My understanding of the "Kill to get Crimson" album is that it's a book of biographical short stories (maybe a couple of them semi-autobiographical). I think this one is about an old pawn broker, probably in London, maybe a refugee from the Nazis (the reference to repair the officer's watch or die) Possibly based on a Knopfler relative, his father escaped to Scotland from the Nazis. There's a whole littany of things that would be found in a pawn shop. Block and tackle is a term for pocket watch, which would show time upside down if held that way. "rock and roll well I don't know" is a reference to Chet Atkins (music books and guitars) and the song "There'll Be Some Changes Made" from their "Neck and Neck" album. (Chet spoofs he's going to become a rock n roll artist like Mark, when he asks Mark "What do you think?" Mark replies "I don't know.)
The next to last verse (If one of use dies, love) seems to be an aside from the story on a more personal level, and not an integral part of the pawnbroker bio. Just my take.
My understanding of the "Kill to get Crimson" album is that it's a book of biographical short stories (maybe a couple of them semi-autobiographical). I think this one is about an old pawn broker, probably in London, maybe a refugee from the Nazis (the reference to repair the officer's watch or die) Possibly based on a Knopfler relative, his father escaped to Scotland from the Nazis. There's a whole littany of things that would be found in a pawn shop. Block and tackle is a term for pocket watch, which would show time upside down if held that way. "rock and roll well I don't know" is a reference to Chet Atkins (music books and guitars) and the song "There'll Be Some Changes Made" from their "Neck and Neck" album. (Chet spoofs he's going to become a rock n roll artist like Mark, when he asks Mark "What do you think?" Mark replies "I don't know.)
The next to last verse (If one of use dies, love) seems to be an aside from the story on a more personal level, and not an integral part of the pawnbroker bio. Just my take.