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.
Easy Street
David Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Devil spoke to me
Sign your name on the dotted line boy
And you can be on Easy Street
Easy Street Easy Street
Devil came to see me
Devil called my name
You'll enjoy wealth and fame
Devil comes to see me
He intimates to me
Sign your name on the dotted line
and everything will come for free
On Easy Street Easy Street
Only ten commandments stand
Between you and the final call
And it's easier than you might think
to break them one and all
Devil came to see me
Devil spoke to me
He says "Ape that band you was in before
Then you can be on Easy Street"
Easy Street Easy Street
David Knopfler's song "Easy Street" is a cautionary tale about the temptation of fame and wealth. In the song, the devil comes to the singer and offers him everything he wants if he signs his name on the dotted line. The singer is told that he can have it all without having to work hard for it. The devil intimates to him that he can have an easy life on Easy Street.
The lyrics warn about the price that one would pay for such an easy life. The devil tempts the singer to ignore the ten commandments in exchange for fame and fortune. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Easy Street" several times to emphasize the lure of the devil's offer. The lyrics also talk about how easy it is to fall from grace and how difficult it is to climb back up from that fall.
The song's message is clear: there are no shortcuts in life, and easy street is a dangerous path to take. The song's narrative is presented through a bluesy melody with an intriguing guitar work. Overall, the song is a reminder that anything worth having requires hard work, dedication and perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Devil came to see me
The temptations of wealth and fame are constantly present.
Devil spoke to me
The devil is always speaking and offering opportunities for material gain.
Sign your name on the dotted line boy
Make a deal with the devil and you'll receive easy money and success.
And you can be on Easy Street
You will have a life of leisure and comfort without having to work hard.
Easy Street Easy Street
The ultimate goal is to live a life of luxury without hardships and struggles.
Devil came to see me
The devil is persistent and always trying to sell his deal to people.
He intimates to me
The devil hints at the idea of easy success and wealth without acknowledging the cost.
Sign your name on the dotted line
Agree to the devil's deal and give up your soul in exchange for material gains.
and everything will come for free
Success and wealth will come without hard work or integrity.
Only ten commandments stand
There are moral and ethical codes that people should follow to maintain their integrity and soul.
Between you and the final call
These codes are the only thing stopping someone from living a corrupt life and potentially losing their soul.
And it's easier than you might think
It's tempting to give in to corrupt desires and sacrifice one's values.
to break them one and all
It's easy to neglect the moral codes and values that should guide someone's life.
He says "Ape that band you was in before
The devil wants the person to mimic and copy what has worked before, even if it involves sacrificing integrity.
Then you can be on Easy Street"
The devil promises the ultimate goal of luxury and comfort in exchange for corrupt actions and behavior.
Contributed by Blake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.