The Boy EP (04) Bad Day For A Knife thrower

[Knopflerfan]

BAD DAY FOR A KNIFE THROWER

Rain’s like thunder on the canvas
It’s been coming down hard all day
You’ll get the weather
And the people all staying away
On the old showground
On the edge of town
And the wind buffeting the van
Well, whatever
I still don’t have a plan

Tried to call you once or twice
Drawing a blank
That thing we talked about
I need to see it in the bank
Sitting like a dud in the fairground mud
Everything is slower
It’s been a bad day
For a knife thrower

It was a pound a round in ‘64
With all us kids to feed
They stuck together
For whatever it was we’d need
Truth is he was flying
On one engine all the time
Out on the racecourse
He knew a bookie in disorganised crime

When he couldn’t pick up a payday
Or anything else
He’d have to come through
With a tenner or two
Have a little bet against himself
Sitting like a dud in the fairground mud
Feel I’m sinking lower
It’s been a bad day
For a knife thrower
Sitting like a dud in the fairground mud
Feel I’m sinking lower
It’s been a bad day
For a knife thrower

Guitars, Vocals: Mark Knopfler
Acoustic Guitar: Richard Bennett
Synths: Guy Fletcher
Piano: Jim Cox
Upright Bass: Glenn Worf
Drums: Ian ‘Ianto’ Thomas
Percussion: Danny Cummings

[goon525]

Quite surprised at the complete absence of comment on this one - maybe because it comes straight after All Comers, which we all seem to agree is an MK classic. But it’s an atmospheric bluesy number with plenty of the great man’s guitar - probably more of it than anything else of the new stuff.

[Silvertown]

Yes, I find myself singing this song almost daily.

[Robson]

Yes, this song has a great bluesy feel to it. It has similar means of expression to Back To Tupelo.

[superval99]

It reminds me a bit of Baloney Again, especially the guitar.  I like it very much.   

[kaleo74]

It reminds me a bit of Baloney Again, especially the guitar.  I like it very much.   

Yes, it has that chord progression from Baloney Again (You don't strut around in these country towns
You best stay in the car..)
The guitar is the same as on Don’t Suck Me In, a bit weird for a bluesy tune, I would have liked the distortion of a Les Paul or why not a Strat?
Anyway, Bad Day For A Knife Thrower is a pure gem, a bit underrated for know though, I've always loved Mark's songs like that, very moving and bluesy, like Baloney Again, Hard Shoulder, Sucker Row and others, there's always a special atmosphere in those songs and I love that.

[Knopflerfan]

Really like this beautiful little song. I agree it is a bit like 'Baloney again' - nice little EP closing track...

[Rail King]

Quite surprised at the complete absence of comment on this one - maybe because it comes straight after All Comers, which we all seem to agree is an MK classic. But it’s an atmospheric bluesy number with plenty of the great man’s guitar - probably more of it than anything else of the new stuff.

I didn’t comment because I‘ve only just listened to it for the first time. Was waiting for a rainy day. Might be my favourite song off the EP, though.

[Stiglar]

I personally really enjoy this track,

This is classic MK songwriting in my opinion, a minor key, bluesey song , that is fairly straight forward, but then there’s a surprising turn in the chorus, chords are clever and there’s a unique lyric hook that only MK pull off. I don’t know how he does it!

Love the guitar playing too, very baloney again as someone mentioned. But I also notice the “good on you son” melody in the verse (first line) too! Love it