Mark Knopfler

[fox69]

"Baloney Again"

"Baloney Again"


We don't eat in no white restaurants
We're eatin' in the car
Baloney again, baloney again
We don't sleep in no white hotel bed
We're sleeping in the car, baloney again
You don't strut around in this country towns
You best stay in the car
Look on ahead don't stare around
You best stay where you are
You're a long way from home, boy
Don't push your luck too far
Baloney again

Twenty-two years we've sung the word
Since nineteen thirty-one
Amen, I say amen
Now the young folk want to praise the lord
With guitar, bass and drums, amen
Well I'll never get tired of Jesus
But it's been a heavy load
Carrying His precious love
Down a long dirt road
We're a long way from home
Just let's pay the man and go
Baloney again

The Lord is my shepherd
He leadeth me in pastures green
He gave us this day
Our daily bread and gasoline
Go under the willow
Park her up beside the stream
Shoulders for pillows
Lay down your head and dream
Shoulders for pillows
Lay down your head and dream

 

[fox69]

"Basil"

"Basil"


My Saturday job pays six and six down
A copy boy at the Chronicle
Five cigarettes and two silver half crowns
Meeting Vince at Mark Toney’s in town
Boy, do we get around

Basil sits there on the table for subs
But not a part of the Bri-nylon club
Ancient blue sweater, too old for the job
Bored out of his mind
With the Colins and Bobs

I’m a jack and a lad
And I’m up for the world
And I’ve kissed a Gateshead girl

He calls for a copy boy, grumpy as hell
Poets have to eat as well
What he wouldn’t give just to walk out today
To have time to think about time
And young love thrown away

I’m a jack and a lad
And I’m up for the world
And I’ve kissed a Gateshead girl

Starlings swarming
A cloud over Grainger Street
Over the black church
Over the Black Gate
And the shadowy Keep

He peers through his wire rims
At the fish and chip words
He’s supposed to dish up and forget
His drudgery now has become slightly blurred
By one of his Players untipped cigarettes

Bury all joy
Put the poems in sacks
And bury me here with the hacks

In the summer the fair
Will stretch over the Moor
Lovers will lie and make out in the park
Basil puts on his old duffel and scarf
And goes out into the dark

 

[fox69]

"Beachcombing"
(feat. Emmylou Harris)

"Beachcombing"
(feat. Emmylou Harris)



They say there's wreckage washing up
All along the coast
No one seems to know too much
Of who got hit the most
Nothing has been spoken
There's not a lot to see
But something has been broken
That's how it feels to me

We had a harmony
I never meant to spoil
Now it's lying in the water
Like a slick of oil
The tide is running out to sea
Under a darkening sky
The night is falling down on me
And I'm thinking that I should

Head on home
Been gone too long
Leave my roaming
Beachcombing

Little wild kitten out hunting
To see what he can get
You're in a big city now
Won't stop growing yet
The sun is going down smoking
A flaming testament
Something has been broken
And it feels permanent

Little seabird flying
He knows where he wants to go
Guess i ought to pack my stuff
And do the thing I know
I turn around and head on back
Along the old sea wall
I felt something give and crack
And now I'm sorry that's all

Head on home
Been gone too long
Leave my roaming
Beachcombing

 

[fox69]

"Before Gas And TV"

"Before Gas And TV"


Before gas and tv
Before people had cars
We'd sit around the fires
Pass around our guitars

Remembering songs
When my daddy was home
He'd play along
On the spoons and a comb

We'd go with the flow
When the weather was fine
Sometimes we'd go
Collecting scrap iron

And we'd sit around the fires
Pass a bottle of wine
In the tales of the road
Since time out of mind

If heaven's like this
Well that's OK with me
Where the living is fine
And living is free

If heaven's like this
Well then here's where I'll be
On the edge of the field
On the edge of the world
Before gas and tv

 

[fox69]

"Behind With The Rent"

"Behind With The Rent"


This didn't used to be me, old boy
This isn't what I'd want
Pulling old night fighters
In a restaurant
There's smoke and flames behind me
Where the self-respect all went
And I'm behind, behind
With the rent

I've been stitched up like a kipper, old son
But I won't be again
Hell hath no fury
Oh, I'm like a lot of men
Now I'm stalking this old Doris
With lascivious intent
And I'm behind, behind
With the rent

Just a little duck and dive
And a bit of wheel and deal
She'll remind me I'm alive
She'll remind me I still feel
Just a little shelling out
For a bit of you-know-what
I know this is all about
Something that I never got

Well this crumpet's past it's sell-by-date
But they all would qualify
They're going to be lonely
And be happy to comply
She knows that I'm a chancer
Coming on like a gent
But I'm behind, behind
With the rent
Yes, I'm behind, behind
With the rent

 

[fox69]

"Belle Starr"
(feat. Emmylou Harris)

"Belle Starr"
(feat. Emmylou Harris)



My mamma and my daddy
Told me that love is a two-way street
But lately baby, you've been finding
New ways of dragging your feet
So come on, make your best shot
You don't have to take the blame
I'll be your belle star
You can be my Jesse James

There's lonely people everywhere
From Abilene to Arkansas
The way they run for cover
You'd think love was against the law
Well I don't need a pistol , baby
You won't have to rob a train
You can be my belle star
And I can be your Jesse James

I know you've done some hard time
Baby, and you've got your doubts
When you feel surrounded
And it's looking there's no way out
I'll come riding to rescue
All you gotta do is call my name
I'll be your belle star
You can be my Jesse James

It don't take a genius, baby
There ain't no big mystery
You can't play it safe
And still go down in history
So saddle up the horses
'Cos we're headed for the hall of fame
I'll be your belle star
You can be my Jesse James
I'll be your belle star
You can be my Jesse James

 

[fox69]

"Beryl"

"Beryl"


Beryl was on another level
When she got a Booker medal
She was dead in her grave
After all she gave
After all she gave

Beryl, every time they’d overlook her
When they gave her a Booker
She was dead in her grave
After all she gave
After all she gave

It’s all too late now
It’s all too late now
It’s too late, you dabblers
It’s all too late
It’s too late, you dabblers
It’s all too late

Beryl, the tobacco overtook her
When they gave her a Booker
She was dead in her grave
After all she gave
After all she gave

It’s all too late now
It’s all too late now
It’s too late, you dabblers
It’s all too late
It’s too late, you dabblers
It’s all too late

Beryl was on another level
When she got a Booker medal
She was dead in her grave
After all she gave
After all she gave
After all she gave
After all she gave

 

[fox69]

"Beyond My Wildest Dreams"
(feat. Emmylou Harris)

"Beyond My Wildest Dreams"
(feat. Emmylou Harris)



I didn't ask for much
As maybe I ought've
But I'm staying in touch
With the one I love
And I can see in the dials
And in these headlights beams
Beyond me wildest
Beyond me wildest dreams
Beyond me wildest dreams
Beyond me wildest dreams
I've been with you
I've been with you

These are the big playloads
Hammer down on the floor
These are the restless roads
Every one a war
But in the flashing lines
I see a love supreme
Beyond me wildest
Beyond me wildest dreams
Beyond me wildest dreams
Beyond me wildest dreams
I've been with you
I've been with you

They promised me some good home time
And some layover pay
The agent he's a friend of mine
Says it's due my way
I'd drive a thousand miles
Haul a trailer of tears
Just to see you smile
And as the dawn appears
At the edge of the night
There's still a light that gleams
Beyond me wildest
Beyond me wildest dreams
Beyond me wildest dreams
Beyond me wildest dreams
I've been with you
I've been with you

 

[fox69]

"Blood And Water"

"Blood And Water"


Blood and water bound to overflow
Blood and water bound to overflow
Well there's no more high water
But the Old Man's just waiting, I know

He was sent up on the levee
Now they've gone up country
They won't do nothing for you now
And don't go asking me
They've gone - it's all over here
Sometimes I'd see her passing
With the evening coming on
I've seen you on her pathway
I've seen you at dawn
Look over yonder at that empty shack
You know as well as I do
They ain't coming back
They're gone - it's all over here

Blood and water bound to overflow
Blood and water bound to overflow
Well there's no more high water
But the Old Man's just waiting, I know

So many promises
We broke them, every one
Kept people on the levees
With sherrifs and shotguns
They're gone - it's all over here
Look over yonder at that empty shack
You know as well as I do
They ain't coming back
They're gone - it's all over here

Blood and water bound to overflow
Blood and water bound to overflow
Well there's no more high water
No more high water
There's no more high water
But the Old Man's just waiting, I know

 

[fox69]

"Bluebird"

"Bluebird"


Got crows in my pasture
Rats in my barn
Crows in my pasture, babe
Rats in my barn
If I was you, little bluebird
I'd up and find another farm

I've got nightshade in my meadow
Ragweed in my corn
Nightshade in my meadow
And ragweed in my corn
If I was you, little bluebird
I'd be long gone

Yes, I got squirrels in my rafters
Weevils in my hay
Squirrels in my rafters
Weevils in my hay
If I was you, little bluebird
I'd up and fly away
Fly away, baby