Fuschia fangle mingled mangle---you guys are goofy!

(never heard that term " fuschia'd up)

If you look back to Guy's dairy, put in Punnit in search, bring it all up, but forget to look at the date..you see a comment by Guy talking to another poster who was down on Punnit. Guy said" don't be too hard on dear Punnit..." I saw that and thought Guy was playing a trick with us who posted here!!! 

Which is what I meant by my eyes playing tricks on me in previous post. I thought Guy was playing a trick on us. I did see him change a photo entry once, so I'm maybe not that daft!

Or did I see it?

ha ha ha! 

Hi again jennja,

I've never been to "Guy's Dairy" (your words) before,but is that where you go to get some cream to put on your Punnit of Strawberries.

Only kidding,love your replies.

Regards from the UK

Oh gosh! Am I tired or what! I posted that entry in the WRONG place! I wondered where it went!

You have me cracking up! punnit of strawberries.  

Iiieee, I need to go soak my head in some water.... 

I wouldn't give those strawberries to my dog.    

Hophead, that's because your dog is your best friend. Also, dog is wise.

I am still on Madame Geneva, (also Silvertown)

I still wonder what the hawker is selling, though that is not too important perhaps, the fact that the hanging deaths are so trivial to all around is perhaps the point.  not the fact they don't experience outrage and grief.

But I do believe back in that day it was a custom to remove from the bodies whatever was valuable, even if it were a pair of shoes, and then turn it for profit.

Regarding the title KTGC of cd, does anyone feel that Mark is stating both cynicism and a passionate quest for Art?  The photo on the back page of Mark, is it somewhat intimidating  to others besides myself? Is there a point there?

Mark's music seems to sometimes ask to be discerning, or, to... let it all go...enjoy the music at face value if that is what we prefer?  Or if we prefer to do both.

(excuse some typos, my patience runs thin sometimes trying to erase a letter, word, comma, etc. that little box comes up and I have to keep clicking it before it will let me reply) 

Hi jennja,

"The painting of the red scooters by John Bratby on the album cover (I believe Mark has the original) was chosen by Mark to emphasise the title K.T.G.C. because apparently in 1958 when the painting was done, to have a red scooter was the great thing at that time.

"Kill to get Crimson" he says he made up the title because as a kid his greatest desire was to have a red electric guitar also the book he read about a struggling artist from which the song "Let it all go" was inspired there was a line something like" I'd kill to get crimson on this pallet knife" It's all about red and the late 50s and early 60s I think.

Check out youtube for the interview. Type "Mark Knopfler Breakfast interview " into the video search window there's that and a lot more.

Regards

Ok. Cannibals came out when? 

And when was Katrina? 

"Cannibals" was on "Goldenheart"...in 1996.

Are you referring to Hurricane Katrina? I believe that occured in 2006.            

Thanks Hophead,

I did know that. And I knew there were problems with the levees in New Orleans before 2006. But I thought it was pretty interesting Mark had it in his lyrics in Cannibals. Denial, he saw it coming...can't say it was prophetic, but I can't say it wasn't. 

Hello jennja,

well, for my part, I would say that Beachcombing is actually more prophetic in tone than Cannibals, which is more joyful ad playful, so to speak, don't you think?

Beachcombing was written just before the Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, and speaks of "recontruction" at large. Some descriptions are really evocative, though not directly related to these events.  

Back to Cannibals now:

Hurricanes are very common in those regions. I can't imagine MK had a real devastation in mind for Cannibals. Just refering to a recurring situation that urges people to come running home. I see it more as a brief moment of panic (providing some kind of 'comedy') than a real threat.

Indeed the very fact that the center of the attention is this endearing little boy comicly "saying his prayer" (inflating the danger through his infant eyes)  lets us imagine everything's gonna be alright, and the boy will soon be outside playing with his father again. The focus here is the father and son relationship. 

The hurricane is just here to frighten the boy a bit and reinforce the father's protective role.

That's how I see it at least. 

HI Aurelien,

Thank you. I have listened to Beachcombing many many times but never actually paid too much attention to the words. I took the melodies and pretty much left it at that. I'll come back to Beachcombing but for now, back to Cannibals...

I may garble my words here...

It is interesting that you say " the hurricane is just here to frighten the boy a bit and reinforce the father's protective role."

Here, I'll have to jump to some lyrics from Bob Dylan's Jokerman...you see, that song is very specific to my own life, I had been trying to figure out the lyrics for years when all of a sudden it hit me on the head...at least where my own personal life is concerned. Now I do feel that Dylan is one prophet, that has not been just my opinion. I do not feel that the song is meant for just me, or rather, someone I know, specifically, but I do believe that's the gift that Dylan employs...amongst others, he can speak specifically.  

And I believe, that in the particular case of that song, as it applies in my life, Dylan is having a rather down to earth argument with someone who's got his head stuck in the clouds, (or elsewhere) and is not doing his job and it's hurting that "prince".

Again, I also believe the song is meant for social/govt. issues...

Here's where I get back to Cannibals and Mark. Told you this would be garbled.

I see Mark weaving his points throughout his songs ( some go over my head but they always will. I should say, I hope they will!!!!)

I don't see Cannibals as a light song. " Daddy is he a goodie or a baddie" Are we talking about the little boy's daddy, or are we talking about someone else out there? Or, are we talking about both? As a parent, I know that one trys to do the best that they can in educating their children...still things slip through the cracks...

If a parent is not paying attention, if a parent is in denial about something or overwhelmed with things,then how is he, or she, going to educate the child on those things which they (the parents) are neglecting?

Yet, this little boy gets a gi joe...hmmm. He wants to grow up and be a warrior some day. hmmm.

I'll have to admit my position on this is unclear. I don't want war, don't believe in our war...but can we demolish all the military bases across the world? Right now, in this one moment? Yeah...by erasing all life on this planet...

We need warriors of a different type. Yes, they have always been here, trying to mobilize and educate us, but it's a huge job. Still, some people don't want to hear? But I don't think it's futile and in vain, I believe that peace can come and that while it looks crazy as hell out there it's " the darkness before the storm"

Hurricane...storm. Hurricane was here before storm. It'll be back, clearer, nothing stopping it. 

Back to Cannibals, there was denial there for years in New Orleans, many types of denial. And it was the people sleeping far enough away from the levees that could ignore it easiest. Bottom line though is, who's to blame?

I'm not smart enough, or discerning enough, to know, and that's when I blame a higher power and try to find out from my adversary what exactly were they thinking...though human I lose my temper at times. 

Best I can do to explain how I see it right now.

Again Thanks Aurelien. Hophead, for previous reply.

Everyone has his or her own truth with MK's songs. And that's just fine. It's a great thing to be able to confront and share own different views. Very enriching!

Some, like me, can see Cannibals as a light song about common place things in the life of a father and his young kid.

Others will find educational and war/military messages in it! The scope is so wide.

I'm really looking forward to having other members' opinions on this seemingly casual but great song of MK's.

As I said somewhere before. Even in his lightest songs, there's always something intelligent to be found.  

EXACTLY Aurelien!

( and what's the most intelligent interpretation? The light or the heavy? ha ha It's all relative huh?!!!)

I'd like to add something else though. For me it's the eerie.

I was watching a video (yes on youtube) of a recording artist. I was watching it there because I lost my cd. backups were not available. Anyway, I've seen this recording artist before, at some low key venues and by a serendipitous meeting elsewhere. I have also seen his keyboard player performing with another band..Dire Straits material. This would not be so odd were it not for the fact that during that time I was really quite immersed in trying to understand some...how to say, mystical concepts were.

Anyway, as I'm watching this video, suddenly it stops, just before the ending, at the place where it gets truly mystical for me. What should be interjected in sight and sound surprised me no end. In fact, the tone change in voices spooked me, as they were so different. It took me a minute to recognize...

"These mist covered mountains"

visuals....the time piece from a grandfather clock that hangs down, swinging thru a sketchy mountain scene. What I think was a Buddha statue.

Now I fear a lot by giving this much away. I have a lot of fear, no denying. You mentioned "Beachcombing". I read enough into that to be very worried about something. A few lines have very personal direct meaning for me.

Also, things have been undecipherable for me for a long time on many issues. I have tried to brush away the "chance" occasions many times, and I have been swallowed by trying to determine their meaning. Chance happens.

But I come to meanings lately that I can not deny exist. Another digression...

Back in '74 I met a man as I was passing through NY City. We talked about a song he had written on a piece of paper. Just after that, Bruce got big. This guy ( who I still don't know if it was Bruce--could've been a prophet from elsewhere..though similarities make it hard for me to know). Bruce's Born to Run was just about to come out.

And so...if any of this makes sense...I've kinda lost my point right now...I guess I'll sum it up in some lyrics from CSNY..." there's a man with a gun over there, telling me,(or someone else) I got to beware"

We've all got something to lose. Real or imagined threats I do not know. But...I'm trying to take it slow, and trying not to jump to too many conclusions. But music indicates to think about some things before taking action. Or, just BREATHE. And airing this out on this forum I hope is alright.

Regards, 

Folks I got it I got it I got it!!!!!

The Irony!

An expression I have long struggled with! It means..."turn the phrase"

And under my nose all this time in this forum.

Towards peace....turn the phrase.

I am very thrilled to have found this. I still have to muse on "turn the phrase a 1/4, a 1/2....

and that leads us into musical arrangements doesn't it? Or does it? Or both.

I hope this is helpful to others, ha ha....maybe I'm on the wrong post....but still, this is the rephrasing post.

Regards! 

The more I listen to the lyrics of "Cannibals"..the more I think that we are being asked to judge whether the boys father should be considered a "good" person..or a "bad" person.

On one hand...he is a good father to his son...he calms him and reassures him despite the possiblity of a hurricane bearing down on them, and by telling the boy that there once were cannibals..there are no cannibals anymore..he's telling the boy that the world is getting "better" despite the raging storms, both physical and social. "Civilized" I guess is the word I should be using.

On the other hand the references to G.I. Joe and the boys desire to become a warrior tell us that daddy is probably in the military..possibly in the National Guard...who occasionally do have to pitch in to prepare for hurricanes repairing dikes and levees. Is he a bad person because he may have to tote a gun at times? Or even kill others in a conflict in order to restore a sense of "civility".  I don't think that there is anything mystical or prophetic about it.

I'm sure that Mark got his ideas for the song from something he read or experienced..the question is what that impetus was.