Subtlety and nuance don’t usually win you many points in the pop music game. Mark Knopfler’s songs often traded heavily in those qualities, which makes it a wonder that he was able to score as many hits as he did with Dire Straits.
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The band’s 1991 song “On Every Street” never had much of a chance of denting pop radio. But it stands out as a master class in songwriting, one that demonstrates the power of metaphor within song lyrics.
“Street” Legal
Dire Straits hit its commercial pinnacle in 1985 with the album Brothers In Arms. The unforgettable single “Money For Nothing” set the tone. Seemingly from out of the blue, these veteran pub rockers were the biggest band in the world.
Which didn’t exactly thrill their singer, songwriter, and lead guitarist, Mark Knopfler. Knopfler never felt too comfortable with the fame that came with the band’s success. And he largely retreated from it at a time when other bands might have rushed out another record to capitalize on their moment in the spotlight.
It would be six years before Dire Straits would return with On Every Street. In the interim, Knopfler worked with a side project called The Notting Hillbillies and did soundtrack work. Needless to say, the hiatus stalled the commercial momentum of the band, which didn’t seem to worry Knopfler too much.
On Every Street strayed from some of the more accessible elements of Brothers In Arms. That, along with a changed music scene, ensured that the follow-up wouldn’t be nearly as successful (even though it still sold quite well). But music fans could still revel in Knopfler’s outstanding writing, with the title track serving as a particular standout.
Exploring the Lyrics of “On Every Street”
If you take every word literally, “On Every Street” is the story of a private investigator who doggedly pursues a missing person over a long stretch of time. But listeners doing some sleuthing of their own should be able to locate the subtext. He’s doing the gumshoe bit as a way of hinting at a former lover whose absence is haunting him.
The would-be Sam Spade addresses this missing woman throughout the song. “You gotta be on somebody’s books,” he insists. “The lowdown a picture of your face/Your injured looks.” He believes that some sort of evidence is out there. “Somewhere your fingerprints remain concrete,” he says.
In the second verse, an interview with a suspect could be interpreted as this guy confronting one of her other lovers. “She threw herself under my wheels,” this perpetrator says, claiming innocence. Fireworks popping above the city contrast with the low-down corners our detective searches while on the case.
“I don’t know why it is I’m still on the case,” he admits in the final verse, suggesting that there’s never been much chance of him finding her and winning her back. “Seems to me such a waste,” he shrugs. “And every victory has a taste that’s bittersweet/And it’s your face I’m looking for on every street.”
With that, the song shifts from its quiet, film-noir vibe into an uptempo instrumental coda, Knopfler’s guitar ringing out with passion. “On Every Street” displays a tender songwriting touch. It’s a touch that might not grab radio listeners by the lapels. But it certainly ingratiates itself to discerning ears over the long haul.
Photo by BSR Agency/Gentle Look via Getty Images
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