Lyric of the Day #52: Top 100 Lyricists #95

19 Aug

Some people have all the luck. Well, by luck I guess I mean skill. You see, in 1967 a man by the name of Mark Knopfler (you may know him better as the lead singer, songwriter, guitarist, and overall great guy of Dire Straits) studied journalism for a year at Harlow Technical College. Yes, like me and many others, he was an aspiring journalist. He actually secured a job as a Junior Reporter at the Yorkshire Evening Report in Leeds, England. (Hmm. Maybe, I can get an internship there.) Two years later, Knopfler decided to advance his studies and he received an English degree from the University of Leeds. But, yeah, as I said some guys have all the luck. He could have stuck to that Journalism idea but nahh, you see, he had a little something extra.

What was that something extra you ask? Well, he is one of the most respected fingerstyle (plucking the strings of a guitar with your finger tips or with an attached pick) guitarists in the world and is currently ranked #27 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. He has sold over 120 million records with Dire Straits and his own solo material. Let’s see what else. He has performed with other artists with names like Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Phil Lynott, Randy Newman, Steely Dan, Chet Atkins, Tina Turner, and even Weird Al. Odd list, ain’t it? He has scored music for numerous films. Oh yeah and he can also write lyrics pretty well. Well enough, at least, to be considered the #95^th greatest lyricist of all time by an aspiring journalist who is currently ranked as Rolling Stone’s # not even worth mentioning guitarist. Hey, I can finger pick! Like I said, some people had all the luck.

With Eric Clapton, Sweet

So, let’s focus on some of Mark Knopfler’s lyrics. Now, of course, everyone knows the riff and a verse of Dire Strait’s hit, “Sultan’s of Swing.” If you do not think you know it, listen to it, and I will wait for the ohhhh yeahhh to come out of your mouth. My brother walked into the computer room donned in a wife beater and a bathing suit and asked what I was doing. When I told him I was doing #95 and it was Mark Knopfler, he smiled and said oh yeah, “Sultan’s of Swing.” You see, I believe every band or performer, unless you are of the likes of The Beatles or Pink Floyd, is known by their one super hit. “Sultan’s of Swing,” the tale of the guitarists of down south London town, propelled Dire Strait’s self-titled debut album to success. Sultans of Swing The song reached #4 on the Billboard top 100 charts in 1978 and #8 on the UK singles chart. But, what many miss is how successful the album was. The album reached #2 on Billboard’s top pop album chart and #5 on UK’s Albums chart. Why did it reach so high? Was it because of the amazing guitar-playing and musical confidence? Yes, this definitely was a large reason why it was so successful. But, the lyrics of Mark Knopfler sure did not hurt.

Check out my favorite lyrics from “Sultan’s of Swing”

“And a crowd of young boys they’re fooling around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
They don’t give a damn about any trumpet playing band
It ain’t what they call Rock ‘n’ Roll”

The imagery represented in this lyrical quatrain is simply phenomenal. Knopfler sets the scene of the young boys so well. They are all alike in the same popular gear roaming around South London looking for some true rock and roll. Okay, look I am a fan of Blood Sweat and Tears and I do like some trumpet playing bands but I love this line. It ain’t what they call Rock ‘n’ Roll.” First off, that is how Rock ‘n’ Roll is spelt and said, just with the n. Also, the lyric is so confident and cocky with an awesome swagger to the line.

Yes, this is their best song, and arguably Knopfler’s best lyrics. But, I want you to check out these lyrics from the first track of the debut album. The song is entitled, “Down to the Waterline,” and it is about love on the docks.

Sweet surrender on the quayside
You remember we used to run and hide
In the shadow of the cargoes I take you one at a time
And we’re counting all the numbers down to the waterline
Near misses on the dogleap stairways
French kisses in the darkened doorways
A foghorn blowing out wild and cold
A policeman shines a light upon my shoulder
Up comes a coaster fast and silent in the night
Over my shoulder all you can see are the pilot lights
No money in our jackets and our jeans are torn
Your hands are cold but your lips are warm
She can see him on the jetty where they used to go
She can feel him in the places where the sailors go
When she’s walking by the river and the railway line
She can still hear him whisper
Let’s go down to the waterline

Tell me that lyric is not beautiful. It is quiet and reserved with a perfect mix of positive and negative words. Sweet and kisses mixed with cold and wild. It has completely different lyrics compared to “Sultan’s of Swing.” Certainly the variety of lyrics that the former journalist expresses in his songs is good enough for #95 of all time. The efficiency and skillfulness of how he writes the songs does not hurt his cause.