His is in big trouble: Mark Knopfler is involved in a big trouble with the……

His is in big trouble: Mark Knopfler is involved in a big trouble with the……

Saturday Conversation: “I’m A Songwriter First” by Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler has rightfully been regarded as a guitar icon ever since he first appeared on the scene in 1977 as the lead singer of the renowned British band Dire Straits. Knopfler made a name for himself as one of the greatest guitarists in history with their first hit, the top ten song “Sultans Of Swing.” Rolling Stone ranked him as the twenty-seventh best guitarist in history because of his exceptional skill.

He is very clear that he views himself as a songwriter first, though, when discussing his stunning new collection, the elegant and thought-provoking One Deep River, with Knopfler. Being a songwriter is not the same as being a musician, as he states.

In fact, Knopfler regretfully states that he thinks his touring days are over when asked about the prospect of doing a tour in support of this album. For Knopfler, it means having more time to devote to his writing, even though it may be heartbreaking for his fans.

I talked to him about a number of things, including the new album, his friendship and admiration for Bonnie Raitt, his favorite Beatles song, and the moment he realized I was a songwriter first and a musician second.

Steve Baltin: How’s today going in London?

Mark Knopfler: London is always a good place.

Baltin: Was there a particular song that gave the idea for this album a major boost?

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Knopfler: The movie “One Deep River” gave me the impression that it was going places. Thus, I believe that “One Deep River” turned out fairly well and that the foundation for a large portion of the record was laid by me. It can also be applicable; I won’t say it only applies to one person or that it’s not a message for anyone in particular. It can take on any form that you desire.

It’s not even about anything or anybody in particular, in my opinion.
Baltin: In his book Faith, Hope & Carnage, Nick Cave describes how he will be performing live a year after writing a song and realizing its meaning. Have you ever encountered that?
Knopfler: “Oh sure,” he said, laughing. You believe yourself to be extremely intelligent. What exactly is the topic of our conversation here? I’m always prepared for that situation and willing to admit that there are things happening in our lives that we may not need to address right away. Do you not think it’s great that we don’t know?

Baltin: Yes, I do concur. Do you have any songs that, when you listen to them again after a while, you hear a different way or have new insights into?

Knopfler; Oh yeah, probably. I don’t pretend to have all the answers at all myself. I’m just the guy who wrote it. I think it’s added to the wonderment, being the songwriter because I think I came to that reasonably late. First of all, you start to think of yourself as a guitar player of sorts, and then the songwriter. I just came to all these things gradually. I didn’t go around telling all these people, “I’m a songwriter!” I’ve come to realize the songwriter is different from a musician and that’s fine. I’m just a guy who gets stuck with that, I’ll take it. I’m the songwriter and all I’m trying to do is write a good song hopefully. That’s all I want to do and hopefully it’ll come off and you’ll be able to make a good record of it. That’s all I want to do. It’s pretty simple really. The process, by the way, is wonderful. The band is wonderful, it’s the high point. Songwriting is totally solitary, for me. So, it’s a wonderful time when everybody is in the room. Of course, this time we had Greg Leeds along and it was lovely having Greg. It was as if he had been with us for many years. We all talked about that, including Greg. We had a lovely time with Greg. That was a blessed little time and it’s not a long time you have with the band. Thankfully the band being as good as they are, they caught on pretty quickly and I don’t have to work very hard. It’s like a director being given a stellar cast of characters to

Baltin: Are there aspects of touring you will miss?

Knopfler: It did get harder, but I love touring. Don’t get me wrong. If you’re playing in ancient Rome in the ruins and you see one of those stadiums full of people on their feet going bananas, it’s a wonderful thing. The tour is full of memories like that for me. It was a great way to end. Actually, we ended at Madison Square Garden with Bonnie Raitt opening for us and it was a lovely way to finish.

make a film with. They’re just there to make everything better, make everything live, make the words on the page really live. It’s not a very different thing. Also, they don’t need much direction. I certainly never feel as if I have to tell people in this band what to do. That’s part of the joy of it as well.

Baltin: Will you be touring with this band?

Knopfler: No, I don’t think I will. I think I’ve come to the end of that particular road. What that means is I’ll be looking forward to having more time to write. Because I’ve always tried to write on the road and to write late nights in hotel rooms and I’m looking forward to being able to spend a bit more time at home. That’s been a little more kind to the people around me. Physically, touring wasn’t gett

Baltin: Tough to beat that. It’s one of the most famous venues in the world and Bonnie is an amazing person. Adore her.

ing any easier. So, I have to say, I think I’ll be better off and making better work by staying home a bit more.

Knopfler: Me too. I’ve known her for years, from the very first time we came to the States Bonnie and I were linked up. So, yes, we go back a fair way and it was delightful to be able to finish the tour there. She always makes me laugh. She said, “Your band sounds so great, you made us sound like we were doing the music for wrestling.” I said, “What on earth are you talki

Baltin: That is a fairy-tale ending. No way could you have imagined when you’re starting out with Dire Straits in 1977 that you would end your touring career that way almost 50 years later.

Knopfler; Yeah, exactly that (laughs). But of course, you never think you’re any better than anybody else so when you say opening up, music is not a question of that. But it was lovely to be in the same building as Bonnie.

Baltin: Going back to something you said earlier, at what point did you realize you were the songwriter?

ng about, girl?” (Laughs) She’s just fantastic. I’ve always loved Bonnie. Of course, I loved Bonnie for years before we were even known about. She was on my turntable for a long time before the band was even heard of.

Knopfler: It became a gradual thing. I suppose obviously I was influenced by the greats, Bob Dylan and Randy Newman, people like that. I went in the right direction, I think, because of that. I suppose when I realized if I wasn’t playing a guitar, it wouldn’t bother me. The whole thing of practicing an instrument, the guys in the band would get their identity from their instruments and their relationship with their instruments. I, pretty soon, was thinking in terms of songs. I was thinking in terms of where I was with the songs. So, when I was working with Bob Dylan, for instance, or people like that, I’d see them with their songs, their relationship with their songs, and I’d realize I was the same. That if I was working on a song it wouldn’t be so much to do with my instrument. Now it’s happened even more. I don’t know if it’s whether it’s because of the pandemic or what, but not having quite the same relationship. I do have a lovely relationship with the guitar. It’s a very personal thing, and it’s an intimate thing. But, to me, where I am with the songs is more interesting. The guitar just goes on forever and there are people who play fantastically well. That’s wonderful, but my thing is, if anything, with the guitar it’s become more simple. And my relationship with song has become more complex in the sense that through simplicity, I see more value in “You are My Sunshine” as a song. I see more value in that kind of simplicity as a writer.

Baltin: From a writing standpoint I am a huge Raymond Carver fan.

Baltin: He was the master of simplicity. From a songwriting standpoint, I think John Lennon was like that. I always say you look at a song like “In My Life” and it feels like something anyone could write, but only John Lennon did.

Knopfler: That is one of my favorite Beatles songs. I think I played it before as my favorite. Exactly, the overwhelming simplicity of it. As you say, “If it’s so easy, you write it.”

Baltin: Are there songs on One Deep River that you go back to and are pleased with that simplicity?