(11) Daddy's Gone to Knoxville (2:48)

[shangri la 1]

Daddy's Gone to Knoxville (Mark Knopfler) 2:48

LYRICS

Oh, you’re gonna miss your daddy when he’s gone
When he’s gone
Yeah, you’re gonna miss your daddy when he’s gone
When he’s gone
Daddy’s gone down that Gallatin road
The hen never laid and the corn never growed
Oh, you’re gonna miss your daddy when he’s gone

Oh, I’d rather have a dollar than a dime
Than a dime
Yeah, I’d rather have a dollar than a dime
Than a dime
Daddy’s gone down that Crossville track
If he can’t make a dollar then he ain’t comin’ back
Oh, I’d rather have a dollar than a dime

Oh, you better love your daddy while you can
While you can
Yeah, you better love your daddy while you can
While you can Daddy’s gone south on the Natchez trace
If the can’t show the money then he don’t show his face
Oh, you’d better love your daddy while you can

Oh, your daddy’s gone to Knoxville now
Knoxville now
Yeah, your daddy’s gone to Knoxville now
Knoxville now
Daddy’s gone down that Knoxville road
The dog never barked and the cock never crowed
Oh, your daddy’s gone to Knoxville now

CHORDS
Ragpicker’s Dream Album – by foma
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/m/mark_knopfler/the_ragpickers_dream_album_crd.htm

 

[Junkie Doll]

I always figure this song to be a remnant of Mark's time with The Notting Hillbillies or his collaboration with Chet Atkins.

[Robson]

I always figure this song to be a remnant of Mark's time with The Notting Hillbillies or his collaboration with Chet Atkins.

Interesting that you mention Chet Atkins In one of the interviews, Mark said that Chet was proud of him if he had heard this song

[Junkie Doll]

Interesting that you mention Chet Atkins In one of the interviews, Mark said that Chet was proud of him if he had heard this song

I didn't know that, thank you! The song "belongs" in the era when Mark explored other genres.

[Love Expresso]

Just for the record, you know that the song is about Chet and his tough youth?

LE

[Jules]

Just for the record, you know that the song is about Chet and his tough youth?

LE

I recall that in interviews of the time and even in the video press kit, MK made a reference to conversations with Chet where he said to him something like those roads were originally (during Chet's youth) just sand tracks and now they are highways, or something similar...

In the video press kit he doesn't mention Chet when talking about the song but I know he did in some interviews:

go to 3.20:

[Love Expresso]

I know, it was not a question. Chet Atkins was raised up in the Knoxville/Tennessee erea. He grew up very poor in the 1940's depression and the song is about that.

LE

[Junkie Doll]

Just for the record, you know that the song is about Chet and his tough youth?

LE

I didn't know that, to be honest. The song just made me think of Chet Atkins or Mark's time with The Notthing Hillbillies. Nice to know.