A couple of interesting points:
There are two references to her being like a bullfighter/toreador. This is a role where someone faces a physically superior force and overcomes it with agility and evasion.
There is a reference to rollerball. That is a fictional sport from the 1975 movie of the same name, and in that, also, someone uses agility to dodge threats. That was fairly recent when this song was written.
There are numerous other quick allusions to threats to her, and that she overcomes them… "no fear alone at night," "taxi drivers," "big truck."
Overall, the tone is of cities being threatening environments but the roller girl, like the heroes of the bullring and Rollerball, rises above it, and therefore "has her whole world in the city." Knopfler audibly laughs with glee. She's a hero for her times.
The overall intention is really clear.
A couple of interesting points: There are two references to her being like a bullfighter/toreador. This is a role where someone faces a physically superior force and overcomes it with agility and evasion. There is a reference to rollerball. That is a fictional sport from the 1975 movie of the same name, and in that, also, someone uses agility to dodge threats. That was fairly recent when this song was written.
There are numerous other quick allusions to threats to her, and that she overcomes them… "no fear alone at night," "taxi drivers," "big truck."
Overall, the tone is of cities being threatening environments but the roller girl, like the heroes of the bullring and Rollerball, rises above it, and therefore "has her whole world in the city." Knopfler audibly laughs with glee. She's a hero for her times.