Dire Straits – Sultans Of Swing

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"Sultans Of Swing" as written by and Mark Knopfler....

You get a shiver in the dark,
It's a raining in the park but meantime-
South of the river you stop and you hold everything
A band is blowing Dixie, double four time
You feel alright when you hear the music ring
Well now you step inside but you don't see too many faces
Coming in out of the rain they hear the jazz go down
Competition in other places
Uh but the horns they blowin' that sound
Way on downsouth
Way on downsouth
London town
Check out guitar george, he knows-all the chords
Mind he's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make them cry or sing
They said an old guitar is all, he can afford

When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

And Harry doesn't mind, if he doesn't, make the scene
He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright
He can play the honky tonk like anything
Savin' it up, for Friday night
With the Sultans
We're the Sultans of Swing
Then a crowd a young boys they're a foolin' around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
They don't give a damn about any trumpet playin' band
It ain't what they call rock and roll
Then the Sultans
Yeah the Sultans they play creole, creole

And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
Goodnight, now it's time to go home
And he makes it fast with one more thing

We are the Sultans
We are the Sultans of Swing

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"Sultans of Swing" as written by Mark Knopfler

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Sultans Of Swing song meanings

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100 Comments

+12
General CommentThere was an actual jazz band that mark knopfler had witnessed playing in a dingy local pub in south london, near to where he was living at the time.

And there really were just a few lads playing pool in the corner. ignoring the band as it played on regardless, until finally announcing " Thank you for coming along we are ..The Sultans Of Swing !"

I suggest we track down that original band, get them back together. and have them record their own version of this classic song.. maybe mark could even guest on it with them !

TheMindFieldon January 30, 2011 Link
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  THANK YOU!! I've come on to pretty much say exactly that. As a song MEANINGS website, I'd expected everyone to have written that but instead people are leaving comments such as "great song", "Amazin' solo" etc. The only thing missing from your meanings is that he had no intention of going into the pub but wanted to take shelter from the London rain... but that's not really relevant except it directly addresses the line "Coming in out of the rain they hear the jazz go down".
  
  BTW, (for everyone else who may have been offended) I'm not suggesting this isn't a great song or an amazing solo as I've just finished learning it on guitar but that's not the really the point of songmeanings.net
  Flag MarkCox11on July 09, 2012
+9
General CommentThis is a great song which captures what music is all about. It doesn't matter what your position is, or the wins and losses; all that matters is playing the music and feeling the soul of the song. It's not about fancy guitars, record deals, insane soloing, pleasin' the ladies; it's about feeling the music and playing with heart and soul.
abuseforapieon May 15, 2011 Link
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  @abuseforapie Amen.
  Flag sdz896542on January 27, 2016
+7
General CommentOMG!! This is the songmeanings website!! You post the meaning of the song.
ItÂ´s not the write your age and say what you think of the band/artist.
vikke22on August 13, 2011 Link
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  Relax, many comments on this forum aren't discussing the meaning. They're discussing its meaning to themselves. You could ditch the 'OMG' and all the exclamation marks - sentences carry their weight just fine without them, everything looks full of rage otherwise. Take it easy.
  Flag TonyM101on April 17, 2014
+5
My InterpretationIt's about the grass roots of music - these guys who aren't trying to become famous or make lots of money out of music. They are just there for the love of the art and to try and make the lives of people around them brighter.

I think it's a beautiful celebration of this kind of part time musician, there is a certain romance about playing your music just for pure enjoyment.
DRB00on July 10, 2014 Link
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+3
General CommentThis is my favorite song of all time along with Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd...The intro is just amazing i really feel alright when I here this song...I remember many years ago when my dad would play it on the cars CD player and Id tell him that Dire Straits, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin and many other Greats sucked and that Linkin Park and all the new rock bands are better and he'd laugh at me and say "when u grow up ull understand" and I do now and laugh at how stupid I was back then

PS: for those who didn't listen to the Alchemy live version of the song I recommend u do its out of this world..the whole alchemy live is amazing
ktk2002on June 29, 2009 Link
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  @ktk2002 After you listen to their Alchemy live there is no going back. It's a solid 5 minutes of that amazing riff and it is amazing. You can really feel the song.
  Flag voyager1121on November 16, 2017
+3
General CommentSultans of Swing, Alchemy Live, July 1983 @ Hammersmith Odeon....

Bloody Hell! Fantastic!

If it doesn't make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, then you've got no soul... it's out of this world and makes me smile from ear to ear totally involuntarily, and bop around with the rhythm.

Just incredible. I haven't figured out the meaning of this song yet, but to be honest, it's one of those rare few that don't need a meaning... just listening to them for the sheer musical prowess is enough.

I can only thank my Dad for getting me interested in Dire Straits when i was a very young child... it's a love of music that I hope will never leave me...

joe1982_yorkon December 17, 2010 Link
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+1
General CommentDuring the week these guys, they do the usual things, go to work etc., and then on the Friday night they go play at the local club, they don't care how old the equipment is, or whos listening to them or not, they just go there to play, You know? It's what they do.

P.S. I love Dire Straits. I'm 18, and I likethis way better than all that new age crap out there at the moment.
Cliffyon September 02, 2002 Link
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+1
General CommentGuitar George and Harry - - - -

ever heard of the band THE EASYBEATS thats who Mark is talking about.

George Young - Guitarist
Harry Vander - Guitarist

Two of the savours of rock and roll in Australia. George Young is Angus Youngs older brother and Harry and George were main push in recording ACDC.

Yeah!
Calvanoon February 15, 2007 Link
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+1
General CommentCan anyone help me with the last verse? Who is "the man"? Is it someone from the band or is it the club owner? I assume the bell signaled that sultans should get off the stage. But the "at last" confuses me. In the end it sounds like it's someone from the band since he apparently says "WE are the ...", it it could be two people as well.
Infilon May 09, 2008 Link
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  I'd assume it's probably the band leader, given the "we"- he's obviously part of the band whose job involves doing the introducing.
  Flag TheLyniezianon January 11, 2014
  
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  @Infil The "time bell" refers to the fact that legally, British pubs have to stop serving liquor at a certain time, and the bartender rings a bell to signal that it's "last call for alcohol." However, it's not unusual for a performer in a pub to also announce that it's "time, gentlemen" (back when only men were allowed in pubs, of course, or at least had their own entrances and areas). I think the man doing the talking here is the band leader.
  Flag michaelpa5on August 03, 2015
  
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  @Infil The "time bell" refers to the fact that legally, British pubs have to stop serving liquor at a certain time, and the bartender rings a bell to signal that it's "last call for alcohol." However, it's not unusual for a performer in a pub to also announce that it's "time, gentlemen" (back when only men were allowed in pubs, of course, or at least had their own entrances and areas). I think the man doing the talking here is the band leader.
  Flag michaelpa5on August 03, 2015
  
  0
  
  @Infil The "time bell" refers to the fact that legally, British pubs have to stop serving liquor at a certain time, and the bartender rings a bell to signal that it's "last call for alcohol." However, it's not unusual for a performer in a pub to also announce that it's "time, gentlemen" (back when only men were allowed in pubs, of course, or at least had their own entrances and areas). I think the man doing the talking here is the band leader.
  Flag michaelpa5on August 03, 2015
  
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  @Infil the man is just a generic term. It means it could be anyone and it happens everywhere. There's something beautiful about the anonymity
  Flag KK1987on October 07, 2016
+1
General CommentAbsolutely love this song, its on my short list of songs i can lose myself in. I rate it up there with zeppelin's "Tea For One".

As for the song's meaning, I think the lyrics are pretty self explanatory.
kutarkon February 16, 2009 Link
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Dire Straits – Sultans Of Swing

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