(15) The Long Highway (3:46)

[shangri la 1]

The Long Highway (Mark Knopfler)

LYRICS

Heard a bell being toll
Before the break of day
I heard then my name being called
Down that long highway
You don't get long
You don't get long
You don't get long to stay
Kiss me once and I'll be gone
Down that long highway
Spirits call from way beyond
Lord I may not disobey
Spare a thought for the vagabond
Down that long highway
Down that long highway
Down that long highway

CHORDS
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/m/mark_knopfler/the_long_highway_crd.htm

[Knopflerfan]

I cannot believe this fabulous, moving track didn't make any of the album's - beyond belief really!

[rmarques821]

I cannot believe this fabulous, moving track didn't make any of the album's - beyond belief really!

One of my favourites too!

[Knopflerfan]

And now fabuously remastered too.....

[qjamesfloyd]

This is one of my favourite Mark Knopfler songs, I actually think it is better as a B-Side, I don't feel it would fit on any of his albums, it shows the strength of Mark's writing to say that too. The live version is so good too, as it the acoustic version from the Timothy White sessions.

[Knopflerfan]

Your right, it is a 'stand alone' track in many ways and no it wouldn't do it any justice 'sandwiching' it in an album....

Such a cracking, simple yet powerful track...

[Jules]

I saw Brendan Croker in Barcelona and he said he was about to play a Mark Knopfler song, the most beautiful song ever written about death, about dying. I was like "wow, he's gonna play an unknown MK song!"

And he played The Long Highway.

[Knopflerfan]

I saw Brendan Croker in Barcelona and he said he was about to play a Mark Knopfler song, the most beautiful song ever written about death, about dying. I was like "wow, he's gonna play an unknown MK song!"

And he played The Long Highway.

Which is what I've always taken it to be about. Thus I want it played at my funeral....

[Stanko]

strange interpretations to hear really, unlike you I'm certain my funeral will not survive me

[dustyvalentino]

Clearly about death I would say?

[quizzaciously]

strange interpretations to hear really, unlike you I'm certain my funeral will not survive me

Clearly about death I would say?

If this song isn't played at my funeral, I ain't going

Yes, clearly a song about death, but it is so nice and bittersweet you almost don't think about it, certainly I don't think about it. As if it tells you — death is bad, but look at the beauty you can create while you're still alive!

[rmarques821]

For me, The Long Highway was never about death although I understand that people see it that way. For me it was always a song about travelling, moving on and getting older, I suppose.

[dustyvalentino]

The bell being tolled? The spirits being called?

I really don’t see how it can’t be about death…

[Knopflerfan]

The bell being tolled? The spirits being called?

I really don’t see how it can’t be about death…

Quite agree! I've always taken it that it's MKs unique spin on death

[Love Expresso]

I always was more under the impression that it is about destiny, the force of being restless, feeling the tide coming and going inside yourself, same as in Go, Love. The prayer level seems to illustrate that destiny part. It's just something you cannot do anything against it. Maybe the spirits refer to the ancestors who always were on the run. Also Marbletown with the homeless Hobo guy comes to mind. In my interpretation, that was always an allegory for Jewish people.

LE