You get a shiver in the dark
It's 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 down south
Way on down south
London town

You check out guitar George, he knows all the chords
Mind, it's strictly rhythm he doesn't want to make it 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 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
And 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"
Then he makes it fast with one more thing

"We are the Sultans
We are the Sultans of Swing"

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Lyrics submitted by Novartza, edited by jan1097800

Sultans of Swing Lyrics as written by Mark Knopfler

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Sultans Of Swing song meanings

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General Comment
It's a cold and rainy night in London. A man is out walking south of the river, perhaps through Battersea Park towards Brixton when suddenly he hears music coming from a local pub. It's the sound of a band playing jazz - it's fast and it sounds great and makes him feel good.

He goes into the pub. There aren't too many people in there taking shelter from the rain to listen to the band. There's too much competition from places playing trendier music. But the sound coming from the saxophone and trumpet is fantastic - a bit of the American deep south right here in London.

He watches the guitar player - he's playing some fruity jazz chords - rhythm guitar is his thing, leaving the soloing to the horns. The band don't make much and the guitar is old and battered.

The piano player doesn't mind if they don't make the big time - he's got a decent job and happy to wait for Friday night to let rip with the band. He's a brilliant player.

There's a crowd of young trendy boys in the corner - drunk and messing about. They don't care about the band, they don't get this music. The band play on - this tune now Louisiana creole.

And then, as the bell behind the bar rings to signal last orders, the lead band member announces that the next tune will be their last. '"We are the Sultans of Swing" - he says as the band play one more tune, hard and fast.

It's a cold and rainy night in London. A man is out walking south of the river, perhaps through Battersea Park towards Brixton when suddenly he hears music coming from a local pub. It's the sound of a band playing jazz - it's fast and it sounds great and makes him feel good. He goes into the pub. There aren't too many people in there taking shelter from the rain to listen to the band. There's too much competition from places playing trendier music. But the sound coming from the saxophone and trumpet is fantastic - a bit of the American deep south right here in London. He watches the guitar player - he's playing some fruity jazz chords - rhythm guitar is his thing, leaving the soloing to the horns. The band don't make much and the guitar is old and battered. The piano player doesn't mind if they don't make the big time - he's got a decent job and happy to wait for Friday night to let rip with the band. He's a brilliant player. There's a crowd of young trendy boys in the corner - drunk and messing about. They don't care about the band, they don't get this music. The band play on - this tune now Louisiana creole. And then, as the bell behind the bar rings to signal last orders, the lead band member announces that the next tune will be their last. '"We are the Sultans of Swing" - he says as the band play one more tune, hard and fast.

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palinurus1on September 18, 2016 Link
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