 Dire Straits (1978) [ larger cover art ] |
Share this song
Tweet this song
Wikipedia search
Musicbrainz DB;){kind=link}
Sweet surrender on the quayside
You remember we used to run and hide
In the shadow of the cargoes I take you one time
And we're counting all the numbers down to the waterline
Well, near misses on the dogleap stairways
French kisses in the darkened doorways
A foghorn blowing out a-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 or the railway line
She can still hear him whisper
Let's go down to the waterline
| maxmox (Broome, Western Australia) | Posted: Apr 23, 2013 - 15:40 Lo and behold, a DS song follows Lucinda Williams in this rotation. Bill must've heard what I heard.....  |
| kcar | Posted: Apr 16, 2013 - 23:58 audiophelia wrote: This has to be my favorite of all Dire Straits songs! :) OhmiGOSH, they play Dire Straits here? (Mark K. nods appreciatively, pockets bulging with royalties from RP). Right with ya, audiophelia. |
| mojcamojca77 (Idrija) | Posted: Apr 16, 2013 - 23:52 Lazarus wrote: What a great song... when this album came out, it blew our minds... we were mindless after that... this whole album is incredible... :-) I agree so much! what a music! and what a time, when we listened it on LP:-) |
| hugogdt | Posted: Apr 16, 2013 - 23:52 This is actually one of my favorite songs of Dire Straits, thanks Bill for bringing this guitar sounds back from my childhood! |
| kingart (Brooklyn NY) | Posted: Mar 16, 2013 - 13:10 Only one problem with that cut: it's about 15 minutes too short. |
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Mar 16, 2013 - 13:10 What a great song... when this album came out, it blew our minds... we were mindless after that... this whole album is incredible... |
| Sjaaks | Posted: Feb 13, 2013 - 04:10 And how about Pick Withers, the best drummer Knopfler ever played with! The man really had a feel for great rhythms and very tastful fill-in's! Anyway, still a 9! |
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Jan 19, 2013 - 10:14 Cynaera wrote: Upon further analysis, the reason this song, and Knopfler/Dire Straits in general, makes me happy is because of the imagery. Listening to the words, with the music as a backdrop, pulls me into whatever world a particular song encompasses. To me, it's all about the vision painted by the artist - Dire Straits has always been incredible at painting a worldscape in which we listeners are included. How we respond - how we view what we're given - is left up to us. I sorta love that about Dire Straits. Well, and their music is pretty cool, too. Miss you Cynaera... love this song... we be dancing... |
| cyesp (Denver Foothills) | Posted: Dec 12, 2012 - 11:02 For me, Indelibly connected with the cold desert of NW New Mexico. In late-1978 I had taken my first job out of college in Farmington. The first Dire Straits album and the Talking Heads More Songs About... were constantly on my turntable and in my car's cassette deck on the drive to work through the desert. I was only there 4 months, but anytime these songs come on I am taken back to those desert sunrises. |
| Imkirok (The Arctic Hinter Land) | Posted: Dec 12, 2012 - 10:54 Cynaera wrote: Upon further analysis, the reason this song, and Knopfler/Dire Straits in general, makes me happy is because of the imagery. Listening to the words, with the music as a backdrop, pulls me into whatever world a particular song encompasses. To me, it's all about the vision painted by the artist - Dire Straits has always been incredible at painting a worldscape in which we listeners are included. How we respond - how we view what we're given - is left up to us. I sorta love that about Dire Straits. Well, and their music is pretty cool, too. That is/was the wonder of DS and Mark Knopfler. He could take a simple picture or everyday event (i.e. In the Gallery) and weave a story around it that makes you feel like you are there and living it. |
| Imkirok (The Arctic Hinter Land) | Posted: Dec 12, 2012 - 10:53 janep wrote: Knopfler's voice was so bright. It still is. His voice and guitar playing are both outstanding. One of my all-time favorite artists. |
| janep (Austin Texas) | Posted: Dec 03, 2012 - 16:23 Knopfler's voice was so bright. It still is. |
| westslope (BC coast) | Posted: Dec 03, 2012 - 15:20 You know, if the piece gets former member/Romeo dancing, it usually works for me too. |
| milipili (by the Black Sea) | Posted: Aug 31, 2012 - 08:25 These guys really have style  |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jul 14, 2012 - 21:06 We be dancing... love this song...  |
| willmcnaught (Eugene Oregon) | Posted: May 12, 2012 - 10:59 damn good stuff! |
| aspicer (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Feb 07, 2012 - 08:58 Unbelievable album - one of the best ever made IMHO! |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jan 22, 2012 - 18:06 This song is soooo good my nipples get hard when I hear it... |
| pixelpeda (very old house on the ancient graveyard) | Posted: Nov 20, 2011 - 06:14 Cynaera wrote: Upon further analysis, the reason this song, and Knopfler/Dire Straits in general, makes me happy is because of the imagery. Listening to the words, with the music as a backdrop, pulls me into whatever world a particular song encompasses. To me, it's all about the vision painted by the artist - Dire Straits has always been incredible at painting a worldscape in which we listeners are included. How we respond - how we view what we're given - is left up to us. I sorta love that about Dire Straits. Well, and their music is pretty cool, too. you say it! as near to beautiful painting as little else. |
| Deadwing (Cincinnati OH) | Posted: Nov 20, 2011 - 06:14 Love it!  |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Oct 19, 2011 - 16:09 Carl wrote: There's probably nobody I'd rather listen to playing guitar than Mark Knopfler. That, and I like Dire Straits' fabulous sound. He is definitely a contender... love this song... |
| Carl (The Summit City) | Posted: Aug 01, 2011 - 18:17 Cynaera wrote: Upon further analysis, the reason this song, and Knopfler/Dire Straits in general, makes me happy is because of the imagery. Listening to the words, with the music as a backdrop, pulls me into whatever world a particular song encompasses. To me, it's all about the vision painted by the artist - Dire Straits has always been incredible at painting a worldscape in which we listeners are included. How we respond - how we view what we're given - is left up to us. I sorta love that about Dire Straits. Well, and their music is pretty cool, too. There's probably nobody I'd rather listen to playing guitar than Mark Knopfler. That, and I like Dire Straits' fabulous sound. |
| Zep | Posted: Jul 28, 2011 - 07:17 Cynaera wrote: Upon further analysis, the reason this song, and Knopfler/Dire Straits in general, makes me happy is because of the imagery. Listening to the words, with the music as a backdrop, pulls me into whatever world a particular song encompasses. To me, it's all about the vision painted by the artist - Dire Straits has always been incredible at painting a worldscape in which we listeners are included. How we respond - how we view what we're given - is left up to us. I sorta love that about Dire Straits. Well, and their music is pretty cool, too. Well... what she said. |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: May 30, 2011 - 17:43 Upon further analysis, the reason this song, and Knopfler/Dire Straits in general, makes me happy is because of the imagery. Listening to the words, with the music as a backdrop, pulls me into whatever world a particular song encompasses. To me, it's all about the vision painted by the artist - Dire Straits has always been incredible at painting a worldscape in which we listeners are included. How we respond - how we view what we're given - is left up to us. I sorta love that about Dire Straits. Well, and their music is pretty cool, too. |
| helgigermany (Germany) | Posted: Mar 12, 2011 - 22:16 Very, very, nice!! |
| andigenu (Black Sea) | Posted: Feb 09, 2011 - 14:25 This picks up where the arpeggios of the Sultans left off although it's not the subsequent song on the album. Hmm, come to think of it, replace "picks up" with "rehashes". |
| appy_monkey (between here and there) | Posted: Jan 09, 2011 - 07:27 Great music while licking the leftover maple syrup from cinnamon swirl bread french toast. Trust me.  |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Dec 08, 2010 - 16:48 This is a day of memories... great song... |
| Sjaaks (Horst, Netherlands) | Posted: Oct 22, 2010 - 03:03 SirLars wrote: one of my favourite guitarists... that fingerpicking on the electric is so definitive of dire straits... Indeed, the clean and edgy sound that Mark got out of his strat back in the day was really groundbreaking... What a guy!  |
| audiophelia (Pennsylvania) | Posted: Sep 04, 2010 - 09:27 This has to be my favorite of all Dire Straits songs! :) |
| CoYoT51 (Lima, Perù - Reims, France) | Posted: Aug 19, 2010 - 09:24 G O D L I K E Playlist : Are you down ? - Down to the Waterline - To the River  |
| Cynaera (South of Neanderthal) | Posted: Jul 18, 2010 - 11:16 Mark Knopfler is one of those musicians that I could listen to all day long and not get tired of the serenade! |
| submachinegun | Posted: Mar 29, 2010 - 08:14 This album and Communique definately their best X far |
| SirLars (London, ON) | Posted: Mar 29, 2010 - 08:12 one of my favourite guitarists... that fingerpicking on the electric is so definitive of dire straits... |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Feb 09, 2010 - 21:12 love it... |
| Sjaaks (Horst, Netherlands) | Posted: Jan 25, 2010 - 07:27 Dalebarely wrote: I would probably enjoy this more if it didn't come across as a lazy, inferior reworking of a near-perfect song You come up with this in an overwhelming age of punk and new wave and then let me tell you it comes across as lazy... I can imagine you don't like it, though... But that's a different case... To me, definitely a 9! |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jan 09, 2010 - 10:31 awesome... |
| horstman (Syracuse, New York) | Posted: Oct 07, 2009 - 09:34 Dalebarely wrote: I would probably enjoy this more if it didn't come across as a lazy, inferior reworking of a near-perfect song You're Barely Dale yourself there buckaroo. |
| LastChance | Posted: Sep 21, 2009 - 11:26 I've listened to this song many times, and it still gives me chills. Love it. |
| LowPhreak (United States of Duplicitous Tools) | Posted: Aug 05, 2009 - 02:47 toterola wrote: I think it took a couple of Oxycontin with a Nyquil kicker to come up with that!    Rush Limpdick would know about that!   |
| LowPhreak (United States of Duplicitous Tools) | Posted: Aug 05, 2009 - 02:42 "I would probably enjoy this more if it didn't come across as a lazy, inferior reworking of a near-perfect song" jedley I just want to generally complain today...  |
| Dalebarely | Posted: Jul 20, 2009 - 08:52 I would probably enjoy this more if it didn't come across as a lazy, inferior reworking of a near-perfect song |
| jedley (milan, italy) | Posted: Jul 20, 2009 - 08:49 Sultans of Swing with alternative lyrics - L A M E....  |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Jun 02, 2009 - 14:55 guitar virtuoso... |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: May 17, 2009 - 19:29 This song is so good it is good for your ears to hear it... |
| toterola (Further) | Posted: May 01, 2009 - 21:54 coy wrote: i just wanna say something about whatever the whole mark k nopfler thing is way waay what was it now oh he's underwater whatever dire straits down to the waterline he's under water get it ?? get it means he's totally submerged wow SmilinJimmy wrote: It's one TEASPOON of Nyquil. Not the whole damn bottle. I think it took a couple of Oxycontin with a Nyquil kicker to come up with that! |
| SmilinJimmy (Canada) | Posted: May 01, 2009 - 21:46 coy wrote: i just wanna say something about whatever the whole mark k nopfler thing is way waay what was it now oh he's underwater whatever dire straits down to the waterline he's under water get it ?? get it means he's totally submerged wow It's one TEASPOON of Nyquil. Not the whole damn bottle. |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: May 01, 2009 - 21:42 raga wrote:
9 is OK too? No, this is a 10... period. |
| raga (Italy - Como) | Posted: Apr 16, 2009 - 04:44 romeotuma wrote: I cannot believe everybody has not ranked this song a 10...
9 is OK too? |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Feb 27, 2009 - 20:11 Love it... |