Calling Elvis

it's obviously paying respects to the king...but it was inspired when mark knopfler's brother in law told him he had tried over and over to get through to him but the phone was busy and used the quip "it was like trying to call elvis"...so he really wrote it about not being able to get through to someone...either way, it's an enjoyable song...one of the high points on "on every street", not their best album

It's a tribute to Elvis Presley, titles of the latter's songs are mentioned throughout the song. It's a well played song especially hearing it in live (on the night)

On Every Street is hardly the album that can be described as their descent into oblivion. It is by exception an album with a lot of new songs (much more than any of the other albums, apart from their first one) and I am much inclined to describe it as a highlight, announcing all the wonderful things we could still expect, but which never came ...

A really great song and very cleverly written. Obviously a tribute to Elvis after he passed away. I love how there's a lot of playing on words where Elvis's song titles are used. For example:

"let me leave my number - heartbreak hotel oh love me tender - baby dob't be cruel return to sender - treat me like a fool"

Only a great God like Mark Knopfler could pull this off. I've always seen Mark as great as Elvis and his songs are very powerful too. I just wish that Mark was more well known because he such a brilliant singer but he's just not regonized enough by todays society :(

I agree with the comments above. This is one of the few worthwhile songs on the crappy "On Every Street" album, their descent into oblivion. At their last concert, promoting "On Every Street" Knopfler was just going through the motions.