OGTEleven

I just heard a song from Knopfler's new album. Rather than a Youtube link I'll paste the lyrics. The song is about a historical event (I knew nothing about it). Like many of Knopfler's songs you could practically make a movie from it. The movie The Founder was from a book but only because one of the writers or producers heard "Boom Like That" and decided it needed to be a movie. There are quotes in the movie taken directly from the song. I'm only posting the lyrics to this song because when I read the last two lines, it just blew me away with respect to what a talented songwriter he must be. The song is called Tunnel 13 In the Siskiyou Mountains, the old railroad winds Through the golds of the maples and the green of the pines Up to Tunnel 13, the Southern she climbs And three bandits waiting with evil in mind The D'Autremont brothers had chosen their road Chosen to live by a criminal code Word was the mail car was loaded with gold The brothers had heard it, or had maybe been told They wanted no witnesses, that was a fact The brothers were bent on a barbarous act Gold there was none, only sadness and tears And the law coming after them year after year Three bandits, hearts filled with resentment and hate Killed mail clerk Elvyn Daugherty, engineer Sydney Bates With shotgun and pistols, they were panicking when They killed brakeman Coyle Johnson and fireman Marvin Seng Robbing and looting is as old as the hills They're still jumping freight trains with crowbars and drills A hundred years later in Downtown LA They rob the Union Pacific damn near every day Four good men lay murdered in the dogwoods and pines Leaving widows and children and heartbreak behind Tunnel 13 is the place in the song Where the beautiful redwood for my guitar came from

And by extension, music.

If there ever was an All Star band, this one has to be it (certainly wins for quantity).

This is a charity benefit song for teen cancer. If you're not familiar with the song, it is from the soundtrack to Local Hero and Knopfler often plays it as the final encore in his concerts. I think the list of contributors qualifies as impressive.

For those too young to have had the opportunity to see 1980's concerts, here is one to show you what they were like. A lot of depth. They even have a little game of Name That Tune worked in from 1:27 until 3:23.

I swear the songs that don't quite make the cut on a Mark Knopfler album other than as bonus tracks are still some of the most well written and played songs to be heard. I just stumbled across another one.

Two of the greatest guitarists ever, two of the greatest singers, Michael McDonald on the keys. It was only one song but I’d call this a supergroup.

It's just 15 seconds of a coming attraction. Pause the video toward the end to see the list of players.

I chose this place to call my own The only grace I've ever known I never tire of legends grown We dream too much and time has flown Eiledon, I will be there Eiledon, my dream is there So let me fill my children's hearts With heroes' tales, and hope it starts A fire in them so deeds are done With no vain sighs for moments gone

You took a look at me I took a look at you Now I just can’t see What a man’s supposed to do Long, cool girl I like to say her name Long, cool girl With a showgirl frame

A long time ago came a man on a track Walking thirty miles with a sack on his back And he put down his load where he thought it was the best He made a home in the wilderness

I stumbled across an impressive piano cover of a song I consider among the best compositions I've ever heard from a contemporary artist. I posted the original too in case you haven't heard it. This is not Jimmy Page but Happy Birthday to Jimmy Page.

Darlin' oh darlin' Won't you come back my way It's been ever so lonely Since you went away My heart is a breakin' I miss your sweet face My arms are an achin' For your sweet embrace

in addition to the video, Zombie by The Cranberries is very sad but has a rock sound.

Twenty-two years we've sung the word Since nineteen thirty-one Amen, I say amen Now the young folk want to praise the Lord With guitar, bass and drums, amen Well I'll never get tired of Jesus But it's been a heavy load Carrying His precious love Down a long dirt road We're a long way from home Just let's pay the man and go Baloney again

An underrated band’s most underrated song:

When I leave this world behind me To another I will go And if there are no pipes in heaven I'll be going down below If friends in time be severed Someday we will meet again I'll return to leave you never Be a piper to the end

Tony Gwynn. When he started I could pretty much only watch him against the Mets and Braves but followed the box scores. As time went on games were easier to watch. If I counted Bills players there would be too many to list.