(3) River Towns (6:16)

[shangri la 1]

River Towns (Mark Knopfler)

LYRICS
   I came in three days early
To meet my boat
It ain’t the life of Riley
But it’s keeping me afloat
It’s quiet over Christmas
If you got no place to go
I got my home from river rats
The only home I know

I found myself a flophouse
And I hit the streets at nine
Get some grub and drink a beer
Maybe go down the line
These chips will take your money
Shake a young man down
It’s the same in every one of these
Sorry river towns

River towns, sorry river towns
River towns
River towns, sorry river towns
River towns

Well I picked me up a bottle
To take back to the room
Then I saw a young girl standing
In a doorway in the gloom
We’d hardly started talking
The old scenario
And I just let her work me over
Down by the Ohio

River towns, sorry river towns
River towns
River towns, sorry river towns
River towns

When I asked her if she’d like to stay
She was down my stairs so quick
I never asked what got her started
With the sorry river tricks
So I get the bottle open
But something’s hit a nerve
And I’m looking in the mirror
At the face that I deserve

River towns, sorry river towns
River towns
River towns, sorry river towns
River towns

[Ar (aka Enlight)]

Got a kind of  "All the Roadrunning" melody in it , during the two lines of the verse.

[border_reiver]

If this was faster it could have been a  Springsteen song 

[Jules]

According to the credits, Guy plays bass in this one!!!!!

[foma]

River Town chords are now added in my Tracker Songbook: http://amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?topic=4152.msg90543#msg90543

[Jules]

In some of the parts MK sings the same melody he sung in "Stand Up Guy"

[Nick14]

Very modern Springsteen like - and the sax is very like later period Clarence Clemons - compare this song to Clemons solo on something like Secret Garden - very very similar! Very nice song from Mark.

[Ar (aka Enlight)]

River Town chords are now added in my Tracker Songbook: http://amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?topic=4152.msg90543#msg90543

Thanks Foma, I ,as a guitarist myself,think you are doing a really great job.
All your efforts in figuring out the chords  , also for your upcoming songs a thanks in advance, are highly appreciated

[MisterYES]

In some of the parts MK sings the same melody he sung in "Stand Up Guy"

Actually no other/previous Album sounded so "recycled" as this one...musically, or any other way...

I was looking for appropriate topic to say this, but did not find such, so I'll do it here.

I could go literally song by song and saying things (as I did reply on few songs related topics already) like "this song basically is "that (old) song meets this (old) one", and so on...like as River Towns is less boring version of Follow the Ribbon.

But, by "recycled" I do not mean anything negative. More just like "artist's signature" thing...and I'm happy to find that all this new ones, are far better that those which parts I can hear in there...like the "Silver Eagle is "Get Lucky" meets "Devil Baby" with guitar from "Car was the one" + Shangri-La atmosphere" but I like it already more than any of those (which are great ones still) "Laughs and Jokes" is cheered up version of "All the road-running" ...etc etc...

But boy, does it sound awesome! 

[Dutchessy]

Yeah, like Guy said before: it's all from the same brain

[yontwocrows]

I think its also part of the concept of the album. To explore the own path in musical history and to cite the decisive points. So it's logical that the songs reminds on other songs. And he tries also reminds his influences (JJ Cale / EC / Bob / Beatles / Brubeck ) Missing Hank Marvin and Elvis???

[Throttle]

Got almost a sensual enjoyment from this enchanting song.
In addition, I'm just thrilled with lazy vibrations of his voice, coupled with a subtle irony.

Probably, 10 out of 10

[superval99]

Took a while for me to love this song, but now it's one of my favourites.  I can hear phrases from "Beachcombing" and also "Stand up Guy".   Love the saxophone!   

[Knopflerfan]

Its certainly grown on me too! Espeically with the thought of MK hitchiking from Penzance on Christmas day too!!

[yontwocrows]

This is certainly a grower. It climbs higher and higher in my personal favourits