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The Last Laugh
Mark Knopfler Lyrics


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Don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh my friend
Don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh at the end
Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
Down in the scuppers with the drunken sailors
Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
But the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

Games you thought you'd learned
You neither lost nor won
Dreams have crashed and burned
But you're still going on
Out on the highway with the road gang working
Up on the mountain with the cold wind blowing
Out on the highway with the road gang working
But the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

They had you crying but you came up smiling
They had you crawling and you came up flying
They had you crying and you came up smiling
And the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down
Yeah don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

Overall Meaning

Mark Knopfler's song The Last Laugh is a hymn of resilience in the face of adversity. The song chronicles the trials and tribulations of life, where it seems that we are constantly down in the gutter or facing difficult situations. But through it all, there is the hope for redemption and the possibility of achieving the last laugh.


The song speaks to anyone who has faced setbacks and disappointments in life, but who refuses to give up. It talks of the games we thought we had learned, but which we neither lost nor won. It acknowledges that dreams have crashed and burned, but that we are still going on. The last laugh symbolizes the victory of the human spirit over adversity.


The song is both comforting and inspiring. It acknowledges life's difficulties but encourages those going through them to keep going, to keep fighting, and to never give up. The reference to the last laugh highlights the fact that despite the challenges and setbacks we face, there is always the hope of a triumphant and victorious conclusion.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't you love the sound
Do you not enjoy the pleasant resonance


Of the last laugh my friend
That comes after enduring hardships and overcoming challenges my acquaintance


Of the last laugh at the end
That finally echoes through the struggles at the conclusion


Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
Even if you find yourself in the lowermost places with the deranged ex-soldiers


Down in the scuppers with the drunken sailors
Or between narrow walkways with the intoxicated seafarers


Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
Or even with the insane retired combatants in the empty spaces


But the last laugh, baby is yours
Still you have triumphed and earned the right to the final joy


And don't you love the sound
Isn't it delightful to hear


Of the last laugh going down
The echoes of success are finally sinking in


Games you thought you'd learned
The challenges you believed you had mastered


You neither lost nor won
Neither won nor lost


Dreams have crashed and burned
Aspirations have been dashed and gone up in flames


But you're still going on
Nevertheless, you still endure and continue


Out on the highway with the road gang working
Working with the labor crews on the highway


Up on the mountain with the cold wind blowing
Or in the mountains with the chilling winds blowing


Out on the highway with the road gang working
Again, toiling with the road crew on the open road


But the last laugh, baby is yours
Yet, you are the one who succeeded in the end


And don't you love the sound
It is refreshing to your ears


Of the last laugh going down
The echoes of success coming to a conclusion


They had you crying but you came up smiling
Although you may have been reduced to tears, you ultimately grinned


They had you crawling and you came up flying
Or despite being low and humble, you overcame and flew


They had you crying and you came up smiling
Once more, crying may have given way to elation


And the last laugh, baby is yours
And once again, the ultimate triumph was yours for the taking


And don't you love the sound
Isn't that just mellifluous


Of the last laugh going down
As the echoes of victory reverberate throughout


Yeah don't you love the sound
Certainly the resonance must delight you


Of the last laugh going down
As the final waves of success slowly fade away




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@julia-hg7hq

Don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh my friend
Don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh at the end
Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
Down in the scuppers with the drunken sailors
Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
But the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

Games you thought you'd learned
You neither lost nor won
Dreams have crashed and burned
But you're still going on
Out on the highway with the road gang working
Up on the mountain with the cold wind blowing
Out on the highway with the road gang working
But the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

They had you crying but you came up smiling
They had you crawling and you came up flying
They had you crying and you came up smiling
And the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down
Yeah don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down



All comments from YouTube:

@sarahbriscoe9080

I absolutely love this song. It means so much to me. Many years ago my husband left me for someone half my age who I thought was a good friend. Later on I met a gorgeous man who has treated me so much better and when I heard this song around that time I realised it was me having the last laugh !

@lee7701

Three years ago my wife met someone else and my marriage of twenty seven years fell apart so I know how you felt. I hope two years later your still enjoying the last laugh.

@sadies2820

@Lee I certainly am. I hope that life is improving for you too.

@gaetangoudot9186

This is a wonderful song,
Van and Mark,two genius 🎸👋
Mark forever in my heart since 36 years,💕!

@favoritosindelezia2747

Amo esse homem..meu idolo que ensina ao mundo o que é saber tocar sus guitarra...y love you Mark Knopfer ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@pikkuapuri

So Van Morrison song. Love this.

@pinepienaar7676

Beautiful! 👏🏻❤️🎸

@gianfrancoghironi7117

Una delicatissima ballata, suonata con la Fender stratocaster manovrata sapientemente dalle mani dell'ex frontman dei Dire Straits, cantata dalle voci inconfondibili di Knopfler e Van Morrison. A dimostrazione che i grandi musicisti sanno accompagnarsi sempre bene in ogni occasione. Che dire altro? Bravissimi! 🙂

@julia-hg7hq

Don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh my friend
Don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh at the end
Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
Down in the scuppers with the drunken sailors
Down in the gutter with the mad old soldiers
But the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

Games you thought you'd learned
You neither lost nor won
Dreams have crashed and burned
But you're still going on
Out on the highway with the road gang working
Up on the mountain with the cold wind blowing
Out on the highway with the road gang working
But the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

They had you crying but you came up smiling
They had you crawling and you came up flying
They had you crying and you came up smiling
And the last laugh, baby is yours
And don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down
Yeah don't you love the sound
Of the last laugh going down

@jolie-nielsen4827

You two great voices are spreading such a great grove❤️

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