(06) Fare Thee Well Northumberland (6:29)

[shangri la 1]

LYRICS

Come drive me down to the central station
I hate to leave my river Tyne
For some damn town that’s god-forsaken
Fare thee well, Northumberland

Although I’ll go where the lady takes me
She’ll never tell what’s in her hand
I do not know what fate awaits me
Fare thee well, Northumberland

My heart beats for my streets and alleys
Longs to dwell in the borderlands
The north-east shore and the river valleys
Fare thee well Northumberland

I may not stay, I’m bound for leaving
I’m bound to ramble and to roam
I only say my heart is grieving
I would not gamble on my coming home

Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll

So drive me down to the central station
I hate to leave my river Tyne
For some damn town that’s god-forsaken
Goodbye old friend of mine

Although I’ll go where the lady takes me
She’ll never tell what’s in her hand
I do not know what fate awaits me
Fare thee well, Northumberland

So roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll

CHORDS
Ragpicker’s Dream Album – by foma
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/m/mark_knopfler/the_ragpickers_dream_album_crd.htm

 

[Jules]

I always thought that this song talks about MK missing Newcastle, remembering when he left to study journalism and to work in Leeds, and then to London, but the other day I found out that Newcastle is not anymore in Northumberland, but in Tyne and Wear since 1974, I also found that Newcastle was a county itself since 1400 to 1974!!!!

So I thought that maybe until 1974, Geordies considered Northumberland as their land anyway, and... the fare thee well Northumberland can be a goodbye to that county where MK grew up, before it was part of Tyne And Wear, or it´s just MK missing his Newcastle hometown and nothing else?

[superval99]

...... or it´s just MK missing his Newcastle hometown and nothing else?

Yes, not just Newcastle, but also Northumberland.    Remember, his parents had a small cottage in Northumberland, without running water, or electricity, where the family went for holidays and which was probably the inspiration for 'Before Gas & TV'.   I remember reading an article in which he names various places in Northumberland with great fondness - Allendale being one place.

Here is a quote from "My North East":

 “I still fantasize about having a little cottage up in the Tyne Valley, maybe somewhere up on the tops near Allendale or Whitfield where the views are out of this world.”

[Jules]

...... or it´s just MK missing his Newcastle hometown and nothing else?

Yes, not just Newcastle, but also Northumberland.    Remember, his parents had a small cottage in Northumberland, without running water, or electricity, where the family went for holidays and which was probably the inspiration for 'Before Gas & TV'.   I remember reading an article in which he names various places in Northumberland with great fondness - Allendale being one place.

Here is a quote from "My North East":

 “I still fantasize about having a little cottage up in the Tyne Valley, maybe somewhere up on the tops near Allendale or Whitfield where the views are out of this world.”

Yes, I recall that fragment of the "My North East" book...

Thanks Val!