Dire Straits – Lady Writer

"Lady Writer" as written by and Mark Knopfler....
Lady Writer on the TV
Talk about the Virgin Mary
Reminded me of you
Expectations left to come up to yeah

Lady writer on the TV
Yeah, she had another quality
The way you used to look
And I know you never read a book

Just the way that her hair fell down around her face
Then I recall my fall from grace
Another time, another place

Lady writer on the TV
She had all the brains and the beauty
The picture does not fit
You talked to me when you felt like it

Just the way that her hair fell down around her face
Then I recall my fall from grace
Another time, another place

Yes and your rich old man
You know he'd call her a dead ringer
You got the same command
Plus you mother was a jazz singer

Just the way that her hair fell down around her face
Then I recall my fall from grace
Another time, another place

Lady writer on the TV
She knew all about a history
You couldn't hardly write your name
I think I want you just the same as the

Lady writer on the TV
Talking about the Virgin Mary
Yeah you know I'm talking about you and me
And the lady writer on the TV
Lady writer on the TV
Talking about the Virgin Mary
Yeah you know I'm talking about you and me
And the lady writer on the TV


Lyrics submitted by TheIceman

"Lady Writer" as written by Mark Knopfler

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Lady Writer song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +2
    General CommentThis song is about a time Mark Knofler saw a woman on television that reminded him of a former girlfriend. He is reminisciming about the look and auru his former girlfriend gave off, that is so similar to that of the Lady on the T.V. He is fully appreciating his former girlfriend, as she had all the intelligence and 'command' of this well-educated writer, yet she never 'read a book' and could 'hardly write her name'. His former girlfriend was a total package, with 'all the brains and all the beauty', and acknoledged she did not have to put in as much effort into the relationship as he did, as she only 'talked to me when she felt like it'. This further explifies the recurring line of 'I recall my fall from grace', as she was the one with the control and composure, like that of the lady writer he's watching on television.
    MusicGuruNo1on May 31, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentIt's all about the feminist writer and academic Marina Warner, and her book about the Virgin Mary, entitled "Alone Of All Her Sex". All the clues are there in the lyrics.
    mick1144on May 16, 2007   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +1
    General CommentGuru, totally agree. I always sensed some sadness in the line "I recall my fall from grace". To me it sounds like it was a heavily one sided relationship, and seeing the lady on TV is bringing back all those memories. He's still not over her. But she obviously is, "only talked to me when she felt like it". The Lady Writer on the TV seems just like her, the same "type".
    jAce87on October 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt sounds like someone who he saw on TV reminded him of a woman he knows.
    stoolhardyon June 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentListening to it again for the first time in forever, I'm getting that the narrator wishes his girlfriend was as beautiful and intelligent as the woman he's watching on television.

    Not one of my favorite DS songs - even though it was the big hit from Communique, I don't find it anywhere near the best song on the album, and the guitar bit at the end sounds like the underachieving little brother of the guitar bit at the end of Sultans of Swing. But it's an okay song, I guess.
    jesslovesaprilon March 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentt.v woman
    waddingtonphilipon April 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is one of their worst songs. JessLovesApril is right, this song does song like the depressed, under-achieving younger brother of "Sultans of Swing."

    The second album was kind of weak anyways. It seemed like it was just a rehash of the debut album, even the hit single off of it ("Lady Writer") sounded like a second-rate "Sultans of Swing" clone.
    YourGoldTeethon May 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis song is about a tv journalist that interveiwed them and wrote a song about her
    bradlaurenton January 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSome rather harsh comments above but I do agree it is derivative of the classic "Sultans Of Swing" but I still like it.
    chrisb1on March 19, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply

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