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Rating:
I decided to review this album for two reasons. The first is that Knopfler is absolutely one of my favorite artists, the second arose after reading the latest review of "Shangri-La" on this site, which claimed that "The Ragpicker's Dream" would be a lackluster album... a thought I do not share at all... quite the contrary.
The RPD did the opposite of what "Sailing To Philadelphia" had done, that is, it grew over time with each listen.
"Way Aye Man" is a decidedly driving piece (in addition to having beautiful lyrics), vibrant, where Our one's Les Paul takes the lead (not for nothing, it would practically always open the Shangri La tour at the top of the setlist!). "Devil Baby" is very sweet... a song that, if we want, is “romantic,” simple, and delicate.
"Hill Farmer’s Blues" another great piece that starts slow and builds at the end with a continuous intertwining of electric and acoustic sounds as only our maestro can do.
"Quality Shoe" seems like a piece written for the reborn Notting like "Daddy’s Gone To Knoxville," both decidedly pleasant and very enjoyable.
Beautiful, however, is "Marbletown," where Mark gives a lesson in his well-known and superlative fingerpicking, he is the Maestro, and honestly, we had no doubts about it....
But let's get to the two "hidden" gems of the album. I call them hidden because, at first listen, they slip by, pleasantly yes, but they slip by... while in reality, they are the epitome of the new Knopfler that creates delicate melodies of enchanting beauty; the title track, in fact, is of moving beauty, try listening to it on one of those cold days preceding the Christmas holidays and then tell me...
It closes with "Old Pigweed," another soft gem but of adamantine beauty. Among the best ballads ever written by Knopfler solo... listen again... and again and again to believe.
I admit that I had mistakenly somewhat shelved it, especially at the beginning. Indeed, out of 12 songs, 8 remain well imprinted sweetly in one's memory. If we want, perhaps it is Knopfler's most melancholic album but certainly not the least beautiful for that reason!
P.S.: The cover and the entire booklet, in general, fully testify to the atmosphere that will be breathed when listening to this beautiful album.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
05 Quality Shoe (03:58)
You got your toecaps reinforced with steel
Hard-wearing sole and heel
Make those tired feet feel like new
Take your pick, black or brown
Great for the country or the man in town
You're gonna need a quality shoe
You don't want no stand-by pair
'cos these'll take the wear and tear
Made to take good care of you
For that trip by road or rail
For extra grip on those rocky trails
You're gonna need a quality shoe
Now they maybe ain't too hot for dancing
But i don't foresee too much of that
You ain't exactly gonna be prancing
Around in the moonlight
With a cane and a top hat
If you could use a change of pace
And be excused from the rat race
Just take a look at what's on view
Lace 'em up, walk around
I guarantee you can't wear 'em down
You're gonna need a quality shoe
Now i wish you sunny skies
And happiness wherever you may go
But you got to realise
There'll be wind, there'll be rain
And occasional snow
You're gonna want to smile in them
If you're gonna walk a mile in them
There'll be times when you'll be blue
To laugh at rainy days and then
Make your getaways in them
You're gonna need a quality shoe
You got your toecaps reinforced with steel
Hard-wearing sole and heel
Make those tired feet feel like new
Take your pick, black or brown
Great for the country or the man in town
You're gonna need a quality shoe
06 Fare Thee Well Northumberland (06:31)
Come drive me down to the central station
I hate to leave my river Tyne
For some damn town that's god-forsaken
Fare thee well, Northumberland
Although I'll go where the lady takes me
She'll never tell what's in her hand
I do not know what fate awaits me
Fare thee well, Northumberland
My heart beats for my streets and alleys
Longs to dwell in the borderlands
The north-east shore and the river valleys
Fare thee well, Northumberland
I may not stay, I'm bound for leaving
I'm bound to ramble and to roam
I only say my heart is grieving
I would not gamble on my coming home
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
So drive me down to the central station
I hate to leave my river Tyne
For some damn town that's god-forsaken
Goodbye old friend of mine
Although I'll go where the lady takes me
She'll never tell what's in her hand
I do not know what fate awaits me
Fare thee well, Northumberland
So roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
Roll on, Geordie boy, roll
07 Marbletown (03:36)
Roll out here mister
If you need a little rest
Lay me down in Marbletown
A bone yard is the best
There was a bad bull on the railroad
Tried to pull me off this train
Lay me down in Marbletown
'Til the coast is clear again
I can hear them a-hollerin'
'We got a man down here
We got a man down'
I'm gonna flip me a cannonball
That won't stop for anyone
Lay me down in Marbletown
Wait 'til morning comes
I'm gonna roll out here in the tombstones
Wait here on my train
Lay me down in Marbletown
I hope that it don't rain
And I can still hear them hollerin'
'We got a man down here
We got a man down'
Roll out here mister
If you need a little rest
Lay me down in Marbletown
A bone yard is the best
09 Coyote (05:58)
Look at me coyote
Don't let a little road dust put you off
You can't judge a book
Well, you know that stuff
There's a tear in my upholstery
And a hole in my shoe
But don't you just wish that you could
Make half of the speed I do
Speed I do, speed I do, speed I do
You can't catch me coyote
Though there may be blood on the tracks
There may be some bridges burning
Behind our backs
But I got my laundry on the backseat
And an itinerary too
And don't you just wish that you could
Make half of the speed I do
Speed I do, speed I do, speed I do
Speed I do, speed I do, speed I do
Now I'm a speck on your horizon
Getting smaller fast
An ambush wouldn't be surprising
I hope it's better than your last
Once again the roadrunner
Leaves the coyote in the dirt
You've got another plan of action
But we all know it ain't never gonna work
It must be hard having dog dreams
That never come true
And don't you just with that you could
Make half of the speed I do
Speed I do, speed I do, speed I do
Speed I do, speed I do, speed I do
12 Old Pigweed (04:35)
Everything was in there
That you'd want to see
Corned beef and onions
And true love
Turnips and tinned tomatoes
Parsnips and a few potatoes
A couple extra blessings
From above
Now this here mingle-mangle
Was my best one yet
A big old bad goulash
Worth waiting for
And I'm just about to dip my can
Taste some brotherhood of man
When I get a feeling
That there's a flaw
Who put old Pigweed
In the mulligan?
Was it you?
Who put old Pigweed
In the mulligan stew?
I close my eyes
For just a minute
What do you do?
Who put old Pigweed
In the mulligan stew?
You won't find self-improvement or philosophy
In a dumpster sitting by
The kitchen door
There's plenty leek and humble pie
Ain't too much ham on rye
Sometimes I wonder
What I'm looking for
But a spoonful of forgiveness
Goes a long, long way
And we all should do our best
To get along
Add a pinch of kindness crumbling
To your loving dumpling
Okra for thickening
When something's wrong
But who put old Pigweed
In the mulligan?
Was it you?
Who put old Pigweed
In the mulligan stew?
I close my eyes
For just a minute
What do you do?
Who put old Pigweed
In the mulligan stew?
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By claudio carpentieri
"I imagine paradise as a place where folk music meets blues music."
"This is a record where the path the artist has taken presents no parallel lanes — it’s simply one-way, a one-way consisting of reliable, integral, and authentic music."
