IMO the text is about racing, yes, but the meaning of the song is different. The racing season where the text is about is a metaphor for... life.
The beginning of the season (or life) is full of hope, a new chance is there. You have a long way to go to archive happiness.
The first things don't come easy. Once you realize that, that's the wake-up call. Then there is the struggle to make things better, but at first, you don't succeed. You'll get the three-cracked-vertibrae.
Then it all goes on, and it seems to get better, but some people dear to you may get lost... And then you see the improvement...
You'll get better, almost get your successes that you need so badly, and the joy in life, but not quite, your motor let you down... But you're still strong, and the last few knocks don't really bother you... Because at the end, at the Speedway at Nazareth, you made no mistake... You won, and everything was complete.
Conclusion: The meaning of the song, is that at the end, everything will be fine... Just don't give up!!
And this because of this moral it is my all-time favorite song.
That is a very very beautiful interpretation of the metaphorical side of the song! I couldnt agree more!
One thing I would personally add, is that end destination "Nazareth". I think it's a metaphor for heaven (As Nazareth has a biblical connotation as well).
That is a very very beautiful interpretation of the metaphorical side of the song! I couldnt agree more!
One thing I would personally add, is that end destination "Nazareth". I think it's a metaphor for heaven (As Nazareth has a biblical connotation as well).
In light of that I feel that the song talks about how people chase after happiness all their lives, how they feel that happiness can only be obtained by racing harder and harder to get success in the eyes of the world... where, in my opinion anyways, true happiness is only found when you reach heaven on earth (God's presence in your life).
Like I said, this is what I take away from the song. Absolutely amazing how Knopfler can extract so much feeling and symbolism, never mind the fact that the guitar work itself tells a story all of its own!
@davidsmit - This is my current favorite, too - the live version with Emmylou is amazing. Good analysis of the metaphor.
@jogrobler - I like your looping in the biblical angle. Ending where Jesus begins.
@davidsmit - This is my current favorite, too - the live version with Emmylou is amazing. Good analysis of the metaphor.
@jogrobler - I like your looping in the biblical angle. Ending where Jesus begins.
@davidsmit Knowing that Marks deep-layered Personality mirroires in what he writes plus the music that comes to it, he uses of course that race to build up that second layer that you discovered -life and how we grow from naivity to high skills. The entire song to me felt like a flourishing prayer growing that finally like hopefully my own soul...one day...takes to the sky. There is all over the song the 3rd layer :the religeous layer. And for people who had the chance to hear and read about this guy Jesus...yes the Bible reports that He was born in...
@davidsmit Knowing that Marks deep-layered Personality mirroires in what he writes plus the music that comes to it, he uses of course that race to build up that second layer that you discovered -life and how we grow from naivity to high skills. The entire song to me felt like a flourishing prayer growing that finally like hopefully my own soul...one day...takes to the sky. There is all over the song the 3rd layer :the religeous layer. And for people who had the chance to hear and read about this guy Jesus...yes the Bible reports that He was born in Nazareth.
IMO the text is about racing, yes, but the meaning of the song is different. The racing season where the text is about is a metaphor for... life.
The beginning of the season (or life) is full of hope, a new chance is there. You have a long way to go to archive happiness.
The first things don't come easy. Once you realize that, that's the wake-up call. Then there is the struggle to make things better, but at first, you don't succeed. You'll get the three-cracked-vertibrae.
Then it all goes on, and it seems to get better, but some people dear to you may get lost... And then you see the improvement... You'll get better, almost get your successes that you need so badly, and the joy in life, but not quite, your motor let you down... But you're still strong, and the last few knocks don't really bother you... Because at the end, at the Speedway at Nazareth, you made no mistake... You won, and everything was complete.
Conclusion: The meaning of the song, is that at the end, everything will be fine... Just don't give up!! And this because of this moral it is my all-time favorite song.
That is a very very beautiful interpretation of the metaphorical side of the song! I couldnt agree more! One thing I would personally add, is that end destination "Nazareth". I think it's a metaphor for heaven (As Nazareth has a biblical connotation as well).
That is a very very beautiful interpretation of the metaphorical side of the song! I couldnt agree more! One thing I would personally add, is that end destination "Nazareth". I think it's a metaphor for heaven (As Nazareth has a biblical connotation as well).
In light of that I feel that the song talks about how people chase after happiness all their lives, how they feel that happiness can only be obtained by racing harder and harder to get success in the eyes of the world... where, in my opinion anyways, true happiness is only found when you reach heaven on earth (God's presence in your life).
Like I said, this is what I take away from the song. Absolutely amazing how Knopfler can extract so much feeling and symbolism, never mind the fact that the guitar work itself tells a story all of its own!
@davidsmit - This is my current favorite, too - the live version with Emmylou is amazing. Good analysis of the metaphor. @jogrobler - I like your looping in the biblical angle. Ending where Jesus begins.
@davidsmit - This is my current favorite, too - the live version with Emmylou is amazing. Good analysis of the metaphor. @jogrobler - I like your looping in the biblical angle. Ending where Jesus begins.
@davidsmit Knowing that Marks deep-layered Personality mirroires in what he writes plus the music that comes to it, he uses of course that race to build up that second layer that you discovered -life and how we grow from naivity to high skills. The entire song to me felt like a flourishing prayer growing that finally like hopefully my own soul...one day...takes to the sky. There is all over the song the 3rd layer :the religeous layer. And for people who had the chance to hear and read about this guy Jesus...yes the Bible reports that He was born in...
@davidsmit Knowing that Marks deep-layered Personality mirroires in what he writes plus the music that comes to it, he uses of course that race to build up that second layer that you discovered -life and how we grow from naivity to high skills. The entire song to me felt like a flourishing prayer growing that finally like hopefully my own soul...one day...takes to the sky. There is all over the song the 3rd layer :the religeous layer. And for people who had the chance to hear and read about this guy Jesus...yes the Bible reports that He was born in Nazareth.