News

Album: Communiqué (1979)
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Songfacts®:

  • The subject of this Mark Knopfler composition is by no means obvious - the reference to a man climbing onto his horse could be misconstrued - it is actually about a motorcyclist who is killed in a road accident. Knopfler worked as a reporter on the Yorkshire Evening Post for a while, although this was apparently not inspired by a story he covered. It is not that dissimilar from Elton John's "Song For Guy," which is a tribute to a record company messenger who was likewise killed in a road crash, and was recorded the previous year. "News" runs to 4 minutes 14 seconds. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 2

  • Mark Phillips from East SussexAt one gig Mark says this is a song for John, and I assumed that to mean John Lennon... but little in the song conforms to what occurred at John's shooting?
    Perhaps Mark had a friend called John killed on his motorcycle?
    Mark's songs and accounts are usually very factual.
  • Paul from Marysville, WaI always wondered if this song was about the same motorcyclist whose death inspired EJ's "Song for Guy."
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