A Mark In Time

Previous Albums => Sailing To Philadelphia (2000) => Topic started by: shangri la 1 on July 27, 2016, 04:32:59 AM

Title: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: shangri la 1 on July 27, 2016, 04:32:59 AM
(http://www.amarkintime.org/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=5122.0;attach=2316)
The Long Highway (Mark Knopfler)

LYRICS

Heard a bell being toll
Before the break of day
I heard then my name being called
Down that long highway
You don't get long
You don't get long
You don't get long to stay
Kiss me once and I'll be gone
Down that long highway
Spirits call from way beyond
Lord I may not disobey
Spare a thought for the vagabond
Down that long highway
Down that long highway
Down that long highway

CHORDS
https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/m/mark_knopfler/the_long_highway_crd.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxSOh5LtPdQ
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Knopflerfan on February 26, 2019, 11:52:24 PM
I cannot believe this fabulous, moving track didn't make any of the album's - beyond belief really!
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: rmarques821 on March 03, 2019, 11:47:15 PM
Quote from: Knopflerfan on February 26, 2019, 11:52:24 PM
I cannot believe this fabulous, moving track didn't make any of the album's - beyond belief really!

One of my favourites too!
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 30, 2021, 08:06:55 AM
And now fabuously remastered too.....
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: qjamesfloyd on October 30, 2021, 10:58:53 AM
This is one of my favourite Mark Knopfler songs, I actually think it is better as a B-Side, I don't feel it would fit on any of his albums, it shows the strength of Mark's writing to say that too. The live version is so good too, as it the acoustic version from the Timothy White sessions.
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 30, 2021, 11:04:59 AM
Your right, it is a 'stand alone' track in many ways and no it wouldn't do it any justice 'sandwiching' it in an album....

Such a cracking, simple yet powerful track...
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: jbaent on October 30, 2021, 07:44:51 PM
I saw Brendan Croker in Barcelona and he said he was about to play a Mark Knopfler song, the most beautiful song ever written about death, about dying. I was like "wow, he's gonna play an unknown MK song!"

And he played The Long Highway.
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Knopflerfan on October 30, 2021, 07:48:50 PM
Quote from: jbaent on October 30, 2021, 07:44:51 PM
I saw Brendan Croker in Barcelona and he said he was about to play a Mark Knopfler song, the most beautiful song ever written about death, about dying. I was like "wow, he's gonna play an unknown MK song!"

And he played The Long Highway.

Which is what I've always taken it to be about. Thus I want it played at my funeral....
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Stanko on October 30, 2021, 09:14:35 PM
strange interpretations to hear really, unlike you I'm certain my funeral will not survive me
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: dustyvalentino on October 31, 2021, 05:51:09 PM
Clearly about death I would say?
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: quizzaciously on November 01, 2021, 10:06:17 AM
Quote from: Stanko on October 30, 2021, 09:14:35 PM
strange interpretations to hear really, unlike you I'm certain my funeral will not survive me

Quote from: dustyvalentino on October 31, 2021, 05:51:09 PM
Clearly about death I would say?

If this song isn't played at my funeral, I ain't going :lol

Yes, clearly a song about death, but it is so nice and bittersweet you almost don't think about it, certainly I don't think about it. As if it tells you — death is bad, but look at the beauty you can create while you're still alive!
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: rmarques821 on December 09, 2021, 03:15:53 PM
For me, The Long Highway was never about death although I understand that people see it that way. For me it was always a song about travelling, moving on and getting older, I suppose.
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: dustyvalentino on December 09, 2021, 07:57:54 PM
The bell being tolled? The spirits being called?

I really don’t see how it can’t be about death…
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Knopflerfan on December 09, 2021, 08:59:24 PM
Quote from: dustyvalentino on December 09, 2021, 07:57:54 PM
The bell being tolled? The spirits being called?

I really don’t see how it can’t be about death…

Quite agree! I've always taken it that it's MKs unique spin on death
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Love Expresso on December 09, 2021, 09:22:58 PM
I always was more under the impression that it is about destiny, the force of being restless, feeling the tide coming and going inside yourself, same as in Go, Love. The prayer level seems to illustrate that destiny part. It's just something you cannot do anything against it. Maybe the spirits refer to the ancestors who always were on the run. Also Marbletown with the homeless Hobo guy comes to mind. In my interpretation, that was always an allegory for Jewish people.

LE
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Robson on December 09, 2021, 10:29:55 PM
This is a very interesting observation Love Expresso. Thank you.
Title: Re: (15) The Long Highway (3:46)
Post by: Robson on December 09, 2021, 10:43:08 PM
Quote from: Knopflerfan on December 09, 2021, 08:59:24 PM
Quote from: dustyvalentino on December 09, 2021, 07:57:54 PM
The bell being tolled? The spirits being called?

I really don’t see how it can’t be about death…

Quite agree! I've always taken it that it's MKs unique spin on death

Yes. I remembered a verse from another song:

Well, if we go to heaven
and some say we don’t
but if there’s a reckoning day
please God, I’ll see you
and maybe I won’t
I’ve a bag packed to go either way