Interpretation of the Privateering songs

[MarkKnopflerBelgium]

Am I looking over it, or has no-one yet begun to analyze the songs? I remember a thread on "Redbud Tree", but can't find another one...?

[stratmad]

Am I looking over it, or has no-one yet begun to analyze the songs? I remember a thread on "Redbud Tree", but can't find another one...?

Well, you've just started one :-) Great idea - let's hope it'll be as inspiring as the one on the late and lamented (?) Red Forum.
Most of the songs _seem_ pretty straightforward - but maybe the tricky bits will start to show only after a while...

One song I can't make much sense of at the moment is the Submariner thing - where, what, why, who's dead and who's alive? And how can be "drowned" when he is "cast away on the water"?

Re "Seattle": MK said in some interview that he was watching a couple in a bar in Seattle who seemed to be having an argument or something. I wish he could give a few hints on some other songs too, like he did in GL.




 

[ingridswing]

Maybe a good idea to start different threads for the songs. Easy to find back, and not as messy than talking in one thread about all songs. So go ahead, I am looking forward to it as a non-native-english speaking person

[koobaa]

This is a great thread, let's keep it going

Immediately when I heard Dream of the Drowned Submariner I was curious if MK was inspired by this tragic event: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_Kursk_explosion
I bet there were quite a few fathers down there... I love this song because it does seem like a dream. It is ethereal and gives and impression that anything can happen. He (the father) is trapped down there in the vault (damaged submarine) and he dreams about his little daughter who runs toward him "on the grass" and he catches her... But in the end it is only a dream because he is at the edge of life and death. They are drowned.

The choice of clarinet playing the main theme is so fitting to this song, so soothing. Electric guitar fills on the other hand add the dramatic feel which in the end takes over... Love it. 

[Knopflerfan]

This is a great thread, let's keep it going

Immediately when I heard Dream of the Drowned Submariner I was curious if MK was inspired by this tragic event: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_submarine_Kursk_explosion
I bet there were quite a few fathers down there... I love this song because it does seem like a dream. It is ethereal and gives and impression that anything can happen. He (the father) is trapped down there in the vault (damaged submarine) and he dreams about his little daughter who runs toward him "on the grass" and he catches her... But in the end it is only a dream because he is at the edge of life and death. They are drowned.

The choice of clarinet playing the main theme is so fitting to this song, so soothing. Electric guitar fills on the other hand add the dramatic feel which in the end takes over... Love it.

Really good thinking here, many thanks for that. I was thinking very simular but love the way you have incorporated the dying mans young daughter into it along with I think his wife too somehow?

Perhaps join this into the link here:
http://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php/topic,2632.0.html