Lady Writer

Album: Communiqué (1979)
Charted: 51 45
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to the 1984 biography of the band, "Lady Writer" was inspired by Marina Warner, who songwriter Mark Knopfler saw on a TV program, hence the opening line "Lady Writer on the TV..." In 1976, Warner, a highly educated polyglot, published a scholarly book about the cult of the Virgin Mary. For some reason her appearance struck a chord with Knopfler, bringing back painful memories of a love that was no more. There's real venom in the song, and it is evident that any resemblance the talented Miss Warner bore to his former lover was strictly physical.
  • "Lady Writer" was released on the Vertigo label; it was the band's second single, and runs to 3 minutes 45 seconds. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 5

  • Joe from Grants Pass, OrAin't exactly like "Tangled Up In Blue", but it was never intended to be... Love it !!!
  • Jasper from Nieuwegein, NetherlandsThe real music critics hated this song at first... They said it was too much like "Sultans of Swing", and it was not original...
  • Barry from New York, NcDire Straits had a great sound on their first two LPs, which can be heard in full on LADY WRITER. By the time of their third album and the departure of David Knophler, the sound started to change a bit.
  • Paul from Northampton, United KingdomI remember seeing the Marina Warner interview in question and discussing it with others on the college course I was on. I have a feeling it was Melvyn Bragg doing the interviewing. We were all impressed by the Ms Warner's combination of razor sharp intellect and fantastic looks, the latter of which did nothing to diminish her academic and feminist credibility (why should it?). A few months later, the song came out and I immediately recognised what it was about. Needless to say, I bought it. One of Knopfler's best, and that's saying something.
  • Jim from Long Beach, CaI love this song. Great lyrics,very Dylanesque..Thanks Dire Straits
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Ron and Russell Mael of Sparks

Ron and Russell Mael of SparksSongwriter Interviews

The men of Sparks on their album Hippopotamus, and how Morrissey handled it when they suggested he lighten up.

Michael Bolton

Michael BoltonSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for this talk with Bolton from the '80s when he was a focused on writing songs for other artists.

Vanessa Carlton

Vanessa CarltonSongwriter Interviews

The "A Thousand Miles" singer on what she thinks of her song being used in White Chicks and how she captured a song from a dream.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.