Mark Knopfler quotes

Mark Knopfler is a British musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer, best known as the lead guitarist and frontman of Dire Straits. His distinctive fingerstyle guitar playing and storytelling lyrics have earned him critical acclaim and a devoted global fanbase. He continues to influence generations of musicians through his solo work and collaborations. Here are 41 of his quotes:

What I always try to do is to respond to the song; I've always rebelled against theory.

Mark Knopfler

Now look at them yo-yo's, that's the way you do it You play the guitar on the MTV. That ain't workin', that's the way you do it. Money for nothin' and chicks for free. Now that ain't workin', that's the way you do it Lemme tell ya them guys ain't dumb. Maybe get a blister on your little finger; Maybe get a blister on your thumb.

Mark Knopfler

Through these fields of destruction Baptisms of fire I've witnessed your suffering As the battles raged higher And though they hurt me so bad In the fear and alarm You did not desert me My brothers in arms.

Mark Knopfler

I'm tired of being in love and being all alone When you're so far away from me. I'm tired of making out on the telephone Because you're so far away from me.

Mark Knopfler

And Harry doesn't mind if he doesn't make the scene He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright. He can play the honky tonk like anything, Saving it up for Friday night. With the Sultans... with the Sultans of Swing.

Mark Knopfler

Sometimes you're the windshield; sometimes you're the bug.

Mark Knopfler

I don't like definitions, but if there is a definition of freedom, it would be when you have control over your reality to transform it, to change it, rather than having it imposed upon you. You can't really ask for more than.

Mark Knopfler

My idea of heaven is a place where the Tyne meets the Delta, where folk music meets the blues.

Mark Knopfler

Getting crazy on the Waltzers, but it's the life that I choose. Sing about the sixblade, sing about the switchback and a torture tattoo. And I been riding on a ghost train where the cars they scream and slam, And I don't know where I'll be tonight but I'd always tell you where I am.

Mark Knopfler

A love struck Romeo, sings a street-suss serenade; Laying everybody low, with a love song that he made. Finds a convenient street light, steps out of the shade 'N' says something like, "You and me babe, how about it?"

Mark Knopfler

Here comes Johnny singing oldies, goldies Be-Bop-A-Lula, Baby What I Say Here comes Johnny singing I Gotta Woman Down in the tunnels, trying to make it pay. He got the action, he got the motion Oh yeah the boy can play. Dedication, devotion Turning all the night time into the day.

Mark Knopfler

Two men say they're Jesus, one of them must be wrong.

Mark Knopfler

Why worry? There should be laughter after pain. There should be sunshine after rain. These things have always been the same. So why worry now?

Mark Knopfler

Last time I was sober, man I felt bad Worst hangover that I ever had. It took six hamburgers and scotch all night Nicotine for breakfast just to put me right. 'Cause if you wanna run cool, If you wanna run cool, If you wanna run cool, you got to run On heavy, heavy fuel.

Mark Knopfler

I even played bass for a while. Besides playing electric guitar, I'd also get asked to play some acoustic stuff. But, since I didn't have an acoustic guitar at the time, I used to borrow one from a friend so I could play folk joints.

Mark Knopfler

After a while, though, the group just wasn't a good vehicle for the songs I'd written.

Mark Knopfler

I actually spend as much time listening to new music as to old. Probably more. I just try to get something out of it all.

Mark Knopfler

You say I'm the greatest, bound for glory. Well the word is out and I learned. I got the latest side of the story: You're pulling out before you get burned.

Mark Knopfler

The caretaker was crucified for sleeping at his post They're refusing to be pacified, it's him they blame the most. The watchdog's got rabies, the foreman's got the fleas. And everyone's concerned about Industrial Disease. There's panic on the switchboard, tongues are tied in knots. Some come out in sympathy, some come out in spots. Some blame the management, some blame the employees. And everybody knows it's the Industrial Disease.

Mark Knopfler

There's so many different worlds, so many different suns. And we have just one world, but we live in different ones.

Mark Knopfler

I shoulda learned to play the guitar.

Mark Knopfler

While I was into many different types of music, and played with many different local groups, I really didn't have a band to call my own until Dire Straits was formed in 1977.

Mark Knopfler