Dire Straits – The Mans Too Strong (Wembley Arena)
Dire Straits plays “The Mans Too Strong” at Wembley Arena. From the Brothers in Arms tour.
Custom Search
Blog Tools
Dire Straits plays “The Mans Too Strong” at Wembley Arena. From the Brothers in Arms tour.
agree totally!!!
Mark has written the song, so maybe him. But I think it is not personnal
Were any of these guys in the army?
One of the best guitarists that I have ever known! Mark Knoppfler rules!
Somebody, maybe Eastwood, needs to do a series of movies based of some of Knopfler’s songs. Truly amazing stuff. Wish I had that ability to produce such lyrics.
The clashing guitars signify the attempt by the confessor to rid his thoughts of the guilt and remorse from killing “The Man” I can see him clutching his temple, teeth gritted, rocking forward and back, and shaking his head, so he could forget. He killed “The Man” but he is still haunted by his laughter and his song. He’s too big, he’s too strong. Even in death. Even stronger in death.
Now he faces justice, and lashes out verbally at a former comrade who commands the firing squad.
Mark Knopfler is a genius lyricist. My interpretation: It’s the confessions of a killer who’s haunted, particularly by one killing, that of “The Man”. The Man was a leader of a non-violent movement, with the serene presence of Gandhi, or Mandela, who sang his haunting songs in captivity. When the confessor came to execute him, he just looked at him without fear, and laughed serenely, with the knowledge that his death will inspire, and eventually overthrow the regime of the confessor.
great song from a great man.MK and DS rule!
Jesus Christ is a Stronger Man the “son of perdition” (2Thessalonians/Isaiah 14). Went out like a Lamb…coming back like a Lion! Amen. Run chicken little RUN!
Fab song about the social wars of the 70s and 80s and social injustices of the times the poor and the weak have been and still are fighting the man
funny. all that stuff stacked on a song that needs nothing but a guitar and a singer. still sounded great, though. thanks for posting!
Sounds a bit like Bob Dylan?
We really do need a BluRay release of this concert. Live in 85!
How many guitarists and composers can even begin to reach the level at which Mark plays his guitar, writes his lyrics, and does it ALL making it as easy as hell??!! That’s the unmistakable sign of the true “greats” or “geniuses” in any (creative or other) field. They make the most amazing abilities seem like they’re not even difficult or hard at all. How could 11 people has really listened to the guitar playing and lyrics of this song and come away not just amazed, but disappointed or ?
Do you remember Tariq Aziz? He was the “mouthpiece” of Saddam Hussein who was eventually imprisoned. This song makes me think of him – a guy who went along with whatever Saddam said, no matter how brutal. Whether he did it for power, or out of fear of crossing Saddam, this song is about how a man like Aziz finds a last bit of conscience at the end and regrets his part in helping a cruel man maintain power.
Yeah I have to agree.:-)
whats the song about ??? I am not sure its about wars though….
I would NEVER have thought of this topic, war crimes, as the subject of a song, but Mark pulls it off…. Much appreciated….
I think that Mark Knopfler was a drummer in a past life…
Hiya,
Welcome mate. Always happy to share my geeky knowledge of Knopfler and co with anyone.
Hi, thank you for telling me. Now thinking hard I seem to vaguely recall that I once saw him play a song with a pick, in one of the more recent videos, I think, I just don’t remember which. Apparently I haven’t done too much digging with “So Far Away”, not as much as I have done with Sutans of Swing, Telegraph Road and Tunnel of Love. The live versions of SOA I know (and love immensely) are all from Dire Straits’ BiA tour. I’ll do some more digging later today. Thanks again.:)
He hasn’t played Expresson Love in years……….
The song he uses a pick on every time is So Far Away.
But Guy Fletcher says that he uses one semi-regularly on different songs as and when they call for it
Hey, I guess “Expresso Love” is the song you talk about? It is the only song (well, except this live version of The Mans too strong) that I’ve ever seen him play with a pick. Imagine my shock the first time I saw it (from Alchemy live), lol.
He regularly uses a pick,
There’s a song that he plays on every tour that he plays with a pick
first and list time you will see Mark Knopfler using a pick