A Mark In Time

Mark Knopfler Discussion => One Deep River / The Boy => Topic started by: Knopflerfan on April 21, 2024, 01:33:08 PM

Title: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Knopflerfan on April 21, 2024, 01:33:08 PM
 THE BOY

Sandwich in my pocket
Topcoat buttoned tight
Still thirty miles to pedal
On these empty roads at night
But the moon’s a giant lantern
There’s no need for a light
I’ll be home in good time In the morning

The Boy turned pro so early
Went down London way
I’ll pay a visit now and then
Make sure he’s okay
We don’t do too much talking
We look forward anyway
Sometimes we’ll just talk
About the same old

Who knows where the world is going
Nobody does
But all the same
We could never change
We could never change
Because he’s all we’ve got
No more or less
The Boy, God bless
He’s just The Boy

There’s no sign he’ll pack it in
Says why should he stop
He makes more money in that gym
Than in any blacksmith’s shop

He seems to like the glamour
The crowds and city lights
He likes the cash, he likes the flash
And fuss around the fights
Will he know when it’s all over
Will he still be sharp and bright
Still be working
Still be on a payroll?

Who knows where the world is going
Nobody does
But all the same
We could never change
We could never change
Because he’s all we’ve got
No more or less
And he’s The Boy,
God bless
He’s just The Boy
The Boy, God bless
He’s just The Boy

Guitars, Vocals: Mark Knopfler
Electric Guitar: Richard Bennett
Synths: Guy Fletcher
Piano: Jim Cox
Bass Guitar: Glenn Worf
Drums: Ian ‘Ianto’ Thomas
Percussion: Danny Cummings
Low Whistle: John McCusker, Mike McGoldrick
Backing Vocals: Emma Topolski, Tamsin Topolski
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Knopflerfan on April 21, 2024, 02:12:20 PM
Fantastic song! Loving how there is even a boxing bell sound made by Ian Thomas at the beginning. Would have been fantastic live song like already stated.

I presume you mean the track 'All Comers' as this has the bell and would have made an ideal show opener!!
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Silvertown on April 21, 2024, 02:15:03 PM
Fantastic song! Loving how there is even a boxing bell sound made by Ian Thomas at the beginning. Would have been fantastic live song like already stated.

I presume you mean the track 'All Comers' as this has the bell and would have made an ideal show opener!!

Sorry, I will make the switch.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Knopflerfan on April 21, 2024, 02:32:05 PM
Fantastic song! Loving how there is even a boxing bell sound made by Ian Thomas at the beginning. Would have been fantastic live song like already stated.

I presume you mean the track 'All Comers' as this has the bell and would have made an ideal show opener!!

Sorry, I will make the switch.

No problem at all...
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Robson on April 23, 2024, 04:49:16 PM
Beautiful song. Wonderful this song unfolds and could be longer.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Knopflerfan on April 23, 2024, 08:28:10 PM
Laid in bed last night with the curtains open whilst I listened to 'the boy' ep (yet again) and I was drifting off to rest when these beautiful lyrics were sung:

'But the moon’s a giant lantern
There’s no need for a light
I’ll be home in good time In the morning'

How poignant I thought!!

(Picture of the moon taken from our home tonight!)

Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: hfscardoso on April 23, 2024, 10:34:26 PM
One of his best songs. Period.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: kaleo74 on April 23, 2024, 10:35:36 PM
Laid in bed last night with the curtains open whilst I listened to 'the boy' ep (yet again) and I was drifting off to rest when these beautiful lyrics were sung:

'But the moon’s a giant lantern
There’s no need for a light
I’ll be home in good time In the morning'

How poignant I thought!!

(Picture of the moon taken from our home tonight!)

Yeah what an amazing song, brilliant writing and very touching song, I'll have to review my ranking of Mark songs, this one's going to go very high on the list, may I say, This one's not going to end well ... for some songs  ;D Ah another one to move to the list too  :smack
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Robson on May 01, 2024, 10:10:57 PM
I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful song on the EP. And one of the most beautiful songs in the entire MK catalog.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: dmg on May 02, 2024, 01:14:03 PM
I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful song on the EP. And one of the most beautiful songs in the entire MK catalog.

I like it too but like so many of his songs now they have become more like stories without much of a melody attached.  Personally it's always the melody that catches my attention first.  When you're a young boy/girl you don't know what songs mean, you just like the melody so obviously there must be something in it!
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Robson on May 02, 2024, 01:34:04 PM
I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful song on the EP. And one of the most beautiful songs in the entire MK catalog.

I like it too but like so many of his songs now they have become more like stories without much of a melody attached.  Personally it's always the melody that catches my attention first.  When you're a young boy/girl you don't know what songs mean, you just like the melody so obviously there must be something in it!

It's true and this song is a good example of it. But I have this song in my head all the time. And this phrase:

Who knows where the world is going
Nobody does
But all the same
We could never change
We could never change
Because he’s all we’ve got
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: JF on May 02, 2024, 03:27:03 PM
I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful song on the EP. And one of the most beautiful songs in the entire MK catalog.

I like it too but like so many of his songs now they have become more like stories without much of a melody attached.  Personally it's always the melody that catches my attention first.  When you're a young boy/girl you don't know what songs mean, you just like the melody so obviously there must be something in it!

and even more when you're not a native english speaker !
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: kaleo74 on May 02, 2024, 08:45:58 PM
I can confidently say that this is the most beautiful song on the EP. And one of the most beautiful songs in the entire MK catalog.

I like it too but like so many of his songs now they have become more like stories without much of a melody attached.  Personally it's always the melody that catches my attention first.  When you're a young boy/girl you don't know what songs mean, you just like the melody so obviously there must be something in it!

Yes, that's true, but what a beautiful song, for me one of the most beautiful he's written in a long time, the lyrics and arrangements are beautiful.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Justme on May 03, 2024, 07:00:30 AM
Love it. It reminds me a bit of "Heart of Oak".
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Justme on May 04, 2024, 08:24:21 AM
It is very touching, indeed. And beautiful.
I was wondering who is speaking in the beginnning? Is that the father cycling back home from his visit to London?
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: stratmad on May 04, 2024, 10:30:41 AM
I was wondering who is speaking in the beginnning? Is that the father cycling back home from his visit to London?

Yes, that's my idea, too.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Justme on May 18, 2024, 08:55:26 AM
Did someone already listen to the Dolby Atmos mix?
To me there is a huge difference. The whole stage broadens up and there is a huge deep bassdrum sound which is barely audible in the normal mix.

In fact all songs sound much more different in Dolby Atmos. Unfortunately I didn't find the time yet to compare them A:B.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Knopflerfan on May 18, 2024, 10:45:44 AM
Did someone already listen to the Dolby Atmos mix?
To me there is a huge difference. The whole stage broadens up and there is a huge deep bassdrum sound which is barely audible in the normal mix.

In fact all songs sound much more different in Dolby Atmos. Unfortunately I didn't find the time yet to compare them A:B.

Haven't listened to the Atmos mix of the EP but having got the Atmos bluray of ODR there will be a huge difference in sound!
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Stanko on June 01, 2024, 07:24:16 PM
The song could be easily about Nipper Pat Daly?
But the article on wikipedia doesn't say anything about "his father cycling to pay a visit to his son".
Anyone read the book "Born To Box" to say more about it?
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Robson on July 03, 2024, 09:45:02 PM
This song evokes the same feelings in me as "Pale Imitation" I know it tells a different story, but for me it's the same level of sensitivity and nostalgia. One of the highlights of the last session. For me, this is a song forever.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: kaleo74 on July 08, 2024, 01:46:18 AM
This song evokes the same feelings in me as "Pale Imitation" I know it tells a different story, but for me it's the same level of sensitivity and nostalgia. One of the highlights of the last session. For me, this is a song forever.

I really like it too, there's a certain melancholy about it that's probably Mark's own memory, who knows.
The Boy EP could be a musical, perhaps Mark has a project of that kind?
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Love Expresso on July 08, 2024, 08:10:44 AM
Hopefully not! Can't stand Musicals!

LE
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: skydiver on July 08, 2024, 11:09:13 AM
Hopefully not! Can't stand Musicals!

LE
MK has stated that he hates musicals, too.
On the other side I sensed that he quite enjoyed the creative cooperation with Daniel Evans from what the later recounted.
So, if at all, Evans could be the one tempting him into doing something again in connection with theatre/musical theatre in the future.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Jules on July 09, 2024, 07:33:13 AM
Hopefully not! Can't stand Musicals!

LE
MK has stated that he hates musicals, too.
On the other side I sensed that he quite enjoyed the creative cooperation with Daniel Evans from what the later recounted.
So, if at all, Evans could be the one tempting him into doing something again in connection with theatre/musical theatre in the future.

Well, the theme of boxing booths in the UK during that time could be something to talk about, not only in a musical but in a play or a movie, I guess there might be some already.
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: rmarques821 on December 21, 2024, 12:13:21 AM
One of the greatest songs Mark has ever written. Top 5 for me.
A shame it doesn't seem to get the recognition it deserves
Title: Re: The Boy EP (02) The boy
Post by: Love Expresso on December 21, 2024, 08:28:58 AM
Very true. I love that one more than most songs from ODR. We were really blessed to get so much new material this year if you count all bonus songs and the EP in. Only the way they delivered it was not perfect to me. The album could have been much better and less boring if some of the bonus songs had been used. Also The Boy is easily one of the best songs of the whole bunch. Hard to believe they made it available on a small amount of RSD vinyl only.

LE