1. Beachcombing 4:16
BEACHCOMBING They say there's wreckage washing up All along the coast No one seems to know too much Of 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 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 that's all Head on home Been gone too long Leave my roaming Beachcombing
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
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 hisname? On our Anniversary With the family You and me and our memories This is us
RED STAGGERWING If i was staggerwing plane A staggerwingpainted 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
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
LOVE AND HAPPINESS Here's a wishing well Here's a penny for Any tought it is That makes you smile Every diamond dream Everything that brings Love and happiness To your life Here's a rabbit's food 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 i 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 Thehope 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 fot you And if I could only have one wish Darling, then it would be this Love and happiness for you
RIGHT NOW Miles between us here we are Sat by side 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 loose 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
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 No body 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 other 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
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 yout feet So come on, make your best shot You don't have to take the blame I'll be your belle star 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 star 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 star 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 star You can be my Jesse James I'll be your belle star You can be my Jesse James
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 me wildest Beyond me wildest dreams Beyond me wildest dreams Beyond me wildest dreams I've been with you I've been with you These are the big playloads 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 me wildest Beyond me wildest dreams Beyond me wildest dreams Beyond me 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 me wildest Beyond me wildest dreams Beyond me wildest dreams Beyond me wildest dreams I've been with you I've been with you
ALL THE ROADRUNNING (featuring: Emmylou Harris) A million miles our vagabond heels 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's Been in vain The rimshots come down like cannon fire And thunder off the wall There's a man in every corner And each one is giving his all This is my fife This is my drum So you never will hear me complain And if it's all for nothing All the roadrunning's 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 When there's only a ringin' in your ears And an echo down memory lane But if it's all for nothing All the roadrunning's Been in vain All the roadrunning, all the roadrunning All the roadrunning, all the roadrunning The show's packing up I sit and watch the convoy Leaving town There's no pretending 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 the plane But if it's all for nothing All the roadrunning's Been in vain 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 roamin' 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's Been in vain All the roadrunning, all the roadrunning All the roadrunning, all the roadrunning All the roadrunning, all the roadrunning All the roadrunning, all the roadrunning
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 Yout 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
vocals mark knopfler & emmylou harris guitars mark knopfler additional guitars richard bennett keyboards jim cox & guy fletcher drums chad cromwell & danny cummings bass glenn worf fiddle & mandolin glen duncan
emmylou harris acoustic guitar on ‘rollin’ on’ and ‘belle starr’ dan dugmore acoustic guitar on ‘if this is goodbye’, and ‘love and happiness’, pedal steel on ‘rollin’ on’ and ‘beyond my wildest dreams’, six-string bass on ‘belle starr’ paul franklin steel on ‘this is us’ jim horn & the memphis horns horns on ‘if this is goodbye’ steve conn accordion on ‘red staggerwing’ stuart duncan fiddle on ‘red staggerwing’ billy ware triangle on ‘red staggerwing’
co-produced by mark knopfler and chuck ainlay recorded and mixed by chuck ainlay assisted by john saylor & mark ralston additional recording by guy fletcher horns recorded by mark kapps mixed at british grove studios, london assisted by rupert coulson tech support by graham meek
Year: 2006 Format: CD Label: Mercury Records Reference No: 987 738 5 Songs: 12 Total Time: 50:35
