One Song at a Time by Mark Knopfler

Album: Down the Road Wherever (2018)

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

Dire Straits was formed in Deptford, London in 1977. Here, Knopfler recalls how he was desperate to leave Deptford, which he referred to as the "armpit of London."

And I'll be out of this place
And down the road wherever
There but for the grace, etcetera
I'll see you later but it's 1979
And I'm picking my way out of here
One song at a time

Knopfler told Uncut the song title came from something Chet Atkins said to him. "We've become pals and when he talks about his childhood he gets quite emotional. He didn't even have the money for a coat to walk to school in and the winter is damn cold where he lives. So he used his guitar to pick his way out of poverty one song at a time. As you get older there is an appreciation for the journey you've been on. As a rocker the life is transient, but of course sometimes you look back and wish you could have savored that these fleeting moments a bit more."

Comments: 1

Prateek JainTo me, it sounded like he is talking about getting old and moving on in life, going down the road, wherever time takes, one song at a time.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

GreaseFrankie Valli

The song "Grease," sung by Frankie Valli in the 1978 movie, was written by Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees.

1234Feist

Feist's "1234" is "about lost love, and the hope to recapture what you once had," but it's best known for the Sesame Street version about counting to four.

Brown Eyed GirlVan Morrison

Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl" was originally called "Brown Skinned Girl," and was about an interracial relationship.

Everyday I Write The BookElvis Costello

Elvis Costello says "Everyday I Write The Book" is a knockoff of Nick Lowe's "When I Write the Book."

Pump Up The JamTechnotronic

The first Eurodance hit in America was "Pump Up The Jam" by Technotronic in 1989. It led to a wave of Eurodance hits from the likes of Black Box, Snap! and C+C Music Factory in the early '90s.

Ring Of FireJohnny Cash

Johnny Cash's wife, June Carter, wrote "Ring Of Fire" about their relationship.