Music

On Every Street Dire Straits Album Cover

On Every Street

Album Credits

Mark Knopfler: guitar, vocals
John Illsley: bass
Alan Clark: keyboards, strings
Guy Fletcher: keyboards, vocals

All songs by Mark Knopfler
Produced by Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits
Engineered by Bill Schnee and Chuck Ainlay
Assistant Engineers, Steve Orchard, Andy Strange and Jack Puig
Mixed by Neil Dorfsman, except 'Heavy Fuel' mixed by Bob Clearmountain
Mastered by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, New York
Recorded at Air Studios, London
Sleeve photograph by Paul Williams
Design by Sutton Cooper and Paul Cummins
Strings conducted by Alan Clark and George Martin

We would like to thank the following for their invaluable contributions:

Danny Cummings
Paul Franklin
Vince Gill
Manu Katché
Phil Palmer
Jeff Porcaro
Chris White

Released: Vertigo/Warner Bros. (1991)

On Every Street

  • 1. Calling Elvis
    calling elvis – is anybody home
    calling elvis – I’m here all alone
    did he leave the building
    or can he come to the phone
    calling elvis – I’m here all alone

    well tell him I was calling just to wish him well
    let me leave my number – heartbreak hotel
    oh love me tender – baby don’t be cruel
    return to sender – treat me like a fool

    calling elvis – is anybody home
    calling elvis – I’m here all alone
    did he leave the building
    can he come to the phone
    calling elvis – I’m here all alone

    why don’t you go get him – I’m his biggest fan
    you gotta tell him – he’s still the man
    long distance baby – so far from home
    don’t you think maybe you could put him on

    well tell him I was calling just to wish him well
    let me leave my number – heartbreak hotel
    oh love me tender – baby don’t be cruel
    return to sender – treat me like a fool

    calling elvis – is anybody home
    calling elvis – I’m here all alone
    did he leave the building
    can he come to the phone
    calling elvis – I’m here all alone
  • 2. On Every Street
    there’s gotta be a record of you someplace
    you gotta be on somebody’s books
    the lowdown – a picture of your face
    your injured looks
    the sacred and profane
    the pleasure and the pain
    somewhere your fingerprints remain concrete
    and it’s your face I’m looking for on every street

    a ladykiller – regulation tattoo
    silver spurs on his heels
    says – what can I tell you, as I’m standing next to you
    she threw herself under my wheels
    oh it’s a dangerous road
    and a hazardous load
    and the fireworks over liberty explode in the heat
    and it’s your face I’m looking for on every street

    a three-chord symphony crashes into space
    the moon is hanging upside down
    I don’t know why it is I’m still on the case
    it’s a ravenous town
    and you still refuse to be traced
    seems to me such a waste
    and every victory has a taste that’s bittersweet
    and it’s your face I’m looking for on every street
  • 3. When It Comes To You
    if we can’t get along we oughtta be apart
    and I’m wondering where’d you get that cold, cold heart
    set me free – sign my release
    I’m tired of being the villain of the piece

    you been givin’ me a bad time
    tell me what’d I do
    how come I always get a hard time
    honey when it comes to you
    sayin’ things that you didn’t have to
    how come I always get a hard time
    honey when it comes to you

    you only get one life – this I know
    I wanna get my licks in now before I go
    the fire of love is dead and cold
    I gotta satisfy the hunger in my soul

    and you been givin’ me a bad time
    tell me what’d I do
    how come I always get a hard time
    honey when it comes to you
    sayin’ things that you didn’t have to
    how come I always get a hard time
    honey when it comes to you
  • 4. Fade To Black
    I wonder where you are tonight
    you’re probably on the rampage somewhere
    you have been known to take delight
    in gettin’ in somebody’s hair
    and you always had the knack
    fade to black

    I bet you already made a pass
    I see a darkened room somewhere
    you run your finger round the rim of his glass
    you run your fingers through his hair
    they scratch across his back
    fade to black

    well maybe it’s all for the best
    but I wish I’d never been lassooed
    maybe it’s some kind of test
    but I wish I’d never been tattooed
    or been to hell and back
    fade to black
  • 5. The Bug
    well it’s a strange old game – you learn it slow
    one step forward and it’s back to go
    you’re standing on the throttle
    you’re standing on the brakes
    in the groove ’til you make a mistake

    sometimes you’re the windshield
    sometimes you’re the bug
    sometimes it all comes together baby
    sometimes you’re a fool in love
    sometimes you’re the louisville slugger
    sometimes you’re the ball
    sometimes it all comes together baby
    sometimes you’re going to lose it all

    you gotta know happy – you gotta know glad
    because you’re gonna know lonely
    and you’re gonna know bad
    when you’re rippin’ and a ridin’
    and you’re coming on strong
    you start slippin’ and a slidin’
    and it all goes wrong, because

    sometimes you’re the windshield
    sometimes you’re the bug
    sometimes it all comes together baby
    sometimes you’re a fool in love
    sometimes you’re the louisville slugger
    sometimes you’re the ball
    sometimes it all comes together baby
    sometimes you’re going to lose it all

    one day you got the glory
    then you got none
    one day you’re a diamond
    and then you’re a stone

    everything can change
    in the blink of an eye
    so let the good times roll
    before we say goodbye, because

    sometimes you’re the windshield
    sometimes you’re the bug
    sometimes it all comes together baby
    sometimes you’re a fool in love
    sometimes you’re the louisville slugger
    sometimes you’re the ball
    sometimes it all comes together baby
    sometimes you’re going to lose it all
  • 6. You And Your Friend
    will you and your friend come around
    are you and your friend gonna get on down
    will you and your friend come around
    or are you and your friend gonna let me down

    if you talk to one another
    I’m a hungry man
    let me know one way or the other
    so I can make my plans

    will you and your friend come around
    are you and your friend gonna get on down
    will you and your friend come around
    or are you and your friend gonna let me down

    I relive the situation
    still see it in my mind
    you got my imagination
    working overtime
  • 7. Heavy Fuel
    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
    ‘cos if you wanna run cool
    if you wanna run cool
    if you wanna run cool, you got to run
    on heavy, heavy fuel

    my life makes perfect sense
    lust and food and violence
    sex and money are my major kicks
    get me in a fight I like dirty tricks
    ‘cos if you wanna run cool
    yes if you wanna run cool, you got to run
    on heavy, heavy fuel

    my chick loves a man who’s strong
    the things she’ll do to turn me on
    I love the babes, don’t get me wrong
    hey, that’s why I wrote this song

    I don’t care if my liver is hanging by a thread
    don’t care if my doctor says I ought to be dead
    when my ugly big car won’t climb this hill
    I’ll write a suicide note on a hundred dollar bill
    ‘cos if you wanna run cool
    if you wanna run cool
    yes if you wanna run cool, you got to run
    on heavy, heavy fuel
  • 8. Iron Hand
    with all the clarity of dream
    the sky so blue, the grass so green
    the rank and file and the navy blue
    the deep and strong, the straight and true

    the blue line they got the given sign
    the belts and boots march forward in time
    the wood and leather the club and shield
    swept like a wave across the battlefield

    now with all the clarity of dream
    the blood so red, the grass so green
    the gleam of spur on chestnut flank
    the cavalry did burst upon the ranks

    oh the iron will and the iron hand
    in england’s green and pleasant land
    no music for the shameful scene
    that night they said it had even shocked the queen

    well alas we’ve seen it all before
    knights in armour, days of yore
    the same old fears and the same old crimes
    we haven’t changed since ancient times
  • 9. Ticket To Heaven
    I can see what you’re looking to find
    in the smile on my face
    in my peace of mind
    in my state of grace
    I send what I can
    to the man from the ministry
    he’s a part of heaven’s plan
    and he talks to me

    now I send what I can to the man
    with the diamond ring
    he’s a part of heaven’s plan
    and he sure can sing

    now it’s all I can afford
    but the lord has sent me eternity
    it’s to save the little children
    in a poor country

    I got my ticket to heaven
    and everlasting life
    I got a ride all the way to paradise
    I got my ticket to heaven
    and everlasting life
    all the way to paradise

    now there’s nothing left for luxuries
    nothing left to pay my heating bill
    but the good lord will provide
    I know he will
    so send what you can
    to the man with the diamond ring
    they’re tuning in across the land
    to hear him sing

    I got my ticket to heaven
    and everlasting life
    got a ride all the way to paradise
    I got my ticket to heaven
    and everlasting life
    all the way to paradise
  • 10. My Parties
    well this is my back yard – my back gate
    I hate to start my parties late
    here’s the party cart – ain’t that great?
    that ain’t the best part baby – just wait

    that's a genuine weathervane – it moves with the breeze
    portable hammock honey – who needs trees
    it’s casual entertaining – we aim to please
    at my parties

    check out the shingles – it’s brand new
    excuse me while I mingle – hi, how are you
    hey everybody – let me give you a toast
    this one’s for me – the host with the most

    it’s getting a trifle colder – step inside my home
    that’s a brass toilet tissue holder with its own telephone
    that’s a musical doorbell – it don’t ring, I ain’t kiddin’
    it plays america the beautiful and tie a yellow ribbon

    boy, this punch is a trip – it’s o.k. in my book
    here, take a sip – maybe a little heavy on the fruit
    ah, here comes the dip – you may kiss the cook
    let me show you honey – it’s easy – look
    you take a fork and spike ’em – say, did you try these?
    so glad you like ’em – the secret’s in the cheese
    it’s casual entertaining – we aim to please
    at my parties

    now don’t talk to me about the polar bear
    don’t talk to me about the ozone layer
    ain’t so much of anything these days, even the air
    they’re running out of rhinos – what do I care
    let’s hear it for the dolphin – let’s hear it for the trees
    ain’t runnin' out of nothin’ in my deep freeze
    it’s casual entertaining – we aim to please
    at my parties
  • 11. Planet Of New Orleans
    standin’ on the corner
    of toulouse and dauphine
    waitin’ on marie-ondine
    I’m tryin’ to place a tune
    under a louisiana moonbeam
    on the planet of new orleans

    in a bar they call the saturn
    and in her eyes of green
    and somethin’ that she said in a dream
    inside of my suit I got my mojo root
    and a true love figurine
    for the planet of new orleans

    new orleans – the other planet
    with other life upon it
    and everythin’ that’s shakin’ in between
    if you should ever land upon it
    you better know what’s on it
    the planet of new orleans

    now I’m tryin’ to find my way
    through the rain and the steam
    I’m lookin’ straight ahead through the screen
    and then I heard her say
    somethin’ in the limousine
    ’bout takin' a ride across the planet of new orleans

    if she was an ace
    and I was just a jack
    and the cards were never seen
    we could have been the king and the queen
    but she took me back to her courtyard
    where magnolia perfume screams
    behind the gates and the granite
    of the planet of new orleans
  • 12. How Long
    how long, how long baby
    how long has it been
    how long you gonna keep me wondering
    how long before you see
    stallin’ me was wrong – how long

    how long, how long you gonna keep
    slappin’ my hands away
    how long you gonna keep my love at bay
    how long before you’re sure
    my love is strong – how long

    how long, how long you gonna keep
    tellin’ me you like me fine
    how long until I’m gonna make you mine
    how long before you wake up
    and find your good man gone – how long