Their first single, "Sultans of Swing", from their 1978 self-titled debut album, reached the top ten in the UK and US charts. It was followed by a series of hit singles including "Romeo and Juliet" (1981), "Private Investigations" (1982), "Twisting by the Pool" (1983), "Money for Nothing" (1985), and "Walk of Life" (1985). Their most commercially successful album, "Brothers in Arms" (1985), has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide; it was the first album to sell a million copies on compact disc (CD) and is the eighth-best-selling album in UK history. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Albums, Dire Straits have spent over 1,100 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, the fifth most of all time.
Dire Straits' sound drew from various influences, including country, folk, the blues rock of J. J. Cale, and jazz. Their stripped-down sound contrasted with punk rock and demonstrated a roots rock influence that emerged from pub rock. There were several changes in personnel, with Mark Knopfler and Illsley being the only members who remained with the band for its whole history. After their first breakup in 1988, Mark Knopfler told Rolling Stone: "A lot of press reports were saying we were the biggest band in the world. There's not an accent then on the music, there's an accent on popularity. I needed a rest." They disbanded for good in 1995, after which Knopfler launched a solo career full-time. He has since declined numerous reunion offers.
Dire Straits were called "the biggest British rock band of the 80s" by Classic Rock magazine; their 1985–1986 world tour, which included a performance at Live Aid in July 1985, set a record in Australasia. Their final world tour from 1991 to 1992 sold 7.1 million tickets. Dire Straits won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards (Best British Group twice), two MTV Video Music Awards, and various other awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018. Dire Straits have sold between 100 and 120 million units worldwide, including 51.4 million certified units, making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dire_Straits
Discography
Dire Straits (1978)
Communiqué (1979)
Making Movies (1980)
Love over Gold (1982)
Brothers in Arms (1985)
On Every Street (1991)
The Man
Dire Straits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I've called the tune to many a torching session
Now they say I am a war criminal and I'm fading away
Father, please, hear my confession
I have legalized robbery, called it belief
I have run with the money, I have hid like a thief
Rewritten history with my armies of my crooks
And I can still hear his laughter and I can still hear his song
The man's too big, the man's too strong
Well, I have tried to be meek and I have tried to be mild
But I spat like a woman and I sulked like a child
I have lived behind walls that have made me alone
Striven for peace, which I never have known
And I can still hear his laughter and I can still hear his song
The man's too big, the man's too strong
Well, the sun rose on the courtyard and they all did hear him say
You always was a Judas, but I got you anyway
You may have got your silver, but I swear upon my life
Your sister gave me diamonds and I gave them to your wife
Oh, father, please, help me for I have done wrong
The man's too big, the man's too strong
The lyrics of Dire Straits' song "The Man" speak about the regret and remorse of a former soldier who was complicit in war crimes. An "aging drummer boy," he recognizes that he played a part in the pain and suffering of others, having "called the tune to many a torture session." Now, he looks to confess, to ask for forgiveness for his actions. He admits to having "legalized robbery" and "run with the money" in the past, taking advantage of others for gain. He has also "rewritten histories" and "burned all the books," suggesting that he has distorted the truth to fit his own purposes.
However, despite his attempts to be mild, he has become strong in his own way, with walls built around him that have made him alone. He yearns for peace, but recognizes that he has never truly known it. Throughout the lyrics, he hears the laughter and song of "the man," who is too big and too strong, representing the oppressive forces that he has played a part in, and is now haunted by.
The song ends with the man recalling a conversation with "the man," who reveals that he has betrayed him, and that his sister has given him diamonds which he has given to the man's wife. The man's regret and despair are palpable as he cries out for help, recognizing that he has done wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
I am just an aging drummer boy
I am an elderly percussionist who has witnessed the horrors of war
And in the wars I used to play
I have fought in many wars in the past
And I've called the tune to many a torture session
I have been responsible for orchestrating many brutal torture sessions
Now they say I am a war criminal
I have been accused of committing war crimes
And I'm fading away
My health is declining, and I am nearing the end of my life
Father, please hear my confession
I ask for God's forgiveness and absolution for my sins
I have legalized robbery
I have made laws that allow me and others to steal from the poor
And called it relief
I have disguised my theft as a form of assistance
I have run with the money
I have taken the stolen money and absconded with it
I have hid like a thief
I have concealed my identity and my crimes from the public
Rewritten histories with armies and my crooks
I have manipulated historical accounts to praise me and my accomplices, using my military and criminal connections to do so
Invented memories
I have fabricated events that never occurred to serve my own agenda
I did burn all the books
I destroyed written records that would have incriminated me
And I can still hear his laughter
Despite my attempt to erase the past, my victim's mocking voice still haunts me
And I can still hear his song
My victim's pain-filled cries still resound in my mind
The man's too big
My victim was more significant than I could handle
The man's too strong
My victim was stronger and more resilient than I anticipated
Well, I've tried to be meek
I've attempted to be humble and submissive
I have tried to be mild
I've tried to be gentle and avoid conflict
But I spat like a woman
I reacted to confrontation with cowardice and betrayal
And I sulked like a child
I became sullen and resentful when things didn't go my way
Hid behind walls that have made me alone
I've secluded myself to conceal my wrongdoing, making myself isolated and lonely
Striven for peace
I have attempted to create harmony in my life
Which I never have known
But due to my past crimes and their repercussions, I have never truly experienced peace
Well, the sun rose on the courtyard
On the day of reckoning, the sun rose as usual
And we all did hear him say
We all listened as my victim spoke the truth
"You always was a Judas,
"You've always been a betrayer,
But I got you anyway.
But I was still able to take you down despite your treachery.
You may have got your silver
You may have gotten your reward for your betrayal and criminal acts
But I swear upon my life
But I vow to you that the consequences of your actions will catch up to you eventually.
Your sister gave me diamonds
Your relative gave me valuables, as a way to buy my loyalty against you.
And I gave 'em to your wife."
And I gave them away to someone else of my choosing, making the betrayal more complete.
Oh father, please help me
I beg God for mercy, guidance, and forgiveness for my wrongdoings
For I have done wrong
I admit that I have done terrible things and deserve to be punished.
The man's too big
The victim's influence and power were too significant for me to handle
The man's too strong
The victim was stronger and more resilient than I thought
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mark Knopfler
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind