Knopfler played rhythm guitar and appeared on Dire Straits' first two albums: 1978's Dire Straits and 1979's Communiqué. The stress of composing, arranging songs, recording the then-requisite two albums and tours to support them took its toll on the brothers, and Knopfler left the band during the recording of their third album, Making Movies, leaving him uncredited on the album.
Knopfler has been fortunate enough to reach a wide audience without compromising his art and while he's enjoyed the respect and admiration of his musical peers, widespread critical acclaim, international awards and worldwide chart successes, has managed, in his own country, Britain, to keep a profile so low as to be nearly invisible. He lives quietly in the English countryside, notching up an impressive list of writing credits.
A regular panelist at music conventions, a once-married family man and lifelong member of organizations like Amnesty International and Adopt a Minefield, David has always made uncompromising life choices: "I don't regard what I do as remotely glamorous. I write, record and perform my music because I completely love doing it and despite any so called celebrity status that sometimes comes with the job."
Ship of Dreams, released in 2004 and co-produced with Harry Bogdanovs (Westerhagen) features guest appearances by Chris Rea and Alan Clark (Dire Straits) amongst others. The album's cover features a painting generously supplied by Scotland's most successful living artist, Jack Vettriano.
As well as having produced a clutch of underscores for film and TV projects, David's first book of poetry was entitled Blood Stones and Rhythmic Beasts.
Come to Me
David Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You came to me through the eye of the storm
Coming to me through the line of this vision
That’s bigger than the both of us.
I’ll do you no wrong
Come to me
With no one to turn to and all faith broken
A room full of strangers where you cry for no one
The door’s open I’ll do you no wrong
Come to me there’s only release now
Gimme a howl I’m in Paradise Park
If he’s washing you down in the blood of the beast now
Come to me if you’re lost, if you’re lost in the dark
Come to me, come to me
With rocks of ambition, nets of repression
Stake out positions, strange obsessions
Prisoners faking abstract expression
Won’t gain remission making confession
Come to me it’s bigger than the both of us
There’s no possession in Paradise Park
Through the line of vision washing over us
An arc of creation spikes the dark.
The lyrics of David Knopfler's song "Come to Me" tell a story of a person who is lost, broken and has no one to turn to for help. The opening lines describe them as being in a state of "caged submission" and desperately calling for redemption. However, in the midst of the storm, the singer offers themselves as a refuge for this person - a port in the sea of chaos.
The song is full of vivid imagery and contrasts, from "Paradise Walk" and "Oblivion" to "rocks of ambition" and "nets of repression." The singer invites the lost soul to come to them, offering release from their pain and a place of rest in "Paradise Park," where there is no possession and no judgment.
As the song progresses, we see a shift in focus from the individual to a larger, more cosmic perspective. The "line of vision" and "arc of creation" suggest a mystical connection to the universe itself, beyond the earthly concerns of personal suffering and redemption.
Overall, "Come to Me" is a powerful reminder that even in the midst of our darkest moments, there is hope and help available if we are willing to seek it out.
Line by Line Meaning
In caged submission calling for redemption
Feeling trapped and in need of salvation
You came to me through the eye of the storm
You found your way to me despite the chaos around you
Coming to me through the line of this vision
Finding me through our shared understanding of something greater
That’s bigger than the both of us.
It's a feeling or experience that transcends us as individuals
I’ll do you no wrong
You can trust me
With no one to turn to and all faith broken
Feeling completely alone and let down by everything you believed in
Down Paradise Walk, last stop Oblivion
In a dark and hopeless place
A room full of strangers where you cry for no one
Surrounded by people, but feeling completely isolated
The door’s open I’ll do you no wrong
I'm here for you and won't let you down
Come to me there’s only release now
Finding solace in coming to me, and leaving your pain behind
Gimme a howl I’m in Paradise Park
Call out to me and I'll be there in this imaginary, peaceful place
If he’s washing you down in the blood of the beast now
If it feels like you're being punished or attacked by something evil
Come to me if you’re lost, if you’re lost in the dark
Find your way to me if you're feeling completely lost and alone
With rocks of ambition, nets of repression
Feeling weighed down by both our desires and limitations
Stake out positions, strange obsessions
Taking hard stances and holding onto strange ideas
Prisoners faking abstract expression
Feeling trapped and putting up a facade to cope
Won’t gain remission making confession
Not finding relief by admitting faults or seeking forgiveness
Come to me it’s bigger than the both of us
You'll find something greater by coming to me
There’s no possession in Paradise Park
In this peaceful place, we don't need to own or control anything
Through the line of vision washing over us
Experiencing something profound through our shared understanding
An arc of creation spikes the dark.
Creative energy brings light to our darkest moments
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.