lounging. Modern houses they can be the same room though. That has always been my impression. Any estate agents? :lol
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Isn't a drawing room used for entertain as opposed to a living room for lounging. Modern houses they can be the same room though. That has always been my impression. Any estate agents? :lol
That was my thought originally, some posh touch here?
But then again, the whole setting seems somehow American, too, isn't it? It's always confusing with MK because he's at home in both varieties. Any U.S. speakers here? Or even U.S. estate agents? ;D
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Seemed like a small time crook to me.
Definitely a crook! But he's gone up in the world, dealing with squillionaires. 🤑🤑
Yeah, but he’s small time, and hoping that hooking the big fish will get him into the big time?
Could well be. It's the "drawing room" that made me think of some grandiose setting, a villa perhaps? Or maybe he's working for some mafio boss type of guy, who owns the place?
Isn't a drawing room used for entertain as opposed to a living room for lounging. Modern houses they can be the same room though. That has always been my impression. Any estate agents? :lol
I'm not an estate agent, but I have always thought that "drawing room" is the shortened name for "withdrawing room" in the 18th or 19th century when after dinner the gentlemen stayed in the dining room for brandy and the ladies withdrew to the withdrawing room to talk amongst themselves without the gentlemen.
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Seemed like a small time crook to me.
Definitely a crook! But he's gone up in the world, dealing with squillionaires. 🤑🤑
Yeah, but he’s small time, and hoping that hooking the big fish will get him into the big time?
Could well be. It's the "drawing room" that made me think of some grandiose setting, a villa perhaps? Or maybe he's working for some mafio boss type of guy, who owns the place?
Isn't a drawing room used for entertain as opposed to a living room for lounging. Modern houses they can be the same room though. That has always been my impression. Any estate agents? :lol
I'm not an estate agent, but I have always thought that "drawing room" is the shortened name for "withdrawing room" in the 18th or 19th century when after dinner the gentlemen stayed in the dining room for brandy and the ladies withdrew to the withdrawing room to talk amongst themselves without the gentlemen.
That ain't no lady laughing! :lol
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My favourite track after one listen.
Could not agree more. Reminds me of Millionaire Blues.
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My favourite track after one listen.
Could not agree more. Reminds me of Millionaire Blues.
Maybe similar guitar sounds, but the songs are completely different. MB is just an ordinary blues-rock tune with mediocre lyrics. Scavengers Yard is in totally different league.
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I'm finding it hard to understand what exactly the story is here. I'm not even sure if it's the same guy speaking throughout the lyrics.
If someone's figured it out, let me know!
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I thought someone said in some review that it might be about the music business/industry. So the "fish" would be some hot new act (or their manager?), while the other two (three?) would be those who share the profit.
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My favourite track after one listen.
Could not agree more. Reminds me of Millionaire Blues.
Maybe similar guitar sounds, but the songs are completely different. MB is just an ordinary blues-rock tune with mediocre lyrics. Scavengers Yard is in totally different league.
Agreed.
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I thought someone said in some review that it might be about the music business/industry. So the "fish" would be some hot new act (or their manager?), while the other two (three?) would be those who share the profit.
Could very well be.
One particular part I don't understand is this: "Walked right in/I never should have stayed". If it's that big fish that walked (swam) right in, why shouldn't he (the storyteller) have stayed? Stayed where?
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Btw, I love Millionaire Blues. Ordinary blues rock, yes, but with clever self-ironic lyrics. And what a sound, what a guitar! Also, while his singing got better over time and with his solo career, it couldn't possibly be cooler than it is on this b-side.
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Musically different i know, but this reminds me of Good on You Son a little. The effects maybe.
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Btw, I love Millionaire Blues. Ordinary blues rock, yes, but with clever self-ironic lyrics. And what a sound, what a guitar! Also, while his singing got better over time and with his solo career, it couldn't possibly be cooler than it is on this b-side.
I also thought of Millionaire Blues, but the guitar sounds in the background are even closer to Kingdom Come. They are noisy in a similar way.
This is a cool tune, but the lyrics seem almost impenetrable at first. Will need to read and re-read.
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Btw, I love Millionaire Blues. Ordinary blues rock, yes, but with clever self-ironic lyrics. And what a sound, what a guitar! Also, while his singing got better over time and with his solo career, it couldn't possibly be cooler than it is on this b-side.
I also thought of Millionaire Blues, but the guitar sounds in the background are even closer to Kingdom Come. They are noisy in a similar way.
This is a cool tune, but the lyrics seem almost impenetrable at first. Will need to read and re-read.
Yeah, of course MB is more simple in the lyrics, and agree, but both MB, SY and KC has these heavy tunes, rocky guitar sounds and irony thats just amazing. Wish for more of these. ;D
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I really like this one; it's so funky and different from anything else in Mark's solo work. The tiger's "roar" effect is a nice touch too
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It took me a while to remember where I heard one of the licks before, but it's from the end of Behind with the Rent (same key as well).
There is one that reminded me of Punish the monkey
Yes!
Yes, I spoted that path from Punish the Monkey on my first listen.
I Didn't think of Behind With The Rent initially, but yes, there are a bits as well.
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MikeN.
"To my ear the “sinister laugh” in Scavenger’s Yard is Mark. Am I right?
GF:
We shall never know.
:)
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MikeN.
"To my ear the “sinister laugh” in Scavenger’s Yard is Mark. Am I right?
GF:
We shall never know.
:)
I think it's MK, I have right from the first time I heard it!
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I think it's Mark too. I don't know why Guy is so mysterious. Maybe that's how it should be. I remember wondering who was singing:
Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
A’come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
And I remember being surprised that it was Danny Cummings :)
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I think it's Mark too. I don't know why Guy is so mysterious. Maybe that's how it should be. I remember wondering who was singing:
Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
A’come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
And I remember being surprised that it was Danny Cummings :)
And the laughing after Oklahoma ponies finishes is Mike Mcgoldrick!
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I think it's Mark too. I don't know why Guy is so mysterious. Maybe that's how it should be. I remember wondering who was singing:
Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
A’come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
And I remember being surprised that it was Danny Cummings :)
Which song would that be? And where is it from that Danny sings?
LE
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Nobody's Child.
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Nobody's Child.
Surely it's Guy and Danny singing there?
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Someone asked Guy Fletcher this in 2018. That's what I remembered. I hope I'm not wrong. The CD booklet lacks a detailed description.
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Ok it's from THAT album then, no wonder I didn't realize. :lol ;D
LE
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I think it's Mark too. I don't know why Guy is so mysterious. Maybe that's how it should be. I remember wondering who was singing:
Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
A’come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
And I remember being surprised that it was Danny Cummings :)
Didn't know it was Danny. Really?
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If I read one more question, I will lose confidence :think :D
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I doubt it's Danny singing in Nobody's Child
To my ears, it's Mark, with a "head voice" like he did "paraaguayyy" in Postcards
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Yes and I hated that strange "K" sound he makes in that line from the first listen. There are some more strange sounding moments coming out of his mouth on DTRW (I remember a strange S sound on Back On The Dancefloor, 'sssshake your moneymaker...'), strange enough or thank god on ODR it is all as perfect as it used to be.
LE
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I doubt it's Danny singing in Nobody's Child
To my ears, it's Mark, with a "head voice" like he did "paraaguayyy" in Postcards
Postcards from Paraguay, no one doubts that it is Mark:)
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Are you all mad?! Of course it‘s Mark singing (everything) on Nobody’s Child! One of my favourite songs.
The laughter on Scavenger‘s Yard will be some sample that Guy found doing his research, like the fairground sounds on All Comers, or the «icy» sounds on Sweeter than the Rain.
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Are you all mad?! Of course it‘s Mark singing (everything) on Nobody’s Child! One of my favourite songs.
The laughter on Scavenger‘s Yard will be some sample that Guy found doing his research, like the fairground sounds on All Comers, or the «icy» sounds on Sweeter than the Rain.
Mad?? Oh yes!!
On Nobodys Child It's also Guy singing with MK 'Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea
A’come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea'
Not sure it's Danny to be honest?!
The laughter on SY is no doubt MK!
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"Are you all mad?! Of course it‘s Mark singing (everything) on Nobody’s Child!
Just me:) I really didn't make this up, but now I have no proof :(
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From Guy’s site:
”By: danifimo
December 1, 2018
Hello Guy, can I ask you if Mark sings in falsetto in “nobody’s child”, saying “Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea”? Thank you
GF: You could call it that, yes”
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From Guy’s site:
”By: danifimo
December 1, 2018
Hello Guy, can I ask you if Mark sings in falsetto in “nobody’s child”, saying “Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea”? Thank you
GF: You could call it that, yes”
I don't know why I was thinking about Danny. Sorry
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It's an effect, a prerecorded thing that even Guy used in one song of his (go to 3.11):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k60d60jyI9s
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From Guy’s site:
”By: danifimo
December 1, 2018
Hello Guy, can I ask you if Mark sings in falsetto in “nobody’s child”, saying “Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea”? Thank you
GF: You could call it that, yes”
Thank you, thank you my world is back in order. :wave
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From Guy’s site:
”By: danifimo
December 1, 2018
Hello Guy, can I ask you if Mark sings in falsetto in “nobody’s child”, saying “Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea”? Thank you
GF: You could call it that, yes”
I don't know why I was thinking about Danny. Sorry
Never mind. Shit happens. ;D
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From Guy’s site:
”By: danifimo
December 1, 2018
Hello Guy, can I ask you if Mark sings in falsetto in “nobody’s child”, saying “Come a’cow cow yicky yicky yea”? Thank you
GF: You could call it that, yes”
I don't know why I was thinking about Danny. Sorry
Never mind. Shit happens. ;D
That's true :D Thank you KnopfleRick:)
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It's an effect, a prerecorded thing that even Guy used in one song of his (go to 3.11):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k60d60jyI9s
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Does anyone know why the victim in this song would give the narrator "arthritis"?
I could see why arthritis would be something Mark is concerned with, but in the context of this story (which I still don't fully understand, anyway), it seems to make zero sense. I'm sure it does, though - I just don't get it.
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Does anyone know why the victim in this song would give the narrator "arthritis"?
I could see why arthritis would be something Mark is concerned with, but in the context of this story (which I still don't fully understand, anyway), it seems to make zero sense. I'm sure it does, though - I just don't get it.
a) because it rhymes with like this" ?
b) because he is overusing his hands and fingers to get the best possible profit out of the poor "sucker"
He's even grown claws to be able to hold on to his victim more tightly. A dangerous, greedy creature!
Beware the jabberwock, my son, the jaws that bite, the jaws that catch.
Beware the jubjub bird and shun the frumious bandersnatch. :)
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Yeah, he’s got his claws into the sucker so much he’s getting arthritis.
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Does anyone know why the victim in this song would give the narrator "arthritis"?
I could see why arthritis would be something Mark is concerned with, but in the context of this story (which I still don't fully understand, anyway), it seems to make zero sense. I'm sure it does, though - I just don't get it.
a) because it rhymes with like this" ?
b) because he is overusing his hands and fingers to get the best possible profit out of the poor "sucker"
He's even grown claws to be able to hold on to his victim more tightly. A dangerous, greedy creature!
Beware the jabberwock, my son, the jaws that bite, the jaws that catch.
Beware the jubjub bird and shun the frumious bandersnatch. :)
Makes sense. And serves as a welcome reminder to re-read Lewis Carrol's poem and Michael Palin's film!
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Does anyone know why the victim in this song would give the narrator "arthritis"?
I could see why arthritis would be something Mark is concerned with, but in the context of this story (which I still don't fully understand, anyway), it seems to make zero sense. I'm sure it does, though - I just don't get it.
a) because it rhymes with like this" ?
b) because he is overusing his hands and fingers to get the best possible profit out of the poor "sucker"
He's even grown claws to be able to hold on to his victim more tightly. A dangerous, greedy creature!
Beware the jabberwock, my son, the jaws that bite, the jaws that catch.
Beware the jubjub bird and shun the frumious bandersnatch. :)
Makes sense. And serves as a welcome reminder to re-read Lewis Carrol's poem and Michael Palin's film!
What poem and what film? Why is everything mysterious in this thread? :think :o
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Google Jabberwocky.
LE
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Yeah, he’s got his claws into the sucker so much he’s getting arthritis.
Yes, I suspect it is a take on Dr. Sauci and Billy Hates in their Covihoax experimental shots agenda. Do I deny the people got ill from a (Spanish-flu-origin?) virus? Do the scavengers take advantage of it?
What do you think?
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Here is what ChatGpt says about this song. First it was referring to Scavenger's Yard by Radiohead :smack
"Scavenger's Yard" by Radiohead is a song with dark, cryptic lyrics that reflect themes of isolation, decay, and survival. While the band hasn't provided a clear explanation, the song evokes imagery of a desolate place where remnants of broken things are gathered, symbolizing perhaps a personal or societal collapse. The "scavenger" figure could represent someone picking through the wreckage, trying to find meaning or sustenance in a world that's falling apart. The song's haunting tone adds to the feeling of desolation and existential reflection."
Then I asked him to pay attention to the song of the same name by Mark Knopfler, here is its reply:
Ah, I see! You were referring to "Scavenger's Yard" by Mark Knopfler. This song is from his 2012 album Privateering. It tells a vivid story of a man reflecting on his tough life, set against the backdrop of a scrapyard or scavenger's yard. The lyrics touch on themes of hardship, survival, and working-class struggle, with Knopfler's signature storytelling style.
In the song, the protagonist is dealing with the consequences of a hard, worn-out life, perhaps lamenting lost opportunities or broken dreams. The scavenger's yard serves as a metaphor for a life of salvaging whatever is left after difficult times. Knopfler’s evocative guitar work and gravelly vocals add depth to the song's melancholy and reflective mood.
LoL! :smack
First one, albeit by accident because it is the wrong song, is about accurate!
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Privateering? ;)