Good On You Son by Mark Knopfler

Album: Down the Road Wherever (2018)

License This Song

lyrics

Songfacts®:

Here, Mark Knopfler celebrates an unrefined character from London who makes it in America but misses the English food and beer.

Back in Blighty there's a flat on a grimy sink estate
That's why he walked out of that and went to the Golden State
Left the baccy and the beer where he was born and bred
Now he's cutting it out here with the quick and the dead

Uncut asked Knopfler if he's singing about himself. He replied: "We all come from somewhere. The thing with rockers and film kids is that the critics would much rather they remain stuck where they started. There' a snobbery."

Comments: 4

Jam from Queensland, Australia The song appears to be about Steve Harley who moved to LA for a while in the early 80s. ‘Meeting my producer’ I think refers to Guy Fletcher, who used to play with Harley. I think it’s amazing how Knopfler dreams up these songs out of long past events. Harley, btw, came from New Cross, S-E London, where Knopfler et al formed Dire Straits (in adjacent Deptford).
Rmjp from UkI have always been inclined to think he might be referring to Sir Michael Caine
Levi from Adelaide, South Australia I’ve always been intrigued by the verse that refers to mangoes and the “tune of a Cockney Rebel”. I’m still not sure what it means, but there may be a connection between this song and the English Glam Rock band, Steve Harley & the Cockney Rebels.
Lea from Kansas City, MoI absolutely adore this song. Earned his way into his retirement years, and getting to spending them the way he wants to. Great condo in L.A., gets to play with a band, have fun, record more albums, in a great, sun-filled city, all the while keeping in mind the English life from where he came. I believe his incorporation of "the Quick and the dead" refer to the American wild west, where you're either "quick on the draw" in a shootout, or you're the dead one. It's a way to say that L.A. is a happening place, and he is getting to be a part of it. Not stooped over getting old, doing the old one-two like one might expect of a senior citizen -- no, he's quick on the draw, living his life the way he wants to, to the fullest, jamming out to his heart's content -- and isn't about to slow down!

see more comments

More Songfacts:

White as SnowU2

Bono came up with the idea of focusing on a soldier's last thoughts as he dies from his wounds in the U2 song "White As Snow" after reading William Golding's 1956 novel Pincher Martin.

The Girl Is MineMichael Jackson

The first single from the Thriller album was "The Girl Is Mine," chosen over "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" because it was a duet with Paul McCartney and thus guaranteed airplay.

Sweetest ThingU2

Bono wrote U2's song "Sweetest Thing" for his wife to make up for working on her birthday. For the video, he staged an "apology parade," complete with Irish step dancers and an elephant.

Sour TimesPortishead

The eerie percussion and guitar for Portsihead's "Sour Times" was sampled from Lalo Schifrin's "Danube Incident," music composed by the Argentine composer for an episode of Mission Impossible.

One DanceDrake

Drake's "One Dance" was the first ever song to rack up one billion streams on Spotify.

The Battle Of EvermoreLed Zeppelin

"The Battle of Evermore" is the only song Zeppelin ever recorded with a guest vocalist. It features Sandy Denny from Fairport Convention duetting with Robert Plant.