One Song at a Time by Mark Knopfler

Album: Down the Road Wherever (2018)

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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.

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