Song Meanings?

[Fletch]

Just wondering if possible song meanings has been discussed here? I`m very curious to what folks may think or have assumed....

Is "My Claim To Fame" auto biographical?

Is "Don`t You Get It" a message to fans like me who long for the old DS styles and MK grooves?

And "Let See You".... is this a possible reaction to his brother, David? Or am i completely wrong on that one?

Any other interesting songs and their meanings? For instance it took me ages to realise Boom Like That was about McDonalds etc? I think i`d heard it a dozen times, looked up the lyrics, then searched Kroc on wiki!!!!

[shangri la 1]

  Hi Fletch
The GH press kit had an interview with Mark regarding the meanings of songs on that album, and the guys from Mark Knopfler INFO have it here: http://www.mark-knopfler.info/article_1996osfgh.htm

I think MCF and LSY are both quite personal songs from Mark's past.

My slant on MCF is that it is a bit in the same vein as Mark

[Fletch]

Thanks, i had no idea all that info was available!

Agreed about the subtle lyrics, they could go many ways and have a meaning to the listener. In a sense i`m sad to see these `official` explanations. I was hoping to hear all sorts of different views from the fans.

[dustyvalentino]

OK, just my opinion, but as you should know by now, I'm usually right. 

My Claim To Fame: Seems fairly clear that this is NOT autobiographical. It's clearly written from the point of view of someone who used to build ships on the shipyards on Tyneside. I still think it might have been included on the Golden Heart album if Jimmy Nail hadn't written a (frankly better) song about pretty much the same subject matter.

Don't You Get It: I don't see this as being about the fans at all. Seems to me to be a fairly throwaway song that doesn't really mean much, probably inspired by seeing too many adverts on TV or something.

Let's See You: I don't know about this one. It could well be about Ed Bicknell, but could also be about DK. Or possibly about somebody else entirely. Very interesting track though - surely the most "un-MK" track MK's ever recorded? That opening riff doesn't sound like MK at all, Richard Bennett playing? Over all it has a 60s-ish, Beatles/Kinks feel. I like it, but it really doesn't sound anything like anything else MK's done ever.

[Love Expresso]

Hi, Dusty,

I actually thought all those years that it

[dustyvalentino]

No, his dad didn't work on the ships as far as I'm aware.

The way I see it, putting that stuff about the "rock star" in is just his way of letting people know that he knows that people in Tyneside look up to people like him (or Sting/Bryan Ferry/Jimmy Nail etc etc), and he appreciates that and knows that he was very lucky to have that opportunity that they didn't have.

As for Everybody Pays I also think it's about David. The line about writing teh oldest story in the book, well David wrote a book about the music industry of course.

[ustas]

Hi Fletch
The GH press kit had an interview with Mark regarding the meanings of songs on that album, and the guys from Mark Knopfler INFO have it here: http://www.mark-knopfler.info/article_1996osfgh.htm

the article is updated and address is changed: http://www.mark-knopfler.info/p1996.htm

[IrisRose]

Somewhere I heard that "Coyote" was written to entertain his daughter.   

[shangri la 1]

  Yes Marie. She was a fan of the "Road-runner" cartoons and Coyote was dedicated to Wile E. Coyote from that series of Cartoons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wile_E._Coyote_and_Road_Runner 

[IrisRose]

I sort of always cheered on Wiley Coyote.   Road Runner was too arrogant. 

[Fletch]

Any other songs with your own ideas/interpretations?

I haven`t studied the lyrics, but what i catch from Tall Order Baby seems to be a tale of quickie sex? Forgive me if i`m way out of line here, or just plain wrong.

I reckon Lets See You is a sure thing nod in Davids direction. I`d love to know more about the brotherly feud here. Could it be a resentment at not being allowed to contribute to Dire Straits? After watching the following guitar magazine video interview, its hard to listen to David saying he didn`t like Sultans or that songwriting is a second language for him. He must surely kick himself for quitting the band and not enjoying the later world conquering success? On the other hand it must have been frustrating having little input on the records, especially after co-writing great stuff like Whats The Matter With You Baby?
I listened to Single Handed Sailor today and even quietly in the background, the rhythm style is obviously Marks. Poor Dave!

http://www.guitarheroes.com.au/ag_0108/cd_0108.htm

[Stanko]

No, his dad didn't work on the ships as far as I'm aware.

The way I see it, putting that stuff about the "rock star" in is just his way of letting people know that he knows that people in Tyneside look up to people like him (or Sting/Bryan Ferry/Jimmy Nail etc etc), and he appreciates that and knows that he was very lucky to have that opportunity that they didn't have.

If I may just to make a note here that I'm totally with your comment dusty.

[JF]

I listened to Single Handed Sailor today and even quietly in the background, the rhythm style is obviously Marks. Poor Dave!

http://www.guitarheroes.com.au/ag_0108/cd_0108.htm

to be accurate, there are 4 guitars on SHS :

- lead guitar (center) : obviously by Mark (that Dimarzio FS1 in neck position)
- rhythm guitar (left) : typical Mak fingerstyle
- rhythm guitar (right), accents on the snare : David
- rhtyhm guitar (right)  : it could be Mark or David. Ingo votes for David

all is here: 
http://www.mk-guitar.com/gear-on-all-songs-for-all-albums-wiki/gear-on-album-communique/

[Shai]

I remember learning way back that that Lets See You was about Ed Bicknell.

   Saul