Quote of the Day
The real menace in dealing with a five-year-old is that in no time at all you begin to sound like a five-year-old.
- Jean Kerr
Song of the Day
Today’s song of the day is “Why Aye Man” by Mark Knopfler. I’m a big fan of Mark Knopfler and his songs. I love his music and the stories that his songs tell.
Why Aye Man is about the mid 1980’s in England and the recession they experienced. Specifically, the song is about the dignified working-class and the determination to survive and thrive.
Some of the lyrics include:
We had no way of staying afloat
We had to leave on the ferry boat
Economic refugee
On the run to Germany
and
There’s English, Irish, Scots, the lot
United Nation’s what we’ve got
Brickies, chippies, every trade
German-built and British-madeThere’s plenty Deutschmarks here to earn (why aye, why aye man)
And German tarts are wunderschön (why aye, why aye man)
German beer is chemical-free (why aye, why aye man)
Germany’s alreet with me (why aye, why aye man)
Sometimes I miss my river Tyne
But you’re my pretty Fräulein
Tonight we’ll drink the old town dry
Keep our spirit levels high
Great guitar playing as always. I love the theme of working hard, enjoying life (even if it’s hard), and making the best of the circumstances.
There are some stories that the song was written for a TV show, but in an interview, Mark states that he had written it separately. The song’s genesis was the line “keep your spirit level high”, which has a wonderful dual meaning.
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