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.
Speedway At Nazareth
Mark Knopfler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To be the new champions we were there for to run
From springtime in Arizona 'til the fall in Monterey
And the raceways were the battlefields and we fought 'em all the way
Was at Phoenix in the morning I had a wake-up call
She went around without a warning put me in the wall
I drove Long Beach, California with three cracked vertebrae
Well the Brickyard's there to crucify anyone who will not learn
I climbed a mountain to qualify I went flat through the turns
But I was down in the might-have-beens and an old pal good as died
And I sat down in Gasoline Alley and I cried
Well we were in at the kill again on the Milwaukee Mile
And in June up in Michigan we were robbed at Belle Isle
Then it was on to Portland, Oregon for the G.I. Joe
And I'd blown off almost everyone when my motor let go
New England, Ontario we died in the dirt
Those walls from mid-Ohio to Toronto they hurt
So we came to Road America where we burned up at the lake
But at the speedway at Nazareth I made no mistake
In Mark Knopfler's song Speedway at Nazareth, the lyrics are a reflection on the ups and downs of a racing driver's career. The first verse reflects on how each year presents a new challenge for the driver, and how they have to fight hard to make it to the top. The choruses describe how every race is like a battle, and the driver shows up at every racetrack ready to fight.
The second verse tells a story of a specific race that the driver almost didn't make it to because of a crash at a previous race. The driver powered through the pain and managed to compete in the Indianapolis race. Unfortunately, a friend of the driver's was injured, and the driver seeks solace in Gasoline Alley, a place where racing teams prepare for races.
The third verse describes a string of races where the driver faced many challenges, including being robbed and having their motor fail. Despite this, they maintain their passion for racing and keep pushing forward. The final lines of the song focus on a race at Nazareth where the driver finally achieves victory.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the highs and lows of a racing career, filled with triumphs and tragedies.
Line by Line Meaning
After two thousand came two thousand and one
The events of 2001 followed those of 2000.
To be the new champions we were there for to run
We aimed to win so we entered the races.
From springtime in Arizona 'til the fall in Monterey
We participated in races across America from spring to autumn.
And the raceways were the battlefields and we fought 'em all the way
The race tracks were like battlefields, and we battled through all the races.
Was at Phoenix in the morning I had a wake-up call
At Phoenix, I had a rude awakening in the morning.
She went around without a warning put me in the wall
She unexpectedly took a turn, and I crashed into the wall.
I drove Long Beach, California with three cracked vertebrae
Despite having three cracked vertebrae, I still drove at Long Beach, California.
And we went on to Indianapolis, Indiana in May
We then raced at Indianapolis in May.
Well the Brickyard's there to crucify anyone who will not learn
The Brickyard is unforgiving to those who don't learn from their mistakes.
I climbed a mountain to qualify I went flat through the turns
I pushed myself and raced hard to qualify for the race, taking the turns very quickly.
But I was down in the might-have-beens and an old pal good as died
I was down on my luck and my old friend almost died.
And I sat down in Gasoline Alley and I cried
I was so upset that I sat in Gasoline Alley and cried.
Well we were in at the kill again on the Milwaukee Mile
We were once again in the running to win on the Milwaukee Mile circuit.
And in June up in Michigan we were robbed at Belle Isle
In June, we unfairly lost at Belle Isle, Michigan.
Then it was on to Portland, Oregon for the G.I. Joe
We then raced at Portland, Oregon, for the G.I. Joe race.
And I'd blown off almost everyone when my motor let go
I had nearly beaten everyone when my car engine suddenly failed.
New England, Ontario we died in the dirt
We didn't do well on the New England and Ontario circuits.
Those walls from mid-Ohio to Toronto they hurt
The walls on the mid-Ohio to Toronto circuits were painful to hit.
So we came to Road America where we burned up at the lake
We came to Road America and were doing well until we crashed at the lake.
But at the speedway at Nazareth I made no mistake
At the speedway at Nazareth, I drove perfectly and made no mistakes.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARK KNOPFLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@OktoberFilms
Mark Knopfler may be the most famous person I’ve shaken hands with. Today is his 72nd birthday and I just read he’s working on a new album. Can’t wait!
Speedway at Nazareth starts out like a gentle country tune but transforms into a blizzard of musical genius. I remember seeing it live before hearing the album it’s from. It was cool, but when the second part kicks in, I was blown away.
That time I met him. I was invited backstage as I’d worked with Guy Fletcher. He showed us into a cantina, offered us beer and we sat down talking. Mark came in, Guy told him I was the one that had done that film they’d been talking about. “Oh, great! Hi, I’m Mark,” he said. As if I didn’t know. As if anyone wouldn’t know. He was calm, composed, friendly and had an aura of greatness. But then, this is the man behind Dire Straits. Don’t know if great people have this aura or if they develop it. Whatever it is, he has it.
Mark was then on his merry way, but we were joined by the drummer, Danny Cummings. A fantastic fun, he was. Totally love him.
All in all, a down to earth band, great people and mind blowing musicians.
@Drivehead103
Is it possible to die from too many Goosebumps because I have them constantly from the beginning to the ending of this song!
@bellyofanarchitect
I feel the same.
@77Badger
I just love this. It builds in a fantastic way.
@patrickweaver2876
I was the one who turned off the stop and go lights for the tunnel into Nazareth Speedway for the last time after there final Indy race. When. I listen to this song I swear I can smell the rubber from the race cars!!
@chafikamriou7341
The harmony of MK's guitar solo and the other musicians is a kind of magic...it's addictive.
@dougmisantoni4384
Gotta have more....give me more....Habit forming stuff, for sure...Long Live MK.....
@Rain-Dirt
That is what a lifetime of practise and growth with talent, willpower and passion sounds like. It's a most precious thing.
@jennywren7822
Well here we go again, Mr Knopfler is a genius, those who say he isn't and there's not many if any, must be deaf, this is beyond magnificent.
Respect and admiration to you Mark, and long may you reign ❤️
@daveellis1756
Danny Cummings on drums is absolutely insane on this track. Could listen to this 24/7 Awesome piece of music.
@lounestahanouti7912
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