Prairie Wedding Lyrics
I went to meet her off the train
When the smoke had cleared and the dust was still
She was standing there and speaking my name
I guarantee she looked like an angel
I couldn't think of what I should say
But when Adam saw Eve in the garden
I believe he felt the selfsame way
And I loaded up her trunk behind
She was sitting up there with the gold in her hair
And I tried to get a hold of my mind
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
And we drove up the home trail
And when we came on the farm she laid a hand on my arm
I thought my resolution would fail
And I froze as she stepped in the doorway
Stood there as still as could be
I said I know it ain't much, it needs a woman's touch
Lord she turned around and looked at me
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
There was a preacher and a neighbor or two
I gave my golden thing a gold wedding ring
And the both of us said I do
When the sun's going down on the prairie
And the gold in her hair is aflame
I say do you really love me Mary
And I hold her and I whisper her name
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
"I gave my golden thing a gold wedding ring..."
Beautiful song. Mark Knopfler's a genius.
I agree. Knopfler's talent for lyrics lies in being able to tell a coherent story, but to do so obliquely through snippets, asides, and casually dropped phrases, as if you were gleaning someone's life story from just listening to them talk.
I'm not sure why, but this is my favourite of all Knopfler's songs, and I've listened to them all hundreds of times! It is just a beautiful, tender, yet haunting song. It has special meaning to me also because one of the first times I met my wife was on a train platform in London, and I will never forget how beautiful she looked that day. 'Like an Angel', as Knopfler says.
@Simdru I didn´t have the same experience but I had thid album on repeat as i drove from England to Spain in 2008 and this song always sounded so human, so believable. I can´t quite articulate it.
@Simdru I didn´t have the same experience but I had thid album on repeat as i drove from England to Spain in 2008 and this song always sounded so human, so believable. I can´t quite articulate it.
This is a great song, Mr. Knopfler has an awesome voice. I'm putting this song on a compilation CD for my friends who are getting married.
IThis song seems more relevant every time I hear it - the line 'we only knew each other by letter, I went to meet her off the train' sounds like what someone would write if they had met someoneover tne internet, and was meeting them for the first time, although the song of course harks back to a much earlier era.
I was in Vail just the other day at the Greyhound bus stop and I had just been listening to this song in my truck. When I went into the bus station I began thinking about that song and what it would feel like to be meeting someone face to face for the first time. Kind of an exciting feeling especially if you have no idea what they look like.
I listened to "Sailing to Philadelphia" again this week - what a great CD! This song really is an excellent ballad. The comments above really speak to the talents of MK in creating this wonderful tune. The guitar work is just wonderful. The lyrics speak of an innocence and purity in a harsh land that is so romantic. Renault25 - I felt the same way, that this could relate to an internet introduction as well. If you haven't yet, I suggest you check out MK's other solo CDs - more of this is waiting for you.
@daveandqin, it's definitely a Knopfler song (Sailing to Philadelphia was released in 2000 where as Rogers covered it in 2003).
As for the meaning... this is definitely the song I'm going to be playing at my wedding.
Me and my girlfriend met each other over facebook for the first time. Not with the intention of getting a girlfriend that way, but as things happen, we got to know each other and grew as friends, and eventually after three months we started dating (me living in Australia and her living in South Africa). We were dating for 6months before I saw her in person for the first time....
I find it hard to describe it better than "I couldn't think of what I should say, but when Adam saw Eve in the garden, I believe he felt the self same way".... I KNEW that first moment she was MADE for me!!
We've been going out for two and a half years now, and I'm planning on asking for her hand in marriage as soon as possible.
Anyways, my story aside, I think this song is about a man living in the old west of America, where quite often cowboys and ranchers would live a days journey at least from the nearest town(drove up to the home trail), and often live in isolation(I know it ain't much, it needs a woman's touch). He might have met this girl on his travels as he drove cattle, and started writing her (only knew each other by letter), till she moved to be with him. He asks her if he is what she hoped he would be, as he already knew from the first moment he saw her that she was the Eve to his Adam. He wants to spend his life with her, loving her. And for as long as he lives, he'll never be able to believe that she chose him (I say do you really love me Mary, I hold her and I whisper her name).
Well that's my interpretation. Sorry for the long winded message but I created an account SPECIFICALLY to write this haha!! Truly a song that will always be dear to my heart.
@jogrobler - I agree about the American Old West setting. Theirs may have been an arranged marriage, or perhaps she was a mail order bride.
@jogrobler - I agree about the American Old West setting. Theirs may have been an arranged marriage, or perhaps she was a mail order bride.
@jogrobler I love this song too. We had it on repeat in the car as we drove from England to Spain to live there. (We´re still here!) It makes me thing of the days when men were men and women were women and each knew their role and knew that they needed each other. I feel that modern idealogy has destroyed that relationship.
@jogrobler I love this song too. We had it on repeat in the car as we drove from England to Spain to live there. (We´re still here!) It makes me thing of the days when men were men and women were women and each knew their role and knew that they needed each other. I feel that modern idealogy has destroyed that relationship.
Mark released this song in 2000, Rogers recorded it in 2003. The prairie of North America is truly a most beautiful and often barren place. Mail order brides took huge leaps of faith that the man they were going to marry would be a good one. Love them, be kind, etc. The men took a risk too- would she stay, be a good wife and mother, etc. Two people really taking a leap of faith. Such a lovely picture Mark paints. A wedding , simple, but proper. Two people hoping that they have made the right choice. One of my favorite Knopfler songs- the lyrics are so evocative- how anxious the man is and how much he hopes she finds what he has to offer her of value. And, he holds her and wispers her name.
Sigh.
Mark released this song in 2000, Rogers recorded it in 2003. The prairie of North America is truly a most beautiful and often barren place. Mail order brides took huge leaps of faith that the man they were going to marry would be a good one. Love them, be kind, etc. The men took a risk too- would she stay, be a good wife and mother, etc. Two people really taking a leap of faith. Such a lovely picture Mark paints. A wedding , simple, but proper. Two people hoping that they have made the right choice. One of my favorite Knopfler songs- the lyrics are so evocative- how anxious the man is and how much he hopes she finds what he has to offer her of value. And, he holds her and wispers her name.
Sigh.