(01) Trapper Man

[shangri la 1]

Trapper Man  Mark Knopfler (6:00)
Ian Thomas, Drums
Beverley Skeete, Background Vocalist
Nigel Hitchcock, Tenor Saxophone
Glenn Worf, Bass Guitar
Mark Knopfler, Guitar, Vocals
Jim Cox, Piano
Katie Kissoon, Background Vocalist
Tom Walsh, Trumpet
Trevor Mires, Trombone
Danny Cummings, Percussion
Guy Fletcher, Synthesizer

LYRICS

The trapper man’s in from the hinterlands
Filth and grease on his clothes and hands
From the outermost, the farthermost
Comes riding in to the trading post
Got a pack horse loaded up with hides
Steps in to see the man inside
‘I got furs, skins, a little meat too
Here, I got a good piece just for you’
Mmm Yeah


‘You take this home to give the wife’
The trapper draws his skinning knife
Now the fat man’s desk is a butcher’s block
The trapper cuts the meat and talks
‘You’re gonna lose your shirt on a nowhere man
Lose your shirt in nowhere land
Back out there is my country
And you best let this trapper be the trapper
You need the trapper man
The trapper man

If you don’t want to be where lightning strikes
Better let me work the way I like
You don’t want to know how I fill my sacks
You go out there you don’t come back
You got nature red in tooth and claw
And you ain’t got no rule of law
And if you don’t know nature’s way
All that’s gonna stop you being the prey is the trapper
You need the trapper man
The trapper man

You wanna wear them gems and rings
You wanna show off them shiny things
Shake your money maker, bro
Where the movers and the shakers go
You wanna go do what you do
Let the gold and silver come to you
So leave the dirty work to me
So you best let this trapper be the trapper
You need the trapper man
The trapper man

When he’s done his thing and gone his way
The fat men light cigars and say
“Holy smokes did you see that?
We all made money on the trapper cat”
Sit back in their big ass chairs
Say, “Boys, that is the man right there”
I’m the lifeline for your big soft ass
It’s the trapper puts it in first class, the trapper
You need the trapper man
The trapper man

© © 2018 Will D. Side Limited
℗ 2018 Will D. Side Limited

CHORDS: Trapper Man - by quizzaciously
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/mark_knopfler/trapper_man_chords_2515683

[koobaa]

Love these lyrics. This story could have easily happened in my neck of the woods. Actually, it's still happening. Can't wait to listen to this one!

[Love Expresso]

Could you explain  a little more? What's it about?

LE

[koobaa]

Literally taken, it could be about the pioneer times in North America when trapping and fur trade was the main industry during the early exploration of the northern frontier. Trappers would be out in the wilderness (hinterlands) for several months and would only come back to civilization to sell their pelts at trading posts which were usually established in remote areas. Being a trapper required a stamina and huge experience in living out on the land. An inexperienced person would perish within days exposed to elements and the wildlife. You had to be tough, or you needed a trapper man to survive. Trapping is still a way of life in northern Canada where I live. Fur industry is still very much alive and it is a legitimate industry supported by the local government. There are still many trappers out there in small, mostly aboriginal communities across the North, and the wilderness is as unforgiving as it was 200 years ago.
Hudson Bay Company was one of such early outfits that rose into power mostly thanks to trapping and fur industry. There were many people that became rich and "fat" thanks to these guys out there on the land, the trappers. As usual with MK, the double meaning of the song could be how some manage to raise to power and take advantage of the folks that work hard with their bare hands, a lower working class so to speak. The two last verses are the best indication of that. "I’m the lifeline for your big soft ass. It’s the trapper puts it in first class"
However, as the lyrics say, trappers need to sell their goods too to survive. So "I need you but you need me ". Also, trappers love what they do, they wouldn't like to do anything else, so "you better let this trapper be a trapper".

Anyway, just my first thoughts. I can relate to this story seeing it happen every day. We haven't changed since ancient times.

[Robson]

Literally taken, it could be about the pioneer times in North America when trapping and fur trade was the main industry during the early exploration of the northern frontier. Trappers would be out in the wilderness (hinterlands) for several months and would only come back to civilization to sell their pelts at trading posts which were usually established in remote areas. Being a trapper required a stamina and huge experience in living out on the land. An inexperienced person would perish within days exposed to elements and the wildlife. You had to be tough, or you needed a trapper man to survive. Trapping is still a way of life in northern Canada where I live. Fur industry is still very much alive and it is a legitimate industry supported by the local government. There are still many trappers out there in small, mostly aboriginal communities across the North, and the wilderness is as unforgiving as it was 200 years ago.
Hudson Bay Company was one of such early outfits that rose into power mostly thanks to trapping and fur industry. There were many people that became rich and "fat" thanks to these guys out there on the land, the trappers. As usual with MK, the double meaning of the song could be how some manage to raise to power and take advantage of the folks that work hard with their bare hands, a lower working class so to speak. The two last verses are the best indication of that. "I’m the lifeline for your big soft ass. It’s the trapper puts it in first class"
However, as the lyrics say, trappers need to sell their goods too to survive. So "I need you but you need me ". Also, trappers love what they do, they wouldn't like to do anything else, so "you better let this trapper be a trapper".

Anyway, just my first thoughts. I can relate to this story seeing it happen every day. We haven't changed since ancient times.

koobaa 

[Love Expresso]

And suddenly ...

WOW!

This is so helpful! Thank you so much for this detailed answer! Very appreciated! 

LE

[JF]

female background vocals on this song sounds very much like on Clapton's forever man.
at least it made me think to these vocals

and the rhythm/tempo is a little bit like on the metroland song.

[Jules]

You can listen trapper man here:

https://detourradio.com/playlists-concert-calendar-news/

More or less at one hour after a piece of folk music.

Quite nice

[Kris-b]

Wow, this is really nice! I like it!

Thanks for sharing!

[Jules]

If someone can capture it and send it by private... I'm just about to catch a plane for a travel!

[vr46mk]

Love this one! 

I can record.

[quizzaciously]

Nah... The first track leak isn't interesting. It's the grand opening, makes no sense to hear it alone.

[wespresso]

You can listen trapper man here:

https://detourradio.com/playlists-concert-calendar-news/

More or less at one hour after a piece of folk music.

Quite nice

Wow, did not expect this, thanks for sharing. It sounds really good!

[holaknopfler]

F*cking brilliant, for me the best one until now

[straitsway75]