Since Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler has recorded and produced nine solo albums and, as with his previous band, produced many hit songs. He has composed and produced film scores for nine films, including Local Hero (1983), Cal (1984), The Princess Bride (1987), Wag the Dog (1997) and Altamira (2016).
In addition to his work with Dire Straits, Knopfler has, as a solo artist, recorded and performed with many prominent musicians, including B.B. King, Chet Atkins, Chris Botti, John Anderson, the Chieftains, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Bryan Ferry, George Jones, Phil Lynott, Donal Lunny, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Sting, Emmylou Harris , James Taylor and Sonny Landreth , sometimes working as a session musician. He has produced albums for Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Randy Newman.
Knopfler is a fingerstyle guitarist and was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Knopfler and Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million records to date. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Knopfler is the recipient of the Edison Award, the Steiger Award and the Ivor Novello Award, as well as holding three honorary doctorate degrees in music from universities in the United Kingdom. Knopfler was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018.
Cannibals
Mark Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He holds on to his daddy's hand
His daddy says Sonny you're a big strong boy
You're gonna be a big strong man
And they go play catch they go play ball
They go take a walk along the sand
Big strong daddy and a big strong boy
Living in a big strong land
Daddy is he a goodie or a baddie
Daddy can I have a dinosaur
Once upon a time there were cannibals
Now there are no cannibals any more
Down in Louisiana there's a hurricane coming
The little boy climbs the stairs
And all along the levee all the people come running
And the little boy's saying his prayers
And a sleepy little laddie smiles up at his daddy
And he's asking for his G.I. Joe
And daddy tucks him in with a kiss upon the chin
And says my little one I love you so
Daddy is he a goodie or a baddie
Leave a light outside the door
Once upon a time there were cannibals
Now there are no cannibals any more
Lay down your head now don't get out of bed
Don't you let the bedbugs bite
It's time to go to sleep now not another peep
And I'll see you in the morning light
And then the radio was playing and the weatherman was saying
The hurricane had blown away
And daddy's little boy was jumping up for joy
And he was singing at the break of day
Daddy is he a goodie or a baddie
Daddy can I be a warrior
Once upon a time there were cannibals
Now there are no cannibals any more
Yeah daddy is he a goodie or a baddie
Daddy why do people go to war
Once upon a time there were cannibals
Now there are no cannibals any more
The lyrics to Mark Knopfler's "Cannibals" explore the innocence and curiosity of a little boy as he interacts with his father in a big strong land. The first verse depicts the strong bond between the father and son, as they enjoy playing catch, going for walks, and spending time together. The boy looks up to his dad as a role model, aspiring to be just as strong and brave as he is. The second verse takes a darker turn as the impending hurricane threatens their home in Louisiana. The boy climbs the stairs to safety, and the father reassures and comforts him as they wait out the storm. The final verse combines these themes of innocence and danger, as the boy asks his father about war and the world's once-cannibalistic past. The father offers his love and protection to his child, while acknowledging the realities of human violence.
The lyrics of "Cannibals" are open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that they highlight the contrast between the innocence of childhood and the harsh realities of the world. The father-son relationship serves as a beacon of hope and strength amid chaos and uncertainty, as the young boy navigates the challenges of growing up and understanding the world around him. At the same time, the lyrics acknowledge the darker side of human nature, whether it be cannibalism in the past or war and conflict in the present. Ultimately, the song offers a message of hope and resilience, as the father reassures his son that he is loved and protected.
Line by Line Meaning
Well he's daddy's little boy he plays with his toys
The little boy is loved by his father and enjoys playing with his toys.
He holds on to his daddy's hand
The boy feels safe and secure holding his father's hand.
His daddy says Sonny you're a big strong boy
You're gonna be a big strong man
The father compliments his son on his strength and hopes for him to grow up to be a strong man.
And they go play catch they go play ball
They go take a walk along the sand
Father and son do activities together and go on walks on the beach.
Big strong daddy and a big strong boy
Living in a big strong land
The father and son perceive their home as a strong and powerful place.
Daddy is he a goodie or a baddie
Daddy can I have a dinosaur
Once upon a time there were cannibals
Now there are no cannibals any more
The little boy asks his father if he's a good or bad person and asks for a toy dinosaur. The reference to cannibals suggests a comparison to past violence and the hope that such brutality no longer exists.
Down in Louisiana there's a hurricane coming
The little boy climbs the stairs
And all along the levee all the people come running
And the little boy's saying his prayers
In the midst of a hurricane, the little boy is scared and prays for safety.
And a sleepy little laddie smiles up at his daddy
And he's asking for his G.I. Joe
And daddy tucks him in with a kiss upon the chin
And says my little one I love you so
The boy calms down and requests his toy soldier before bed. His father comforts him and reassures him of his love.
Daddy is he a goodie or a baddie
Leave a light outside the door
Once upon a time there were cannibals
Now there are no cannibals any more
Again the boy asks his father about morality and requests a night light. The reference to cannibals suggests a hope for an end to violence and evil.
Lay down your head now don't get out of bed
Don't you let the bedbugs bite
It's time to go to sleep now not another peep
And I'll see you in the morning light
The father tucks his son in and wishes him a good night's sleep.
And then the radio was playing and the weatherman was saying
The hurricane had blown away
And daddy's little boy was jumping up for joy
And he was singing at the break of day
The next morning, the boy is excited to learn that the hurricane has passed and he sings for joy.
Daddy is he a goodie or a baddie
Daddy can I be a warrior
Once upon a time there were cannibals
Now there are no cannibals any more
Once again, the boy seeks reassurance of his father's character and aspires to be a warrior. The reference to cannibals suggests hope for an end to violent conflicts.
Yeah daddy is he a goodie or a baddie
Daddy why do people go to war
Once upon a time there were cannibals
Now there are no cannibals any more
Finally, the boy continues to question good versus evil and asks why people go to war. The reference to cannibals suggests a desire for peace and a world without violence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@priyamgoswami306
@@CryptoGrizzly710
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@ulyssedugard
Sonny Landreth !!! on slide guitar .... woooooow
Richard Bennett !!! on second guitar
Jim Cox !!! on piano :)
Glenn Worf !!! a big bass player !!!
THE Chad Cromwell !!! played drums :)
and ... Guy Fletcher / Dr Fletch !!! on keyboards and ... many other stuf ... since .. ancient times ;-) !!!
Mark appreciate best players to play with him ... he's like that ;) :D
@fredreinhard2091
I am a 78 year old that is avoiding the garbage on TV/Cable/MSM with regard to poor programming and out-right nasty politics! I am now surfing for good music and have found it in Mark and other great musicians! Makes my car rides lively and at night with my headphones and foot stomping!!
@milkaluzardo4948
I love you, Fred!!!!! I think and do exactly like you.He is wonderful!! Scuse my english, Ispeak spanish, I am from Uruguay
@AgentRafa
@@milkaluzardo4948 Your English is very good, no worries. Yes MK is the greatest musician to have ever walked this earth imo. Cheers.
@AgentRafa
Fred Reinhard@ Good for you Sir, the mainstream media is pure garbage and propaganda from A to Z, sorry to hear it took you 78 years to figure that out but I'm glad you got it right eventually, nothing is ever too late. MK's music is soul healing:-)
@williamsutherland1575
Not far behind you on the age bit and doing exactly the same to get a bit of quality back.
@xXcakePOPcarleyXx
I feel exactly the same the only difference is I'm two years older than you are but I do feel that way I love my music
@nyanbemolothanaga48
Those people standing in the front row were literally the luckiest people on planet earth that day
@JimmySteller
I can’t even imagine how that would have felt. But to be fair, we also have an advantage with the close ups on the musicians giving it their all.
@tinfoilhat-hater6125
Knopfler and Landreth = PARADISE
@BasBJC
The song Cannibals itself already is great but the instrumental bit they played at the beginning of this is absolutely beautiful.