Music

Sultans of Swing

Sultans Of Swing (The Very Best Of Dire Straits)

Released: Vertigo/Warner Bros. (1998)

Sultans Of Swing (The Very Best Of Dire Straits)

  • 1. Sultans Of Swing
    You get a shiver in the dark
    It’s raining in the park but meantime
    South of the river you stop and you hold everything
    A band is blowing Dixie double four time
    You feel all right when you hear that music ring

    You step inside but you don’t see too many faces
    Coming in out of the rain to hear the jazz go down
    Too much competition too many other places
    But not too many horns can make that sound
    Way on downsouth way on downsouth London town

    You check out Guitar George he knows all the chords
    Mind he’s strictly rhythm he doesn’t want to make it cry or sing
    And an old guitar is all he can afford
    When he gets up under the lights to play his thing

    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 honky tonk just like anything
    Saving it up for Friday night
    With the Sultans with the Sultans of Swing

    And a crowd of young boys they’re fooling around in the corner
    Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
    They don’t give a damn about any trumpet playing band
    It ain’t what they call rock and roll
    And the Sultans played Creole

    And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
    And says at last just as the time bell rings
    ‘Thank you goodnight now it’s time to go home’
    and he makes it fast with one more thing
    ‘We are the Sultans of Swing’
  • 2. Lady Writer
    Lady Writer on the t.v.
    Talk about the Virgin Mary
    Reminded me of you
    Expectations left to come up to yeah

    Lady writer on the t.v.
    Yeah, she had another quality
    The way you used to look
    And I know you never read a book

    Just the way that her hair fell down around her face
    Then I recall my fall from grace
    Another time, another place

    Lady writer on the t.v.
    She had all the brains and the beauty
    The picture does not fit
    You talked to me when you felt like it

    Just the way that her hair fell down around her face
    Then I recall my fall from grace
    Another time, another place

    Yes and your rich old man
    You know he’d call her a dead ringer
    You got the same command
    Plus your mother was a jazz singer

    Just the way that her hair fell down around her face
    Then I recall my fall from grace
    Oh yeah, another time, another place

    Lady writer on the t.v.
    She knew all about a history
    You couldn’t hardly write your name
    I think I want you just the same as the

    Lady writer on the t.v.
    Talking about the Virgin Mary
    Yeah you know I’m talking about you and me
    And the lady writer on the t.v.
    Lady writer on the t.v.
    Talking about the Virgin Mary
    Yeah you know I’m talking about you and me
    And the lady writer on the t.v.
  • 3. Romeo And Juliet
    a lovestruck romeo sings a streetsusss serenade
    laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
    finds a convenient streetlight steps out of the shade
    says something like you and me babe how about it?

    juliet says hey it’s romeo you nearly gimme a heart attack
    he’s underneath the window she’s singing hey la my boyfriend’s back
    you shouldn’t come around here singing up at people like that
    anyway what you gonna do about it?

    juliet the dice were loaded from the start
    and i bet and you exploded in my heart
    and i forget i forget the movie song
    when you gonna realise it was just that the time was wrong juliet?

    come up on different streets they both were streets of shame
    both dirty both mean yes and the dream was just the same
    and i dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real
    how can you look at me as if i was just another one of your deals?

    when you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold
    you can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
    you promised me everything you promised me thick and thin
    now you just says oh romeo yeah you know i used to have a scene with him

    juliet when we made love you used to cry
    you said i love you like the stars above i’ll love you till i die
    there’s a place for us you know the movie song
    when you gonna realise it was just that the time was wrong juliet?

    i can’t do the talk like they talk on tv
    and i can’t do a love song like the way it’s meant to be
    i can’t do everything but i’d do anything for you
    i can’t do anything except be in love with you

    and all i do is miss you and the way we used to be
    all i do is keep the beat and bad company
    all i do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
    julie i’d do the stars with you any time

    juliet when we made love you used to cry
    you said i love you like the stars above i’ll love you till i die
    and there’s a place for us you know the movie song
    when you gonna realise it was just that the time was wrong juliet?

    a lovestruck romeo sings a streetsuss serenade
    laying everybody low with a lovesong that he made
    finds a convenient streetlight steps out of the shade
    says something like you and me babe how about it?
  • 4. Tunnel Of Love
    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

    in a screaming ring of faces i seen her standing in the light
    she had a ticket for the races just like me she was a victim of the night
    i put a hand upon the lever said let it rock and let it roll
    i had the one arm bandit fever there was an arrow through my heart and my soul

    and the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
    and i’m just high on the world
    come on and take a low ride with me girl
    on the tunnel of love

    it’s just the danger when you’re riding at your own risk
    she said you are the perfect stranger she said baby let’s keep it like this
    it’s just a cakewalk twisting baby step right up and say
    hey mister give me two give me two cos any two can play

    and the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
    and i’m just high on the world
    come on and take a low ride with me girl
    on the tunnel of love

    well it’s been money for muscle another whirligig
    money for muscle and another girl i dig
    another hustle just to make it big
    and rockaway rockaway

    and girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
    like the spanish city to me when we were kids
    oh girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
    like the spanish city to me when we were kids

    she took off a silver locket she said remember me by this
    she put her hand in my pocket i got a keepsake and a kiss
    and in the roar of dust and diesel i stood and watched her walk away
    i could have caught up with her easy enough but something must have made me stay

    and the big wheel keep on turning neon burning up above
    and i’m just high on the world
    come on and take a low ride with me girl
    on the tunnel of love

    and now i’m searching through these carousels and the carnival arcades
    searching everywhere from steeplechase to palisades
    in any shooting gallery where promises are made
    to rockaway rockaway from cullercoats and whitley bay out to rockaway

    and girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did
    like the spanish city to me when we were kids
    girl it looks so pretty to me like it always did
    like the spanish city to me when we were kids
  • 5. Private Investigations
    It’s a mystery to me – the game commences
    for the usual fee – plus expenses
    confidential information – it’s in a diary
    this is my investigation – it’s not a public inquiry

    I go checking out the reports – digging up the dirt
    you get to meet all sorts in this line of work
    treachery and treason – there’s always an excuse for it
    and when I find the reason I still can’t get used to it

    And what have you got at the end of the day?
    what have you got to take away?
    a bottle of whisky and a new set of lies
    blinds on the window and a pain behind the eyes

    Scarred for life – no compensation
    private investigations
  • 6. Twisting By the Pool
    We’re going on a holiday now
    Gonna take a villa, a small chalet
    On the Costa del Magnifico
    Where the cost of living is so low

    Yeah, we’re gonna be so neat
    Dance to the Eurobeat
    Yeah, we’re gonna be so cool
    Twisting by the pool

    Sitting in a small cafe now
    Swing, swing, swingin to the cabaret
    You wanna see a movie, take in a show now
    Meet new people at the disco

    Yeah, we’re gonna be so neat
    Dance to the Eurobeat
    Yeah, we’re gonna be so cool
    Twisting by the pool

    And we can still get information
    Reading all about inflation
    And you’re never gonna be out of reach
    There’s a call-box on the beach

    Mmm, you’re gonna look so cute
    Sunglasses and bathing suites
    Be the baby of my dreams
    Like the ladies in the magazine

    Yeah, we’re gonna be so neat
    Dance to the Eurobeat
    Yeah, we’re gonna be so cool
    Twisting by the pool

    I’m a twisting fool
    Just twisting, yeah twisting
    Twisting by the pool
  • 7. Love Over Gold (live)
  • 8. So Far Away
    Here I am again in this mean old town
    And you’re so far away from me
    And where are you when the sun goes down
    You’re so far away from me

    So far away from me
    So far I just can’t see
    So far away from me
    You’re so far away from me

    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
    And you’re so far away from me

    So far away from me
    So far I just can’t see
    So far away from me
    You’re so far away from me

    I get so tired when I have to explain
    When you’re so far away from me
    See you been in the sun and I’ve been in the rain
    And you’re so far away from me

    So far away from me
    So far I just can’t see
    So far away from me
    You’re so far away from me
  • 9. Money For Nothing
    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

    We gotta install microwave ovens
    Custom kitchen deliveries
    We gotta move these refrigerators
    We gotta move these colour TV’s

    See the little faggot with the earring and the makeup
    Yeah buddy that’s his own hair
    That little faggot got his own jet airplane
    That little faggot he’s a millionaire

    We gotta install microwave ovens
    Custom kitchens deliveries
    We gotta move these refrigerators
    We gotta move these colour TV’s

    I shoulda learned to play the guitar
    I shoulda learned to play them drums
    Look at that mama, she got it stickin’ in the camera
    Man we could have some fun
    And he’s up there, what’s that? Hawaiian noises?
    Bangin’ on the bongoes like a chimpanzee
    That ain’t workin’ that’s the way you do it
    Get your money for nothin’ get your chicks for free

    We gotta install microwave ovens
    Custom kitchen deliveries
    We gotta move these refrigerators
    We gotta move these colour TV’s

    Lord now that ain’t workin’ 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 your chicks for free
    Money for nothin’ and chicks for free
  • 10. Brothers In Arms
    These mist covered mountains
    Are a home now for me
    But my home is the lowlands
    And always will be
    Some day you’ll return to
    Your valleys and your farms
    And you’ll no longer burn
    To be brothers in arms

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

    There’s so many different worlds
    So many different suns
    And we have just one world
    But we live in different ones

    Now the sun’s gone to hell
    And the moon’s riding high
    Let me bid you farewell
    Every man has to die
    But it’s written in the starlight
    And every line on your palm
    We’re fools to make war
    On our brothers in arms
  • 11. Walk Of Life
    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
    Yeah the boy can play
    Dedication devotion
    Turning all the night time into the day

    He do the song about the sweet lovin’ woman
    He do the song about the knife
    He do the walk, he do the walk of life

    Here comes Johnny and he’ll tell you the story
    Hand me down my walkin’ shoes
    Here come Johnny with the power and the glory
    Backbeat the talkin’ blues
    He got the action, he got the motion
    Yeah the boy can play
    Dedication devotion
    Turning all the night time into the day

    He do the song about the sweet lovin’ woman
    He do the song about the knife
    He do the walk, he do the walk of life

    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
    Yeah the boy can play
    Dedication devotion
    Turning all the night time into the day

    And after all the violence and double talk
    There’s just a song in all the trouble and the strife
    You do the walk, you do the walk of life
  • 12. 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
  • 13. 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
  • 14. 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
  • 15. Your Latest Trick (live)
  • 16. Local Hero / Wild Theme (live)