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:

VoodooGodsmack

The line, "I feel the snakebite enter my veins," led many to believe the Godsmack song "Voodoo" is about drugs, but it's really about Wiccan ritual, inspired in part by the Wes Craven movie The Serpent and the Rainbow.

5-1-5-0Dierks Bentley

When it topped the chart in 2012, Dierks Bentley's "5-1-5-0" became the first #1 Country hit with a title that's all numbers.

Born on the BayouCreedence Clearwater Revival

John Fogerty was not born on the bayou - he's from Berkeley, California. He got the idea for the song when CCR was on tour in Louisiana.

Life Is A HighwayTom Cochrane

Tom Cochrane wrote "Life Is A Highway" to pull himself out of a funk following an exhausting humanitarian trip to Africa.

Sister ChristianNight Ranger

"Sister Christian" was written by Night Ranger drummer Kelly Keagy, who was imploring his younger sister to be careful in her reckless youth, especially when "motoring" (driving around) with friends.

Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'Journey

Journey lead singer Steve Perry wrote the rather dramatic "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'" with the opening lyrics, "You make me weep, I wanna die," after seeing his girlfriend kissing another man.