All The Roadrunning

1. Beachcombing

They say there’s wreckage washing up
All along the coast
No-one seems to know too much
Or who got hit the most
Nothing has been spoken
There’s not a lot to see
But something has been broken
That’s how it feels to me

We had a harmony I never meant to spoil
Now it’s lying in the water
Like a slick of oil
The tide is running out to sea
Under a darkening sky
The night is falling down on me
And I’m thinking that I should
Head on home

Been gone too long
Leave my roaming
Beachcombing

Little wild kitten out hunting
To see what he can get
You’re in a big city now
That won’t stop growing yet
The sun is going down smoking
A flaming testament
Something has been broken
And it feels permanent

Little seabird flying
He knows where he wants to go
Guess I ought to pack my stuff
And do the thing I know
I turn around and head on back
Along the old sea wall
I felt something give and crack
And now I’m sorry thats’all

Head on home
Been gone too long
Leave my roaming
Beachcombing

2. I Dug Up A Diamond

I dug up a diamond
Rare and fine
I dug up a diamond
In a deep dark mine
If only I could cling to
My beautiful find
I dug up a diamond
In a deep dark mine

My gem is special
Beyond all worth
As strong as any metal
Or stone in the earth
Sharp as any razor
Or blade you can buy
Bright as any laser
Or any star in the sky

Maybe once in a lifetime
You’ll hold one in your hand
Once in a lifetime
In this land
Where the journey ends
In a worthless claim
Time and again
In the mining game

I dug up a diamond
Rare and fine
I dug up a diamond
In a deep dark mine
Down in the darkness
In the dirt and the grime
I dug up a diamond
In a deep dark mine

3. This Is Us

This is us down at the Mardi Gras
This is us in your daddy’s Car
You and the missing link
Yeah, I’d had a little too much to drink, now

Too long in the sun
Having too much fun
You and me and our memories
This is us

Rocking at the barbecue
Yeah, when we said I do
Hand jiving on the ballroom floor
You in that wedding coat you wore

And you in that amazing dress
I was stoned on love, I guess
You and me we were meant to be
This is us

This is us on our Honeymoon
In our hotel room
Sitting by the wishing well
Checking out of the love motel

Making plans for the sunshine state
Waiting at the terminal gate
You and me making history
This is us

And our baby boy
With our pride and joy
You at the Sunday game
Standing next to what’s his name?

On our anniversary
With the family
You and me and our memories
This is us

4. Red Staggerwing

If I was staggerwing plane
A staggerwing painted red
I’d fly over to your house, baby
Buzz you in your bed
If I was a taperwing
A taperwing painted blue
I’d be barrell-rolling over you
You’re gonna need a rider anyhow
Let me be your rider now

If I was a maserati
A red 300s
I’d ride around to your house, baby
Give you a driving test
If I was a mustang racer
White with a stripe of blue
You could ride me, baby
Whenever you wanted to
You’re gonna need a rider anyhow
Let me be your rider now

If I was a fender guitar
A fender painted red
You could play me, darlin’
Until your fingers bled
If I was one of them Gibsons
Like a ’58 or ‘9
You could plug me in
And play me anytime
You’re gonna need a rider anyhow
Let me be your rider now

If I was a motorcycle
A vincent red rapide
I’d ride around to your house, baby
Get you up to speed
If I was short track racer
I’d be an Indian
You could ride me around
And ride me round again
You’re gonna need a rider anyhow
Let me be your rider now

You’re gonna need a rider anyhow
Let me be your rider now

5. Rollin’ On

Been kickin’ sawdust
In these clothes
For a blue moon
And a red nose
The boys will put ’em up
And tear ’em down
We’ll wash away
The dirt
Just a glass a day
Ain’t gonna hurt
Pretty soon we’ll move on
Out of town
We pass them by

Across the plains
We don’t even try
To catch the names
It’s supper-time and their kids
Are home from school
They draw the shades
On their shops
While we go a’checking
Through the props
And putting on the paint
To play the fool

Then we’re rollin’ on
Rollin’ on
Feeling, better
Than we did last night
Rollin’ on rollin’ on
It’s hard some times
Pretty much it’s alright

I’ll go soft shoe
When it rains
I’ll go shuffle through
The aches and pains
Mr. young at heart
That’s what I try to be
They all laugh
And cry
They get to feeling better
And that is why
If it was good for you
Truly it was good for me

Then we’re rollin’ on
Rollin’ on
Feeling better
Than we did last night
Rollin’ on rollin’ on
It’s hard sometimes
Pretty much it’s alright

6. Love And Happiness

Here’s a wishing well
Here’s a penny for
Any thought it is
That makes you smile
Every diamond dream
Everything that brings
Love and happiness
To your life

Here’s a rabbit’s foot
Take it when you go
So you’ll always know
You’re safe from harm
Wear your ruby shoes
When you’re far away
So you’ll always stay
Home in your heart

You will always have a lucky star
That shines because of what you are
Even in the deepest dark
Because your aim is true
And if I could only have one wish
Darling, then it would be this
Love and happiness for you

Here’s a spinning wheel
Use it once you’ve learned
There’s a way to turn
The straw to gold
Here’s a rosary
Count on every bead
With a prayer to keep
The hope you hold

You will always have a lucky star
That shines because of what you are
Even in the deepest dark
Because your aim is true
And if I could only have one wish
Darling, then it would be this
Love and happiness for you

And if I could only have one wish
Darling, then it would be this
Love and happiness for you

7. Right Now

Miles between us here we are
side by side in a stranded car
Right now, baby right now
And it’s too dark to see
Anyhow so where are we
Right now, baby, right now
You could say we’ve both come down
To a place called lonesome town
When did you lose a hold on me
Anyhow and where are we
Right now, oh baby right now

We stood up and said ‘I do’
Vowed to see each other through
Right now, baby right now
I’m looking down this road tonight
And I don’t see a light
Right now, baby right now
If we’re so clever tell me how
Were waiting for the wrecker now
Let’s forget what used to be
Anyhow and where are we
Right now, oh baby right now

Miles between us here we are
side by side in a stranded car
Right now, baby right now
And it’s too dark to see
Anyhow so where are we
Right now, baby, right now

8. Donkey Town

I’ve been around in Donkey Town
Too long, baby, too long
Checking out of Donkey Town
So long, so long, so long

Her pretty eyes are pretty still
But Jim’s got a kind of a squint, yeah
I dug up my last check from out of the mine
Now I feel like I’ve done my stint

Jim got an army pension
When he walked from the military court
Nobody ever mentioned
The medical report

She does little things for me
She likes to get the both of us high, yeah
She says I’m a tender-hearted man
Prince charming, yeah, sure, I’m the guy

He likes the wrecker’s dogs on chains
And the smoke from the company fires
Diesel oil in the trucks and cranes
And the smell of burning tires

But I’ve been around in Donkey Town
Too long, baby, too long
Checking out of Donkey Town
So long, so long, so long

There’s a purple heart in a silver tin
And a grey .45 in a drawer
Most of the time you can drink with him
But some of the time he’s just sore

On days when she says she can’t think straight
Or she feels like she’s getting the jumps
She’ll go shoot off her .38
At cans on a Donkey Town dump

It was Friday late and she crossed those legs
She told me flat out she would, yeah
If I could pull up my trailer pegs
We could get away together for good

I sure wish her the best of luck
She’s going to need it, thinking of Jim
I don’t like to leave her stuck
But she’s near as bad as him

But I’ve been around in Donkey Town
Too long, baby, too long
Checking out of Donkey Town
So long, so long, so long

Checking out of Donkey Town
So long, so long, so long

9. Belle Starr

My mamma and my daddy
Told me that love is a two-way street
But lately baby, you’ve been finding
New ways of dragging your feet
So come on, make your best shot
You don’t have to take the blame
I’ll be your Belle Starr
You can be my Jesse James

There’s lonely people everywhere
From Abilene to Arkansas
The way they run for cover
You’d think love was against the law
Well I don’t need a pistol, baby
You won’t have to rob a train
You can be my Belle Starr
And I can be your Jesse James

I know you’ve done some hard time
Baby, and you’ve got your doubts
When you feel surrounded
And it’s looking there’s no way out
I’ll come riding to rescue
All you gotta do is call my name
I’ll be your Belle Starr
You can be my Jesse James

It don’t take a genius, baby
There aint no big mystery
You can’t play it safe
And still go down in history
So saddle up the horses
‘Cos we’re headed for the hall of fame
I’ll be your Belle Starr
You can be my Jesse James
I’ll be your Belle Starr
You can be my Jesse James

10. Beyond My Wildest Dreams

I didn’t ask for much
As maybe I ought’ve
But I’m staying in touch
With the one I love
And I can see in the dials
And in these headlights beams
Beyond my wildest
Beyond my wildest dreams
Beyond my wildest dreams
Beyond my wildest dreams
I’ve been with you
I’ve been with you

These are the big payloads
Hammer down on the floor
These are the restless roads
Every one a war
But in the flashing lines
I see a love supreme
Beyond my wildest
Beyond my wildest dreams
Beyond my wildest dreams
Beyond my wildest dreams
I’ve been with you
I’ve been with you

They promised me some good home time
And some layover pay
The agent he’s a friend of mine
Says it’s due my way
I’d drive a thousand miles
Haul a trailer of tears
Just to see you smile
And as the dawn appears
At the edge of the night
There’s still a light that gleams
Beyond my wildest
Beyond my wildest dreams
Beyond my wildest dreams
Beyond my wildest dreams
I’ve been with you
I’ve been with you

11. All The Roadrunning

A million miles our vagabond wheels
Clocked up beneath the clouds
They’re counting down to show time
When we do it for real with the crowds
Air miles are owing but they don’t come for free
And they don’t give you any for pain
But if it’s all for nothing
All the roadrunning has been in vain

The rim shots come down like cannon fire
And thunder off the wall
There’s a man in every corner
And each one is giving his all
But this is my piper and this is my drum
So you never will hear me complain
And if it’s all for nothing
All the roadrunning has been in vain

All the roadrunning
All the roadrunning

Well if you’re inclined to go up on the wall
It can only be fast and high
And those who don’t like the danger soon
Find something different to try
And when there is only a ring in your ears
And en echo down memory lane
Then if it’s all for nothing
All the roadrunning has been in vain

All the roadrunning
All the roadrunning

The show’s packing up, I sit and watch
The carnival leaving town
And there’s no pretending that I’m not a fool
For riding around and around
Like the pictures you keep of your old wall of death
You showed me one time on a plane
But if it’s all for nothing
All the roadrunning has been in vain

I’ve a million miles of vagabond sky
Clocked up above the clouds
I’m still your man for the roaming
For as long as there’s roaming allowed
There’ll be a rider and there’ll be a wall
As long as the dreamer remains
And if it’s all for nothing
All the roadrunning has been in vain

All the roadrunning
All the roadrunning

12. If This Is Goodbye

My famous last words
Are laying around in tatters
Sounding absurd
Whatever I try
But I love you
And that’s all that really matters
If this is goodbye
If this is goodbye

Your bright shining sun
Would light up the way before me
You were the one
Made me feel I could fly
And I love you
Whatever is waiting for me
If this is goodbye
If this is goodbye

Who knows how long we’ve got
Or what were made out of
Who knows if there’s a plan or not
There is our love
I know there is our love

My famous last words
Could never tell the story
Spinning unheard In the dark of the sky
But I love you
And this is our glory
If this is goodbye
If this is goodbye

Mark Knopfler

Music

Album Credits

All The Roadrunning