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.
Prairie Wedding
Mark Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went to meet her off the train
When the smoke had cleared and the dust was still
She was standing there and speaking my name
I guarantee she looked like an angel
I couldn't think of what I should say
But when Adam saw Eve in the garden
I believe he felt the selfsame way
I handed her up on the wagon
And I loaded up her trunk behind
She was sitting up there with the gold in her hair
And I tried to get a hold of my mind
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
We finally headed out of the station
And we drove up the home trail
And when we came on the farm she laid a hand on my arm
I thought my resolution would fail
And I froze as she stepped in the doorway
Stood there as still as could be
I said I know it ain't much, it needs a woman's touch
Lord she turned around and looked at me
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
We had a prairie wedding
There was a preacher and a neighbor or two
I gave my golden thing a gold wedding ring
And the both of us said I do
When the sun's going down on the prairie
And the gold in her hair is aflame
I say do you really love me Mary
And I hold her and I whisper her name
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
Mark Knopfler's "Prairie Wedding" tells the story of a man (presumably in the early 1900s) waiting at a train station to meet a woman he only knew by letter. When she arrives, he is bowled over by her beauty and asks her to be his wife. They head out to his farm, and as they cross the threshold, he apologizes for how unkempt it is. However, his wife reassures him that it just needs a woman's touch. They get married quickly, and as the sun sets on their wedding day, he still asks her if she'll love him forever.
The song is a testament to the power of love at first sight and the idea that the right person can immediately change your life. The singer doesn't know much about his wife, but he knows that she's the one for him. In this era, marriage was often a practical decision, but the singer is taking a risk on love. He's nervous, but he knows it's worth it for the chance at a happy life.
Overall, "Prairie Wedding" is a sweet and simple love song that captures the thrill and uncertainty of falling in love. It's a great reminder that sometimes, all you need is one person to change your life for the better.
Line by Line Meaning
We only knew each other by letter
We had never met in person, but only corresponded through letters
I went to meet her off the train
I went to the train station to greet her and take her back to our home
When the smoke had cleared and the dust was still
After all the commotion had settled down, I saw her standing there in front of me
She was standing there and speaking my name
She recognized me and called out to me by name
I guarantee she looked like an angel
I was so taken with her appearance that I couldn't help but think she looked like a heavenly being
I couldn't think of what I should say
I was at a loss for words
But when Adam saw Eve in the garden
I felt like Adam when he first saw Eve
I believe he felt the selfsame way
I believe he felt the same way I did when he saw her
I handed her up on the wagon
I helped her climb onto the wagon
And I loaded up her trunk behind
I put her luggage in the back of the wagon
She was sitting up there with the gold in her hair
She was sitting up high on the wagon seat, with her blonde hair shining in the sunlight
And I tried to get a hold of my mind
I tried to focus my thoughts and emotions
Do you think that you could love me Mary
I asked her if she thought she could love me
Do you think we got a chance of a life
I asked her if she thought we had a chance at a life together
Now you are to be my wife
I proposed to her and she accepted, and so we were engaged to be married
We finally headed out of the station
We left the train station and began our journey together
And we drove up the home trail
We traveled up the trail towards our home
And when we came on the farm she laid a hand on my arm
When we arrived at the farm, she touched my arm affectionately
I thought my resolution would fail
I was afraid that I might lose my nerve and give up
And I froze as she stepped in the doorway
I was overcome with emotion when she entered our home
Stood there as still as could be
She stood very still, taking in the surroundings of our new home
I said I know it ain't much, it needs a woman's touch
I acknowledged that our home was humble and needed a woman's touch to make it complete
Lord she turned around and looked at me
She turned around and looked at me in a way that was full of love and affection
We had a prairie wedding
We got married in a simple, rustic ceremony on the prairie
There was a preacher and a neighbor or two
We were joined by a preacher and a few neighbors who witnessed our wedding
I gave my golden thing a gold wedding ring
I gave my beloved a gold wedding ring to signify our commitment to each other
And the both of us said I do
We exchanged vows and promised to love each other forever
When the sun's going down on the prairie
As the sun began to set on the prairie
And the gold in her hair is aflame
As the sun set, the light shone on her golden hair, making it look like it was on fire
I say do you really love me Mary
I asked her if she truly loved me
And I hold her and I whisper her name
I held her close and whispered her name in a moment of intimacy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lodewijk Vrije
We only knew each other by letter
I went to meet her off the train
When the smoke had cleared and the dust was still
She was standing there and speaking my name
I guarantee she looked like an angel
I couldn't think of what I should say
But when Adam saw Eve in the garden
I believe he felt the selfsame way
I handed her up on the wagon
And I loaded up her trunk behind
She was sitting up there with the gold in her hair
And I tried to get a hold of my mind
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
We finally headed out of the station
And we drove up the home trail
And when we came on the farm she laid a hand on my arm
I thought my resolution would fail
And I froze as she stepped in the doorway
Stood there as still as could be
I said I know it ain't much, it needs a woman's touch
Lord she turned around and looked at me
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
We had a prairie wedding
There was a preacher and a neighbor or two
I gave my golden thing a gold wedding ring
And the both of us said I do
When the sun's going down on the prairie
And the gold in her hair is aflame
I say do you really love me Mary
And I hold her and I whisper her name
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Do you think we got a chance of a life
Do you think that you could love me Mary
Now you are to be my wife
David H
Never get tired of this song.
Steven Adams
This song is personal and brings me to tears every time I listen to it. It is perfection.
Wolff Hans
The Master still out there ))..music and poetry together.. that's Mister Knopfler..sending love and Best wishes from 🇩🇪🤞 🍻
B
masterpiece, the atmosphere is fantastic, it's a journey through time in America in the 1800s. I think that's the goal of MK , in continuity and in coherence with the rest of album.
Frank
The entire song is sublime, but that guitar solo is something else.
justdave
MK is an incomparable storyteller and impeccable guitar virtuoso ala Chet Atkins. (-:
A fan since I heard the first Dire Straits album in '78.
Allison Fisher
How to know your parents did something right raising you: you have Mark Knopfler’s songs committed to memory💕
mohamed walid bekhechi
yeah my father has a lot of mark knopfler songs i remember back when i was a kid and we had the polo and the 206,those were the days.
Bimon Solivar
Ah, I see your parents are parents of culture as well :)
mohamed walid bekhechi
@Bimon Solivar thanks bro it is mostly my father ,and sorry for answering late my phone was on repair just got it back right now.