(http://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=3806.0;attach=1407)http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/rock-star-mark-knopfler-copy-8695208Basil (Mark Knopfler)LYRICS
TAB
Thank you, Geordie_60! I do wish, though that newspapers, magazines, etc would get it right about where MK went to school, especially a Newcastle newspaper! He lived in Gosforth and went to school there, not Blyth as is so often stated (copied from wrong info on Wikipedia)! This was from the first blue link!
Thank you, Geordie_60! I do wish, though that newspapers, magazines, etc would get it right about where MK went to school, especially a Newcastle newspaper! He lived in Gosforth and went to school there, not Blyth as is so often stated (copied from wrong info on Wikipedia)! This was from the first blue link!
His mother came from Blyth i think and his parents were married there, but you're right he lived in Gosforth and went to school there. We at the Chronicle have plenty of archive pics of MK in his old classroom at his school in Gosforth.
Thank you, Geordie_60! I do wish, though that newspapers, magazines, etc would get it right about where MK went to school, especially a Newcastle newspaper! He lived in Gosforth and went to school there, not Blyth as is so often stated (copied from wrong info on Wikipedia)! This was from the first blue link!
His mother came from Blyth i think and his parents were married there, but you're right he lived in Gosforth and went to school there. We at the Chronicle have plenty of archive pics of MK in his old classroom at his school in Gosforth.
Do you think we could see some of those pictures, Geordie_60? I'm sure everyone here would be very interested! :)
Thank you, Geordie_60! I do wish, though that newspapers, magazines, etc would get it right about where MK went to school, especially a Newcastle newspaper! He lived in Gosforth and went to school there, not Blyth as is so often stated (copied from wrong info on Wikipedia)! This was from the first blue link!
His mother came from Blyth i think and his parents were married there, but you're right he lived in Gosforth and went to school there. We at the Chronicle have plenty of archive pics of MK in his old classroom at his school in Gosforth.
Do you think we could see some of those pictures, Geordie_60? I'm sure everyone here would be very interested! :)
I dont think i would dare put them up on this site due to copyright reasons! They dont belong to me sorry!!
LE, what about "I've kissed the gate's head now", what ever that could mean. I don't hear "girl". "Head" has so much meanings, for instance: headline, that fits to the newspaper business. Maybe I'm completely wrong. Just an idea.
Bluebird
Listened again, and it makes sense of course, but if any, my understanding is GateshaM.. and that's still what makes me doubt it.. but that's just me.. and dmg is right..
So he kisses the Gateshead girl. Girls and cars. And cars. And girls.
;)
LE
"To have time to think about time" is my favourite sentence not only from this song but probably from all the songs MK had written...
Thanks Shangrila!
und the eighties pic it says:
"Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits at Newcastle Mayfair, October 10, 1989"
is that a known date?
Those 2/4 measures are so typical MK, you can hear them coming ;D
Somebody can tell me why 'bury' sounds exactly like 'berry' in English? If this is two different words, why exact same pronunciation?
Somebody can tell me why 'bury' sounds exactly like 'berry' in English? If this is two different words, why exact same pronunciation?
There are a number of exceptions like sight and site.
Thank you, Geordie_60! I do wish, though that newspapers, magazines, etc would get it right about where MK went to school, especially a Newcastle newspaper! He lived in Gosforth and went to school there, not Blyth as is so often stated (copied from wrong info on Wikipedia)! This was from the first blue link!
His mother came from Blyth i think and his parents were married there, but you're right he lived in Gosforth and went to school there. We at the Chronicle have plenty of archive pics of MK in his old classroom at his school in Gosforth.
Do you think we could see some of those pictures, Geordie_60? I'm sure everyone here would be very interested! :)
I dont think i would dare put them up on this site due to copyright reasons! They dont belong to me sorry!!
Yes, I realised that, but it was worth a try! ;) Thank you, anyway, for the link! :)
Yes Thomson House as it is known was opened in 1965 so i guess MK would have been in there. Its my place of employment incidentally.
This is one of very few skippers for me. Can't get myself to like it. Too boring :thumbsdown
I mean, this is from the same brain who made "Oklahoma Ponies" for God's sake! :)
Nope ;D
As "Jackal" put it in the GF forum.
"...we will pass over Tepid Town, Snoozechester and Dulldale before arriving at our destination, Valiumville"
Basil is right in the middle of them. Yes, the melody is nice but the song all in all is too slooow. "Oklahoma" on the other hand is a downright masterpiece.
I shall now leave the majestic thread of "Basil" where love for soothing songs and maj7-chords roam freely and are safely tucked away in the upholstered poetry chair far far away from the brutal ramblings of those other songs above the 70 bpm speed limit. :lol
That's strange because Mrs Knopflerfan and I have noted how MK's vocals have improved somewhat espeically since KTGC...
Sleepy and boring NEVER ever come into the equation with regards to MK to me personally.
There is always too much to listen too, ie lyrics & music to even contemplate snoozing. :hmm
As for this beautiful tune - it is awesome!!
That's strange because Mrs Knopflerfan and I have noted how MK's vocals have improved somewhat espeically since KTGC...
Sleepy and boring NEVER ever come into the equation with regards to MK to me personally.
There is always too much to listen too, ie lyrics & music to even contemplate snoozing. :hmm
As for this beautiful tune - it is awesome!!
It hadn't really occurred to me until I listed to Making Movies album recently and I had forgotten just how much passion he used to sing with back then. His vocal really held the song together and gave them some oomph!
Yes astonishing isn't it Val, a 65 year old 'Master' able to produce those same emotions here too with all of his 17 tracks.... Not worrying about Hot Dog though!! :wave
Yes astonishing isn't it Val, a 65 year old 'Master' able to produce those same emotions here too with all of his 17 tracks.... Not worrying about Hot Dog though!! :wave
I love Hot Dog, but it's not long enough! ;D
Can someone of the native speakers please explain, what does "i'm a Jack and a lad" mean?
Thanks
Can someone of the native speakers please explain, what does "i'm a Jack and a lad" mean?
Thanks
A "Jack the lad" is a term applied to a young man who is a bit cocky, self assured and a bit of a scoundrel! I presume he used "Jack and a lad" just to fit the music/lyrics.
Can someone of the native speakers please explain, what does "i'm a Jack and a lad" mean?
Thanks
A "Jack the lad" is a term applied to a young man who is a bit cocky, self assured and a bit of a scoundrel! I presume he used "Jack and a lad" just to fit the music/lyrics.
What if you say only jack? What kind of man is that?
Can someone of the native speakers please explain, what does "i'm a Jack and a lad" mean?
Thanks
A "Jack the lad" is a term applied to a young man who is a bit cocky, self assured and a bit of a scoundrel! I presume he used "Jack and a lad" just to fit the music/lyrics.
What if you say only jack? What kind of man is that?
It is used to typify an ordinary man....
I dream this song played live with his pensa blue, with additional solo at the end like he did in kingdome gold :P :P :P :P
The "pre-decimalisation" from the Hansen movie didn't make it in the song, did it?
LE
The "pre-decimalisation" from the Hansen movie didn't make it in the song, did it?
LE
Hi Bluebird, The context of the "on" in this instance, is the same as for a person who sits on the board of a company, as a chair-person. So Basil is a member of the Sub-editor group at the Chronicle and so he sits on the table for subs.
But "Basil sits there on (?) the table for subs"?
My problem is this "on".
Can somebody help me?
Bluebird
Hi Bluebird, The context of the "on" in this instance, is the same as for a person who sits on the board of a company, as a chair-person. So Basil is a member of the Sub-editor group at the Chronicle and so he sits on the table for subs.
But "Basil sits there on (?) the table for subs"?
My problem is this "on".
Can somebody help me?
Bluebird
Yes Thomson House as it is known was opened in 1965 so i guess MK would have been in there. Its my place of employment incidentally.
Could also be St. John the Baptist Church as it is located on Grainger Street. I literally followed the starlings in the lyrics, so I might be wrong of course.
LE
I guess it must be a metaphore or something like that... listening to the song I recall myself walking from the Cathedral to the Black Gate, then to the Castle, the stairs (I´m not sure if they are the Dog Leap Stairs, as there was a plaque saying Castle Stairs...), the quayside and walking towards the Metro Radio Arena...
So wonderful memories of a very very very short trip to Newcastle... it was a bit rainy, foggy and I didn´t enjoy it very much at the moment, but when I think about it... I kind of miss it... I recall saying "N'castle is nice, but probably I won´t be back" and nowadays, I think about that short trip and feel like coming back...
By the way, this is a selection of the pics I took in Newcastle, a pity the MK plaque (and the rest of plaques honouring famouse geordies) was not there yet in the quayside...
I hope you like them:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/atmilinko/albums/72157633553388781 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/atmilinko/albums/72157633553388781)
I love Newcastle and we go there every January or February for Transatlantic Sessions at The Sage. It's one of my favourite cities in the UK and also one of the friendliest - people always seem pleased to talk about their city with visitors, indeed it's sometimes difficult to get away! Can be a bit nippy when the wind blows off the Tyne, though!
I suppose the song could be about either St. Nicholas Cathedral or St. John The Baptist, but I'll go with the latter. Both are beautiful churches and the ancient tattered flags in the cathedral always fascinate me. I like the idea that the starlings make the church look black. :)
Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?
(http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/dbimgs/mark_knopfler_thumb.gif)
Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?
(http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/dbimgs/mark_knopfler_thumb.gif)
http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/local-heroes
Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?
(http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/dbimgs/mark_knopfler_thumb.gif)
http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/local-heroes
It says:
The plaques are laid along the stretch of pavement from Baltic Square to the Swing Bridge. Across the river, they continue along the Quayside to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge
So they are at the Gateshead part of the quayside, isn´t it?
Anyone went there? it´s a must, LOL
Did any of you that travelled last tour to NEwcastle saw where this plaque is?
(http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/dbimgs/mark_knopfler_thumb.gif)
http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/local-heroes
It says:
The plaques are laid along the stretch of pavement from Baltic Square to the Swing Bridge. Across the river, they continue along the Quayside to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge
So they are at the Gateshead part of the quayside, isn´t it?
Anyone went there? it´s a must, LOL
Does anyones knows which BLACK CHURCH is MK talking about in the "Basil" lyrics?
I has always suspected it was the St Nicholas Cathedral, because is close to the Black Gate, but there are other churchs that are of importance in Newcastle, I recall seeing some quite nice and when you search for Black Church in internet you find nothing...
I don't know Newcastle well enough to say which of the churches it was, but I recall when I used to visit the City with my parents in the 60's & 70's a lot of the buildings, incuding a church in that area and the castle keep, were literally black with pollution from soot & industry. many of them have been sand blasted clean since those days.
Tracker is now definitely my favourite MK solo album and I listen to it most days, sometimes several times - in fact I find it's becoming addictive! It is so soothing, especially at the end of the day and Basil is one of my favourite songs from the album with its beautiful guitar licks. :)My thoughts exactly, Superval! I will never tire of Tracker.
I was also struck by the incredibly friendly and interesting people I met in Newcastle. Of all cities in the UK, this has been my favorite (based on the natural beauty of the city, the archictecture, and the especially warm people I met there).
Of course, Tracker is my favourite album as well - as every is done by Mark ;)Tracker is now definitely my favourite MK solo album and I listen to it most days, sometimes several times - in fact I find it's becoming addictive! It is so soothing, especially at the end of the day and Basil is one of my favourite songs from the album with its beautiful guitar licks. :)My thoughts exactly, Superval! I will never tire of Tracker.
"Addictive" in an interesting choice of words Superval :think. And I completely agree!! ;DOf course, Tracker is my favourite album as well - as every is done by Mark ;)Tracker is now definitely my favourite MK solo album and I listen to it most days, sometimes several times - in fact I find it's becoming addictive! It is so soothing, especially at the end of the day and Basil is one of my favourite songs from the album with its beautiful guitar licks. :)My thoughts exactly, Superval! I will never tire of Tracker.
Also, Basil is one of my favourite and as I can notice there is a certain similarity with an another great song I Dug Up a Diamond from All The Roadrunning, just listen to these songs!
I like the sentence of Mark in the Deluxe Studio Interview where he said that back then he saw Basil from the view of the copy boy but nowadays of course thinks about time the same as Basil and can feel much more like him, now that he is older. That makes the date of release (2015 and not let's say 1978 or 1985) much more believable and gives this song so much depth and applicability.
All these songs that come from his early past and youth (Southbound Again, 5.15 am, Secondary Waltz, We Can Get Wild, Border Reiver, One More Matinee, not complete and in no particular order) have a certain greatness and quality and are among his best songs which might result from the long time he might have pondered about them before finally releasing them.
LE
"...pays six and six down" means what exactly? The "down" gives me troubles.
LE
Well, thank you! So "down" is used for "pennie"?
LE
Thanks stanko. I gave up with the Brits and their strange old money System long ago... :lol
That "down" is just not clear. I try to say it with examples: Could the line in question be changed with "six and six right down in my hand" or with
They paid me down exactly six and six?
:hmm
LE