(12) One deep river

[Robson]

I find it interesting that you are frustrated by not not knowing MK had in mind with the lyric. Maybe an amalgam of people? Certainly he has done his fair share of "death tributes" via the web page etc in recent years.

Personally I'm just able to enjoy it as a lament to a lost friend, and I think it's GOOD that it's not too specific as I think it will help people gain comfort from it when dealing with their own grief over the loss of a loved one, in a way that you wouldn't be able to with something specific like, say, Candle in the Wind

 
Yes, this is also my feeling. There have been so many goodbyes and partings lately. One Deep River is a very universal song, a prayer.

[Stanko]

If anyone is bothered what PVFH stands for, it is a title abbreviation of the song "Precious Voice From Heaven".
Given the age of a protagonist is specified (42) and the circumstances, it does suggest specific person and the point in time.

[Love Expresso]

If anyone is bothered what PVFH stands for, it is a title abbreviation of the song "Precious Voice From Heaven".
Given the age of a protagonist is specified (42) and the circumstances, it does suggest specific person and the point in time.

Yes that's my point. If he does so, it is "unfair" to not give a hint that makes it easier to work out who it might be. I know a songwriter owes nothing to anybody but if I guess it should be POSSIBLE to work it out for a listener.

LE

[Stanko]

If anyone is bothered what PVFH stands for, it is a title abbreviation of the song "Precious Voice From Heaven".
Given the age of a protagonist is specified (42) and the circumstances, it does suggest specific person and the point in time.

Yes that's my point. If he does so, it is "unfair" to not give a hint that makes it easier to work out who it might be. I know a songwriter owes nothing to anybody but if I guess it should be POSSIBLE to work it out for a listener.

LE

I suspect it is about Dylan.
At the time of "Infidels" (1983) Dylan was 42 and Mark was involved into recording.
There is a note I found on wikipedia about recording of "Infields":
"Dylan initially wanted to produce the album himself, but feeling that technology had passed him by, he approached a number of contemporary artists who were more at home in a modern recording studio. David Bowie, Frank Zappa and Elvis Costello were all approached before Dylan hired Knopfler"

Dylan does wear a kind of Trilby Hat...

_________

Somehow I believe "Lights of Taormina" is also related to the companionship between Mark and Bob. I would not suggest what a kind of.
Taormina is well known as a gay friendly destination https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Taormina (read under the "Gayheyday"). Even the lyrics in the song suggest so:
"They were young and love was shining
Like the colours of the rainbow"

In both songs, (albeit disgusting would it be the case if you ask me), you can just think there is no girl at all...
(but you are open-minded, no?)

[Robson]

If I remember correctly Mark wrote the song "Lights Of Taormina" while he was on tour with Bob Dylan.

Over the years I've learned to write on the go

I wrote this song where I was actually sitting on this beautiful terrace, looking down at Taormina


I didn't know that the owner of the Villa Angela Hotel in Taormina, Sicily, is Jim Kerr, the lead singer of Simple Minds:)

[Love Expresso]

I thought MK played at Taormina during his 2013 tour and remembered that Bob had played there before also.. not together with him. As far as I remember the MK/BD tour 2011 did not stop at Taormina.

So he made a mixture of his own and Bob's experiences at that beautiful place.

LE

[Robson]

I thought MK played at Taormina during his 2013 tour and remembered that Bob had played there before also.. not together with him. As far as I remember the MK/BD tour 2011 did not stop at Taormina.

So he made a mixture of his own and Bob's experiences at that beautiful place.

LE

Yes, July 16, 2013.

[Love Expresso]

Two songs (at least) from ODR can be seen as direct resumptions or "sequels" to earlier songs from my point of view. Black Tie Jobs is directly connected to Basil, and Along A Foreign Coast continues the storytelling of Privateering. I wonder if there are any more connections in other songs?

LE

[Robson]

Two songs (at least) from ODR can be seen as direct resumptions or "sequels" to earlier songs from my point of view. Black Tie Jobs is directly connected to Basil, and Along A Foreign Coast continues the storytelling of Privateering. I wonder if there are any more connections in other songs?

LE

 

[Stanko]

Two songs (at least) from ODR can be seen as direct resumptions or "sequels" to earlier songs from my point of view. Black Tie Jobs is directly connected to Basil, and Along A Foreign Coast continues the storytelling of Privateering. I wonder if there are any more connections in other songs?

LE

Too many songs, I definitely agree.
You can even add Sky And Water or So Far From The Clyde to the later two

[Robson]

In a way and a little bit: Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes and Watch Me Gone.

[Love Expresso]

In a way and a little bit: Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes and Watch Me Gone.

You are right. A "prequel" if you like.

LE

[stratmad]

This "connections" thing could maybe a thread of its own.
In some interviews, MK talked about stereotypical characters coming back every now and then: the MFN "meathead" somehow reappers in Bacon Roll, I think it was, and a few other songs. He said something like: "I haven't finished with him."
Another connection is Brothers In Arms and  Piper To The End - it's the same idea, but Piper is much more specific and personal, like many of his solo songs.

[Love Expresso]

This "connections" thing could maybe a thread of its own.
In some interviews, MK talked about stereotypical characters coming back every now and then: the MFN "meathead" somehow reappers in Bacon Roll, I think it was, and a few other songs. He said something like: "I haven't finished with him."
Another connection is Brothers In Arms and  Piper To The End - it's the same idea, but Piper is much more specific and personal, like many of his solo songs.

Hmmmm yes but I was more after very concrete connections. For example when he mentions the Colins and Bobs and how hardboiled he has become, that's a direct connection to the young copy boy in Basil. The Lady in Along A Foreign Coast is mentioned in "to lay with pretty women..." in Privateering. The connection from Sky And Water with let's say So Far From The Clyde is not enough for me only because it's about a ship   .

Robson made a very good point about Watch Me Gone and Laugh and Jokes.

LE

[superval99]

This "connections" thing could maybe a thread of its own.
In some interviews, MK talked about stereotypical characters coming back every now and then: the MFN "meathead" somehow reappers in Bacon Roll, I think it was, and a few other songs. He said something like: "I haven't finished with him."
Another connection is Brothers In Arms and  Piper To The End - it's the same idea, but Piper is much more specific and personal, like many of his solo songs.

When he said "I haven't finished with him" he was talking about Colonel Parker, Elvis's manager in songs like "Back to Tupelo" and "Gator Blood" .