Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British singer, guita… Read Full Bio ↴Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British singer, guitarist, composer, songwriter, record producer, and film score composer. He was the lead guitarist, lead singer, and songwriter for the rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded with his younger brother, David Knopfler, in 1977. He was born in Glasgow but raised near Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

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.

Heart of Oak
Mark Knopfler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

And how he used to thrill the crowd
The ready eye with bat and ball
The village fighter, heavy browed
The Englishman who had it all
A mighty shoulder to the wheel
To join in battle with the best
The iron arm, the will of steel
And heart of oak to mourn the rest

A power harnessed to the game
Once yoked and tempered fades away
The willing arm, the steady aim
The youth and fire that won the day
As twilight shadows dim the field
The ageing fighter stands bereft

With just the will to never yield
And heart of oak to mourn what's left

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mark Knopfler's song Heart of Oak represent a nostalgic ode to an English cricketer from the past. The song sings about this cricketer's prowess with bat and ball and how he used to thrill the crowd in his heyday. He was a village fighter, heavy-browed and had it all. He was a warrior who knew how to join battle with the best and had an iron arm and will of steel. He had a heart of oak, which is a metaphor for strength, courage, and resilience, and mourned the rest.

As time passes, the cricketer's prowess fades away, and he becomes an ageing fighter with nothing but the will to never yield. The song beautifully portrays how the cricketer's youth and fire that once won the day are now long gone, and all that is left is his heart of oak, a symbol of the strength of character he had. The lyrics highlight the bittersweet nature of time and aging and how the things we once had and cherished fade away.

Overall, Heart of Oak is a poignant and moving tribute to a bygone era and a reminder of the fleeting nature of youth and vitality.

Line by Line Meaning

And how he used to thrill the crowd
Describing a time when someone was admired and respected by others for their achievements.

The ready eye with bat and ball
Someone who was skilled at sports and had a natural talent for them.

The village fighter, heavy browed
This person was known as someone who was tough and unrelenting, with a stern look on their face.

The Englishman who had it all
A person who was considered to be successful, respected and admired because of their talents and hard work.

A mighty shoulder to the wheel
Someone who could be relied upon to help and support others with their strength.

To join in battle with the best
Someone who was confident and daring, and not afraid to compete with the most capable opponents.

The iron arm, the will of steel
A person who was unwavering and unyielding in their determination, and who had great power and strength.

And heart of oak to mourn the rest
Describing someone who was loyal and steadfast, and who would grieve for those who couldn't keep up with their strength and perseverance.

A power harnessed to the game
Someone who had the ability and skill to master the competition they faced.

Once yoked and tempered fades away
This power and skill would eventually diminish and fade after a time, once the individual's youth and spirit faded away.

The willing arm, the steady aim
The determination and strength of this individual's arm and aim helped them succeed in their endeavors.

The youth and fire that won the day
When they were young, this person's strength, skill, and drive helped them win many victories.

As twilight shadows dim the field
As the individual grew older, they became less capable of competing and their abilities began to decline.

The ageing fighter stands bereft
This person stood alone, saddened by the fact that they were no longer in their prime and could no longer compete at their previous level.

With just the will to never yield
Their willpower and determination were all they had left to carry them through life.

And heart of oak to mourn what's left.
They remembered their past success and their enduring loyalty, which was all that remained of their youth and strength.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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