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.
Junkie Doll
Mark Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You spiked my arm
But you missed the vein
Now it's all gone
But the scars remain
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
You took me high
As I've ever been
Now it's all gone
And now I'm clean
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You took my heart
Pan American
Now rain or shine
It's all the same
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
The lyrics of Mark Knopfler's song Junkie Doll are deeply emotional and gripping, telling the story of addiction and the struggles that come along with it. Turnpike Lane and Turnham Green are both places in London that are known for being hotspots for drug use, and in the song, Knopfler uses them to represent his own personal struggles with addiction. The first verse describes the physical marks that are left behind from drug use, even after the high is gone. The second verse speaks of the highs that come with using drugs, and how they are fleeting and ultimately leave the user feeling empty. The chorus repeats the phrase "junkie doll" as a metaphor for the addiction itself, representing the way in which the user becomes trapped and consumed by their addiction.
The repeated lines of "a little bit of this'd get you up, a little bit of that'd get you down" show the vicious cycle of addiction, where the user is constantly chasing the feeling of being high but is also weighed down by the negative effects that come along with it. The mention of Pan American is likely a reference to the airline, suggesting that the user has even traveled to distant places in order to satisfy their addiction.
Overall, Junkie Doll is a raw and honest portrayal of addiction and the struggles that come with it. It highlights the way in which addiction can consume a person's life and leave them feeling lost and despairing.
Line by Line Meaning
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
The place where the singer first encountered the person who later became their addiction.
You spiked my arm
The addiction metaphorically 'injected' itself into the singer's life when they first encountered their addiction.
But you missed the vein
The addiction did not fully take hold at first, but rather grew slowly over time.
Now it's all gone
The addiction has ended, whether by the artist's choice or otherwise.
But the scars remain
Despite the addiction being over, the artist still feels the long-lasting physical and emotional effects.
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
The singer came to view their addiction as a 'doll,' something that they were stuck to and had a difficult time separating from, despite knowing their addiction was harmful.
Turnham green, Turnham green
Another place where the singer found themselves highly influenced by their addiction; a continuation of the above metaphor.
You took me high
The addiction provided a sense of euphoria or escape from reality for the artist.
As I've ever been
The addiction allowed the artist to reach a level of euphoria they had never felt before.
And now I'm clean
The addiction is no longer present in the artist's life; they have overcome it.
And a little bit of this'd get you up
The singer is reflecting on the ease with which the addiction could be triggered or restarted; only a small amount could cause them to feel the effects again.
And a little bit of that'd get you down
Conversely, the artist recognizes that the addiction could bring them down as well.
You took my heart
The addiction consumed the singer's life, taking up both emotional and physical space in their heart.
Pan American
A reference to Pan American Airways, which no longer exists; this could be interpreted as the addiction being a thing of the past, much like the defunct airline.
Now rain or shine, it's all the same
The addiction had a constant presence in the singer's life, regardless of the external circumstances; a continuation of the 'heart' metaphor.
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
Repeating the earlier metaphor, the addiction remains a figurative 'doll' that the artist had difficulty detaching from.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lodewijk Vrije
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You spiked my arm
But you missed the vein
Now it's all gone
But the scars remain
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
Turnham green, Turnham green
You took me high
As I've ever been
Now it's all gone
And now I'm clean
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You took my heart
Pan American
Now rain or shine
It's all the same
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
Hridoye Bangladesh, from Bangladesh
Lyrics: আমার জাঙ্কি পুতুল....👍💓
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You spiked my arm
But you missed the vein
Now it's all gone
But the scars remain
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
Turnham Green, Turnham Green
You took me high
As I've ever been
Now it's all gone
And now I'm clean
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You took my heart
Pan American
Now rain or shine
It's all the same
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
টার্নপাইক লেন, টার্নপাইক লেন
আপনি আমার হাত spiked
কিন্তু আপনি শিরা মিস
এখন সব চলে গেছে
কিন্তু দাগ থেকে যায়
জাঙ্কি পুতুল, আমি তোমার উপর আটকে ছিলাম
আমার জাঙ্কি পুতুল
টার্নহাম গ্রিন, টার্নহ্যাম গ্রিন
তুমি আমাকে উঁচু করে নিয়েছ
আমি কখনও হয়েছে
এখন সব চলে গেছে
এবং এখন আমি পরিষ্কার
জাঙ্কি পুতুল, আমি তোমার উপর আটকে ছিলাম
আমার জাঙ্কি পুতুল
এবং এই একটি সামান্য বিট আমি আপ পেতে চাই
এবং যে একটি সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এই সামান্য বিট আমি আপনি পেতে চাই
এবং যে একটি সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এবং এই একটি সামান্য বিট আমি আপ পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এই সামান্য বিট আমি আপনি পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
টার্নপাইক লেন, টার্নপাইক লেন
তুমি আমার হৃদয় কেড়ে নিলে
প্যান আমেরিকান
এখন বৃষ্টি নাকি ঝকঝকে
ইহা সব একই রকম
জাঙ্কি পুতুল, আমি তোমার উপর আটকে ছিলাম
আমার জাঙ্কি পুতুল
এবং এই একটি সামান্য বিট আমি আপ পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এই সামান্য বিট আমি আপনি পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এবং এই একটি সামান্য বিট আমি আপ পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এই সামান্য বিট আমি আপনি পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
Skanoza
Such a quiet and beautiful melody.
I just picture myself sitting at a sparsely populated bar one relaxed evening, and this song just kicks in at a late hour .. man, what a buzz that'd be!
Lodewijk Vrije
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You spiked my arm
But you missed the vein
Now it's all gone
But the scars remain
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
Turnham green, Turnham green
You took me high
As I've ever been
Now it's all gone
And now I'm clean
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You took my heart
Pan American
Now rain or shine
It's all the same
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
longhaircafe
Mark delivers like a real ol’ boy, every album he addresses these what have you, for those who know, what a beautiful soul
Simon Saheen
Last two minutes are dreamy...love how the rythm changes character 😎🎶
Hridoye Bangladesh, from Bangladesh
Lyrics: আমার জাঙ্কি পুতুল....👍💓
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You spiked my arm
But you missed the vein
Now it's all gone
But the scars remain
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
Turnham Green, Turnham Green
You took me high
As I've ever been
Now it's all gone
And now I'm clean
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
And a little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
Turnpike Lane, Turnpike Lane
You took my heart
Pan American
Now rain or shine
It's all the same
Junkie doll, I was stuck on you
My junkie doll
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
And a little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
A little bit of this'd get you up
A little bit of that'd get you down
টার্নপাইক লেন, টার্নপাইক লেন
আপনি আমার হাত spiked
কিন্তু আপনি শিরা মিস
এখন সব চলে গেছে
কিন্তু দাগ থেকে যায়
জাঙ্কি পুতুল, আমি তোমার উপর আটকে ছিলাম
আমার জাঙ্কি পুতুল
টার্নহাম গ্রিন, টার্নহ্যাম গ্রিন
তুমি আমাকে উঁচু করে নিয়েছ
আমি কখনও হয়েছে
এখন সব চলে গেছে
এবং এখন আমি পরিষ্কার
জাঙ্কি পুতুল, আমি তোমার উপর আটকে ছিলাম
আমার জাঙ্কি পুতুল
এবং এই একটি সামান্য বিট আমি আপ পেতে চাই
এবং যে একটি সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এই সামান্য বিট আমি আপনি পেতে চাই
এবং যে একটি সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এবং এই একটি সামান্য বিট আমি আপ পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এই সামান্য বিট আমি আপনি পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
টার্নপাইক লেন, টার্নপাইক লেন
তুমি আমার হৃদয় কেড়ে নিলে
প্যান আমেরিকান
এখন বৃষ্টি নাকি ঝকঝকে
ইহা সব একই রকম
জাঙ্কি পুতুল, আমি তোমার উপর আটকে ছিলাম
আমার জাঙ্কি পুতুল
এবং এই একটি সামান্য বিট আমি আপ পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এই সামান্য বিট আমি আপনি পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এবং এই একটি সামান্য বিট আমি আপ পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
এই সামান্য বিট আমি আপনি পেতে চাই
যে সামান্য বিট আপনি নিচে পেতে চাই
Gabriel Branca
Great song!!!!
Daniel Hayes
Best song from sailing to Philadelphia
Élie DE ONA
Archi d'accord
AtlasEmAll
Love this tune a lot! How haunting are the lyrics? Stay away from drugs, it's better than being the person in this song by a freaking long shot!
Pamela Becker
I AM the person in this song. It's so very hard to live day to day without some kind of change of scenery; I can't move somewhere else physically so I move mentally. Working on the former so I don't need the latter.... It's a struggle every day...