(10) Before my train comes

[Matchstickman]

For me, this is the most powerful and touching song of all the new ones.

I see a person living a normal life until they suddenly get sick "out of the blue". The diagnosis is devastating and they have a few months to live. The train is coming and all you can do is sort things out and say goodbye to your loved ones. Tell them all the things you never had a chance to say or didn't know how to say.

But wait - there is a lockdown, planes are grounded, and your loved ones are trapped far away. You will not have a chance to hold them, be with them, or say goodbye.
All you will have are memories that will "take you back in style. Some will fade forever, but I know some will not. All of yours mean a lot".

Maybe it's so moving because it tells my story, but from the other end. I was trapped when I lost someone close to me and couldn't say goodbye. This song gave me some closure.

The melody is deceptively uplifting, yet poignant. The train groove is great. The HPF is very high. This is top shelf MK stuff.

(HPF - haunting poignancy factor - my personal qualifier of what makes the music great for me)

Interesting and well-written points, I will revisit the song with this in mind!

[stratmad]

Sorry to hear about your loss, koobaa.
It's good that the song has helped you to cope with it.

[Robson]

For me, this is the most powerful and touching song of all the new ones.

I see a person living a normal life until they suddenly get sick "out of the blue". The diagnosis is devastating and they have a few months to live. The train is coming and all you can do is sort things out and say goodbye to your loved ones. Tell them all the things you never had a chance to say or didn't know how to say.

But wait - there is a lockdown, planes are grounded, and your loved ones are trapped far away. You will not have a chance to hold them, be with them, or say goodbye.
All you will have are memories that will "take you back in style. Some will fade forever, but I know some will not. All of yours mean a lot".

Maybe it's so moving because it tells my story, but from the other end. I was trapped when I lost someone close to me and couldn't say goodbye. This song gave me some closure.

The melody is deceptively uplifting, yet poignant. The train groove is great. The HPF is very high. This is top shelf MK stuff.

(HPF - haunting poignancy factor - my personal qualifier of what makes the music great for me)

This is a touching story and also close to me. It is amazing that Mark very often makes music that has no trace of suffering or sadness but when we read into the words we have the full picture. I really like his creative process, the music sounds optimistic but the words are not optimistic. Another example is the song: This One's Not Going To End Well.

[rmarques821]

For me, this is the most powerful and touching song of all the new ones.

I see a person living a normal life until they suddenly get sick "out of the blue". The diagnosis is devastating and they have a few months to live. The train is coming and all you can do is sort things out and say goodbye to your loved ones. Tell them all the things you never had a chance to say or didn't know how to say.

But wait - there is a lockdown, planes are grounded, and your loved ones are trapped far away. You will not have a chance to hold them, be with them, or say goodbye.
All you will have are memories that will "take you back in style. Some will fade forever, but I know some will not. All of yours mean a lot".

Maybe it's so moving because it tells my story, but from the other end. I was trapped when I lost someone close to me and couldn't say goodbye. This song gave me some closure.

The melody is deceptively uplifting, yet poignant. The train groove is great. The HPF is very high. This is top shelf MK stuff.

(HPF - haunting poignancy factor - my personal qualifier of what makes the music great for me)

I enjoyed reading your comment and I resonate with it a lot. I also lost my grandfather in december 2020, never got to say goodbye or see him a final time due to hospital restrictions during covid19.
This song brings some comfort in a strange way, the same way Love Over Gold did for me, for different reasons, when I was a teenager.

[koobaa]

Thanks all. The song does help indeed.

I wanted to thank Mark personally and take him out for a beer or something, but he doesn't answer his email.   

[shangri la 1]

Thanks all. The song does help indeed.

I wanted to thank Mark personally and take him out for a beer or something, but he doesn't answer his email.   

I would also like to extend my condolences and thoughts to you koobaa. You along with two others from our beautiful AMIT family didn't hesitate when I asked you to help me listen to this collection of Mark's masterpieces. News that my package had been delayed 2-3 weeks was not what I had wanted to hear. Arrived May 1st .
Later today in 8-hours, AMIT TV will have a premiere of this attempted visualisation of IMHO the most HPF, yet uplifting gem from Mark's palate.

Just google AMIT TV Knopfler - I'm too wasted from all of the sleepness nights, and wanting to capture all of the feelings that were racing through me, to go and get the link from my PC.
My poor dear wife of 45-years (this Tuesday) will also be relieved as I'm hopless in these circumstances.
I've always been a worrier so whilst looking at our egagement picture on the hutch recently I said to her that my blank expression may have been due to this? "Had I just been captivated by her pretty face"? 45-years later and I'm happy to report that I dug up a diamond, rare and fine, a real angel of mercy!

[stratmad]

What is HPF?

[koobaa]

HPF - Haunting Poignancy Factor 

Thanks Shangri La for sharing your draft video. It captures the essence of the song really well IMHO.

All the best for you!

[Knopflerfan]

Thanks all. The song does help indeed.

I wanted to thank Mark personally and take him out for a beer or something, but he doesn't answer his email.   

My sincere condolences my friend. Similar to you I found solace with an MK song when my late father passed 12 years ago - 'Piper to the end' as my Dad loved it!  Was played at his funeral too... I actually asked Guy to thank Mark via Dr Fletch and had a reply.

[Stanko]

Yes, from the first listen I take this one about your last travel by train, not from the spanish originated flu or whatever necessarily. The narrator was smart enough to hang up the guns before the train comes. Somehow I connect it with Mark decision to quit touring. The message in this one intersects with the one in Train To Nowhere.

[Robson]

Yes, maybe between the lines Mark wanted to tell us how much he will miss the concerts (Ahead Of The Game, Two Pairs Of Hands, Watch Me Gone)