Dire Straits - Down to the Waterline 1979 Live Video

Down to the Waterline (Single, Album Dire Straits 1978)
Down to the Waterline Live at the Rockpalast in German music Television Show (WDR)
Cologne, Germany 1979
Mark Knopfler - Vocals, Guitars
David Knopfler - Rhythm Guitar
John Illsley - Bass
Pick Withers - Drums

[@slick222]

It takes 40 years for all superficial appeal to drain out of popular music in order to figure out who was really the best. It was these guys.

[@makismakiavelis5718]

Just a couple of notes from this guitar and you immediately know it's Knopfler. Unique tone and playstyle... very hard to imitate even by a good guitarist. Same as Hendrix and SRV

[@tw8454]

very accurate. john mayer is the only guitarist that can truly work in his sound with THEIR playing and picking style on his own gear. cool stuff

[@C119G]

@@tw8454 The 'Straits at their best,early stuff with both Knopfler brothers in the band.

[@ronnieg6734]

Dry and precise. Master at his craft.

[@Rita-q4z8g]

True. @@C119G

[@Jim-xd6iz]

A style is inimitable because it has the mark of a single creator. We can only get close to it and still. Mark's guitar playing is unique like some other guitarists (EVH) and therefore irreplaceable.

[@sciteart]

Arguably the greatest guitar player in the world. Mark is awesome!

[@InformerOfDeer]

although he is probably my favorite guitarist, he is far from the greatest.

[@drivelikejoewho]

Definitely a unique style and one the greats that is synonymous with the Strat.

[@kevinlebrun2307]

One of the hardest tones to cop. In most cases, I feel tone is to a large degree attributed to signal path/gear. But MK is one of those that you will make a fool of yourself trying to emulate his tone...all in those fingers of his.

[@scottwaszak698]

He’s got a great feel and unique approach, but, correct, far from the greatest.

[@mudoni5160]

I would say he is one of my top 3 or 4 favorite guitar players, along with Gary Richrath (REO), Steven Van Zandt (E Street Band) and Duane Roland (Molly Hatchet)

[@kaushikganguli1091]

The music, the lyrics - absolutely sublime and refreshing. Add to that Mark Knopfler's unique vocal delivery. It threw existing bands out of the window. With this song, you can literally smell the wind and surf on the Newcastle Docks!

[@michaellohr7683]

I totally agree. I never understood why anyone needed punk,. for example, when Dire Straits was everything rock music needed: a nice, small, very tight unit of good musicians with tight, intelligent, and soulful songs avoided both the pitfalls of overblown prog rock/stadium rock and its equally inadequate opposite, punk, that celebrated musical incompetence and disinterest. Dire Straits embody the essence of what rock music is supposed to be: simple and straightforward and yet at the same time elegant, sublime and complex.

[@deborahdobbs9309]

Very well written comment!

[@kaushikganguli1091]

@@deborahdobbs9309 Thank you so much for your positive feedback!

[@sypex_gg]

Knopfler just makes the guitar sing! He is the greatest guitarist of all time!

[@poweragricolo]

Best one

[@EdikEfremihev]

Согласен

[@racializedkanadian]

This ENTIRE RockPalast show is my absolute favourite live performance by my favourite line-up of the band !!

[@anapaulaorzabal9621]

What a voice! What a guitar! What a sound!!!!!!!

[@joaorobertosousa1811]

What..What..What..wonderfull!

[@attiylanen]

Oh, the wonders of the world. Thanks for Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Lindsey Buckingham and all the other great guitarists out there. They make life a whole lot better, memorable.

[@pinkfloydfan564]

Let's not forget Carlos Santana, Ritchie Blackmore .

[@pascallequeux4922]

Bonjour 70 et merci pour 78 78510 et 93 33678428414 in its original original original and the the best best I can I can I can do it

[@eddiecouncil]

Amen

[@mikenolan9920]

@@pinkfloydfan564 santaa is not in the same league as these heavy hitters

[@pinkfloydfan564]

@@mikenolan9920 : How so??

[@maryliljequist1398]

Excellent! My then boyfriend (now my husband) lived near a river and would take late night walks there. We will celebrate 35 years next month. This sultry song had a part in making us still in love today.

[@佩里-f1m]

I believe it..

[@trevormwabulabrookings]

Congratulations indeed👏👍🙏❤💙

[@ericcyiza3032]

Woow ! You a're blessed....Mark Knopfler is the greatest!!

[@rintintin7529]

mary were you taxed?

[@justherald1117]

Wow, that's great to hear. This was released 16 years before I was born, but my parents used to play it on the car CD player when we went for drives. Listening to it takes me back to my childhood, it would be even better for you, the song being about young lovers reminiscing and all. Best wishes to you and your husband.

[@rodm2895]

a time when talent was a requirement to be in the music industry

[@MsMbpayne]

Dang right !!!

[@jackwestjr3584]

Those days are gone unfortunately

[@devs3720]

@@jackwestjr3584 go make a hit song then

[@jackwestjr3584]

@@devs3720 I'd be no good at making a hit song, much like today's music artists aren't. Prefer to keep listening to music from an era where quality music existed and not the crap we get today 👍

[@BradCrystal007]

@@jackwestjr3584 - Well said!

[@franciscotrigossantos8141]

I was 14 and changed my life... I can't stop listening DS for the last 45...

[@dumdumboy7796]

David was a hell of a rhythm guitar player. On this tune the trio David-John-Pick is incredibly subtle & complementary. Probably my favourite song from Dire Straits, with Tunnel of Love.

[@fucheduck]

yeah. very ominous. probably the best part! I love this song!

[@noeyes6151]

Ive loved this song since i was 6, I didn't know what it was really about obviously, but 37 years later its still solid👍

[@bricemartin3]

My fav period of DS: Simple, clean, & clear ! WOW

[@vernoncourson8509]

NEVER GET TIRED OF DIRE STRAITS!

[@Geletemol]

Never since 1979 i found them

[@christinesigala5460]

!!! ❤ magical Mark Knopfler 👏👍

[@dunnydoors01]

this was my favourite song when I was 24 yrs.........................................now I am..60yrs

[@simflyr1957]

+Shane McFee - What has happened to music today? It seems like the late 70s - 80s was the best time of music. Was it just our youth? I'm 59 and I was in the Marine Corps when this was popular. The whole album was phenomenal. I wore out the cassette but still have the vinyl in my collection and still have the original Kenwood 777 speakers from my component system. To quote another 80s song from Greg Kihn, "They just don't write 'em like that anymore"

[@TheCompton1963]

wow...1980

[@kalani1987]

+simflyr1957 so true. Music today really sucks.. Awesome live version and the sound quality is great.

[@MSUSpartanFootball]

53 here and spend most of my youth with my head on a pillow between my stereo speakers. My friends never understood. Countless hours listening to Queen, Kiss, Zeppelin, The Police, Dire Straits, Montrose (and Hagar solo), Seger, Uncle Ted, BTO, Sabbath, Nazareth,

[@scottbookman]

i'm 60 too...when their first album came out my mom heard sultans on the radio ..went to the record store and brought over to my apartment...she said "you are going to love this"..she knew what she was talking about.

[@chasgorman1086]

How he gets that sound without a pick is just baffling. One of the tightest four pieces ever to perform.

[@1971RivieraGS]

My favorite Dire Straits tune. I remember getting this album when it was first released .

[@philsarkol6443]

Back in the later part of the 70's there was all kind of music on the radio. Much more diversity on one radiostation. It was on all day so we heard punk, next to disco, and rock and then suddenly the Dire Straits. It was like something new in sound and rythms and Mark Knopflers guitar sound was so clear and upfront, combined with this easy slur like singing style, but where you could hear what he was singing about, tell a story in a good compact package that I liked ever since!!!

[@Olegus85]

Knopfler one of the best lyric rock writers

[@tiagofrotavandame]

I feel like my past life has endend by the end of 70's. This song touches me really deep.

[@g7r1g]

One of the best musical intro ever....

[@susancollison8524]

When I’m down, always come back to Mark💞💞💞💞

[@CB-xr1eg]

I got this album for free. I had a motorbike at the time and got a puncture. Took it to a garage and they were giving away an LP for every customer that spent over £10. I chose this one, (can't remember what the others were), and have been a Dire Straits fan ever since.

[@peterharris2789]

Pete said "got a new album tell me what you think" 1st track waterline, before the vocal started I was a fan for life.

[@vivekgeorge4538]

So true

[@BlueButterfly7777]

I had the pleasure of meeting Mark in 2002 during his Saling to Philadelphia tour. Ironically it was in Philadelphia. The sad part is that I'd taken my friend who was in the last few months of her losing battle with liver cancer. It was cold and raing outside and it took Mark a while to be rolled iout sliwly in reverse. Everyone had left but us! The big black SUV stopped. Mark was in the back seat. He rolled his window diwn. We took our programs from the show and he signed them. We talked for a short bit and because of the rain he warned us to be "careful not to smudge" the black marker he'd used. Wow! We were just thrilled. I made my sick and dying friend so happy! I was over the moon myself. Sweet memory.

[@fettarmemilch6117]

One of the greatest Artists of All Times!!!! 😇🙏♥️

[@abracadabra-he5fn]

So effortless, so smashing. MK taught himself how to play by ear and that's what has come out. He did beautifully sing while performing and did write outstanding lyrics also: a marvelous storyteller. And, last but not least, he even got a Bachelor Degree before fame and was awarded three honorary Phd degrees afterwards. If he's not a genius, he must be an alien!

[@vault311]

His vibrato at the beginning is so strong you can hear the finger smashing against the fretboard

[@someguyfromanotherplanet5284]

advantages of using your dominant hand to fret.

[@jlbuenomeandro]

@@someguyfromanotherplanet5284 yes 😉

[@crotalusatrox7931]

Looking at some of my Playlists on my PC from back in the day My Dire Straits Mix began with this song and ended 7.3 hours later after playing 82 songs to Follow Me Home. Yeah I like Mark and the Boys.

[@lucasmas9058]

1:01 "alright.. now that that's out of the way" simply a genius

[@bomat761]

Excellent guitarist!

[@IllusionSector]

Love the bass in this performance. Wish the studio version had it.

[@SPACEJEEP57]

I've loved Dire Straights forever and at 64 am still in love.

[@pauloricardopintodealmeida1987]

Me too. They were the best.

[@Robil63]

Maybe you'll learn to spell their name one day.

[@Robil63]

@@pauloricardopintodealmeida1987 "Were"? But you can still hear them whisper....

[@pauloricardopintodealmeida1987]

You're right. The new players still want playing like them...

[@SPACEJEEP57]

My bad. Dire Straits! Still in love! 66 strong! @@Robil63

[@adamchaifetz5876]

I love how Cool Pick Withers is

[@robertpersall98]

These guys were a breath of fresh air when they hit it! Saw them in Berlin. Man, what a great show!

[@birdlover7776]

I saw them in Concord California in I think around’84

How lucky you are!!!

[@deeminor6565]

Genius ..the world will never ever see again

[@Rita-q4z8g]

~~~An Artist never show-offy like AY.

[@kctux7254]

Timeless and smooth.

[@richardingrassia4276]

His guitar playing is one of a kind

[@charlottefarine4565]

so subtle, so emotional, he's the most talented musician I've ever heard

[@mstrond4]

Somos fodas

[@stephenporter5796]

I remember going on a 'lads holiday' to Corfu, we had this cassette and played it constantly. Thats about 42 years ago now - great memories, but also makes me feel a little sad. The sweet bird of youth soon flies the nest.

[@mariodehoratis5299]

Sono passati 40 anni ma il ricordo rimane indelebile. Tanta pioggia, un'emozione indimenticabile

[@mikebodrazic1427]

This is a perfect example of the live version being better than the recorded version.What a talent!!!!

[@blucat4]

No, the recording is miles ahead in every way, except you can see Mark actually playing the guitar.

[@Anonymous-gt9qp]

What a genius Mark Knopfler is this is pure class

[@matthewjones8865]

More magic from the magical Mark Knopfler 👏👍

[@pawelpap9]

I remember their first record. It was stunning. The apparently cane out of nowhere but appeared as entirely formed and consummate combo. When did Mark learn to play guitar? It was a mystery. He sounded like he was born with it.

[@DanC-go9lc]

Well said Sir --- could not agree more !

[@theadventurenexus5846]

Always Sublime, 79' and sounding like this. Just Epic!

[@johnwemm8848]

Incredible and what a unique guitar style!!

[@overundersidewaysdown7010]

Mark Knopfler is so GREAT! THIS song is incredible!

[@SoniaMaria-dy5ug]

All complete... write poem, harmony, produce, sing... divine!... BUT more ... blue eyes shining on smooth faces and sweet lips.... Great Mark!!! 💥❤💋

[@annetteturner5972]

You are a true MK fan 😊

[@vincentkerr2917]

Am so glad i was growing up when this amazing man appeared on the scene still following 40 odd years later. MARVELLOUS.

[@markrenton3357]

J'ai jamais vu une salle de concert aussi bien porter son nom

[@marie-carmendomergue7633]

Mark Knopfler est comme un bon vin !! il s'est bonifié encore et encore avec les années !! Bravo !!

[@00bikeboy]

Back when music was good...

[@jenseninterceptors]

Right on!

[@annettespradlin4945]

Mark Knopfler - another underated guitarist.

[@Samana009]

He is not underrated. He always appears in the "Best Guitar Players" list.

[@annettespradlin4945]

@@Samana009 - Tell that to my ex-bf Yngwie Malmsteen worshipper. I'm not saying Yngwie wasn't a good guitar player. He never knew how to incorporate his skill into his music. I would prefer listening to Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler any day over the likes of Yngwie (sp).

[@Samana009]

@@annettespradlin4945 your assessment is mine too. Yngwie music is horrible most of the time and the guy can really play. Jeff Beck could play only 10 notes and you here music, same as Mark.

[@spomenkazlokolica3061]

Wonderful song 💟💟💟💟

[@BrianCarnevaleB26]

And 40 plus years later he sounds better than ever. One of my favs growing up and remains too this day. Much Respect. Thanks for the great music, and the memes that come with it!

[@osea.codega]

Listened so much to dIRE sTRAITS when I was 15-20. Now I'm 43. Great band.

[@atmosphereadr588]

Now thats great , I can say the exact same thing ! what a coincidence

[@mebeasensei]

The drumming is superb...and such a sympathetic dance with with the lo-down vibe of the music ...I never noticed all these years. the way the hi-^hat opens and closes...crisp but not shattering, sharpish but smooth.. ..what a groove that suits those minor chords and those little latinish frills Mark plays and the back beat rhythms of the other guitar

[@jenniferschmitt815]

I love this song.

[@Tmantoronto]

The song that started it all for me.

[@IllusionSector]

It's like discovering a mint-flavored version of the strawbery gum I've been chewing all my life. That's what _Down to the Waterline_ is to _Sultans of Swing_ (to me).

[@dhammdeepbhagatdd]

@@IllusionSector what about Lady writer?

[@ouafmannlitchfield5448]

@@IllusionSector hahha true

[@lucianoxx9210]

Mark Knopfler music is a class of good taste.

[@sypex_gg]

I wish i could go back to witness these amazing artists wow the world

[@michaelpeart7754]

How bloody confident does Mark look on that guitar.

[@BlueButterfly7777]

What an extraordinary guitar player! And of course, not using a pick. I love this song and Tunnel of Love the most.

[@kevinwebb2480]

Mark K is one of the best guitarists.

[@agnostic47]

I was living in a student hostel in Earls Court when I read a review of Dire Straits first album. Mark Knopfler says in two notes what it takes others twenty. I walked straight down to a little record stall in Earls Court station and bought the album. Never regretted it.

[@DG102961]

It is a very, very great song!!!

[@robertopinheiro6661]

Se vc, Brasileiro, chegou até aqui vc é incrível e ainda tem muito bom gosto musical!

[@gabrielneves1970]

Sim. Eu sou incrível! Kkkkk salve de Goiânia para meu compatriota!

[@celsonettojunior]

Opa

[@sidneyluiz5907]

Com certeza .isso sim é talento de verdade,!

[@lucianoxx9210]

Mark knopfler é uma aula de bom gosto. Minas Gerais.

[@cafeeopala_]

Tmj mano!!! Somos incríveis

[@johnharding3303]

So soulful, raw, and deep

[@entertaininformmedia7836]

Incredible live performance!!!

[@biggtrux]

Always such a tight band. Beautiful.

[@anthony5309]

MAGNIFIQUE!!!! Rien d'autre à dire C'est de la vrai musique que plus personne ne sais plus faire... on vit depuis vingt ans une pauvreté musicale incroyable!!! quelle misère.... que du Commercial de M...!!!!

[@orho3444]

Ohhh yeahhh 🔥✌️🔥

[@alinadobro]

God! I always loved this song and music and had known idea who's listening to the music 😄 Thanks so much 🤣👋

[@davidmccaffery7977]

Sooo cool❤

[@MsMbpayne]

Turned this on to get my day started !! Turn it up !!!!!!!!

[@Eiliyah2006]

My favorite Dire straits song

[@kevdogrudi7260]

Mine too my friend

[@5184rob]

Can watch & listen to this every week.

[@lazuluna]

"Down To The Waterline" Sweet surrender on the quayside You remember we used to run and hide In the shadow of the cargoes I take you one at a time And we're counting all the numbers down to the waterline Near misses on the dogleap stairways French kisses in the darkened doorways A foghorn blowing out wild and cold A policeman shines a light upon my shoulder Up comes a coaster fast and silent in the night Over my shoulder all you can see are the pilot lights No money in our jackets and our jeans are torn Your hands are cold but your lips are warm She can see him on the jetty where they used to go She can feel him in the places where the sailors go When she's walking by the river and the railway line She can still hear him whisper Let's go down to the waterline

[@jeanettemacari9267]

!Gracias!

[@sharonsoules7348]

I want to go down by the RIVER LINE..May be something magical will happen.

[@sharonsoules7348]

Meant WATER LINE. Also 💘 Money for Nothing..My good friend used to lip sync this song at gay clubs...loved

[@g.mantua1195]

Side 1, track 1 on their debut album. I was hooked at moment that signature riff came through the speakers. Been a fan since that moment.

[@susandhifaoui]

I can never get enough of this song. brilliant. ahhh, takes me back to my youth. thanks for posting.

[@kjellesperas5132]

Who else had give out a Song like this in 78. Onley DS and they took the world by storm. From theese days and all the way to 1985 when they made their best song ever written they floated on a wave. Love DS NORWAY

[@АленаАндреева-з9в]

Мне было всего два годика, когда это происходило, но через 14 лет я настолько сильно влюблюсь впервые в жизни как в МК, так и в Его музыку, и по сей день. Навсегда.

[@sharonsoules7348]

best ever and I'm going on 70 years

[@thiagotambor]

Fantastic, fantastic!!! Mark Knopfle very good music style!

[@fatfreddyfatfreddy6240]

les 2 premier albums de dire strait ....en pleine période punk :), 2 chef d’œuvres ,aucunes chansons à jeter. Après ça se gâte....

[@jorgefranciscopuigdomenech2219]

D'acord, mon ami!

[@Coolwaaky75]

I was just 4 when "Dire Straits" fly into our home. Still loving that song., that WDR Session was the first "live" concert my Dad had seen on Tv (into a Pub) and he felt in love with that music (now he is over 60 years old, I`m 43 and we are still loving this blues-rock style)...

[@whitetigress7448]

I'd almost forgotten this. Ah. How lovely. I lived near the Kaw (Kansas River) when I first heard this. "When she's walking by the river and the railway line She can still hear him whisper Let's go down to the waterline"

[@PatriciaMartinez-og8kt]

Mi grupo favorito. Maravillosos.los amo...

[@023456789279]

The most underrated band of all time.

[@brianjonesguitar]

023456789279 #2 behind the Kinks.

[@mauriciomeza430]

En mi lista de los mas grandes guitarristas ..q he escuchado....Q genio...Mark.

[@marknielsen7181]

My favourite song by him

[@jenseninterceptors]

The drums sounds like waves crashing on the beach and the guitar definitely cries and sings :)

[@dafon222]

palatability , perfection and great pleasure in this rocking:)

[@gertvandenbrink9012]

😇

[@rvpsmdsk]

He's my favorite guitar player. The thing is he's not the best singer, but that's what makes it work. He's the Everyman singer. Anyway that's my opinion.

[@lucianoxx9210]

Ryan Lauren I don't think so. For me, the Mark voice tune sounds perfectly to his kind of music.

[@jorgehuisa4259]

@@lucianoxx9210 Totally agree with you

[@ΒασίληςΚεφαλλήνος]

Grate band

[@sonofodin6075]

This inspired my song "Shadows" so much, wouldn't have written it if I hadn't listened to this song for hours

[@grokur9714]

German TV has best quality back these days

[@fucheduck]

although Mark's voice is the obvious feature, the rhythm guitar is what draws me to this tune. very dark and ominuous. like roaming in the desert by day and by moonlit night.

[@griffinpaintingandhomeimprovem]

I saw them at the providence civic center in the 80ies,my buddy and I still talk about the show a lot,great band