Follow The Ribbon

[jurdjevic]

Any idea what's it about? Some people are wandering through the night obviously for a long time....
What kind of people? Any hints? Soldiers, refugees? Slaves?

"don't care if they like it, don't care if they don't"... these lines seem to be central - who are "they"?

They are critics and fans--he writes for himself. I think the song is autobiographical. He's on a tour bus and following the ribbon, as in driving endlessly for a life time. The ribbon is the white painted lane divider, "a line unwinding through the night." Up in the high country=celtic music, down where the river flows=the Mississippi delta. He's said that his music comes from where the Mississippi meets the Tyne.

[bobfan]

Joined this site on the back of this song. I cannot believe this didn't make the album! What's even more sad is that, secure that I had all the songs from Privateering on the Deluxe Edition, I didn't even know of its existence until I stumbled upon it on this site whilst checking out set lists for the current tour. It's a beautiful song, and a lot better than some of the songs that did make Privateering, so really bemused as to its exclusion. Also, absolutely criminal that only purchasers of the Super Deluxe Edition got the opportunity (in theory) to hear this track. Does anybody else  hear the melody of 'Old Man River' in the long, melodic, play out?

[Fletch]

You're not alone bobfan, all the Privateering 'bonus' songs should've made the record! Hope you've also heard River of Grog & Occupation Blues? Welcome to AMIT!

[bobfan]

I haven't heard Occupation Blues. I'll have to try and track it down.

[Pottel]

so true, most of his solo bonus songs were often better then the main album

[qjamesfloyd]

I haven't heard Occupation Blues. I'll have to try and track it down.

It is a brilliant song Could be from a soundtrack to a WW2 film.

[Knopflerfan]

I haven't heard Occupation Blues. I'll have to try and track it down.

It is a brilliant song Could be from a soundtrack to a WW2 film.

It has become a favourite of mine since I heard MK play it Live at Chalke Valley......

[Sam96]

Any idea what's it about? Some people are wandering through the night obviously for a long time....
What kind of people? Any hints? Soldiers, refugees? Slaves?

"don't care if they like it, don't care if they don't"... these lines seem to be central - who are "they"?

Maybe I'm only scratching the surface, but to me, it sounds autobiographical as he describes life on the music road with all its difficulties, battles, and challenges. It's a metaphor for life as a single day, as he sings about getting older and time passing by - like a day ending.
"The day's been a while fading
Seems like we have slowed
My eyes are getting weary
Can barely see the road".

The second verse sounds to me like the typical challenges we encounter in life. It's sung in the context of battlefields just to make it bolder - the fights and battles we must endure.

The ribbon symbolizes something free, something wild that flows wherever it should. He just has to follow it, wherever it leads. It's his compulsion to write music and be on the road.

as Rail King wrote before me, "Don't care if they like it" simply refers to labels, critics etc.

He's talking about the record company guys, the music journalists and the fans, of course! 

My favorite verse is the last one:
"I'm just living with the ringing
Of tomorrow's ancient rhymes
The road ahead may be shorter
Than the one we left behind
If there's whiskey in the bottle
Leave some for me
I'll get to it, eventually"

I just love how simple and truthful it is.

[Robson]

For me, this ribbon has always meant an inner voice that is always worth following. It's always worth being yourself.