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.
In the Sky
Mark Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been away roamin' far away from here
Weathered a storm, your heart unafraid
Crossed every ocean in the boat that you made
Been blowin' your horn, scarin' the spooks
No crotchets or quavers in your books
Gone sailin' all night, straight in the vein
In the sky
In the sky
Runnin' in on the tide with the first of the stars
The moon on the water and the sound of guitars
Glide into the homin' as the night falls
Tie up in the haven by the old harbor wall
And the hard-bitten stranger, deaf as a post
Who stands at the fire where a poet's dreams roast
He can't know the story, he can't feel the pain
And all of the glory falls around him like rain
In the sky
In the sky
you're a light in the dark, beacon of hope
And strong as a sea boat, strong as a rope
And the vagabond wind whispers over the bay
And the songs and the laughter are carried away
In the sky
In the sky
In the sky
In the sky
The song 'In the Sky,' sung by Mark Knopfler appears to be an ode to the sea and a tribute to a sailor's life. The lyrics are a message of welcome to a sailor who has just returned home after a long and eventful journey. The first few lines of the song express a sense of relief and happiness at the return of the sailor, as he has been missed dearly. The line 'Weathered a storm, your heart unafraid, crossed every ocean in the boat that you made,' alludes to the sailor's fearless spirit, courage, and determination to brave the vast seas in his boat that he made himself.
The song is a celebration not only of the sailor's return but also of his life at sea in general. The sailor's music is his trumpet, and he has blown his horn, scaring away spooks; there are no musical notes in his books. The sailor has sailed the seas all night, like a bird on his own flight, in his domain. The line 'In the sky' repeated several times in the song is an allusion to freedom and the infinite possibility of sailing the seas.
The song's final verse talks about the sailor's strength, hope, and fortitude in the face of various challenges at sea, making him a light in the dark and a beacon of hope. The wind whispers over the bay, carrying the songs and laughter of the sailing life. The song's overall theme is one of freedom, adventure, and the invincibility of the human spirit in the face of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you home from the sea, my soul balladeer
Have you returned from your travels across the ocean, my poetic singer?
You've been away roamin' far away from here
You've been wandering and exploring distant lands, far from our home.
Weathered a storm, your heart unafraid
You've faced and survived a difficult situation, yet your heart remains bold and fearless.
Crossed every ocean in the boat that you made
You've sailed across every sea in the vessel that you crafted.
Been blowin' your horn, scarin' the spooks
You've been playing your instrument with skill and confidence, even intimidating any potential detractors.
No crotchets or quavers in your books
Your musical compositions are free from errors or discrepancies.
Gone sailin' all night, straight in the vein
You've sailed all night long, smoothly and confidently, without any mental or physical obstacles.
Like a bird on his own flight in his domain
You've flown like a bird, independently and with mastery over your surroundings.
In the sky
A metaphorical reference to the endless potential and limitless possibilities in the world.
Runnin' in on the tide with the first of the stars
Arriving on the shores in perfect timing, under the light of the first stars of the night.
The moon on the water and the sound of guitars
The moon's reflection on the water, accompanied by the harmonious music of guitars.
Glide into the homin' as the night falls
Quietly and smoothly approaching the harbor as night settles in.
Tie up in the haven by the old harbor wall
Anchor the boat in the sheltered bay by the ancient harbor wall.
And the hard-bitten stranger, deaf as a post
A rough and unapproachable outsider, completely ignorant of the musician's art and struggles.
Who stands at the fire where a poet's dreams roast
Someone who stands close to the element of creativity and passion, yet seemingly unaffected by it.
He can't know the story, he can't feel the pain
He cannot comprehend the story behind the music, nor does he understand the emotions and challenges that the artist has experienced.
And all of the glory falls around him like rain
Despite his lack of understanding, he is still surrounded by the beauty and magnificence of the artist's creations.
you're a light in the dark, beacon of hope
You provide guidance and inspiration in difficult times, like a shining light in a dark and tumultuous world.
And strong as a sea boat, strong as a rope
You have the resilience and stability of a seaworthy vessel or a sturdy rope, able to withstand the forces of the world.
And the vagabond wind whispers over the bay
The wandering wind gently whispers over the peaceful harbor.
And the songs and the laughter are carried away
The joyous music and laughter are carried away on the wind, echoing throughout the world.
In the sky
A repeated reaffirmation of the boundless potential and freedom of the artist's spirit.
In the sky
A repeated reaffirmation of the boundless potential and freedom of the artist's spirit.
In the sky
A repeated reaffirmation of the boundless potential and freedom of the artist's spirit.
In the sky
A repeated reaffirmation of the boundless potential and freedom of the artist's spirit.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cool Coyote
Are you home from the sea, my soul balladeer
You've been away roaming far away from here
Weathered a storm, your heart unafraid
Crossed every ocean in the boat that you made
Been blowing your horn, scaring the spooks
No crotchets or quavers in your books
Gone sailing all night, straight in the vein
Like a bird on his own flight in his domain in the sky
Running in on the tide with the first of the stars
The moon on the water and the sound of guitars
Glide into the homing as the night falls
To tie up in the haven by the old harbour wall
And the hard-bitten stranger as deaf as a post
Who stands at the fire where a poet's dreams roast
He can't know the story, he can't feel the pain
And all of the glory falls around him like rain in the sky
You're a light in the dark, a beacon of hope
And strong as a sea boat, strong as a rope
And the vagabond wind, whispers over the bay
And the songs and the laughter, are carried away in the sky
Cool Coyote
Are you home from the sea, my soul balladeer
You've been away roaming far away from here
Weathered a storm, your heart unafraid
Crossed every ocean in the boat that you made
Been blowing your horn, scaring the spooks
No crotchets or quavers in your books
Gone sailing all night, straight in the vein
Like a bird on his own flight in his domain in the sky
Running in on the tide with the first of the stars
The moon on the water and the sound of guitars
Glide into the homing as the night falls
To tie up in the haven by the old harbour wall
And the hard-bitten stranger as deaf as a post
Who stands at the fire where a poet's dreams roast
He can't know the story, he can't feel the pain
And all of the glory falls around him like rain in the sky
You're a light in the dark, a beacon of hope
And strong as a sea boat, strong as a rope
And the vagabond wind, whispers over the bay
And the songs and the laughter, are carried away in the sky
Lisa Linde
Thank you
Yusuf Tamer Kocak
Thanx
Vicki Walker
Thank you so much. My "beacon of hope" left this life and was "carried away in the sky" 2 years ago. The poem you wrote and sing lets me see his flickering always.
Romana Strasheim
Thank you! ๐โค
Glenn Atkinson
@Vicki Walker heโs waiting for you Vicki Walker5
Be at peace๐๐๐ถ๐ถ
Susan Pallister
A story teller, a singer of songs, a writer of tales, a troubadour. Mark woos us and we love him for it.
Claude Hopper
Greatest guitarist and sonwriter of our time in my book . Genuinely talented artist like MK come along very seldom in this world .
Theressa Murphy
Wow, Mark your voice and music calms my tired heart.Thank you so much๐คฉ๐๐ถ๐ค๐ถ๐ค
Prateek Jain
This song keeps growing on you and eventually nothing will feel as relaxing as this one. His voice, the acoustic guitar, the sax ๐๐ฅฐโค๏ธ So grateful ๐ฅบ