Dire Straits - Single Handed Sailor

[@DavidBrown-bs7gg]

For those that don't know, this song is about Sir Francis Chichester (1901-1972) who was the first to single handedly circumnavigate around the earth in his boat the Gypsy Moth. The Gypsy Moth is in dry dock next to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich. Chichester followed the fast "clipper" route on his journey. The Cutty Sark is "clipper", a merchant ship designed for speed.

[@TheTeletrap]

Another fun fact, recently in 2021 the Gypsy Moth IV was purchased and is likely to sail in the high seas again.

[@Hamidthiaw4782]

Thank you David Brown. I'm one of those that didn't know. Mark Knopfler is the best songwriter.

[@highschoolbigshot]

Cool I was wondering what the Gypsy moth was I figured it might be some kind of ship but what the heck is the college of War

[@DavidBrown-bs7gg]

@@highschoolbigshot Its the Royal Naval College also situated in Greenwich near the Cutty Sark and Gypsy Moth. It was designed by the famous architect Christopher Wren (who also designed St Paul’s Cathedral) and was a training facility between 1873-1998

[@highschoolbigshot]

@@DavidBrown-bs7gg thank you sir!

[@matambale]

Song ends too early-that buttery flowing lead could go on for DAYS. Drives me nuts to this day. Brilliant.

[@SagaciousFrank]

Goes on a bit longer in the 1979 live Rockapalast.

[@SagaciousFrank]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2SZe5R4nr58Zsksi=tARmOEOBwJVc5Qwo

[@mewse14]

Can we just take a minute to appreciate that this was uploaded in 2008 and the audio quality is absolutely fantastic

[@thateki]

Whats your point

[@mewse14]

Point is it sounds good even though back in 2008 KZbin couldn’t handle high quality stuff like it can now, I’m just impressed that compression didn’t kill how good it sounds

[@ZK-hh2or]

@@mewse14 this even sounds better than my vinyl back in the days.

[@John_Doe....]

maybe because it was uploaded in 480p

[@Ninjaman2777]

You've got a point. Most of these videos have a pixelated album cover and sound like they were ripped from a worn cassette

[@tomgeorgearts]

Probably my favourite Dire Straits song. His guitar tone is so creamy and fluid here, and what a beautiful, wistful, meandering song...

[@viraljulesviraljules1738]

Tom George mine too for the same reasons.

[@maks-hg2yq]

Down to the Waterline is equally brilliant.

[@arcturus8218]

differant favourite each day

[@annemaassen5576]

Me too. Me too on waterline as well. Great memories of when they were newly released.

[@runswithbears3517]

@@arcturus8218 my thoughts exactly ;)

[@mateconazufre7094]

I love this song so fucking much. Probably the most underrated Dire Straits song. Only 600k views since 2008 and half had to be me.

[@barbarascotto3873]

The other half is me 🙋‍♀️

[@AnzorYoussef]

No the other half is me :)

[@SEIMLVLOG]

Yes, a great song.

[@alexoest]

The third half is me!

[@walterbrown4638]

Olla.i live near the water in ri.its a good songmbut theyve got so much.good music if you smoke 420 lol.im a singer and love the dire sraits soon tovrecord a cd and write some songs ollla🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

[@jeffersonlemos6044]

Underrated album and underrated song. The 2 guitars sounds in a fantastic way as well as the bass and drums. One of my favorite songs of Dire Straits

[@dreadhead170]

I always liked this album.

[@johnhartranft8029]

A song for my father. A former Marine in WWII, he was a mariner of dry-dock land. He died in 1984, at the age of 60, on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. He owned six small craft and was always thinking of the water...

[@siddhantbhatnagar493]

Single handed sailor is one of the best songs I have ever listened to

[@SyberianLynx]

My favorite band of all time, listening to them is always like visiting a better world where people are chill, fun and know how to enjoy life

[@numv2]

The lead guitar is so fluid. Blend of rhythm and melodies with perfect timing.

[@kellywatkins6409]

I have a great appreciation for this early DS work. It helped me through several soul crushing years as a young man. It's under appreciated by most people, if you only knew.

[@Deeplz]

I understand. Feeling your comment.

[@moonlight0905]

God bless Dire Straits and Mark. This guitar solo is epic.

[@jeffgaumond4250]

My favorite, certainly one of his best. Epic, for sure. Steve Morse quality.

[@dreamerdeceiver6592]

@@jeffgaumond4250 what has that fool had to do here? he´ll never be on par with blackmore,we are talking about beauty and you can´t compare it with knopfler either

[@TaskerStreete]

Fun Fact: The shaker you hear on this track, is an improvised instrument, a film canister filled with local beach sand from Nassau in the Bahamas, where they recorded.

[@tomburroughes9834]

Fabulous. One of my favourite DS songs. It makes me want to get on a yacht and sail around the Caribbean, sip a cold drink and read an Ian Fleming novel on the foredeck.

[@somedutchguy9184]

I dont know if I commented on this one before, but being a Dutch kid, I always thought it was about some pirate with a single hand and a hook. Later I studied the lyrics and also how to play this one on guitar, and this is to me one of the most brilliant songs ever. Love from Haarlem, The Netherlands.

[@jazzguitarmichael9753]

Yeah, it's a genuine masterpiece. A dream solo at the end.

[@rodgeraarons8997]

Single handed - sailing by himself - no help.

[@cryptodave2619]

As an American kid I thought the same thing matey!!!

[@avallach2061]

One of my favorite Dire Straits songs, very underrated... Also one of my favorite songs in general, so classy

[@charlottehanna3860]

Mark Knoppfler and that guitar speak to my soul. Hey man, whatchya call this thing? Cuttysark. Pride of London.

[@jazzguitarmichael9753]

Yeah, this is brilliant.

[@JackJack-xm6ib]

Bought this album when it came out along time ago now this song has always been stuck in my head man time flys best artist

[@nicolasgoncalves4912]

Feel so lucky to know this stuff ! I find it amazing how there is not so many people knowing this one ! It's pure eargasm !!!

[@numv2]

C'est clair que le level est monstrueux ;)

[@Deeplz]

I know it from my parents! The music I grew up to and into. Love it so much.

[@davidazulay1992]

Fantastic song. Every album of Mark knopfler has something different that conquers you.

[@hospitalityelearning8185]

Dire Straits is a great band and Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing is out of this world. Hello from Egypt

[@numv2]

Knopfler's greatest outro solo. Fantastic piece of music. The very last sequence when the volume is already low is marvelous ;)

[@ceesbobo]

there is an other great one on the original (not cd) track of Skateaway

[@lextratherese7277]

That's exactly what I think since the first time I listen to Communiqué, thirty three years ago.

[@shanereed5864]

On live versions like rockpalast you get to hear that end solo full volume it's awesome 😊

[@paolopicchioldi2797]

@@shanereed5864 Alwasy full volume right from the start! The very last slowly fading away solo ending with wawes....High levels

[@SuperRowdyone]

Indeed💯

[@ricardolopes7558]

Oh, this one brings so many good memories.... How i love dIRE sTRAITS

[@rwess]

Just discovered it. For this old single-handed sailor (circumnav. in the 90"s) this really hits home! "Sailing away in the dark." (- as the rest of the world sleeps...) I know the feeling well...

[@mikegriggs442]

I think there is more to this song than just Chichester, The Gypsy Moth and the Cutty Sark. That's all scene setting. I think the song is about a mother and baby who escape the 'college of war' that is an abusive relationship with 'the mariner of dry dock land' by becoming stowaways on the single-handed sailor's boat, 'The Pride of London'. Ironically, they 'slip away below him, away from the things he has done', as he is up on a bridge shouting down to the sailor, asking 'what do you call this thing?' I can't decide if the single-handed sailor knows he has stowaways or not?

[@lucapasseroni6371]

one of the best song ,very underrated

[@joseflenin5232]

Most underrated Dire Straits album.

[@pierres6847]

Two in the morning, dry-dock town The rivers rolls away in the night Little gypsy moth she's all tied down She quiver in the wind and the light Yeah and a sailing ship just held down in chains From the lazy days of sail She's just lying there in silent pain He lean on the turist rail A mother and her baby and the college of war In the concrete graves You never wanna fight against the river law Nobody rules the waves Yeah and on a night when the lazy wind is a-wailing Around the Cutty Sark Single handed sailor goes sailing Sailing away in the dark He's upon the bridge on the self same night The mariner of dry dock land Two in the morning, but there is one green light And a man on the barge of sand She's gonna slip away below him Away from the things he's done But he just shouts "Hey man, what do you call this thing?" He could have said "Pride of London" On a night when the lazy wind is a-wailing Around the Cutty Sark Yeah the single handed sailor goes sailing Sailing away in the dark

[@timothyhinchliff5405]

Just another of so many great DS songs. Great for contemplation, great for conversation.

[@darkxabdel1333]

Encore un super morceau de Dire Straits avec un solo de légende et inoubliable. Quel Grand Mark Knopfler ! Adel Houdrouge.

[@alexispouillot6536]

Abdel Houdrouge ce rif de légende 😍

[@numv2]

L'un de ses meilleurs solo. Celui-ci est monstrueux. Je l'écoute toujours jusqu'au bout avec le volume au max pour ne rien rater. La toute fin est merveilleuse.

[@algerianatheist2755]

Cet album a le goût du sel marin ... J'adore sa fraîcheur

[@darkxabdel1333]

numv2 , exactement, je fais la même chose.

[@eldorado96]

This song always seemed to be drawing to a close as I reached the bottom of the ski hill. Invariably I reached for the volume switch to milk every last note from the outro. What a fantastic way to finish a run. Orgasmic.

[@kaboulscabal4816]

My favorite deep Dire Straits cut It's just great Mark is bugnuts on this track "a mariner in drydock land"

[@tkar66]

Great piece of art. what a performance!!!!!!!!!!

[@juanjoseoterolourido5674]

News and this song, are amazing. The BEST. And with David on the rythm guitar.

[@joseangelsantanagarcia4563]

La mejor guitarra rítmica fue la de David!!

[@MKECBS1]

Most underrated guitar work in rock prog rock history

[@wilfordgrimley4339]

Prog? Lol. Underrated? Please dude. Read the comments.

[@rupertaa4]

I can assure you dire straits are not underrated. One of the best selling bands of all time.

[@darrenjohnson8301]

Prog? You have no idea what your talking about.

[@idoshamgar5532]

Such an amazing song! God bless Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits!

[@Tard129]

Such a chill song

[@mohammedazaroual5925]

All dire straits songs are the best, I version been listening to them since1978 and still listening till I die.wonderful legend.God bless them.

[@adelhoudrouge215]

Totalement d'accord avec toi. Tout est beau chez dIRE sTRAITS.

[@iagoribeiro4940]

His guitar sounds divine

[@giacomodecaprio5709]

Iago Ribeiro stupendamente Meravigliosa

[@joseangelsantanagarcia4563]

Increíblemente magnífica

[@christophertaylor9100]

how can anyone downvote this masterpiece

[@rodgeraarons8997]

Fell in love the first time I heard this one.

[@Zeld3n]

the lick at 4:33 just flows like a river into the sunset

[@nbst1964]

Surprisingly refreshing and stimulating groove, beat, sound and...well, Dire Straits with Mark 🎸

[@jportalr1230]

Master piece

[@BabblingBooby]

The bass carries this song

[@eric108]

i am madly deeply and passionately in love with mark knopfler's guitar...

[@ivanlavouras]

My first date ever, put this song in his car with a device that made its own frequencies so the antenna could catch the song and play it as if it was the radio. It was a green VW polo from the early 2000s. One of the best nights I ever had... but he wasn't looking for a relationship and was more like the type of guy you only fuck once in your life, you know? I dont know anything about him... but I shazamed this song because it was so catchy and now it feels so special because it is like a materialization that brings me to that day, my first formal date ever.

[@incargeek]

Recorded at Compass Point Studios in the Bahamas. I'm sure the beach sound at the end was recorded out the window of the mixing booth...

[@aminibrahim5565]

A craftsman doing his thing Awesome mark knopfler. I salute you sir

[@clitcrusader4897]

I hope he sees this bro

[@HexogenLT]

Good song... Sounds from the past... Preserve this music... Martin :)

[@alupton99]

Such an insane lick, Mark was in his bag for this one

[@georgedatum8132]

1ST TIME I HEARD THIS SONG. AWESOME. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM FOR 1ST TIME IN SEPT. AT BERKELEY GREEK THEATRE

[@elievans3164]

Fantastic! Just Fantastic! Guitar is spot on!

[@adamberwick2644]

When it's you and the vastness of the 🌊 ocean this beautiful song touches that Spiritual Level... Truly Beautiful 💯🏝️💎

[@katarzynapreiss7077]

Top Dire Straits song and in general. When I am thinking of going away this is best theme. Also wonderfully connected with Follow me home, these two makes absolute pinnacle in (my) music history :)

[@Mechtec500]

Love Mark's guitar lick at 2:40 brilliant addition

[@roryday781]

To me the rhythm track all sounds like Mark playing. Very distinctive chicken plucking.

[@curtissleader684]

this album is excellent

[@Joaomello-PG]

*perfeita harmonia instrumental para ouvidos exigentes.*

[@aaronstandingbear]

Single-Handed SailorDire StraitsTwo in the morning, dry-dock town The river rolls in the night Little gypsy moth, she's all tied down She quivers in the wind and the light Yeah, and a sailing ship is just held down in chains From the lazy days of sail She's just a-lying there in silent pain He lean on the tourist rail A mother and her baby and the college of war In the concrete graves You never want to fight against the river law Nobody rules the waves Yeah, and on a night when the lazy wind is a-wailing Around the Cutty Sark The single-handed sailor goes sailing Sailing away in the dark He's upon the bridge on the self same night The mariner of dry-dock land Two in the morning, but there's one green light And a… He's upon the bridge on the self same night The mariner of dry-dock land Two in the morning, but there's one green light And a man on a barge of sand She's gonna slip away below him Away from the things he's done But he just shouts "Hey man, what you call this thing?" He could have said "Pride of London" On a night when the lazy wind is a-wailing Around the Cutty Sark Yeah, the single-handed sailor goes sailing Sailing away in the darkSongwriters: Mark Knopfler

[@fridgehorse]

aaronstandingbear : Does he say “and a man on the barge of sand” or “And the men on the barges say”?

[@victor7530]

@@fridgehorse from the official Mark Knopfler website ..Two in the morning but there’s one green light And a man on the barge of sand...

[@charlottehanna3860]

Whatcha call this thing?! Cutty Sark. Pride of London.

[@charlottehanna3860]

@@fridgehorse say

[@napomania]

oh my goodness! all perfect here at high levels. a pleasure for the ears

[@AntonelloAquilone]

Il marinaio con una sola mano, fa' spavento❤

[@tradecraft46]

Learned to love it in Pensacola.

[@esdrasdavid3306]

I love this song.

[@nabilaazaroual4703]

WE love dire straits since ther first album and to the last one.our love to them grows e ❤❤❤❤❤❤year After year.they're juste à Gift of God to out World.

[@zoranora5]

Hey are from morocco? Till now never find a woman fan for Dire straits .

[@XxSkydog71xX]

Most underrated DS song. FANTASTIC SONG

[@jaads7910]

Great album,

[@gk411]

Magnificent song magnificent guitar 🎸 work 👏 👏 ♥ 🎶 🎶 🇮🇪

[@JhhhJbbdbd]

This album IS a treasure thé hole money in World mean nothing respect mark

[@numv2]

The ultimate groove

[@samcassa4690]

Very unique sounding song, excellent.

[@sierragoldrush7479]

A nod to Knopfler. Jebus. Dude. A single hander if there ever was one.

[@sjors7750]

One of those legend songs of DS ❤

[@StevenHeapRecipes]

Love this song 🎵 ❤

[@proud098]

Two in the morning dry-dock town The river rolls in the night Little gypsy moth she's all tied down She quiver in the wind and the light Yeah and a sailing ship is just held down in chains From the lazy days of sail She's just a lying there in silent pain He lean on the tourist rail A mother and her baby and the college of war In the concrete graves You never wanna fight against the river law Nobody rules the waves Yeah and on a night when the lazy wind is a-wailing Around the Cutty Sark The single handed sailor goes sailing Sailing away in the dark He's upon the bridge on the self same night The mariner of dry dock land Two in the morning but there's one green light And a man on a barge of sand She's gonna slip away below him Away from the things he's done But he just shouts, "Hey man what you call this thing" He could have said, "Pride of London" On a night when the lazy wind is a-wailing Around the Cutty Sark Yeah the single handed sailor goes sailing Sailing away in the dark

[@jimbradley7058]

Sometimes when I close my eyes I hear Knopfler on Another Brick in the Wall and Gilmour on Single Handed Sailor.

[@Samana009]

The tone is not only the same, but the key too, That is why is so close. Both songs are from 79

[@LoffysDomain]

Very firm, yet light touch

[@alanbarrett6362]

sounds like the perfect handjob :D

[@benjaminlauwick2340]

How come this is one of the only songs that make me headbang sidewards?

[@davitdanelia23]

favorite song by far

[@juancarlosbanosgonzalez4674]

una de mis canciones favoritas de dire straits

[@johnlove5347]

Dire Staits Allright! They are spot on!

[@scottymac5174]

nobody rules the waves

[@douglasfernandes9969]

without further comment is simply classic.

[@neonthehybrid8047]

One of my faves I love listening to this one while out and about. Gives me an idea on what this would be like animated

[@egodust11]

Knopfler's best, no doubt

[@Dollarkat]

Guitar playing at its finest.

[@bgayle712]

Could listen to Mark pick all night.

[@tonysink9599]

he uses his fingers! no pick

[@999pyroboy]

all night, every night

[@nosoyarkano7624]

I doubt that you'd be surprised by how easy it is to pull an all-nighter listening to only Mark Knopfler music.

[@iankerridge5720]

Me too. Great singer/songwriter/performer

[@vrtlog7129]

if i am to make top 10 solos compilation, 9 songs would be from communique

[@charlottehanna3860]

Llllloooovvvveeee this song.

[@ayushmanbhalla8737]

Mark is mad !

[@jimiguitar100]

What a nice intro and theme

[@GarryWootton]

Just a great 2nd album, took both to a kibbutz...killed them with it!

[@Gushers2276]

my boss is exactly this old war vet that served in the navy lost his arm mad respect to the guy commanding us a mannager inside a business.

[@DouglasStewart-m8z]

This song takes me way back...one of Knopflers best works

[@lukemurphy6244]

This one goes out to you DREW!

[@kw2274]

I love it.

[@biprarshichakraborty1255]

That solo! Hoping a McCallan 1946 would taste as smooth!

[@marcolinoredzone]

STRATOMAGIC

[@charlottehanna3860]

Oooooh. I do love these guys.

[@TheRoadbreaker]

For those who can sail a life with one (left) hand...

[@f-natic]

So pure and clean..incredible. Pity the producers got to "bling bling" Dire Straits after this album.

[@maks-hg2yq]

Love the nautical theme...

[@MASHMU]

Nautical, but nice!

[@maks-hg2yq]

MASHMU I'm the saying that the nautical theme adds to it.

[@MASHMU]

ONI Music - I agree with your feeling about the song. My comment was just a (bad?) pun, i.e., “naughty but nice”.

[@maks-hg2yq]

MASHMU Oh got you. My bad.