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.
Seattle
Mark Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But we're not watching it, we're hardly focussing
Through the windows in the fading day
1st Avenue is turning grey
Do you ever look at me and see another man
Let's get two more beers and try to make a plan
Sometimes it feels as though I have a key
But every time I try it it won't turn for me
And we both love rain
We both love rain
We watched the city skyline from the ferry deck
And you put your arms around my neck
We talked of looking just out of town
Now it's looking like a dream shot down
I still believe that there's somewhere for us
But now it's something that we don't discuss
And you're the best thing I ever knew
Stay with me, baby, and we'll make it to
We'll make it to
Seattle - you've got to love the rain
And we both love rain
We both love rain
Seattle - I want you just the same
And we both love rain
We both love rain
The song "Seattle" by Mark Knopfler is a beautifully poignant ballad that explores the theme of a relationship in flux. The opening stanza sets the scene in a bar where the TVs are showing a game that the singer and their partner are not really watching. Instead, they are lost in thought as they gaze out of the window and observe the grey, drizzly weather on 1st Avenue. The lyrics "Do you ever look at me and see another man" suggest a feeling of disconnect between the couple, and the singer hopes that another round of beers might help them "make a plan" to reconnect.
The second stanza takes the listener on a ferry ride where the couple watches the beautiful Seattle skyline pass them by. The singer reflects on their dreams of moving out of town but concedes that this fantasy has been "shot down". Despite this, the singer still believes that they have a chance of finding happiness in a place where they can both love the rain. The lyrics "you're the best thing I ever knew. Stay with me, baby, and we'll make it to" expresses a deep vulnerability and longing for their partner.
Overall, "Seattle" is a beautifully written song that explores the complexities of relationships and the power of hope. The contrasting imagery of the drizzly weather against the stunning Seattle skyline creates a sense of dichotomy and mirrors the flux of the couple's relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Above the bar the TVs are showing the game
Televisions are located on the top of the bar showing a sport event, which is not attracting our attention.
But we're not watching it, we're hardly focussing
We are not paying attention or focusing on the game, our minds are elsewhere.
Through the windows in the fading day
During the end of daylight hours, we can view through the windows.
1st Avenue is turning grey
The First Avenue street is becoming dull and dim.
Do you ever look at me and see another man
Sometimes I question whether you really know me or if you see someone else in your mind when you look at me.
Let's get two more beers and try to make a plan
To make a plan, we should drink two more beers together.
Sometimes it feels as though I have a key
Occasionally, it seems as if I know how to achieve our goal.
But every time I try it it won't turn for me
However, every time I try to accomplish our goal, it becomes unsuccessful.
Seattle - you've got to love the rain
Seattle is a city where you are required to love rain because of how frequent it is.
And we both love rain
But we both actually enjoy the rain.
We watched the city skyline from the ferry deck
From the ferry deck, we viewed the skyline of the city.
And you put your arms around my neck
You put your hands around my neck in a loving gesture.
We talked of looking just out of town
We conversed about venturing somewhere just beyond the city.
Now it's looking like a dream shot down
However, it appears as if that idea has been crushed and is no longer possible.
I still believe that there's somewhere for us
Nevertheless, I still have faith that we will find a suitable place for ourselves.
But now it's something that we don't discuss
Currently, we do not talk about it anymore.
And you're the best thing I ever knew
You are the best thing that ever happened to me.
Stay with me, baby, and we'll make it to
If you stay with me, we will find our destination eventually.
Seattle - I want you just the same
Seattle, I still desire you equally as before.
And we both love rain
And as always, we both enjoy rain.
We both love rain
It's true, we genuinely love the rain.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@khan.tanvir
❝
Above the bar the TVs are showing the game
But we're not watching it, we're hardly focussing
Through the windows in the fading day
1st Avenue is turning grey
Do you ever look at me and see another man
Let's get two more beers and try to make a plan
Sometimes it feels as though I have a key
But every time I try it it won't turn for me
Seattle - you've got to love the rain
And we both love rain
We both love rain
We watched the city skyline from the ferry deck
And you put your arms around my neck
We talked of looking just out of town
Now it's looking like a dream shot down
I still believe that there's somewhere for us
But now it's something that we don't discuss
And you're the best thing I ever knew
Stay with me, baby, and we'll make it to
We'll make it to
Seattle - you've got to love the rain
And we both love rain
We both love rain
Seattle - I want you just the same
And we both love rain
We both love rain
❞
@AbrahamSayson
staying A live ❤ thank you Mark N . beep beep ❤❤❤🎉
@ulisollweck5144
Never get tired of this beautiful song.
@irabakhtiary1596
We all love you man.
@spomenkazlokolica3061
Yes that's right!!💕🎸💕🎤💕👍
@Dustinchile
Desde CHILE..!! 65 Años y Mark me RELAJA y llena el ALMA con Optimismo.. con esas CELESTIALES Notas con SU FIRMA ETERNA..!! Cuidate MARK.. SIEMPRE esperando tus DIAMANTES Musicales.. BENDICIONES
@rousyfan19
Yes, we do!
@biankefouche2648
wow, I am in love with this song!
@AnziNordi-gs5zq
Der absolut gefühlvollste Song, den ich kenne, und mit der beste Song auf dem Album "PRIVATEERING", klasse Mark K. Weiter so !!! 😊😊😊
@whollybraille7043
Imagine this: Romeo and Juliette, from that song so long ago, stuck it out. Now they've left NYC and hope to resettle in Seattle. But will it work? Can they make it work, after all these years ? Somewhere... there's a place for us. Maybe it's here. We both love rain.
@karstenbonig9058
Since October 2012 my days start with that song !!!!!