You’ve heard Dire Straits’ classic song, ‘Sultans Of Swing’ plenty of times on WJJK, but did you ever stop to wonder just who are the Sultans Of Swing? Mark Knopfler recently revealed where they found inspiration in creating their smooth ’70s hit. He sat down for an interview with Brian Johnson on his show ‘Life On The Road’. I absolutely love hearing any musician explain the back story on their music. Music is all about storytelling, but so many times we don’t know the real story that actually got the ball rolling. Take a look at a section of the lyrics to ‘Sultans Of Swing’ below and then listen to Mark explain them a bit more in detail:
Then a crowd a young boys they’re a foolin’ 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 playin’ band
It ain’t what they call Rock and Roll
And the Sultans
Yeah, the Sultans, they play Creole
Creole
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies and their platform soles
They don’t give a damn about any trumpet playin’ band
It ain’t what they call Rock and Roll
And the Sultans
Yeah, the Sultans, they play Creole
Creole
And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
“Goodnight, now it’s time to go home”
Then he makes it fast with one more thing
And says at last just as the time bell rings
“Goodnight, now it’s time to go home”
Then he makes it fast with one more thing
“We are the Sultans
We are the Sultans of Swing”
We are the Sultans of Swing”
(source Brian Johnson TV via YouTube)
(source Dire Straits via YouTube)
